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From: Russ Hicks
Date: 10 Oct 2006
Time: 00:57:15 -0500
Remote Name: 71.252.204.114
Hi Kristi, ..... You're sooo cruel! <grin> As I said I joined the NSA in 1984 virtually at gunpoint! Courage? Heck, I just didn't want to get shot! And the guy who was holding the gun turned out to be my dog's vet. And he threatened to kill my dog if I didn't go with him! (Just kidding... but not by much!) Courage had little to do with any of this, Kristi. I really hated the first few NSA meetings I went to. It took me at least four meetings - all of them at gunpoint - before I began to feel just a little bit comfortable. ..... Probably the real turning point for me was meeting all sorts of other people, some of whom were really cool, who stuttered. I went to my first NSA national convention in 1986 and met a guy who was a combination of Billy Graham and Tarzan who changed my life. I need to write an entire ISAD paper on him one day. But he taught us what courage was. He was the most inspirational person I've ever met - and he stuttered! The stories I could tell... He was the guy who inspired me to join Toastmasters - BECAUSE I was afraid of it! He taught us to FACE every fear we have HEAD ON, and conquer that fear IMMEDIATELY. He makes the Nike saying "Just do it!" look pale by comparison. If I can ever live up to be half the man he was, I will consider my life a success. ..... I wish you the best, Kristi. I hope you are enjoying this wonderful ISAD conference. ..... Russ