1. “Unfinished Business”
Toastmaster’s International
Master Speech
July 9, 2012
My decision to attend Toastmaster’s International is the result of several events. I was
introduced to Toastmaster’s when I was still living in St. Louis, MO and working at Hunter
Engineering Company by someone who would eventually become a professional reference. My
two other attempts to join did not last very long; once when I first arrived in Los Angeles in
Manhattan Beach, and once when I was working in Oceanside, CA. I have a latent desire and
unsatiated curiosity about physics that I can not quite explain except that I just enjoy reading
about Richard Feynman’s life and reading Michio Kaku’s explanation about String Theory. I
have yet to read Richard Feynman’s lectures, which are published in print and audio tape. I
would like to get a PhD, dare it be in physics is a question that I need to answer. But the real
motivation for me to join Toastmaster’s, at least this time, is a direct result of my current job. It
is not one incident, but the accumulation of all my time spent at a company where job
advancement is not based upon education or abilities, but upon a set of criteria that I can not
logically fathom.
For my background, I was born in St. Louis, MO and lived for many years in Chesterfield,
MO, a suburb of St. Louis. For the important years of my life, from first grade through my first
year in college, my parents were my mother, Kathy Myers and my step­father, Tom Cobb. It
was my step­father that shaped the way I think and how I appreciate the finer things in life. It
was from his influence and direction that I was able to develop a talent for painting and drawing.
From his extensive collection of modern art and books, I would teach myself to paint and draw.
This lead me later in life to get a minor in Art History.
When growing up in his household, Tom had this amazing quality of knowing exactly when I
wa about to do something that I should not, such as watching television instead of doing
homework. We would debate the merits of the “After School Special” on television. He would
challenge my decision by making a case that my brain would rot out. Tom won the debate and I
gained the nickname of “Einstein.”
Dating at that time, while in high school, did not happen. Tom made it clear to me that
anyone who was interested in dating me was to knock at the front door. I would then introduce
this person to Tom, and the inspection would begin. Under no circumstances would this
paramour honk his car door in the driveway for me to meet him at his car. If he did pass
inspection, and if I did reach this paramour’s car, he was to open the car door for me. It would
be best for all concerned that the proper introduction took place, preferably, in a social setting,
such as a party at the house where his parents would be present. Tom made it clear to me that
the interested gentleman would answer to him. I later found out, much later, that Tom was a
Merchant Marine.
The parties at my parents’ house during those years was a time where my stepfather would
showcase his talent for fine food, wine, and good conversation with friends, co­workers,
business associates, and neighbors. While the house was ready to warmly entertain, it wa my
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2. job to greet each guest at the front door, hang up their coats in the hall closet, take each guest
to the bar to get a drink order, and make introductions. I was not a great bartender, but I could
serve wine. No beer was ever served, but Martinis and other mixed drinks were available for
enjoyment. On one occasion, Tom prepared a gourmet dinner complete with Oysters on the
Half Shell and Escargot. With hor dourves plentiful and with good spirits flowing, this was an
enjoyable time.
I ran track in Junior High School and High School five years in a row. I made an honors
grade in my fifth year of Latin class, a letter grade of an “A” in Advanced Biology, and a “C” in
Honors English. “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville just did not make sense to me at that time. I
did graduate from Parkway Central High School with a 3.48 GPA. My brain did not rot out.
Because of the economic climate at the time that I graduated high school in 1983, I decided
to attend the local state college, the University of Missouri­St. Louis, live at home, and pursue a
degree that I thought at that time could be used anywhere, Business Administration.Later on, I
added a Minor in Art History to the degree simply because I enjoyed the subject.
My stepfather passed away during my first or second year of college, and I was devastated.
I was lost without this guide post. A year or two later, my mother met someone else, they
married, and they decided that it was time for me to move out on my own. Well, I had to change
my plans. The University of Missouri­St. Louis, at that time, was a commuter college with no
dorm rooms. I somehow found a place to live and worked my way through college; first at a
local dry cleaners and then a small privately owned retail store in Creve Coeur, MO.
My grades dropped to a “C” average and for the first time in my life, I received a “D” in a
class. I graduated college in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a
Minor in Art History. My GPA was a 2.453.
In 1996, I was hired at Hunter Engineering Company in Bridgeton, MO into the Marketing
Information Department as a Territory Management Clerk. I managed the sales and service
territories in a computer database, revising and updating contracts, a yearly direct mail project,
and supporting the Regional and Divisional sales managers with special projects. It was during
this time period that I worked with several people who would eventually agree to be my
professional references. I worked with Mr. Woolverton, a Regional and Sales Manager by
managing the sales and service territories that he was directly responsible for and any special
projects that he would request. Mr. Woolverton would remind me to “dot my i’s and cross my
t’s.” He would be a person that my stepfather would be proud to invite to a party. It would still
be my job to greet him at the door, introduce him to guests, and take his initial beverage order.
While working at Hunter Engineering, I began to attend the evening college for my post
baccalaureate premedical classes. I contacted the U.S. Navy and talked to Lt. Julie Svotney
about the Navy Medical Officer Program. That program would pay for medical school once I
gained admittance.
After working all day in the Marketing Department, I would hurry to class, trying not to be late.
In my first and only physics class, a two semester class, I met Dr. mary Leopold, adjunct
professor for physics. I would constantly ask questions, sometimes study, sometimes cram for
the next weekly quiz, do the nightly homework, and look forward to talking to Dr. Leopold after
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3. class.
During one of my questions, she stopped me in mid sentence, and said that this is taught in
an advanced level physics class. I could not wait. Was she teaching the class? Well, her
answer was not enough to satisfy my curiosity. This next level physics class was not required
to gain admittance to medical school. Occasionally, Dr. Leopold and I would meet to have lunch
and I never got an answer to my physics question. At least, not yet. I ended the two physics
classes with a letter grade of an “A.” After working full time for seven years at Hunter
Engineering and taking physics, calculus, biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry from UM­St.
Louis in the evenings, my GPA was a 3.123. I would be introducing Dr. Leopold at the family
party.
In 2002, I met someone who has a PhD in Chemistry. He was working on lasers at Cutting
Edge Electronics in O’Fallon, MO. The company was bought by Northrop Grumman Space
Technology, and his job basically transferred to Redondo Beach, CA. He asked me to go with
him.
In 2003, I moved with him to Redondo Beach, CA. From 2003 to 2006, I was unable to get
any type of job other than a smattering of temporary positions and a couple of volunteer jobs.
Around 2005, I received a tip that a former sales representative from Hunter Engineering
Company, Jerry Giardullo, started a small business in Oceanside, CA, near San Diego. With
this being about 80 miles away, I had to decide to relocate once again. But this time, it was for
my own career.
I moved to Oceanside and worked for Mr. Giardullo as an Administrative Coordinator. I was
responsible for producing and tracking purchase orders, compiling a customer management
list, shipping and receiving, tracking inventory, answering the telephone, filing and organizing
the marketing literature, typing quotes and sales leads. One of the customers for Mr. Giardullo’s
company is Pat Dolbeck and Sgt. Polemini with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. This
customer set the tone and pace for Mr. Giardullo’s office. After working in this office for eleven
months, I was told that I was no longer needed at his company. So for one week, I enjoyed a
camping trip along the shoreline of Calsbad, CA where I studied the flight of the Pelicans and
Seagulls near Miramar, Camp Pendelton, and the Army/Navy Academy. I packed my car,
placed all of my belongings into storage, and headed back to Los Angeles. I have been working
at Macy’s in Manhattan Beach since leaving Oceanside. Even though brief, my contact with Ms.
Dolbeck and Sgt. Polemini left a definite mark on me. I would be introducing both of them at
that family party.
In August 2010, I worked for Barry Freeman and his new company, My Alumni Apparel. I
continued to work for Macy’s on a part time basis in the evenings. This was to be my escape
from retail and gain additional work experience in an e­commerce business. In four days, I put
together a website for Mr. Freeman, which I never did before, and taught myself the basics of
the business of selling sportswear online. After discussing with my co­workers about the lack of
pay for three weeks, we decided to close the office doors. The job with Mr. Freeman lasted for
a total of six weeks. Mr. Freeman would be playing his guitar at my step father’s party with no
introductions needed. Mr. Freeman passed away a few months ago.
Because I gained the knowledge of selling sportswear online and since I am still working for
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4. Macy’s, I decided to use my 2011 tax return to begin my own e­commerce business, Sportswear
by Rosemary Mrazik. I contacted LegalZoom.com, obtained the business name, and have yet
to get the reseller's certificate.
With this year’s tax return, I decided to purchase a small, undeveloped plot of land in
Nevada. I found ¼ of acre of land two miles from a small town, Cresent Valley. For $ 350.00, I
am the proud owner of camping ground close to the Shoshone and the Cortez Mountains
Ranges. If needed, I can retire at the small town where they have a post office, library, an RV
Park, and a small airplane landing strip. I would continue to build upon my internet business.
So, what do I have to work with? I have a bachelor’s degree, several classes completed
going towards a medical degree, work experience in an engineering company, my own
business, ¼ of an acre of land in Nevada, a 401(k)plan, and an interest in physics. I lost
momentum due to unemployment. I lost the time and income to finish my classes to gain
entrance to medical school. I past the age limit for the U.S. Navy’s Navy­Medical Officer
Program, and my car.
So, where do I go with all of this? My small business needs the time and attention to
complete some of the details, including a re­sellers certificate. That is simply a telephone call to
LegalZoom.com to finish the paperwork. I will then need to complete an application with the
Department of Defense to do business with them, hopefully establishing the DOD as my first
customer, followed by each branch of the military.
I would like to complete an advanced degree, either in medicine or a PhD in Physics. How I
will complete this remains a question that I need to look at closely. I would like to once again
study the flight of the Pelicans and Seagulls along the shoreline of Calsbad, CA Near Miramar,
Camp Pendelton, and the Army/Navy Academy. I have an interest in attending MIT or Harvard.
I plan to continue adding to my retirement through my 401(k) and purchase more land each
year with my tax return. I am looking at a ¼ of an acre of densely wooded land outside of St.
Louis, MO for $1000.00.
For transportation, I purchased a moped by taking out a loan from my 401(k).
After about twenty­five years, I regained contact with many from my high school, my sister
Karen, and my step­brother David Cobb. Any introductions at a future party would be to them.
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