Motivational Speaker for the "Run the World" Camp, 2012

At a recent Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas event I met Mr. Luis de la Garza, President and CEO of Texen Power. He overheard me giving some motivational advice to one of the Girl Scouts.  A few days later I received an email from him recommending me and asking me if I could be a Speaker at an event that Ms. Clarisa Medina, another Girl Scout, had organized at Jefferson High School in San Antonio, Texas, as part of a Camp, "Run the World," that she established.  I was honored! I arrived to find one of the most ambitious, far beyond her years, young girl that I've met in a very long time. Clarisa wowed me with the big group of girls that she has that were my audience that day.  They were so well behaved and attentive, absorbing every word of my one-hour talk! I'm pictured above, afterwards, doing an autograph signing for these special girls. By the way, Clarisa was recently awarded the first ever "Bill Gates Millenium Scholarship" to the college of her choice. I knew this small, young girl was up to big things!! CONGRATULATIONS, Clarisa.  To see other wonderful Girl Scouts events that I've had the pleasure/Honor of attending like the "Gamma Sigme Investiture Ceremonies" and being a Guest Speaker on a "Healthy Body Images" in the Media Panel, please, click here: (http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Girl+Scouts)

Becoming a News Reporter/Correspondant for CYBEREPORT!

I'm very happy to announce/share that I am the newest addition to the CYBEREPORT News Reporter team or "Voices" as they are called on this new MSN.com type Internet News network created by the Italian Telecommunications Guru, Mr. Roberto Masiero.
My first assignment was very exciting and fulfilling as it took me to the 1st hometown I had in the US when I arrived from my native, Venezuela in 1976. The MOST elegant city in the US, San Francisco.  I got to don one of my brother's vintage NIKOLAKI gowns www.nikolakidesigns.com , work the Red Carpet...I mean, literally, as the Red Carpet Correspondant at the NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) West Coast Gala. I interviewed, in Italian (getting to use one of the Languages of the  Magna Cum Laude degree I earned from UCLA, Double Majoring in Italian and French Literature). Click here for videos of all the interviews: http://www.cybereport.com/public/interview-niaf-gala-2012-8938.html

Interviewing the President of NIAF, John Viola

Below left, with one of the Honorees, Mrs. Anna Paola Snaidero, VP of Advertising and Public Relations of Snaidero USA-the exquisite high end kitchen designs. She received the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Business.

To the right, with the Ecological Visionary and Genius, Mr. John Legnitto, VP and Group Manager for the San Francisco Region at Recogoly. He received the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Environmental Citizenship.
It was such a small world to find out that Mr. Legnitto and one of my dearest friends and CBS, SURVIVOR FIJI Castmate, Sylvia Kwan (President of Kwan Henmi Architecture) are friends! Here I am with Sylvia.

 Stay tuned to CYBEREPORT www.cybereport.com for many MORE interviews with the rest of the Honorees: Roberto Crea, Ph.D. CEO, Founder and President of CREAGRI Inc. Awarded for his achievement in Biotechnology (Science and Medicine), Aili and Andres Mc Connon, Co Authors of "Road to Valor", receving the Mazzei Award in Thought Leadership for their outstanding contributions to research, scholarship & innovative thinking, Kim Polese, Chairman of Clear Street Inc., who received the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Technology and Jeffrey M. Capaccio, Esq.-the Regional VP for the far West (north) NIAF and the Gala Co-Chair.Below is an intro preview to the video interviews...Stay Tuned!  For more images from the even, please, click here:  http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/media/set/?set=a.10150990698368856.449054.110762143855&type=1 and here: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/media/set/?set=a.10150990637833856.449045.110762143855&type=1

 

Coaching Miss USA Winners!

I'm so THRILLED and proud of  Miss Maryland USA 2012, Nana Meriwether. She just became 1st Runner Up at the Miss USA Pageant!!  Above, I'm pictured with her when she ran for Miss California. Click below to read more about Nana: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=My+Beauty+Pageant+Coaching+Pays+Off

The first 1st Runner Up that I Coached was Miss California USA 2006, the equally striking, Tamiko Nash who a few months after becoming 1st Runner Up to Tara Conner at the Miss USA 2006 Pageant (upper left), Came VERY close, for a second time! to becoming Miss USA, Click here to remember why: http://www.escoop.com.au/miss-usa/.   To the right,  I'm in the middle of my 2 beauties, Tamiko and Jessica after Coaching them and helping them win  their respective Miss California and Miss Teen California USA 2006 titles!

My 2nd First Runner Up was even more controversial than what happened with Tara Connor. Like Nana and Tamiko, Carrie took my "Stage Presence/Runway Modeling" Group Lessons at the Miss California pageant.  To the right, I am with Carrie the night that she won Miss California USA 2009. Above, left, with my 1st Miss USA winner that I Coached to that win! Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008.  Click here to  read about the scandal that ensued following Carrie's answer to Miss USA Judge, Perez Hilton's question re/Gay Marriage: :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Prejean#Miss_USA_2009_controversy

Receiving the "Call to Service Award" given by the President of the United States

Receiving the "Service to Call" Award from Mr. Jose Alejandro, Founder and Director of VOS Flipswww.vosflips.com

Mr.& Mrs.Valentin, the people responsible for nominating me for this prestigious Honor

I recently received the Highest Honor in Volunteerism given by The President of the United States. Thanks to an introduction by whom I refer to as a "Guardian Angel" because he's always putting me in front of anyone and everyone he can to help me any way he can, Eugene Williams.  Last year, he asked me to help him Co-Host a Silent Auction: click here: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Co+Host+of+Longhorn+Live+Radio+Show%2C+2011  Sitting next to me was Mrs. Marie Valetin, President & Co-Founder of the Monte Christo Center for Voluteer Development.  I immediately made myself available asked her to, please, call on me, should she feel I could help her in any way.  One of the events I was so happy to be a part of was a Food Drive: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Emceeing+the+Tejano+Octoberfest .  Here we are, last summer, receiving an award from Esperanza Calvillo (middel) for "Mentorship" in the San Antonio Government's Summer Ambassador Program that she directs.I've always said that my experience on SURVIVOR FIJI has been the gift that keeps on giving to me in ALL areas of my life. I'm so very grateful that I try to use it as much as a gift to give back to others.  Heck, I know I didn't go out there and starve/dehydrate for nuthin'!  I've also always had a winners/positive mentality so I had to make it a winning experience. I NEVER dreamt that it would lead to me winning this AMAZING "Lifetime" Achievement Award in Volunteerism: The President of the United States "Call to Service Award."   This is one of the BIGGEST Honors I've ever received. THANK YOU so much to my dear friend,  Mr. Eugene Williams and to Marie Valentin for making this moment of happiness and pride possible for my family and me.  I was so verklepmt, I thought I was receiving an "Emmy"...no, really!!!  Check it out, ha, ha, ha:If you'r interested in becoming a Volunteer with the Monte Christo Volunteer Center, please click here:www.centerforvolunteerdevelopment.weebly.com

Rappeling over the edge of a 32 story Bldg.in downtown Austin to help "Make a Wish" come True!

I'm so happy to have gotten to help the "Make a Wish" Foundation in the past several years: At my most recent collaboration, Click here: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Make+a+Wish I met Mr. Chad Wicks, Director of Marketing Communications and Events for the Austin Chapter of "Make a Wish" Foundation (to the right) A couple of months later, he asked me if I could be a "Celebrity" Rappeler as a part of their "Over the Edge" fundraising event in Austin.   As you can imagine, being on SURVIVOR, cured me of pretty much every fear-even my greatest one which is of the "unknown."  I've NEVER rappeled so I figured if I was gonna do it, it was definitely going to be as a way of giving something back, cuz Lord knows I wouldn't have signed up to do this out of my own accord, just like I didn't sign up for SURVIVOR, btw... These adventurous things just always seem to find me...and I am so glad:) 

Getting geared up!

The team was so professional.  It was fun, but for some reason, I thought my feet would stick to the edge of the building, à la "Spiderman,"  ha, ha, ha, but they didn't :(  and that FREAKED me out!!! I'm not gonna lie!

Other than that, the view of the Capitol Building was breaktaking..or wait, was it the fact that I was dangling over the edge of a 32 foot Bldg. what was making not breathe..ha, ha, ha!

• So let's see: 
• Jumping out of a Plane: check!
• Being on SURVIVOR FIJI, the ADVENTURE of a lifetime: check!
• Rappeling a 32 story Bldg: check! 

These are things on a "Bucket List" that I don't even have!  As I always sing:  "I sit and talk to God & he just laughs at my plans!" (FEEL, Robbie Williams)...because He seems to have better, definitely more adventurous plans for me. I can't wait to see what's next! I have an idea, but I guess even I will have to STAY TUNED to find out:)
* Thank you to Erin Molloy for the wonderful photographs!:www.erinmolloyphoto.com.

LIVE Event Host! for Green Fields Grocery Grab!

COME ON OUT to the 2nd GREEN FIELDS MARKET Grocery Grab!!

Why? Because the first one was a BLAST!!  Watch/Read Below:

Recently, I  Emceed this a really fun event..the 1st  GREEN FIELDS MARKET Grocery Spree! 5 LUCKY Green Fields Market customers were given a chance to win ALL the groceries they could fill their shopping carts with in 60 seconds, PLUS a $100 gift card to GREEN FIELDS MARKET.  These ladies weren't messin' around. It reminded me of my  SURVIVOR FIJI challenges, where my tribe AND I were also vying for food!! LOL. "SURVIVORS Ready? ...Oopsy, I meant, GREEN FIELDS MARKET Shoppers Ready? and OFFFF they went!!  and the Winner Is? (to the right) Katherine Hawk, who, by the way, received the call that she had won the opportunity, in the middle of a dinner party at her home. Now, she won herself more than enough food to Host another dinner party...actually, she cleaned out the meat department!! Fortunately, GREEN FIELDS MARKET is known for keeping all their Departments fully stocked with the Freshest Products. In fact, I'm not just a hired Emcee for them..I'm a client (yes, that sounds familiar... I copied the catch phrase of that hair growth product...LOL)  Anyhoo, the stint on SURVIVOR FIJI left my intestines pretty beat up... I know, you're surprised by that...ha, ha, ha.  Thankfully, I found the products I needed to restore my intestines back to health at GREEN FIELDS MARKET! Special thanks to Rudy Arispe, President of Arispe PR and Mr. Marco Guerrero, President of the Tejeda Agency for hiring me to Emcee this event and also to Mr. Fred Perez, GREEN FIELDS MARKET store Director and all of his Employees!

My Beauty Pageant Coaching Pays off, AGAIN!!

America Fuzell, Miss Palmdale 2012!

I just returned from Palmdale, California, a city that takes its Beauty Pageants SERIOUSLY!!  Through my work as the Stage Presence/Runway Modeling Coach for the Miss Caifornia USA Pageant for the past 8 years, I was hired by a wonderful family to Coach their youngest daughter, America, for the Miss Palmdale pageant.  I worked with her all last week, polishing her interview skills, her skit, and MOST of all and what I've become known, respected and sought after for:  Stage Presence and Runway Modeling.  As I mentioned, Palmdale takes their Beauty Pageants VERY seriously so this poor girl was STRESSED out. My poor girl had a meltdown just days before the pageant thinking about EVERYTHING I had taught her:  posture, choreography, hair & makeup for interview, for the gown, how to conduct her interview answers etc.etc.  After a much needed cry, I was able to reel her back...Hook, Line and Sinker for the WIN!!!  Here she is, the newly crowned, Miss Palmdale, America Fuzell. I'm so grateful to the Fuzell family for trusting me. Coaching "Miss" America (her name is America!)  was a Blessing,  THANK you, America, for reaching out to Ms. Rita and for applying EVERYTHING I taught you. I'm THRILLED for you and sooo PROUD of you!! (Above, the Miss, Teen and Petite Palmdale winners)

America and her proud sister!

Miss Antelope Valley & the newly crowned Miss Palmdale

Miss Antelope Valley and Ms. Rita!:)

For more of my work as Beauty Pageant Coach, Click here: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Miss+California

My Beauty Pageant Coaching pays off!!

I'm so Blessed to do so many wonderful things to earn a living. One of those things is being the Stage Presence/Runway Modeling Coach for the Miss California USA Pageant. I'm forever grateful to the Miss Texas Pageant for when they asked me to be a Judge is when I had the fateful meeting with Keith Lewis, who first became my friend and then, as the Co-Director of the Miss California USA Pageant, asked me to come on board as his Official Stage Presence/Runway Modeling Coach. I've been on that "runway"  for the past 8 years! Enjoying every step I've taken alongside the gorgeous and talented girls I've been so priviledged to have met and Coached.
I'm so happy and proud to feature a couple of them as they are an example of one of my motto: PERSISTANCE beats RESISTANCE.  Even and sometimes, especially, when others may not believe in you, what's MOST important is that YOU don't stop believing in yourself. (I just sounded like a Journey song there..lol).  Seriously, though, faith is so VERY powerful.  I remember Coaching both of these girls, Mamta and Nana, both in big group sessions and Mamta hired me to Coach her privately.  Neither won the Miss California title, but they went on to become the winners I ALWAYS told them they were. I tell all my girls that it's up to them to make this experience a POSITVE one. If you don't win this crown, there's another one out there for taking.  Point in case, no one remembers the name of the 1986 Miss USA winner, but EVERYONE knows who Halle Berry is.  Eva Longoria didn't win the 1998 Miss Texas Pageant...That's what I'm talkin' bout!    Take a look at a couple of my girls, says the Proud Coach Ms, Rita:)

Nana Meriwether may not have won the Miss California USA crown, but she didn't give up. She found another way to make her dream come true..and THAT'S what it's ALL about..finding a way.  God helps those who help themselves folks!  So, she moved to another state and went on to become the Queen of that one!
http://www.pageantupdate.info/missusa2012/delegates/maryland.htm

Above, (for those who know my work as TV Host/Spokesperson, you'll be surprised to hear me behind the camera...see, I don't always need to be seen! LOL) teaching Mamta de Evening Gown walk a couple of years ago.  Mamta followed my "Persistance Beats Resistance" motto and, a couple of years later, walked her way into becoming the "Bebe it-Girl" winner!

Last nite, I received the following text from her that brought tears to my eyes: "Ms. Rita, I hope you remember me. I wanted to share this with you, and thank you so very much. I'd like you to know how much you influenced and inspired me..I cannot thank you enough! I hope you are doing very, very well."  Thank you to girls like Mamta who have not just outer beauty, but the inner beauty to remember me and Honor me with their success.  It makes me so happy to see that my "Ms. Rita" techniques are, indeed, effective and will make you a winner wherever you go!
For more of my work as Beauty Pageant Coach: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=miss+california

Special Guest at the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas Investiture Ceremony

Last year, I had a wonderful opportunity as a "Guest" Panel Speaker in a GIRL SCOUTS Forum about "Healthy Body Images" for girls/women:  http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=girl+scouts.  A few months ago, I was very happy to get invited to help induct 80 new middle school age members to become Gamma Sigma Pearls! Please, click here for more info:http://www.p16plus.org/grade-level/middle-school/gamma-sigma-pearls-make-harlandale-history/

At Charles Boggess Center, Harlandale ISD ..

with several of the Gamma Sigma inductees

CONGRATULATIONS to the Girl Scouts on their 100th Year Anniversary!  Below with  the exemplary Rose Gonzalez Perez, Interim President of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas.

Helping GRID Iron Heroes playing "Friday Night Lights" softball?

 A few months ago, Eddie Canales was so kind to include me in the lineup alongside "Friday Night Lights" actors' softball team vs. Local tv personalities to help raise funds for their foundation "Grid Iron Heroes."  I had a BLAST playing with these HILARIOUS big tv stars, who couldn't be more down to earth, btw.

Here are some fun videos of my team-aided home-run!  Here's my Victory dance, which I did to humour my kids who I was so happy to have there with me.  They'd argue and say I did the dance to embarass them.  We were in Cibolo at Pickrell Park for 2 nights of very competitive softball,  we lost to the hometown tv personalities, go Kens go!

Team "Hollywood" (blue) vs. Team "San Antonio"

with Jesse James (Y100)

Ernest James and Drew Waters

with former NFL Chicago Bears player Jeff Gandy

                                                                                                             Chris' father, Eddie, nominated "Top 10 CNN Hero" , left, THE Grid Iron Heroe, Chris Canales, above right.

my softball teammates and "Friday Night Lights" boys: Shane Black, Scott Jefferies, Drew Waters and Ernest James