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From: SSG Howard Hodges
Date: 10/9/03
Time: 9:06:55 PM
Remote Name: 128.8.218.131
Thanks Katy for your question. Even though I worked at several Boy Scout camps (and later was Camp Director at one), Shady Trails was unique because of the supportive environment that was there. Our speech therapy classes were mostly in the morning, and then the ego-building (as I called them) activities happened in the afternoon. The techniques were helpful, yes. Of course, they probably have improved since 1962 when I last went there (Shady Trails closed due to funding in 1995. There's a website for it though.) But I didn't intentionally developed "rapid speech" to overcome my stuttering, it just worked out that way (we called it a "secondary mannerism" back then; I used another one, I "coughed" before I was going to block often. When the stuttering went away, I was left with the "secondary mannerisms>") However, it could also just be a part of my "hyper" (my analysis) personality and not be especially speech related. And yes...narrating air shows gave me CONFIDENCE, SUCCESS, and ENJOYMENT (and later pride) in my ability to do the job. It then made public speaking something that I looked forward to doing. Amazing what being forced into the "fire" can do for one. Hope this answers your question.