Besides the on-camera chores, what other hats did you wear in your broadcast career? Which ones did you like most/least?
Oh my...from the bottom
up: Wires, wires and more wires, connections, connections and more connections.
My first out-of-studio shoot was Nancy Kerrigan's Homecoming to Stoneham, Mass.,
with her Gold Medal. All the networks were there, we were low man on the totem
pole and it was overwhelming. Cold, cold, cold and outside all day. Because it
was our community, a local shop owner let us take over his store front. We
cordoned it off, had heat, coffee, bathroom, etc. and none of the big boys
pushed us around. Wrap-up was something else. They were throwing monitors at me
from the top of the store outside, every wire, mic, cable had to be accounted
for, lifted, stored, and then taken back into the studio when we were done.
At times I acted as
liaison with the studio and my city hall, school department, and so on. It
sometimes made a difficult shoot; things like graduation and senior class plays
were easier when people were receptive and knew what to expect, as well as us
having heads up on what was expected of us.
I once got locked into
Massachusetts Emergency Bunker for the whole day as big wigs and all the
important people met to discuss emergency preparedness and such. It was a long
day, but fascinating none the less.
Hillary Clinton was at Regis
for the book It Takes a Village. We got an invite and we were off, equipment
and all. Pouring rain like you have never seen. Everybody's gear was soaked and
had to be piled for the Secret Service to check. A thousand blue bags for
cameras and gear, all soaking wet. Then we had to find ours and get set up. My
belt buckle set off the White House wand alarm and for a moment I thought I was
going to be asked to leave. Nope, just take off the belt. Hillary was amazing.
On a day that must have started for her about 6 a.m., at 6 in the evening she
looked fresh, beautiful and so much smaller and more petite than the TV cameras
show her. She had entertained her graduating class for lunch and had posed for
pictures with each and every one and their children.
As she approached this
horde of reporters, writers, and novice cable people, she was asked a question
and she answered it. Second question came fast and it had a bit of a bite to
it. As she answered she continued to walk toward us. Third question came
swiftly and it was definitely a tough one, asked by a Boston reporter.
"Was today's revelation about Mr. Clinton the most embarrassing for
you?" As he asked, excited as he was to have her attention, he leaned on
the velvet ropes attached to big, heavy, free-standing stanchions. He pushed too
far forward, the stanchions went over, first one BONG, then two Bong bong, then
three. State Police, White House guards, Secret Service, local police and
college police all came running in weapons drawn. In the marble walls of Regis,
this sounded like an attack for sure. Once all realized the blunder, Mrs.
Clinton answered his question, "No not at all. Was that your most embarrassing?"
and kept right on walking. I loved it. She later told me she was so glad that I
was there and a friendly face in the crowd. All I could say was "Me, too!"
Great stories, Veronica. I can just imagine the panic of the
Secret Service! According to your bio, you ran for Mayor and the
State House. Tell us a little about those times.
Always active in
community, I was once told "You take your citizenship to seriously"
by an alderperson. I went and ordered my gravestone with that inscription and
gave him the order form. He is no longer an alderperson.
I was not one to be
afraid of politicians or the political machine. I was overseeing 10 PTOs and
hubby was employed by the city. All we did was City, all we talked about was
City...so when our then Mayor was running unopposed once again, I just took it
upon myself to challenge him. It was fascinating, funny, educational, and at
times frightening. Some folks live, breath, eat, sleep and drink politics and
they take it much, much too seriously for themselves and our city. They forget
they represent us all, not just their beliefs, their opinions, what they
wanted. I came in second in the election.
The State House and the
YMCA do a program called "Youth and Government," where high school
students work all year learning about their legislature and the running of our
state government. Once a year they all meet at the State House for the weekend.
From all over the state. They elect Governor, Council, Legislators. They
appoint lobbyists. They write their bills, debate on the floor of the house,
win, lose, draw, mess up, fall flat on their fact or become orators beyond
their own beliefs. Our community never participated and I asked why. Typical
answer: lack of interest, financial considerations, blah, blah, blah. So...I
offered the after school program, got a teacher to sign on, and about 15
students showed interest. The courts funded it from the fines imposed within
the community and for about 15, maybe 20 years now, our high school has sent a
delegation to the State House in early March for an entire weekend. They are enthused,
they get it, they learn, learn, learn and they take what they learned with
them. My own daughter participated for three years and when in college she was
elected to the model UN in New York and was as enthused and educated as she had
been in this program. I did the program for about the first 10 years. I know
where everything is in the State House and even got into the dome at the very,
very top. Became acquainted with all the last five Speakers of the house and
Mr. Finneran even turned on the TV cameras of channel 2 so the folks that had
sent their children to the State House could watch in amazement at 400 kids
BEHAVING THEMSELVES. It's a great program and well worth doing.
You have a long, successful marriage with five accomplished kids. What are your secrets? Any tips for young parents of today?
I am the luckiest lady
alive, really. When my dysfunctional family dissolved, a neighbor was my best
friend, confident, anchor throughout a time of turmoil. When I left home at 15,
I left him behind. When we happened to meet again about 5 years later we never
missed a step. He was and still is my very best friend. As time went on I just
knew. He was a gentleman, he was respectful, loved his mom. Worked hard,
enjoyed what I enjoyed, enhanced my life, lifted my spirits, helped me over pot
holes on the highway of life and he loved me! Yahoo! We married in 1963 and he
is the same man I married. Still the gentleman, still respectful, still works
hard, still enjoys what I enjoy. He enhanced my life 1000000000000000000 fold
and he still loves me.
Our five children are a
bouquet of personalities plucked from the garden of life. Each one a definite
personality in their own right. Strong women, trail blazers, and hard workers.
All have his values and RESPECT is the #1. Our children, all adults now, have
never raised their voices to either of us, were never sent to their room or ever
heard, "Wait till your father gets home." Justice was meted out
immediately. Then, at the dinner table, (which is still set every night and
6:00 is mandatory suppertime) hubby (already informed of what had happened or
gone on) would always ask, "How was your day?" Whoever was on the hot
seat had the option of telling the truth, good bad or ugly, or taking another
route. They tell us now that was cruel and abusive punishment to have to tell
him what they did or didn't do. He handled it all with the same thought,
remembering when he was their age, and nobody ever died of fright or
punishment.
I would say RESPECT is
the underlying, most important center of our success and not Aretha Franklin singing
it at the top of her lungs in a spotlight. We respect them and they respect us.
Whatever you did, it seems to have been effective. More parents
could learn from you. Your advocacy work in Special Education began
close to home. Tell us about that.
My son, the first
Special Education Student in the state that we know of, went to Middlesex
Community College under the State of Massachusetts Dual Enrollment Program.
(Select juniors and seniors, with the appropriate grades and with the agreement
of Principal and Superintendent, can and do attend classes at community colleges.
When they graduate from High School they have enough credits to have a degree
from the Community College and are readily accepted into the four year college
of their choice. Massachusetts pays their tuition at the Community College as
long as grades and all guidelines are met.) He was and is developmentally delayed
and as such was watched like a hawk throughout his education. Monitors, aides,
teachers. All well intended and some of the best people and educators you would
ever want to meet. However, he was never encouraged to try his wings, make his
own decisions, choices, be independent and take on the world. So, I would drive
him to the campus about 30 minutes from the house. I would park the car and go
to a class for myself. Go to a lab and research a project, met a friend in the
coffee shop. (I was astounded when Middlesex Community College awarded me
scholarship along with an award. "People Who Make A Difference." I
put it on hold, as I was a bit busy with 5 kids all in school.) He had to get
to class, he had to find his seat, keep his materials together, listen, learn
and sit through a class sometimes an hour, hour and a half-- not like high school.
His first impression was, "Mum they don't ask to go to the bathroom. They
eat candy during class. Sometimes they go out and don't come back." All
this was part of his education as well as what he learned in his Cable TV
Production class. He was invigorated and excited. The Professor, from the old
school, flunked him. Refused to accept his homework and papers done with the
assistance of one of the first Apple 2 computers. She expected it hand written,
which was beyond him, and would not change her standards no matter how
accomplished he was. Yet another hard lesson in life he had to learn. By the
way, he already was a certified Cable TV Producer and did an annual program,
"Fire Engines on Parade," for cable.
When his next class was
computers, he was given an aide. Cute little blonde bumpkin who didn't have a
clue. She handled him like chocolate that was so sweet but would melt if
expected to put the heat on. I negated that help and he and I took computer
courses. I was all Apple and he was ambidextrous on any and all without benefit
of any instructions or manuals. I helped him with interpretation of what was
expected and he helped me turn the damn IBM thing on. As always it was an
experience I had never planned, but an adventure I would not have missed. We
both learned much and use our skills to this day. My scholarship paid my
tuition's and he was scholar shipped at graduation. Not by a committee of
educational excellence, not by the ladies club, but by a group of old American
Legion men who were tickled to give the scholarship to somebody they knew they
would not have to worry about.
What other kinds of community work do you do?
My mom made me aware
very early that there were things to do and if you could do it, what are you
waiting for. She taught me to ask a question and question the answer. It has
served me well.
I am not a small demure
ladylike figure. When I speak, people listen and always having done my
homework, know my facts, my rights and their foibles. My track record is pretty
good. Most of all I enjoy it. I ask nicely, politely and wait. When they
actually think they can and try to ignore me. There is always a way to get
their attention, make many laugh and they wish they had answered me or done
what I asked. I can remember when the community was going to close an
elementary school. We lobbied for months and couldn't get them to change their
minds. So we all showed up in maternity clothes and told them to get ready for
an influx. The school was not closed. When Handicap Parking places don't get
painted at a busy school drop off and I ask and ask and ask… Oh my they didn't
like it at all when they looked out their windows and saw son and me with a pot
of blue paint, painting the parking spots ourselves ! Amazingly enough when and
if I ask now, they are usually painted within a day or two. What I have learned
trailing along with my children has proven to be beneficial to others and it's
great to share. Special Education is a world unto itself and one doesn't forget
those hard won battles. I will always advise and accompany any parent to a SpEd
Meeting or Mediation. Sometimes my presence is enough to make the powers that
be behave. But...I don't say a word. I try to teach the parents they are the
best advocate for their children. I sit behind them with a 4 inch hat pin. I
tell them if they don't speak up loud and clear for their child I will stick
them with the pin. They do a good job, more afraid of me than the pin. I have
never had to stick anyone and the children as well as parents have always
benefited from the experience.
You have accomplished so much in your life. Is
there anything you wanted to do that you haven't gotten to yet?
Like I said when this
began, I am the luckiest lady alive. I can actually remember a time when I
didn't think I would ever see 21. Every dream I have ever dreamt, every wish I ever had has been gifted me in
triplicate. So much accomplishment has been dumped into my lap that I never,
ever expected. I guess in part "Luck of the Irish" as I was born
Veronica McGowan. Born with it, not educated to it.
The story goes I was christened on Armistice
Day. There was a blizzard in our home town. Mum wasn't staying in, as was the
custom then, with this kid one more day. She bundled me up and walked to the
church. The priest was my godfather, the cleaning lady my godmother. I was to
be Veronica Armistice McGowan. The priest saw the gleam in my eyes and knew
there would be no peace with me around and refused to name me Armistice. So I
have gone through life without a middle name, but I have lived up to his
expectations and more importantly I have enjoyed every minute.
How else would I have
met Nikki and many other famous and interesting people?
Life is good..
Veronica, thank you so much for your time and your wonderful
stories. It was a pleasure meeting you for Off
the Shelf-Books on Tour, and delightful getting to know you better. I’ll
let you know when Framed is made into a movie… If my gentle readers would like to see Veronica in action, here is the link to the interview we did for TV: http://cvp.telvue.com/player?id=T00910&video=131425
