Ms. Small Goes to Antarctica



Wow - North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and now Antarctica!

Gail is excited to have completed her quest of visiting and experiencing all seven continents. To begin 2007, her dream and new year's resolution came true as she explored Antarctica! Gail reports, "It was truly a life experience!

Walking among thousands of penguins and being with international scientists was beyond anything I ever imagined. Seven layers of clothes kept me warm as did the warmth of the experience and the chatter of the penguins, my new friends.

Where has Ms. Gail been lately?

Speaking internationally! What a joy to share thoughts on self-esteem and creativity to audiences from many far away places around the globe.

International Experiences

February 2010 – Gail lectured on Goal Setting, Resolutions and Choices in Australia and New Zealand

August 2009: Gail & Dave returned to Europe to speak on Destinations in Europe

May 2009: Gail presented on creative writing and "thinking out of the box" in Bermuda and the Caribbean

April 2009: Gail was the keynote speaker and spoke on "Joyful CHoices" for the Womein In Leisure Services seminar in southern California

March 2009: Gail went to the Caribbean to lecture on tropical destinations 

February 2009: Gail & Dave spoke in the Canary Islands and Morocco. (See them riding donkeys through a Moroccan oasis)

Gail and Dave spoke in Egypt, Turkey, and the Greek Isles in November 2008.

Gail was a People to People Ambassador to Japan in July 2008

In May 2008 Gail and Dave spoke in the Baltic capitals

Gail lectured in New Zealand and Australia in April 2008

February 2008 found Gail speaking in the Caribbean

In December of 2007 Gail spoke throughout Asia including China, Japan, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Singapore, Thailand

In November, Gail spoke in Mexico

Gail traveled September & October of 2007 speaking in the Mediterranean

Gail brought in the New Year 2006 and 2007 giving inspirational and motivational talks on international cruise ships

Gail conducted a seminar on Choices at the William Glasser Institute in Japan

International seminars at sea on creativity and exploring writing techniques

People to People Ambassador to Austria, Australia, China, England, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Scotland, Sicily, Wales and Washington DC

TV and Radio

LIVE Radio on KMED in Oregon. Once again a featured guest on The Dianne Linderman Show. Discussed international travel and being an ambassador

On February 8, 2007 Gail returned as a featured guest on the award winning hit television talk show KidsTalk Productions. Voices of Tomorrow airs on Channel 6. Her topic ~ Being an American Ambassador. (Previously Gail was featured on the television segment, "Let's Cook Up a Storm" with Master Chef Antonio Frontera.)

Special guest on the highly popular show A Night of Insight for KIRN 670AM - A two hour radio interview with host Arjang Zendehdel

Special Events Speaker for William Glasser Institure West Region Conference on the topic of The Joys of Children

Keynote speaker at HOBY Conference. HOBY is an international Youth Leadership Program founded by Hugh O'Brian. Dr. Albert Schweitzer inspired Hugh O'Brian to reach young people to empower them to attain their highest potential. The HOBY motto teaches students, "how to think, not what to think."

Judge for Time Warner Cable creativity contest, titled "Time 2 Seuss"

People to People World Leadership Forum Facilitator in Washington, DC

Attended Scripps National Spelling Bees in Washington DC

Literacy for a Better World Fair - Author presentation in Los Angeles, CA

Guest author for Read Across America in San Fernando Valley, CA

Presentation to "Father's Heart" Father's Day Weekend

Speaker in Calabasas at Full Circle Learning special event: See Tomorrow Through the Eyes of Today's Global Youth 

Celebrate the Family Conference - Ventura, CA. Gail presented "Bringing Quality Into Your Parenting."

Educational Venues

Gail participates in the Moorpark College Service Fairs to encourage volunteerism. The college has dedicated the academic year 2009-2010 to being a Year of Service.

Guest speaker at Pierce College on Choices and Positives

Engaging seminar at California State University Northridge, CA, exploring the secrets of teaching and parenting. Celebrating Gails's book, Joyful Learning!

Presenter on Choices to California Lutheran University graduate students

Speaker at University of California Santa Barbara on Choices

Speaker at 2006 California State Conference - Home Schooling

Twice guest speaker for Reading Night at Walnut Canyon School in Moorpark, CA

Spoke in Hawthorne School District on literacy and the joys of teaching!

Spelling, Motivation and Enrichment presentations with multi-aged students at Open Classroom, Conejo Valley, CA

Lennox School District...
Author presentation and a special ~ first ~ Spelling Bee!

Conejo Valley Elementary School Assembly in Thousand Oaks, CA

Acacia Elementary School in Thousand Oaks, CA

Inspirational / Motivational Lectures

November, 2009 - Gail was the featured speaker in Macon, Georgia, at Morgan School on the topics of creativity, writing, choices, and the Joy of Learning

Gail returned on November, 2009, to speak for ORT in Camarillo, California. This time the topic was the "Joys of Life"

Gail spoke Oct. 30th at the United Way and Ventura County Community Foundation kick off of Green Initiative

Guest speaker at Ventura County Volunteer Coordinators Council, October, 2009

"Hot Topic ~ Joyful Volunteering" was the name of a presentation given to United Way of Ventura County, Camarillo in the Fall of 2009

Guest speaker at Healthy Start, Los Angeles, October 2009

Women in Leisure Services Seminar - Keynote speaker on Stress Management on the topic of "Joyful Choices"

Ernst & Young - Working Mother Keynote Speaker for multi-state broadcast

Phi Delta Kappa - Spoke on What's Working in Families & Schools in Ventura County

Featured speaker for the Woodland Hills Woman's Club

Speaker for Writer's Showcase for California Writer

National League of American Pen Women in southern CA

Featured speaker to ORT members in Camarillo, CA

Presentation at AAUW Annual Breakfast

Parenting seminar in Simi Valley, CA

Guest Speaker at Pacific Regent in La Jolla, CA

Guest speaker for American Association of University Women

Book Signings

Book signing at Barnes and Noble in Westlake, CA

IBook signing at the San Fernando Valley Community Spelling Bee held at St Bernadine's Church in Woodland Hills, CA

Story presentation and book signing at Borders in Simi Valley, CA

Barnes and Noble in Westlake, CA gave a sendoff and good luck to Kendra Yoshinaga as she and Gail left for the National Spelling Bee

Russo's Bookstore in Bakersfield, CA

Twice appeared at Storyopolis in Studio City, CA

Appeared twice at Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop in La Verne, CA

The new Westwood Library in Los Angeles

What's New with
Ms. Gail...

March 20, 2010 - Gail to participate and speak on volunteering at The Green Expo in Woodley Park, Encino

April, 2010- Gail and Dave will lecture on a major cruise line about destinations in the Caribbean

May 16, 20l0- Gail and colleagues of WAN (Women's Artistic Network) will be at The East County Book Festival in the public plaza outside of the Simi Valley Public Library

June- Gail speaks in the Caribbean on the topic of Caribbean destinations, culture, and personal experiences

July- Gail returns to China as a People to People Ambassador

Ongoing: Gail continues to consult and speak at schools and other venues to create enthusiasm on writing and joyful living


Gail Climbing Mt. Fuji...