NSA History and Past Presidents Council

NSA Founded in 1973

Cavett Robert, NSA Founder, was born in Starkville, Mississippi in 1907 on the Mississippi A&M campus where his father was a teacher. He graduated from Ole Miss in 1929 and obtained his law degree from Washington and Lee University. After practicing law in New York, he moved to Arizona in 1937 and established himself as a successful lawyer and insurance and real estate salesman. He began his career as a platform speaker in his early sixties and in 1972 he won the coveted Golden Gavel Award from Toastmasters International. In 1973 he founded the National Speakers Association. Currently that organization awards the prestigious “Cavett Award” and statue, annually, as their highest Award.

NSA Connecticut Chapter Founded in 2003

The Connecticut Chapter of the National Speaker’s Association (NSA-CT) was chartered in 2003. Abby Marks Beale, Susan Keane Baker and Marcie Shepard were driving forces behind the chartering. Abby, with Susan and Marcie’s help, had been running an informal speaker’s group in Connecticut for several years before the members of the group voted to become an affiliated chapter of NSA. Abby served as the chapter’s first president.

President’s Council

• Purpose: To serve the interests of the NSA-CT Chapter Board and its committees as time invested advocates for the continued growth and stability of the chapter.
• Vision: Promoting a sustainable resource and reference for incoming Presidents and their Board tapping into their knowledge and expertise as former NSA-CT Presidents