For International President - Elect:
Michael Notaro, DTM
Region II
Home Club/District: Oakland City Center club/District 57 Governor
Job Title/Employer: Notaro Law Group/Attorney
Relevant Work Experience: Michael is an attorney, entrepreneur and educator. He founded his law firm on the golden rule of treating others the same way he would want to be treated; he specializes in assembling legal teams who achieve positive win-win solutions for all parties. Michael’s work requires active listening, analytical thinking, persuasive communication and creative problem-solving.
Education: Doctor of Laws (J.D.), Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, California; Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrial Societies, University of California, Berkeley.
Hobbies and Interests: Michael’s interests include Italian cuisine, swimming, hiking, Tai Chi, community service, jazz music, Pac-10 football and college alumni activities. He loves fishing on little Lake Whiplash in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Volunteer Experience: Michael is a volunteer for the Alameda Special Olympics, the Hope of America Awards, Alameda Baptist Church, the Kiwanis Club of Alameda, Alameda Elks Club Lodge, and the Federalist Legal Society. He is also a member of the Kaufman 100 Club, supporting the families of police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty.
Honors/Recognition Inside Toastmasters: Michael served as District 57 Governor in 2003-2004 and led his district to Distinguished status. As district Lt. Governor Education, he received the Excellence in Education and Training Award. As corporate club-extension chair, he helped sponsor 11 new clubs in one year.
Honors/Recognition Outside Toastmasters: Chairperson, Hope of America Awards; a graduation speaker at University of California, Berkeley; Italian-American Bar Board of Directors; member of Alameda County Bar Executive Committee; member of Crisis Pregnancy Services Board of Directors; and co-author of the popular legal-skills handbook for California attorneys, Law of Easements: Legal Issues and Practical Considerations.
Qualifications for Service: Michael brings a unique skill mix that includes a background in sales and marketing, financial development and legal-policy formation. A Toastmaster for 22 years, he credits Toastmasters for his personal and professional development. Michael nurtures a culture of sustained excellence throughout the world of Toastmasters. He is passionate, professional and responsive to member needs, and leads by listening, serving and using positive communication.
What Toastmasters has done for me: “Toastmasters has given me a wealth of friends worldwide and unparalleled professional growth. I have been blessed with caring and effective mentors who have made the process fun. Toastmasters has taught me the importance of priorities: I have learned that positive investments in people always pay big dividends and that excellence in leadership is solving problems before they arise.”
Contact Information: e-mail: mnotaro1@sbcglobal.net