8063
8063 Dave Neely
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Hi folks, I have come to believe
that there are three levels of tasks
1. A Job which you
can quit
2. A Career which you can retire from
3. A Calling which continues as long as you are
physically and mentally able
I am very lucky that my choices
led me to find my true calling which is improving other people’s lives. I believe that I have made a positive difference
for many people during my 80 trips
around the sun
Choice #1
I graduated from high school as an Ontario Scholar and
received a 4-year tuition scholarship from Waterloo University. Since I could
not afford the living expenses, a friend told me about RMC, I applied
successfully and have never regretted that decision. During my RMC adventure, I wanted a career as
a pilot, flying 104’s was my dream. I
became a life-long Frigateer, which is a very special bond and was told that I
was in the same room that Billy Bishop had.
I was never a fan of running
circles and found ways to avoid them.
Thanks to Ron Dickenson, I joined the pipe band which meant hot food, no
morning inspections, so fewer circles. I also became a lifelong fan of bagpipe
music. I memorized the names of the Old
18 to avoid getting circles and I still can recite them as if I was in first
year. I challenge anyone to try to beat me without looking them up. If & when I cannot recite them, I will
know it is time to hang it all up.
A class senior in first year, I received the cake for the Cakewalk. We hid a
repeater in the sewer and threw the cake to him. We had people flushing the
toilets in McKenzie Building, so no 2nd year member got a piece from
the cake. Doug Haunts family was a great
help in getting survival equipment for the sewer guy and Doug recently
mentioned that we were the only class ever to succeed at the event.
Choice #2
I left RMC in 3rd year to become a father.
Since I never had a real father, it became my priority, so I retired from a
potential military career to begin a new career with IBM Canada in Hamilton ON,
and my new calling of being a good father.
I eventually became an IBM “Soft Skills” instructor for a year in
Toronto and found my true calling: i.e. Helping people to have a more positive life.
Choice # 3
I retired from IBM in 1986 to become an unemployed student to finish my Degree
at Queens and to focus on my true calling as a professional Speaker. My
favourite topic is Emotional Intelligence and I try to make it part of every
workshop or presentation.
I will complete my 80th trip around the sun in June and have
chosen to “semi-retire” from my calling. I am still helping people and I will never stop
as long as I can make a positive difference in someone’s life. In fact, I want my epitaph to read: “He
made a positive difference” I also want a bagpiper to play at my funeral.
If Ron can still play, he can have the job.
My Adventures
1. As an unemployed student, I finished my degree at Queens and made the Dean’s
list, with straight “A”s, getting a BA in psychology
2. I won an amateur night contest
singing several Elvis Presley songs that I had sung for years as a hobby. There
was a rock and roll band and I just borrowed a guitar. As it turned out Carl Perkins’ band was in
the audience and his manager asked me to come to Nashville-. FYI Carl wrote and
sang Blue Suede Shoes before Elvis started to sing it.
I chose not to follow it up. Although singing
was a great hobby, it was just not my calling.
Carl’s band was in Toronto to appear on Second City, and when I went
back to receive my trophy, they were there again with John Candy. We all had beers together – it was a hoot!
3. I participated in a two-part contest
as a standup comedian. On the first
night I was the funniest person on stage mainly because I use a set of my
funniest jokes that I had used for years. On the second night, all the best
jokes had been used and I was not only anxious, but I was the worst person on
stage. A career as a comedian seemed unlikely, however I use comedy at lot in
my training and coaching process since comedy makes people feel more positive
4. As part of my Emotional
Intelligence workshop, I use a Dammit Doll as a tool for people to safely vent
their negative feelings. You can “Google” it if you are curious. A few years ago, I was delivering a workshop
in a Nunavut Community and there was a very quiet and introverted women across
from me in the U-shaped setup. When I
passed the doll around, she started to beat the heck out of it, to everyone’s
surprise. She later shared that when she
pounded the desk with the doll, all of the bad memories and demons from
Residential School Abuse left her body and her soul – she felt them leave. It is my proudest moment as a trainer.
5. My wife Dawn runs a group home
for psychiatric patients next to our house.
It is likely the best in the Kingston area and I help her as much as I
can. It turns out that we share the
calling of making people’s life more positive.
Hobbies
Barbership singing – I spent many years as a member of
the Kingston Townsmen Chorus. Sadly, many of the men that I sang with are no
longer with us. I am currently trying to
get a few guys together informally .
Gardening - My wife Dawn
and I have created wonderful gardens which most people comment on as they walk
by or ask if they can take pictures. The smiles on their faces tell us that we
are making them feel more positive
Playing Santa Claus – I have a
very good costume and look for opportunities to play Santa each year. As I got older, I didn’t need a pillow
anymore. We live two doors from a school and on the last day of school in
December, I put on the suit and hand out candy canes to the children. I become Santa for that period and the kids
love it. Many parents ask if they can have a family picture. I love it!
Contact Point dkneely1@outlook.com
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TOP ROW (L-R): Grandson Christopher, Son Brent, Son Craig, Daughter Virginia, Grandson Tri, Son Robbie FRONT ROW: Grandson Dawson, Dave Neely, Wife Dawn holding with Granddaughter Elena, Granddaughter Cai, Grandson Watson |
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