We are all pleased to feature one of our very talented tellers Scott Fairbanks. If you have had the pleasure of hearing Scott tell a story you know his amazing skill at surprise endings and his ability to make you laugh through his use of timing and humor. Scott deepens and enriches our group by sharing his talents.

To better know Scott it is best to start with where he grew up (he says not really-I'm never gonna grow up). Scott comes from Emery County Utah and describes it as a rural setting similar to Delta, Colorado. He grew up with five siblings and describes his growing up years as very sheltered. He joined the U.S. Marine Corp in 1991 and served until 1998. In the Corp he met young men from all over the country and experienced a huge range of differences both in their values and character and how he was raised. From these years of 'real life education' he learned the valuable lesson of seeing the brotherhood of all mankind and he learned to find the goodness in everyone. He also learned to treat everyone as 'important.'

The years spent in the Marine Corp prepared him for the next chapter of working for two years in Detroit Michigan where he was exposed to many different cultures, languages and a wide range of people expressing different 'principles of common decency' depending on the country they came from. Another huge growth experience for Scott!

Scott then began his college studies in 2002 at Mesa State in the field of finance and marketing. He completed his bachelor's degree in 2011 through the University of Phoenix. He is the only one of his siblings who has earned a college degree. This degree has complimented nearly 20 years of work in the business world and Scott has found that the principles of finance fit quite well with his personal values.

In the realm of travel Scott has visited Mexico, Vancouver, B.C., and many states. In the area of hobbies and interests he is a passionate fly fisherman and is creating a business around this sport. He is currently working on a book which is a basic tutorial to help people get started with inexpensive equipment and will guide them to places they can go for good fly fishing. Scott is also involved in scouting, loves to hike and sing (has sung with a Barbershop Quartet in the past) and declares himself as 'the titanium chef.' He says that improvisational cooking is his specialty. By this description of Scott few of us would know that although he likes performing in front of groups, making presentations and providing tr

Scott found his way to Spellbinders via the RSVP Volunteer Fair Booth and began telling in 2010 at Orchard Avenue to 4th and 5th grade classes. He is currently telling to 4th graders at Chipeta and 5th graders at Rocky Mountain. Scott's four children and a niece, who lives with him, are his biggest fans. He truly enjoys the reaction of his listeners and loves being recognized by them in and around town. He has a vivid imagination and loves to leave the real world behind. One of his treasured memories was telling to adults in the Mariner's Club, 20 years his senior, and watching them transport into the imaginary world just like children.

Favorite stories or poems: Casey at the Bat, The cremation of Sam McGee and Custard the Cowardly Dragon (part 1 & 2). Beside the classroom settings he also tells to Scouts around the campfire and at hunting parties; bedtime stories to nieces and nephews, and even adults who seem to enjoy a diversion from the real world.

Wisdom to pass along: "I have learned that I need to relax and have fun more often in my routine life. I continue to nurture my imagination and like to learn new stories. I think we can all learn to take ourselves less seriously and find reasons every day to be cheerful and grateful

Thanks Scott for sharing your rich story with all of us and thanks so much for serving on our Spellbinder Board.