Corky served as Toastmaster for a meeting set to celebrate taxes and the end of tax season!  As Corky reminded us, if you’re upset with the amount of taxes you’re paying this year, be grateful you simply have an income.

Louis was Table Topics Master sharing some anecdotes about his personal efforts to avoid paying income taxes.  He prodded Russell, Carol, and Albert with questions regarding their views on taxes.  Russell shared with us his opinion that more tax money should be designated to help improve public education as well as offer adults affordable opportunities for professional development.  Carol entertained us with her story of being audited by the IRS!  As she put it, “Why are you picking on me?  I don’t have any money, people!”  The IRS seemed not to care; they audited Carol anyway.  Our emperor, Albert, told us his thoughts on what would be the best tax system – get rid of income taxes and have a national sales tax.  A proposal that even won support from Corky.

Darron, Robert, and Erin were the day’s speakers.

Darron gave his second speech from the Competent Communication Manual.  He titled it “John’s Wedding Speech”.  He shared with us the best-man speech he wrote for his best friend’s John’s upcoming wedding.  It was an entertaining, humorous speech about these two quiet, soft spoken bachelors, devoted wingmen to each other and their quest to each find the perfect woman to marry – a challenging quest to undertake in the bars of Austin.  Both found the woman of their dreams in slightly different ways, but supporting each other along the way.  It was a sweet, funny, and sincere speech – no doubt, it will be hit at the wedding reception!  We are looking forward to speech number three!

In his fifth speech, Robert discussed his recent adventures in “Speed Networking”.  As part of Robert’s new business adventure, he decided to go to an e-women’s networking conference to meet potential clients.  He was the only man among about 70 women.  Robert received a crash course lesson in reading and understanding the body gestures and facial expressions of quick thinking, businesswomen at work – everything from “the shoulder shrug” to the “moving on look”.  It was an experience that seemed to have a positive influence on Robert as he plans to go back for more with subsequent conferences.  An entertaining speech and we are hoping Robert will do more impersonations of women in the future!

Erin gave her tenth speech; it was titled “Nine Months”.  It was a farewell speech with the element of inspiration.  She opened the speech with a poem by Edgar Lee Masters titled George Gray – the same poem she opened her icebreaker speech with nine months ago.  Erin recounted what she learned from various fellow toastmasters.  Her stories and lessons evoked laughter and smiles from many – and of course, tears as well.  In one month, Erin will move to Portland, Oregon for her career.  She will miss us all.  Her speech reminded us to make the most of our surroundings:  Give each other love and support; don’t shrink from it or run from it. Embrace sorrow because to know it is to know happiness.  Most of all, answer the calls of ambition; strive to achieve more than you think you can and you will be stunned by where you end up, and the people you get to meet along the way.  Take to the seas my friends – I hope to see you out there.

Ribbon Winners:

Best Table Topic – Albert

Best Speaker – Darron

Most Enthusiastic – Erin

Best Evaluator – Patrick

Best Humor – Robert