Toastmasters 12/11/2013 Shownotes

Posted on December 12, 2013 Written by Nibby Priest

I was proud to be the official Toastmaster of Riverbend Toastmasters meeting on December 11, 2013.

The theme of our meeting was “The Christmas Machine.” I took the idea from one of our members Louann Clark’s podcast A Decided Difference.

We had some exciting speakers Kacie Mattox spoke about all the things her family does to create family memories.

Clydean Gish spoke on “Sew Sew Christmas” and how her and several of her friends are making (sewing) pillow dresses for children in foreign countries.

Many times when I speak I can’t help to give some sort of infomercial for something. And since many people are looking for just the right new electronic gadget to buy for unique Christmas gifts I showed off some gadgets that I refer to as the “Cable TV Replacement Toys“.

Well these devices cannot totally allow you to do away with the expensive cable tv but they sure can help.

The Devices are:

Google Chromecast -Most inexpensive gadget and the newest at $35.

Apple TV– The product that has been out the longest and most stable and works with iPad and iPhone and retails for around $100

Roku– Claims to have over 1,000 channels (some requiring subscriptions) and works with most TV’s and is the one that I use.

The best prices for these devices can be found at Amazon!

I recommend Amazon Prime. Try it out now for seven days and order your Chrismas gifts then cancel. I know thats cheating a little but it is a great service and well worth the $79 annual costs.

Buy Google Chromecast (this is a #1 best seller this year for Amazon)

Buy Apple TV

Buy Roku

Disclosure: Nibby Priest is compensated for some of the reviews and endorsements of products and services on this/his personal blog. Nibby may receive consideration for a review or endorsement, but he is totally unbiased and does not accept paid reviews or fake reviews claiming to be something they are not.

Ten Things to Know about Free Volunteer Tax Help (VITA)

Posted on January 29, 2013 Written by Nibby Priest

Each year millions of people have their tax returns prepared for free by IRS-certified volunteers. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs provide free tax help in communities across the country.

For information about our local VITA Program in Henderson KY

For information about our regional Green River Asset Building Coalition (Owensboro KY based)

If you will have the Intake/Interview form completed before you come in it will help the screeners.

Here are 10 things the IRS wants you to know about these programs.

1. The IRS sponsors both the VITA and TCE programs and works with community organizations to train and certify volunteers.

2. The VITA program offers free tax help and return preparation to people who generally earn less than $51,000.

3. The TCE program offers free tax help and tax return preparation with priority assistance given to people who are age 60 or older. The AARP Tax-Aide program is part of TCE and helps low to moderate income taxpayers. The IRS certifies this group of volunteers to specialize in retirement issues unique to seniors.

4. The VITA and TCE programs provide free electronic filing. An e-filed tax return means an accurate return. E-file combined with direct deposit is the fastest way to get your refund.

5. Using VITA and TCE can help ensure you get all the tax credits and deductions you may qualify to claim. For example, credits could include the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Credit for the Elderly.

6. The IRS continues to expand partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations to offer these vital services. Thousands of free tax preparation sites around the nation are opening in late January and early February.

7. Some sites have bilingual volunteers to assist people who speak limited English.

8. The IRS partners with the military to provide free tax assistance to military members and their families. Volunteers receive training on tax issues related to the military. These include special rules and tax benefits for those serving in combat zones.

9. This year at select sites, you have an option to prepare your own simple federal and state tax return. This option allows you to use web-based tax preparation software for free. This service can help people who need a little help or don’t have computer access prepare their own tax return. Volunteers at these sites guide taxpayers to help them prepare and file their own simple tax returns.

10. Local VITA site information is also available at IRS.gov. Search the word “VITA” and then click on Free Tax Return Preparation for You by Volunteers. Site information is also available by calling the IRS at 800-906-9887. To locate the nearest AARP Tax-Aide site, visit aarp.org, or call 888-227-7669.

My First Toastmasters Speech

Posted on December 5, 2012 Written by Nibby Priest

The first of November we started trying to organize a Toastmaster group here in Henderson KY. I have nothing but praise to say about this organization and those that are working to get Henderson KY Toastmasters a fully chartered chapter.

Thank you Louann Clark for all your efforts in getting this club going in our community. We need 20 members to charter and we are very close to that goal.

I volunteered on November 28, 2012 to give my ice breaker speech. In Toastmasters, the Ice Breaker speech is usually the first one people do, and it is one where you talk about yourself and your life.

If you know me well, you know that I love Dolly Parton- so my speech was about her but really not- it was about me!

“The Day I Met Dolly Parton”

It was spring of 1986 and the opening weekend of Dollywood – my senior year at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond Kentucky. I had earlier attended and graduated from our Henderson Community College with an associate of arts degree in 1984 and prior to that a 1982 alumni Henderson County Senior High. Ok so you don’t have to do the math, I am 48 years old.

That spring weekend in April of 1986 was a beautiful weekend. It was the weekend before the last finals of my college career.

I arrived in Pigeon Forge TN early that Friday afternoon to grab a good spot to see Dolly, who was giving a benefit concert that evening. I did manage to study some and I found myself shoving my books under the seat just moments before she came on the stage.

Well, in case you haven’t figured it out yet –I have a lifelong admiration for the superstar Dolly Parton. I like her not only because of who she is or her music but how she handles herself and shows genuine kindness. Like one of her quotes say- she has a brain under that blonde wig and a heart under those boobs!

I have met Dolly several times over the years and always am taken by her gentleness and her quick wit.

When it came my turn to greet her one time at a benefactor luncheon, she saw my name tag and asked, “Where did you get a name like Nibby?” I knew she didn’t have a long time, and I offered her a quick response, and since Dolly wanted to know I will share it with you all as well.

My parents Norris and Mary Elizabeth Priest were married in August of 1958 at the First Baptist Church –the same one I am proud to say that I was raised in.

They moved to an apartment in the 300 block of N Main St. They were quickly told of the McLaughlin spinster sisters that lived next door and that they were sometimes cranky and hard to get along with.

That didn’t bother my parents.

They heard that one of the sister’s Miss Elizabeth was having a birthday. My mother as a young bride baked Miss Elizabeth a birthday cake. The rest was history. My parents quickly became the best of friends to the old maid sisters. Miss Elizabeth died shortly after that and left Miss Mable. Later, my mother became pregnant with me. Miss Mable was so excited. Her middle name was Nisbet and my parents gave me her middle name. She before I was born shorten the name to just plain Nibby. Over the years the name like my personality has been unusual and memorable. Even Dolly thought it was unusual.

In 1988 personal computers were the rage. I had the Computery a personal and business computer store here in our downtown. Many Henderson people had their first encounter with PC’s through that store. I taught over 2000 people from 1986 to 1994 how to use such software as WordPrefect and Lotus 1-2-3 at HCC.

My interests are quite varied. The past few years I have been doing a lot of work with social media. Twitter is my favorite. Through social media, I have met a lot of nice people and one of them is with us here today, Becky Durham. Social media has taught me to think some before I speak. Though social media I have become more aware of our community Henderson, and all that it has to offer. I have become a community advocate and voice for all things Henderson and of the downtown area.

I really enjoy bicycles and enjoy riding every chance I get. I am a bicycle to work commuter– I know I just have less than two-tenths of a mile commute if that.

I enjoy food and good cooking. The past two years I have participated in the areas only CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).

I built a unique home on the downtown river front in 2004. Downtown living is the best, I feel that in the next few years, there is going to be huge movement to downtown communities from subdivision dwellers.

My faith community means a lot to me. I am staff organist and member of Community Baptist Church. I have had an organ playing job in various churches for over 28 years.

I sell insurance- auto homeowners business life and health. I work in my family insurance agency Vaughn Insurance. My college degree from Eastern Kentucky University is in Insurance.

My family also owns the L&N Bed and Breakfast. Both businesses are on North Main Street.

I have been involved in numerous organizations in Henderson. OVAL, DHP, Chamber, Friends of the Library. In 2007 my family and I were awarded the Heart of Downtown Award from Downtown Henderson Partnership.

My biggest goal right now is to strategic plan for the insurance agency’s future and to encourage young professionals that Henderson Kentucky is a place to put down your roots and stay.

A question that Dolly Parton gets often is “What do you want people to say about you 100 years from now?” in her countrified voice, she quips “’dang, doesn’t she look good for her age?” I don’t know if I want to “look good at 100” but I sure do hope Henderson Kentucky does.

Sending Emails to Multiple Recipients

Posted on April 25, 2012 Written by Nibby Priest

Have you ever received an email, and your name and email are listed among several hundred others? I have and it seems that I just automatically hit delete in disgust.

Some just don’t know that it is bad email etiquette to do that. Etiquette is not about doing things right or wrong but positively affecting the others they impact.

I strongly suggest that the habit of using the BCC field when sending out an email to a mass audience. Below is the text from a website about this very issue.

Another reason for doing this is if you are trying to read the email on a mobile device it is very frustrating on such a little screen, one has to scroll past all the email names to the meat & potatoes of the emails intended message.

If you find yourself sending group emails often you need to invest in services like Constant Contact or Mail Chimp. Both services specialize in sending mass emails and are very inexpensive and give recipients the ability to remove their email address from the various list.

Let me know if you have any questions about this. We all want to present ourselves well when we send emails – especially to large groups.

This blog is for you Sarah A Courtney, you asked yesterday on Facebook what our pet peeves were.

——————The Website advice———————

How to Send an Email to Undisclosed Recipients

I’m sure you know these emails that were obviously sent to a group of people: everybody’s email address is in the To: (or the Cc:) field, forming a long, long list. This not only looks odd and unprofessional, it also exposes the email addresses of people who may have wanted to keep them private.

Bcc Means Privacy and Efficiency with Group Email

Fortunately, you don’t have to send individual emails to avoid this embarrassing exposure of email addresses. In addition to To: and Cc: recipients that show up in the email’s headers, you can insert Bcc: recipients. Bcc: recipients get a copy of the email, but their email address is automatically deleted at delivery. Nobody except you and the Bcc: recipient will know that they got a copy, and their email address will not be exposed.

Send an Email to Undisclosed Recipients

To send an email to undisclosed recipients, select your email program or service, or follow the general instructions below.

Create a new message in your email client.
Insert “Undisclosed Recipients” in the To: field, followed by your email address in “<,>” braces.
The To: field should look like: “Undisclosed Recipients <me@example.com>“.
If you send emails to undisclosed recipients frequently, you can add your own email address to your address book with “Undisclosed” as the first and “recipients” as the last name. Instead of filling in the To: field manually, you can then use the address book entry.
Put all the recipients’ email addresses in the Bcc: field, separated by commas.
The Bcc: field could look something like: “my.first.friend@example.net, my_second_friend@example.net, stillanotherfriend@example.com”.
Compose your message.
Send it.