http://www.pecanvalleycommunicators.org/

Pecan Valley Communicators, 205 E. Weinert Street, Seguin, TX (2026)

10/10/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on October 7th with President David Caulkins calling the meeting to order. Richard Brewer provided the Inspirational Thought which was followed by the group reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Guests at the meeting were Greg Cunningham and Brett Dillon.

Dina Dillon served as the Meeting Leader and throughout the evening she shared interesting facts about a heroic group who served during the Korean War.

David Caulkins served as the Training Presenter. His comments, centered around "How To Behave Like a Pro", focused on a variety of speaking tips. One tip, in particular, is realizing that a speaker does a better job at the task if the subject matter is very familiar.

The evening's first scheduled speaker was Connly Willmann. He is an agriculturist whose occupation is affected by varying weather conditions, equipment failures during planting and harvesting, as well as many other issues. His "What Kind of Year Was It?!?" was a serious, yet somewhat light-hearted, speech about growing corn during the 2026 year. His Speech Reviewer was Richard Brewer.

The evening's second scheduled speaker was Ana Trest with "My Love Language". Ana's love of cooking started at an early age as she began helping her mom in the kitchen and helping her dad outside with the grill. She believes that how you show love to those you care about translates into your "love language". Her love language is cooking. Her Speech Reviewer was Paula Cunningham.

The Impromptu Speaking was led by Paula Cunningham. Those stepping up to speak for one-to-three minutes off-the-cuff were greeted with questions about how the Pecan Valley Communicators' experience is helping them. Those participating were Richard Brewer, Mike Diaz, David Caulkins, Dina Dillon, and G.K. Willmann.

David Caulkins provided the Timer's Report. Mike Diaz had provided the Word of the Day, dubious (doubtful), which was used at least three times during the meeting. Grammarian G.K. Willmann noted that only 15 "filler words" were used during the meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 6:30 pm, in the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, Seguin. Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

09/17/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on Wednesday, September 16. with Vice-President Dina Dillon calling the meeting to order. G.K. Willmann provided the Inspirational Thought: "Tact is a knack for making a point without making an enemy." Following the Pledge of Allegiance, guests recognized were Anderlin Reyes Ortiz, Greg Cunningham, and Brett Dillon.

Ana Trest was the evening's Meeting Leader. Her meeting theme focused on a popular fantasy tabletop role-playing game.

As the evening's Training Presenter, Gwenn Long reminded everyone that being obsessed with speaking perfection can bring on anxiety. She emphasized that a speaker's approach should not be focused on "do not make a mistake and how did I do", but rather on "did I deliver the message I wanted to share". The actual message is what is important to the audience.

Dina Dillon was the evening's first scheduled speaker. She shared a recent adventure to a "Navajo Code Talkers" event which she, her husband, another adult, and three Young Marines attended. She gave examples of the Code. She showed pictures of the Navajo Memorial and also mentioned other experiences while there, including participating in a parade. Her Speech Reviewer was Richard Brewer.

Richard Brewer was the evening's second scheduled speaker. Once again, Richard stepped up to the challenge of asking the audience for a topic. After a couple of topics were suggested, he chose the one about what it is like to have a son in the Special Forces. He chronicled the events leading up to his son's current military service, starting with announcing to his parents that he was joining the service. Richard shared that communicating with his son is limited at times and that the training is very intense and rigorous. The audience could tell that Richard is understandably incredibly proud of his son. Mike Diaz was his Speech Reviewer.

Ana Trest led the Impromptu Speaking. Those speaking for one to three minutes off-the-cuff included Richard Brewer, Paula Cunningham, and Mike Diaz.

Paula Cunningham served as the Timer and noted that most speakers stayed within the suggested speaking times. Mike Diaz had provided the Word of the Day, gambit (something said or done in order to gain an advantage or to produce a desired effect), which was used at least four times during the meeting. G.K. Willmann was the Grammarian and happily reported only eleven "filler words" were used.

The next meeting is scheduled for October 7, 6:30 pm, in the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E Weinert Street, Seguin. Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

08/20/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on Wednesday, August 19, with President David Caulkins opening the meeting. He called on Connly Willmann for the Inspirational Thought: "Luck is where preparation meets opportunity." After the Pledge of Allegiance, guests welcomed were Mary Caulkins and Brett Dillon.

Mike Diaz served as the Meeting Leader and had chosen "Choices" as the meeting theme. Throughout the evening, he shared personal experiences relating to his life's choices.

Ana Trest was the evening's Training Presenter. Her message centered around anticipation and how that can impact a speaker. She mentioned various aspects of speech anticipation. One example would be a scheduled speaker checking out the stage and looking out into the audience area just to get an idea of how the speaking experience might feel. This maneuver is helpful for some people as it can promote confidence; however, it can create anxiety in others. She encouraged everyone to use whatever method works for managing anticipation successfully.

Gwenn Long was the first scheduled speaker. She entertained the group by sharing moments from her recent friends' gathering for relaxing time "junk journaling". One of the hosting friends provided materials for each attendee to use their imagination in creating hand-size "memory keepers" out of scraps of paper, beads, etc. along with current pictures. Gwenn brought samples of the finished products which helped the audience appreciate this craft. She had a group review.

David Caulkins was the evening's second scheduled speaker and he grabbed the audience's attention with a serious, thought-provoking educational segment relating to Economics. David commented about how inventions, advances in technology and other processes which once were "state-of-the-art" have had to move over for newer methods. He particularly focused on "creative destruction" and cited examples of how these situations are around us and eventually affect us as well. He had a group review.

Mike Diaz served as the Impromptu Speaking Leader. His questions for those stepping up to speak focused on "Choices." Those who spoke one-to-three minutes were Ana Trest, Richard Brewer, Dina Dillon, and Gwenn Long.

Dina Dillon served as the Timer and noted that most speakers were somewhat "lengthy" within their speaking times. G.K. Willmann had provided the Word of the Day, cagey (clever), which was used at least six times during the meeting.

Grammarian Gwenn Long was pleased with the reduction in "filler words" used during the meeting. She also mentioned some verbiage which she thought was particularly interesting.

The next meeting is scheduled for September 2nd in the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, Seguin, beginning at 6:30 pm. Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

08/06/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on August 5th with Vice-President Dina Dillon opening the meeting by calling on Mike Diaz for an Inspirational Thought. Mike's comments encouraged everyone to think of the simple things in life that are really important because life can be quite complicated. After leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, VP Dillon recognized guest Brett Dillon. She also shared an email from Joe Saenz relating to his recent meeting absences.

G.K. Willmann served as the Meeting Leader. She provided the evening's training segment entitled "Do What Works For You" which outlined different methods of speech delivery. These included using notes, speech memorization, and extemporaneously speaking. Any method can be successful as long as the speaker keeps the audience interested and engaged.

The evening's first scheduled speaker was Mike Diaz. He had a copy of his resume in hand as he entertainingly reviewed how job interviewers use (or, in some cases, don't use) an applicant's resume. Mike summarized the importance of using one's resume to "put your best foot forward" as you inform future employers about your skills and prior experience. He had a Group Review.

The evening's second speaker was Connly Willmann with "Prepared, Not Scared". Connly shared his experience about being at a recent graduation event where children (as young as six months old) were recognized for learning to "float" should they suddenly find themselves in a body of water. He mentioned that such training programs help youngsters learn to survive instead of panicking in fear of drowning. He had a Group Review.

Dina Dillon was the Impromptu Speaking Leader. She used positive topics from which impromptu speakers could speak for one to three minutes. Those participating were Gwenn Long, Mike Diaz, Ana Trest, Connly Willmann, Dina Dillon, and G.K. Willmann.

Timer Ana Trest reported that the suggested speaking times were observed. Gwenn Long had provided the Word of the Day, serendipity, which was used at least four times during the meeting. Grammarian G.K. Willmann noted that only 15 filler words were used which is fewer than at recent meetings.

The next meeting is scheduled for August 19th in the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, in Seguin. Guests are welcomed to come hear how this club is helping members 'build confidence one word at a time".

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

07/15/2026

Out of the abundance of caution, due to the weather and safety to our members driving long distances we have cancelled tonight's meeting. Looking forward to seeing you on August 5th.

07/15/2026

Tonight’s Communicators meeting is canceled due to weather concerns.

07/03/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators (PVC) met on July 1st with President David Caulkins opening the meeting by calling on G.K. Willmann for the Inspirational Thought. She had chosen one authored by Peter Marshall: "May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."

After the Pledge of Allegiance, President Caulkins welcomed Brett Dillon and Mary Caulkins as guests. He then introduced Dina Dillon as the Meeting Leader. Dina had chosen the theme of "Red, White, and Blue" in observance of Independence Day, and throughout the meeting she chronicled national events from the last 250 years.

Richard Brewer was the evening's Training Presenter with"The X Games". A skateboarding enthusiast himself, he has observed the camaraderie of skateboard players and how they encourage each other and promote one another in improving their skills. Richard believes that PVC members have similar opportunities in encouraging one another to become better at speaking skills. Skateboarders are not really in competition with one another but, instead, they are in competition with themselves to expand their skill levels. Likewise, PVC members are in the club to become better communicators and encouragement from other club members can be beneficial in helping speaking skills rise to higher levels.

The first scheduled speaker was Gwenn Long. Gwenn had just returned from Australia and shared various incidents while on the continent that she believed were orchestrated by God's "Perfect Timing". Among the blessings were welcoming her second grandchild as well as being readily available when her daughter had complications following the birth. Her Speech Reviewer was Dina Dillon.

The second scheduled speaker was David Caulkins. He shared heartfelt thoughts on "Prejudice", many of them based on personal life experiences. He commented that to "pre-judge" is the first stage of being prejudiced. He encouraged everyone "to lose their prejudices" as we celebrate Independence Day and to embrace an open mind about people. His Speech Reviewer was Richard Brewer.

AnaTrest was the Impromptu Speaking Leader. She used the "Red, White, and Blue" theme for "would you rather this or that" topics for speaking one-to-three minutes off-the-cuff. Those stepping up to the challenge were Gwenn Long, David Caulkins, Richard Brewer, Dina Dillon, and Connly Willmann.

Timer Connly Willmann was pleased to report that all the suggested speaking times were observed. Richard Brewer had provided the Word of the Day, valiant (brave), which was used at least three times during the meeting. Grammarian G.K. WIllmann mentioned that as many as 32 "filler words" were used during the meeting with "ah and um" being among the biggest culprits.

The next meeting is scheduled for July 15th at the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, in Seguin. Guests are encouraged to come to the approximately one-hour meeting.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

06/19/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on June 17th with President David Caulkins calling the meeting to order. Connly Willmann provided the Inspirational Thought: "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Brett Dillon was welcomed as a guest.

Richard Brewer served as the Meeting Leader and entertained the audience with challenging questions relating to the theme of "Comedic Trivia".

The training segment entitled "Huh?" highlighted commonly used phrases by speakers in business lectures, on TV, social media, and in everyday conversations. Connly Willmann stated a phrase followed by G.K. Willmann sharing thoughts about why saying phrases such as "to be honest with you" or "believe me" can put doubts in the listener's mind. G.K. urged everyone to choose words carefully to avoid sending an unintended message.

Ana Trest was the evening's first speaker with "A New Beginning". Ana recently was promoted into a new job area in her professional sewing career. The new position calls for her expertise in making alterations to racing suits. These fire resistant suits have several layers of varying materials which makes performing the alterations challenging at times. Using an actual suit, Ana told how she can inconspicuously increase the pant's leg length to provide a better fit. Mike Diaz was her Speech Reviewer.

David Caulkins was the second speaker with "Solving Complex Problems". He commented that the Lincoln Memorial as well as the Jefferson Memorial are experiencing deterioration. Expensive governmental studies were done. A practical solution was found which did not meet with everyone's satisfaction; therefore, the problem of deterioration continues. David mentioned that in life we will encounter different problematic situations and "what we think is a solution is not". His Speech Reviewer was Richard Brewer.

Impromptu Speaking Leader Mike Diaz used the meeting theme as the basis for his challenging questions for those willing to step up to speak for one-to-three minutes on an unannounced topic. Those participating were David Caulkins, Dina Dillon, Richard Brewer, Ana Trest, and Connly Willmann.

As Timer, Dina Dillon monitored speaking activity and noted only one speaker went over the suggested time. G.K. Willmann had provided the Word of the Day, hilarious, which was used at least seven times during the meeting. G.K. also served as the Grammarian and tallied seventeen filler words. She called attention to the filler phrase "all right" which was used five times as a segue from one activity to another. Using "all right" once or twice might be acceptable; however, too many times is noticed by the audience.

The next meeting is scheduled for July 1 at the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, in Seguin, 6:30 pm. The theme will be "Red, White, and Blue". Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

06/05/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on June 3rd with David Caulkins handling the duties as President and Meeting Leader. After an interesting Inspirational Thought by Richard Brewer, President Caulkins led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Guests welcomed were Michelle Brickman and Brett Dillon.

Training Presenter Dina Dillon's educational segment focused on "Body Language" as she emphasized that communication involves more than words. Her takeaways included using appropriate, natural gestures as well as not leaning on the lectern, maintaining eye contact, and keeping shoulders relaxed.

Richard Brewer was the evening's first scheduled speaker. He spoke about "Gratitude" and shared how he was thankful for his wife, his children and his grandparents, especially one of his grandmothers who raised nine children alone during the Depression. Richard feels that expressing gratitude helps release stress, and it also helps to withstand unpleasant things. Richard challenged everyone to practice being more grateful on a daily basis. Dina Dillon was his Speech Reviewer.

The evening's second speaker was Mike Diaz whose speech title was "What Do Phones, Pain Killers, Co***ne, and Shiny Pieces of Cardboard Have In Common?" Mike had the audience's undivided attention as he spoke about addictions of varying types. He has studied different aspects of addiction, and has a respectable understanding of how addictions can affect anyone. He had a Group Review.

Ana Trest was the Impromptu Speaking Leader and posed questions prompting an answer to "would you rather this or that". Those stepping up to the challenge of speaking one-to-three minutes off-the-cuff were Dina Dillon, Richard Brewer, Mike Diaz, David Caulkins, and Connly Willmann.

Timer Connly Willmann reported every speaker observed the suggested speaking times. David Caulkins had provided the Word of the Day, courageous, which was used at least six times during the meeting. Grammarian G.K. Willmann reported 24 "filler words" were used.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 17th at the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, in Seguin. Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

05/22/2026

The Pecan Valley Communicators met on May 20th with President David Caulkins calling on Gwenn Long for an Inspirational Thought. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mary Caulkins and Brett Dillon were welcomed as guests.

President Caulkins served as the Meeting Leader and shared the top twenty Texas-born musicians as he led the meeting.

President Caulkins also stepped up as the Training Presenter. His training segment, "The Invisible Prop", was informative as well as entertaining. As he made related comments, he quickly donned three different looks (a mortician, a doctor, and a chemical company representative) to demonstrate the impact a speaker's apparel can have on the message being delivered.

Richard Brewer was the evening's first speaker with "My Best Friend". Richard believes that if you have a dog you will always have a friend. He reminisced about having a dog as a young child and how his dog was there for him no matter what may have been going on. As an adult, he has a dog who welcomes him home every time he returns and is his unconditional friend. Richard suggested getting a pet because of the joy and friendship you can experience by having one. He had a Group Review.

Mike Diaz was the evening's second speaker with "Fancy Phrases and My Friend Dave". He kept the audience listening closely as he spoke about how going snorkeling can give you a variety of issues if you are not experienced. His silent companion "Dave" kept nudging him in a mindset of "Just Do It" and "Fake It 'Til You Make It" even when not being prepared. He urged everyone to take such catchy phrases with a "grain of salt" to avoid unintended consequences. He had a Group Review.

Impromptu Speaking Leader Dina Dillon used a grab bag of varied items to prompt "off-the-cuff" speaking for one-to-three minutes. Those participating were Gwenn Long, David Caulkins, Connly Willmann, Richard Brewer, Mike Diaz, Mary Caulkins, and G.K. Willmann.

Timer Richard Brewer reported everyone did a "good Job" in observing the suggested speaking times. Dina Dillon's Word of the Day, presto (suddenly, as if by magic), which was used at least seven times during the meeting.

Grammarian G.K. Willmann tracked 19 "filler words" with the two-letter "so" being the one used the most.

The next meeting is scheduled for June 3rd at the Veterans Outreach Center, 205 E. Weinert Street, in Seguin Guests are welcome.

G.K. Willmann
Meeting Coordinator

Pecan Valley Communicators

10/10/2026

09/17/2026

08/20/2026

08/06/2026

07/15/2026

07/15/2026

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06/19/2026

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05/22/2026

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