Specific Purpose Statement: At the end of my speech my audience will be persuaded to live in a small town.
Introduction
I. Your alarm goes offat 7:00am.
B. As you turn on to University Ave. there is an accident scene.
1. You look ahead and it seems like a million cars are in front of you.
2. Its now 8:15am and you are going to be late for work for the third time this week due to traffic.
II. Now imagine yourself getting up at 7:30am, an extra half hour of sleep.
A. You wake up and put your suit on and drive to work just two blocks away.
B. The only traffic you run into is Jimmy and Tinker on the garbage truck.
C. As you are walking into your office your neighbor catches your eye.
1. You say "hi".
2. She brings you muffins that she just took out of the oven.
D. Your day continues with few frustrations.
E. When your day is finished you get back into your car and head back home just two blocks away.
III. How many of you crave an easy-going life?
A. Do you want to get away from the crowded parking lots?
1. Is heavy traffic the lifestyle that you enjoy?
2. Do you hate it when you have to find a parking spot on a weekend at
the mall and when you do it ends up being a mile away.
3. Yet, you still park illegally and then find a note on your windshield
from the Cedar Falls-Waterloo police signed with love and greed?
IV. I am a fourth generation "Earlyite"
A. I have lived in Early, Iowa the past 19 years of my life.
B. My parents live there, my grandparents and great-grandparents settled
there and my ancestors are buried there from 1915.
C. In Early, we don't have to worry about hassles because we are a town of
500, approximately 1/20 of the size of the UNI enrollment.
V. I am going to tell you why you should live in a small town, such as Early, Iowa, after graduating from UNI.
Body
I. There are many economic benefits of living in a small town.
A. (Graduation song)"Hi Mom and Dad! I made it!"
B. Woo-hoo you made it. But what are you going to do now?
1. Have you found a job?
2. A place to live?
3. Do you have a car?
4. How are you going to pay off all of your school loans?
C. These are the questions that goes through everybody's head at one time or another.
D. Hopefully by the time you cross the stage you do have a job. But what if you don't?
1. How about Early, Iowa, where all your problems just melt away.
E. So you want to be a teacher at our wonderful school, Schaller-Crestland.
1. The average salary at Schaller-Crestland high school is between $30,000 to $40,000, according to the S-C school board salary report of 1998.
2. If you coach a sport you can make an extra $2500 if you are the head coach and $1500 if you are an assistant.
F. Housing is also very cheap.
1. According to Mark Feilmeier an attendant in the Early Housing Apartments,
it costs $210 for all apartments, plus utilities.
a. These apartments are fully furnished and have two bedrooms.
2. What ifyou plan on getting married in a few years?
a. The highest price that you would have to pay in Early is $70,000 and that is in the "good" section oftown and only 15 years old.
b. Most houses that are 20 years old or more and have had work done on them usually range between $30,000 and $40,000 said Mona Whede ofthe Storm Lake Real Estate Agency.
G. Housing in bigger cities are much more expensive.
1. Although it depends on the section oftown, many ofthe houses can range in the price range between $40,000 to even $100,000.
2. To rent an apartment is usually an average of $400.
a. Most people have to split that rent two ways, while in Early the $210
is the rent that can be split between 2 people or $105 each.
H. Now, if you think that you can save money by living in a big
city, think again.
1. By the time that you pay off your loans for your schooling, cars and if you have children, the cost ofliving will be much higher than living in a small town, especially on a teachers salary.
II. There are also many social benefits to living in a small town.
A. The crime rate is very low.
1. In Early, Iowa there has been only one homicide in the last 50 years according to police chiefRoger Ray.
2. Roger Ray also said that there has been 0 car thefts.
a. In fact, leave the keys in the car.
B. There are many clubs that you can join if you want to fit in.
1. There is the Woman's Club, the Woman's Guild, The American Legion ifyou are a veteran, you can even be a volunteer firefighter.
a. You no longer have to dream about driving that little red fire truck, you are the driver.
Conclusion
I. Why are you jumping?
II. Why are there sirens?
a. No it isn't a drug bust, its the parade that we have whenever we have a
State Qualifying team.
b. In fact, it must be for the volleyball team who has made it to State the last
three years
in a row.
III. I better go join the parade. Community pride always gets
the best of me.
IV. But hey "neighbor" I hope you enjoy the many economic and
social benefits that a small town can provide for you.