That's what I would like to know: what is wrong with using notes? When I practice in Toastmasters, I do use my notes. During the evaluation, they do NOT discredit me for using notes because I use notes with discretion. Nowadays everyone uses powerpoint, which I've never learned. Yes, Chatty, just having them there helps calm the nerves. Marilyn VanDebur was Miss America in 1959 (I think that was the year.) Anyway, when I asked her for speaking advice, even she told me it was ok to rely on notes. And she should know. Public speaking has been her career for 48 years. She told me that she memorized all of her speeches for the first 40 years. Then she decided she no longer needed to live under that pressure and terror. Now, at age 68, she changed a lot, including the message (she now speaks out about incest) and the method (she uses notes.) She is my role model. Oh, she was the first female motivational speaker for huge corporations. Chatty, I like your signature about sisters...L