Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune 10/11/2023, Submitted to the Tribune

Join the Tahoe Prosperity Center for the Envision Tahoe Venture Summit for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. 

This event brings together leaders and visionaries to redefine what a balanced economy looks like in the Lake Tahoe region. We have an impressive lineup of Keynote local entrepreneur speakers, including Matt Levitt, Founder and CEO of Tahoe Blue; Dan Abrams from Flylow; Melissa Siig of Tahoe Art / Tap Haus; Chris McNamara from Gear Lab, and Maria Lopez Godoy representing Waste Free Tahoe; Melinda Choy of Elevate Wellness, among others. 

The summit promises a day filled with engaging speakers, informative workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. 

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On the 30^th of September, trembling like an Aspen in Autumn, I stepped onto the stage at Piper’s Opera House in front of a packed house. What in tarnation was I about to say? I had two hours of information to cram into 90 minutes…somethings had to go, but what? I can’t remember now what I decided, but our trusted friends at PBS Reno will air a portion of it on October 15^th…

I remember tossing in a last-minute off-color piece that proved President Taft wrong: “Mark Twain never wrote a paragraph that a father could not read to his daughter.” That purple piece might have bombed in Hoboken, but happily, it took wings up on the Comstock Lode.  

Fittingly, we ended where it all started 35 years and 4,000 programs ago for the Ghost of Mark Twain, crossing this great land of ours, across Germany, and yes, into Russia, where we got the warmest welcome outside of Missouri.

I do remember saying, “My friends, Artificial Intelligence is not going to do it for our kids. Our kids are going to need real people to teach them history, and it will be up to you to provide that living history. Get involved with Chautauqua, it will give you another life, and one life is not enough.” Then, before I knew it, it was time for my final remarks…

“It is with profound and heartfelt gratitude to Carol Piper Marshall, God rest her beautiful soul, that my time has come to sail my little sloop up onto dry land, and haul down my colors. A very smart lady once told me, ‘McAvoy, better to retire two years too early than two minutes too late.’

“Speaking metaphorically, I am but this this frivolous little captain of a coasting sloop in the dried-apple and kitchen-furniture trade, hailing every cargo ship that comes into sight, just to air my small grandeurs. ‘Ship Ahoy!  What ship is that?’
           “The answer comes thundering back through a speaking trumpet aboard a majestic Indiaman, with course on course of canvas towering into the sky, ‘The Begum of Bengal, one hundred and twenty-three days out from Canton -homeward bound!  What ship is that?’

“My vanity is crushed out of me, and humbly I squeak back: ‘Only the Mary Ann -fourteen hours out from Boston, bound for Kittery Point with -with nothing to speak of!’

 “You see, during one hour in the day, I stop to reflect.  Then I am humble, then I am properly meek, then I am only the Mary Ann, cargoed with vegetables and tinware.

But tonight, tonight, my vain self-satisfaction rides high, and I am the stately Indiaman, plowing the great seas under a cloud of sail, laden with a rich freightage of kind words from you, my friends and fellow travelers. Yes tonight, this final night, I am the Begum of Bengal, one hundred twenty-three days out from Canton -homeward bound!”

Audio: https://anchor.fm/mcavoy-layne

By U.S. Small Business Administration

About this event:

Attention, small business owners! Safeguarding your business against cyber threats is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Join us at the SBA Cyber Summit, where industry leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs converge to empower you with the knowledge and tools to protect your business from evolving digital risks. Get ready for an immersive experience that will transform the way you approach cybersecurity!

1. The Cybersecurity Landscape:

Did you know that small businesses are a prime target for cyberattacks? In fact, a staggering 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses (source: Verizon). This summit is your chance to take a proactive stance against these threats and secure your business for success.

2. Expert Insights and Actionable Strategies:

Imagine gaining direct access to leading cybersecurity experts and industry insiders who will share cutting-edge insights and practical strategies to fortify your digital defenses. Discover the latest trends, best practices, and real-world case studies that will empower you to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape with confidence.

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A friend sent me a video entitled, “Nothing but Smiles,” and it was so chockfull of smiles that it brought a tear to my eye. So I thought I might try to recount it here with words that could never do the video justice, but still might bring you, the gentle reader, a smile…

This slow-moving saga begins at a public drinking fountain in a public park with a distinguished looking gentleman holding the water on for his German Shepard, who is lapping away with a look in his eyes that says, “Thanks, Pops, let’s catch a bite to eat on the way home, then settle-in to another rerun of “A Dog’s Way Home.” 

The second scene features another elderly gentleman, this time with two dogs, and the three of them are carelessly exercising on public foot swings, each offering sideways glances of approval to the other two, a sight to make a homeless person smile.

Scene three presents a mature gentleman cuddling two large parrots that are in turn, cuddling him. It’s a lovefest, and they are one loving family. Just to watch makes you want to run out and hug somebody…

Scene four? A toddler busies himself lifting ducklings from a basket, and tossing them one by one, unceremoniously, into a large basin of water, then hosing them down. The toddler seems self-satisfied, while the ducklings appear to be enjoying the novel adventure. It is obvious that the toddler is destined to be a successful businessman someday.

Scene five is reposeful. A large cow and a young lady are sleeping next to each other when the cow lifts his heavy head and plops it down on the young lady’s stomach. Both continue their rest as though nothing has happened. Personally, I would have awakened and bellowed like a newborn calf had it been me.

Scene six, my favorite, highlights a large sea lion and attractive young lady embracing and mugging for the camera, both beaming and both sticking out their tongues at the same time. If you don’t smile at this synchronicity you ain’t right…

In scene seven a large goose flies alongside a speedboat, letting passengers reach out and pet its stomach, and everyone seems gratified.

Scene eight showcases two mountain goats balanced on a precarious precipice a thousand feet in the air, enjoying the scenery as if they were on level ground. Placed in the same spot, my heart would be in my throat and my eyes would be sealed shut.

The ninth scene boasts a young kayaker paddling along without a care in the world. His passenger just happens to be a gigantic Bengal tiger, looking much like the captain of a majestic Indiaman, plowing the great seas under a cloud of sail.

In a closing scene, an elegant lady on a second story balcony is feeding two equally elegant giraffes, and we have to know, thanks to this beautiful video, all of these wonderful characters will live happily ever after… 

Audio: https://anchor.fm/mcavoy-layne

Submitted by The Prosperity Center

Amidst the beauty of Lake Tahoe’s landscapes, a vibrant spirit of unity and innovation flourishes. Close to home in Incline Village, the Tahoe Inc Roundtables, a consortium of local, volunteer-driven entrepreneurial community members, are generating waves of innovation.

Today, we’re thrilled to introduce an endeavor that embodies these principles—a collaboration between the Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) and Tahoe Inc. This partnership brings together the monthly Tahoe Inc Roundtables and co-hosts the Envision Tahoe Venture Summit, an annual event that highlights the strength of community bonds and the capacity of visionary concepts to drive progress in our region.

Tahoe Inc roundtables serve as an opportunity for community members to connect as business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts, collaborating to address the challenges they currently face. Meeting right here in Incline Village, these roundtables offer gateways to invaluable networks and resources, embodying the spirit of collaborative growth that resonates with the heart of our community.

In celebration of Incline Village’s thriving ecosystem, two compelling events await—celebrating advancement and connectivity. The first extends an invitation to join us October 5th, and the first Thursday of each month following at Happy Tiers Bakery, hosted by its proprietors—a local couple who are both instrumental members of the Tahoe Inc community. This monthly gathering provides an inclusive space to exchange ideas and insights with peers, experts, and innovators.

The second event, the Envision Tahoe Venture Summit, is set for Friday, October 20th, co-hosted by the TPC at the newly constructed Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline. This summit will provide an inclusive platform to explore, connect, and propel innovation. Notably, high school students may attend for free, and college students enjoy half-off the registration fee to encourage youth and diversity of voices.

This coming together of Tahoe Inc Roundtables reflects the changing seasons. It acknowledges our shared community fabric and invites us to shape a collective future. This helps inspire us to nurture meaningful discussions, foster collaboration, and elevate ideas with the potential to reshape our path forward.

With anticipation and commitment to our thriving community,

The Tahoe Prosperity Center