My congratulations to Mike Folie (a speechwriting seminar alum) and Tim Becker, who announced that their spec screenplay, THEY SHOOT WEDDINGS, DON’T THEY?, is one of 35 finalists in the Final Draft Big Break Scriptwriting Contest. This is quite an honor … more than 3,500 entries were submitted from around the world.Go to http://www.finaldraft.com/products/big-break/winners-finalists-2010.php to see the announcement at Scriptmagazine.com.
Congratulations to speechwriting seminar alum Bob Yeager, for his New York Times success!
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Speakers bureaus were hugely popular in the 1970s and 1980s (especially at utilities, hospitals, and phone companies), but they faded away when community relations budgets got tight.
I now see a renewed interest in speakers bureaus. And, I should add, with good reason: well-run speakers bureaus offer a terrific, low-cost way to convey your organization’s key messages. The operative phrase here is “well-run.”
During the coming weeks, I’ll share some tips for managing an effective bureau and some tips for training your speakers.
If you have a success story to relate about your organization’s bureau, let me know. I’ll be glad to help you share the good example.
Every speaker deserves a good introduction.
Last week, when I taught my annual Advanced Speechwriting seminar, I talked about the importance of introductions and urged the participants to write their speakers’ introductions with great care. Never rely on a conference chair or a moderator to write the introduction for your speaker. Who knows what the moderator might say … or forget to say … or mis-state?
Tie down biographical details to prevent mishaps.
Consider: NYC Mayor Bloomberg, at a recent public event, referred to Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner as having worked at Goldman Sachs — but Geithner never worked at Goldman.
One other point to keep in mind:
When you write an introduction, be sure to include the phonetic pronunciation of your speaker’s name. What’s worse than having the moderator mis-pronounce it?
Teresa Zumwald, who has attended several of my speechwriting seminars, will speak at the Women in Business Networking Leadership Conference (Dayton OH in September).
Other speakers come from a wide range of organizations, including Wright Patterson Air Force Base, the Protocol School of Washington DC, Indiana Wesleyan University, AT&T Ohio, Cincinnati Bell, Miami Valley Hospital, and the City of Dayton.
To learn more, visit www.wibnleadership.com
I received some book news from Marian Calabro, who wrote “Flying High Again: PARC’s Redevelopment of Plattsburgh Air Force Base”:
While one chapter is a brief history of PAFB, the book focuses on the reuse efforts that followed base closure.
Marian writes that interested readers may also enjoy viewing PAFB-related videos at www.youtube.com/corporatehistory.
Phil Johnson, a freelance business writer and executive speechwriter based in Texas, had another article published. Here’s the link to his byline in Intelligent Utility:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/energycentral/iu_20100506/index.php?startid=44#/46
Congratulations to Karen Fenner, who attended my Advanced Speechwriting seminar a few years ago. Karen wrote an article that was published in the summer edition of the German American Trade Magazine.
The sagging US economy has been particularly rough on free-lancers. The American Society of Journalists and Author’s “Writers Emergency Assistance Fund” has seen a 500 percent increase in grant requests from desperate writers.
As a long-time ASJA member, I’ve gladly contributed to the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund – and I’m glad to use this forum to bring attention to WEAF’s good works.
Can you join ASJA’s blogathon to spread the word about WEAF’s financial needs? Send a link to your post to WEAFHelp@gmail.com, and ASJA will add your post to their links.
The cries for help from fellow writers are heart-breaking:
If you can contribute financially to WEAF, that’s wonderful. If you can help spread the word about WEAF, that’s wonderful, too. Thank you!
In my annual Advanced Speechwriting seminar, I focus on “special occasion” speeches: awards, anniversaries, commencements, Change of Command ceremonies, dedications, fundraisers, retirements, tributes, words of welcome.
I’m always pleased to note good examples of special occasion speeches. Here’s one that stands out:
M. Moshe Porat, Dean of the Fox School of Business, served as the distinguished guest speaker at a United States naturalization ceremony. His “Welcome Home” speech honored 73 new citizens at the US Courthouse in Center City Philadelphia.
Here’s the text of his speech … with excellent content and excellent writing.