The quote of the day has to come from John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th US President, born on May 29, 1917:
“When we got into office , the thing that surprised me most was to find that things were just as bad as we’d been saying they were.”
Memorial Day [formerly honored on May 30 … now honored the last Monday in May]
African Freedom Day
Armenian Independence Day
1787 First session of the Constitutional Convention
1901 Hall of Fame dedicated (Bronx, NY)
1922 Lincoln Memorial dedicated
1931 First full-size wind tunnel for testing airplanes put into service (Langley Field, VA)
1940 Miracle of Dunkirk
1792 New York Stock Exchange founded
1881 American National Red Cross founded
1921 Immigration quotas established
1927 Lindbergh completed solo flight across Atlantic
1933 TVA authorized
1954 Racial segregation in public schools declared unconstitutional
1959 President Eisenhower went to NYC for Lincoln Center groundbreaking
Rural Electrification anniversary (5/11/1935)
Kovats Day (5/11) … A Hungarian, Michael de Kovats was so impressed when he read the Declaration of Independence that he joined with Casimir Pulaski. He was in command of the Pulaski Legion when he was killed in action in Charleston, SC, in 1779.
Limerick Day (5/12)
Hospital Day (5/12)
Civil Servants’ Day (5/13)
Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAACs) anniversary (5/14/1942)
Biographer’s Day (5/16) … what a great hook for an introduction!
NAGC (the National Association of Government Communicators) will hold ”The Science of Communications” workshop on Monday, May 18, in Washington DC.
To learn more, visit www.nagconline.org
A few minutes ago, I received the following email:
“Hi Joan,
Not sure if you remember me, but I enjoyed your advanced speechwriting course back in 1998…(remember the 90s? Those were the days!)
I have since written numerous speeches — always with my (autographed) copy of How to Write and Give a Speech at the ready …
Having recently been laid off after 21 years with the [X COMPANY], I am now beginning to plan for the next phase of my career. My thinking is that freelance speechwriting should be part of that plan, if not the focus.”
The person who sent this letter did some very smart things:
First, he wrote his subject line with care, so his email would catch my attention. It worked. When I logged on this morning, I was faced with dozens of emails. Some looked like spam and were quickly deleted. Others looked vague and will be checked later. But the email with this subject line was opened first: “From a continuing student.” I give top priority to the folks who attend my speechwriting seminars … and after more than a decade, he remembered my commitment to their speechwriting success.
Second, he’s chosen to focus on freelance speechwriting as a way to bring in money … perhaps on a long-term basis, but at the very least on a short-term basis (until he lands a staff position). It’s supply and demand: freelance speechwriters are in demand … and the skilled ones always stand out.
Third, he showed respect for my time with this closing line: “I won’t keep you any longer … but hope we can remain in touch.” What a pleasure to deal with someone who recognizes that time is valuable!
Here’s how I responded: I immediately offered to review his resume … look at his speechwriting samples … and offer job leads/suggestions.
There’s much to learn from his respectful, professional approach. It’s a pleasure to participate in networking at its best.
1754 First cartoon appeared in an American newspaper (by Benjamin Franklin in his Pennsylvania Gazette)
1840 First postage stamps issued (in England)
1884 Harry Truman was born
1926 Lt Commander Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett made first flight over North Pole
1936 Italy annexed Ethiopia
1944 First eye bank opened (at New York Hospital)
1945 Nazis surrendered to General Eisenhower