Please first allow me some words about making speeches. I have been doing so for quite some time — since 13; and “will speak for food, patch or mug” (later for $100) since I turned 17.
Let me start out by saying that at every location I provide a speech — an after dinner speech; a “rah-rah” speech; a condolence or euology speech; a briefing or informational speech; an informal “grabass” talk; even an interview — I come prepared to give it my best — and I do just that!
Ahead of time, I do research on the location and the organization I am to talk with. Sometimes I got surprised when I think I’m talking with a “community action organization” and end up talking with the local Klan chapter; or when I thought the “group” would be a small, informal one and it ends up being an entire room full of people. But the basics — knowing ones audience — is important.
I also talk with ahead of time with someone who either have done a speech before this group — or can tell me what they are expecting to hear coming from my mouth. I take notes and then I can tailor my speech to the “expected audience”.
I also prepare some notes – or the entire speech, if I am preparing for someone else (which was a part of my work for some 15 years: writing, editing or both speeches for seven General officers, a civilian General officer equal; and a senior master Warrant Officer). Everyone except two of those fellas — and they were all “fellas” — only changed minor “happy” to “glad” words. It’s their speech — they are going to deliver it.
The two who wanted me to change whole paragraphs, one did it himself to personalize what he was sure I just “yanked it off the Internet” and didn’t think about the audience; and the other just viewed public speaking as something he shouldn’t be wasting time with. He wanted to self-destruct and I tried to take the “weapon” from him by making the speeches for him; he insisted in “doing it himself” with no review ahead of time.
This is why whether I am using my standard 3×5 index card; the backside of a business card; or a blank piece of paper — I practice what I am about to say by looking into a mirror (thanks js!) and stating my speech. The entire speech, including the “thank you” and the “may God have pleasure over your town, this state and the United States of America”, my “formal ending line”.
(Everyone should have an “ending line”; my informal “ending line” is that “that’s how I remember it…thanks!” (from Garth Brooks’ song “That’s the Way I Remember it…”).
You repeat your speech until you can say it while looking around the room as you speak. You don’t MEMORIZE it…just by repeating it several times, you’ll remember where you want to place emphasis or explain with a personal story or both at.
EVERYONE who is in the public eye; or who may be asked to give a speech, should have what I wrote in a book called “Wreathless” the “One dollar and eighty-five cent” speech: a five to seven minute speech which expresses who you are, why you are there at that venue, and if you NEVER say a single word afterwards — people have heard from you and you have provided your message to them. This speech should be so practiced by you, that your spouse sometimes have to wake you and tell you to “shut up and stop giving your two-dollar speech!! Now go back to sleep!”
(Not that I have experience or knowledge about that, by the way…*smiling*)
Thank you for allowing me those paragraphs!
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Last night, a remarkable man and leader came to Knoxville, Tennessee (not “Fort Knox”, but “Knoxville”, the home to the University of Tennessee and its Volunteers!) at the invite of the Great Smoky Mountain Council (GSMC for short), Boy Scouts of America. They called last night “An Evening with an American Hero”.
The man was Colonel (Retired) Joseph Marm, United States Army, a 38 year veteran of the Army and both of its Reserve components (National Guard and Army Reserve). He is a holder (not “receipient“, as the Medal is not “earned” but is “given to you on behalf of a grateful nation) of the (Congressional) Medal of Honor. A real-life, still living American Hero.
I read the book “When We Were Soliders…and Young” as part of an officer reading program. Joe was in there in blazing effect. It was one of those books whereby one started reading it, and it was slow going until the real action occured and then you could not put it down until it was all over and done with. What that man and his fellow Soldiers did was incredible! I could see why my own father didn’t want to talk too much about his experiences in Vietnam after reading the book. It was also told from an outsider and officer standpoint which also appealed to me. So I was excited when I saw the flyers from the Council announcing Colonel (Retired) Joe Marm’s visit to talk and meet with Scouts and Scouters in Knoxville.
The Council’s flyer stated he was an Eagle Scout, which increased my personal willingness to drive across the state to hear and meet this man upfront and personal. We had several things in common — wartime service (his MORE extensive than mine), officer status (he left as an Adjutant General officer at the rank of full Colonel; I retired one grade below also as an Adjutant General (“Public Affairs isn’t a branch yet!” I am constantly reminded), served in all three Army components over his career, and that Eagle.
Armed with camera and cellphone, I got in the car and drove the three hours (with time change; the majority of Tennessee is in Central time; but Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City are in “East coast time” to get there without being stressed out and just in time to see a Vietnam-era helicopter make its way through downtown Knoxville and around to the backside of their Convention Center, landing and out comes this man in a business suit and tie, wearing the “Congressional tie”, some called the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is a blue-ribboned necklace, with a rosette in the front with thirteen stars; and suspended from that, a gold and green medallion symbolic of our nation’s most prized and honored decoration for valor.
He made his way to a Humvee provided by the Adjutant General of the Tennessee Guard, Maj. Gen. Terry Haston for the short drive to the stage area. We all stood as this man made his way to the podium after being introduced by a volunteer Scouter — a member of the GSMC’s Executive Board.
Then, for the next seventeen minutes, I witnessed as a Vietnam war and American hero self-destructed. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could say, nothing I could shield his lack of preparation from the audience. Some even left after he admitted “You know…I’m not an Eagle Scout — MY SON, who has the same name as I do is the Eagle Scout. I didn’t stick with long enough and our Troop — group — fell apart.”
I took photos. I’m going to blow one of them up and place it alongside other images in my office to remind myself that “this is what you look like when you’re not prepared.”
He really thought — as one of my General officers thought — that people would be so dazzled by the “stars”, the badges and the ribbons — they would not care about the message he was asked to deliver.
So wrong. So very wrong. It was wrong in that general’s “decision” back then and it was wrong in Colonel Marm’s “decision” now.
He was then “encouraged” by one of the professional staff members, sensing that he’d “already lost” the audience and asked for questions. I Tweeted the better of the questions; but even after that, they quickly went to the closing pieces and allowed people still there to come down and shake the hand or pose for pictures with a true war hero.
I made comment on my Facebook page last night that on the popular TV show “NCIS“, Mark Harmon’s “Gibbs” character would frequently slap the backside of his team members’ heads — most commonly the senior of the team members, Anthony DiNozzo’s — for doing or saying something “boneheaded”. I said that the Scout Executive of that Council needs to find that staff person which put this together and slap his or her head’s backside for such ‘freshman’ lack of attention and preparation —
– that person should have checked with the BSA’s Eagle Scout Service to get the details on Joe Marm’s Eagle Scout status — and then finding out that his son earned Eagle in the 80s, would have figured out that “it’s the YOUNGER Joe, not the OLDER one!” who have earned Eagle.
– that same person, now knowing that the elder Joe didn’t have a full Scouting experience, would be able to provide a sheet of paper or a couple of 3×5 cards explaining the finer points of why serving as a Boy Scout can lead to bigger and better things — like joining the Army, becoming an officer, and perhaps being in a position to give your life to save and rescue others, in war or peace.
– and coaching Colonel Joe before he steps up on the stage that those kids in blue — Cub Scouts. Those kids in tan — Boy Scouts or adult Scout leaders. Those folks in green — Venturers or adult Venturing leaders. They are NOT all “Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts.”
No, that person does NOT need to be fired. The embarrassment enough is punishment in itself. That person does, however, need to have a “trail session” with the Scout Executive (the senior most professional employee with the Council).
I started to videotape his “speech”. Nobody should see someone verbally “self-destruct” at a Scouting event. I have high respect and regard for the Soldier, his service to our nation and the qualities in part he got from his Scouting experiences.
I just ask that he spend a little time the NEXT time he’s asked to speak before a group of Scouts and Scouters — get to know his audience, get to know the envirorment, and put together some notes which when he gets going, he can either weave into as part of an overall message or he can fall back upon when he can’t think of anything else other than his outstanding military experiences.
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