Public speaking resources
Examples of places to speak in your community
- Your workplace
- Support groups
- School
- Parent /teacher groups
- Girl/Boy Scouts
- Chamber and business groups
- Employer health fairs
- Human resources
- Hospital/clinic programs
- Church and faith groups
- Cultural groups
- Community/neighborhood groups
- Rotary clubs
- Health/fitness club
Script for calling a potential speaking venue
Hello, my name is Jenna and I am an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I live here in (blank) community and I am hoping that I could speak to your group/organization about how the MS Society is helping people in our community.
Depending on the time of year, you could add this:
(If they say yes) Great! How long would you like me to speak? Is there anything in particular you would like me to cover in my presentation that would be of interest to your group? (If they say they don’t have any openings) Would it be ok if I left you my contact information in case you need someone to speak at one of your meetings in the future? Thank you for your time. I look forward to working with you.
Public speaking tips
Preparing for your speaking engagement
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Know your audience: The presentation you would give to a Girl Scout troop is much different than the
one you might give to a group of nurses. -
Know your expectations: Is the group planning on you speaking for a half hour or ten minutes? Do they have the capability to show a DVD?
Does the group want to know about a particular aspect of the MS Society or MS? For example, do they want to know about how they can volunteer at the MS Society? Or do they want to know what it’s like to be a woman living with MS? Ask the group’s coordinator if there is any aspect they would like you to talk about. - Know where you’re going: This may seem like common sense but make sure you know how to get to your speaking engagement and leave plenty of time in case you get lost.
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Dress for success: Appearance is important. You’ll want to present yourself and the organization in a way that people find credible and approachable, but you also want to be sure you are comfortable. The clothing you wear will depend on your audience. Your appearance at a high-powered business meeting will be different than your
appearance in a high school classroom. -
Know how to direct their questions: This doesn’t mean you have to know the answer to every question. This means that you have the necessary materials with you to point them in the right direction
if they have questions. -
Don’t forget to practice: Practice telling your story to a friend, neighbor, co-worker or in front of the mirror. This will make you more comfortable with how you plan to shape your story. And BE SURE to time yourself to so you stay within your time allotment. Also, practice your presentation so it fits within the group’s time schedule. If they
only have 10 minutes for your presentation, be sure you are including the most important points.