Having a representative from an organization speak at a civic group meeting is an inexpensive, yet effective way to reach a large number of community leaders. Civic groups are also excellent sources for recruiting program volunteers, mentors and business partners.

Making Civic Presentations:

CHOOSE SPOKESPEOPLE:

Decide who will be the spokesperson and how many people should attend (a maximum of 2-3 people is acceptable). The people chosen should be:

• Able to represent the interests of the organization
• Knowledgeable about organizational goals and procedures
• Able to speak in front of groups, large or small
• Capable of motivating the public
• Able to answer questions or to refer them to other representatives if he/she does not know the answers

SCHEDULE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

Targeting civic groups is the best way to schedule speaking engagements.

• Contact the local chamber of commerce for a list of area civic groups.
• Explain the purpose of the call and ask for a contact name and number.
• Call the contact person for each group well in advance to schedule a date and time for a representative to speak to their organization (luncheon, monthly meeting, etc. Some groups schedule meetings months in advance).
• If the contact person asks why the presentation is important to the group, be prepared to explain (i.e. offers a variety of educational services to the community) and point out that some of the services may benefit their members or someone they know.
• Call the contact person a few days before to confirm details.
• Find out how many people attend the meetings in order to prepare information kits.
• Provide the name of the spokesperson and his/her title, and share/request any other information that would be beneficial to either party.
• Inform the contact person that the speaker will be available for a question-and-answer session after the meeting, if time allows.