My Great Uncle John was probably right when he said.

“Now,I am no Public Spaker in the Long Irish Drawl of his.

Got me to thinking on the time when I was asked to Speak in Public and wished I was wise enough to Say Pass!

Needless to say I was not.

In High School I often was tasked with doing a reading of the Epistle at Saturday Evening Mass and that was Good.

I pretended I was Bob Cole before he went to Hockey Night In Canada and was a News Reader on CJON.

Sister Patricia asked me in Grade 11 to Speak in a Competion at a Lion’s Club Dinner facing off with another Student named Linda.Linda was Smart,Confident and very Studious and easy on the Eyes.She deserved to Win.

I on the other hand asked my Highly Intelligent Sister to write my Speech for me.It was well written because Mary who recently passed from Cancer had been a Teacher for about ten Years at that time.The Topic she chose was on Character.

Too bad I could not submit it in written form.

Left it too late to look it over and I did not understand what it was about and when I delivered it.The Lion’s looked to be as Confused as me.I had a bad case of the Nerves.All the Booze at the Pioneer Club could not Calm me.

They were mostly fishermen and fish plant workers.

Could have told them about the Stand Up Staple Machine at the Plant that made Boxes that had a very touchy Clutch or our Neighbour John’s Dog who Stole our Salmon or what a good Eye John had for Spotting Moose.You know,Stuff they could relate to.Needless to say I bombed at that One.John told me I was very Close to winning.Linda did her homework and deserved the Win.Funny how we both ended up joining the Military a short time Later.

Another time at Royal Roads I had a two Minute Notice to Read Out The March Pass Songs for Band as they Played for all three Services Army,Navy and Air Force.Some had French names which I botched.Most members were getting hammered at the Cadets Mess Dinner.I escaped that one Okay.Another time I was asked to be Santa for a East Indian Family and I had to read out about ten Kids names that were forign names and You would hope Santa would know them Oops!

One memorable one that I did well was at my Retirement Dinner from the Service.It was at Montana’s.I had that Big Moose Hat on.It was mostly family and work mates.I did some research on Good Speeches.Such as JFK,Churchill,and Martin Luther King.Instead of focusing on key words orphrases I gave them introductions to some of the VIP’s in attendance at said meetings.I had the Whole Place laughing.Not sure if it was with me or at me.We had fun.Keeping it light and know your Audience.

In Closing,I will try and remember a few pointers such as:

Display some Passion,Know your material well.Show Confidence,Display Clarity,Be Authentic,Have some emotional Intelligence.Connect with the Audience.