Welcoming Comments

[juspeachy]

I need some advice, and where better to come than my favorite forum...



I have been asked to do the Welcome at our Federal Women's Program luncheon on our Base later this month. I want to keep my comments fairly short (no more than 3 - 4 minutes). I am supposed to "recognize" several VIP's who will be attending. It is possible one of my State Congressmen will be attending, as well as, several other "civilian" groups from out in town. I'm usually fairly comfortable speaking in front of people I've never met (don't think stage fright will be a problem), but I want to be sure I do this the right way.



Here is a list of people I think I'm supposed to mention:



State Congressman

Commanding General of the Base (will follow after me with his Opening Remarks)

Our guest speaker (a local news anchor)

Several women from various women's groups out in town

The "head table"



My questions are how do I call the room to order and in what order do I mention our special guests?



Thanks in advance,

JusPeachy (knew I should of joined Toast Masters) in GA



P.S.  If you have any other advice, please feel free to offer it.

[laundryhater]

Calling the meeting to order:



A greeting such as, "Good morning, my name is _____, title. Welcome to ________ (name of meeting or company). I understand we are priviledged to have some special visitors (guests) with us today. Then start listing the names. Please join me in welcoming them to ________name of company or meeting (applause). Then go into your speech.



Good luck! Hope this helps.

[sungoddesslv]

Peachy,

Good intro provided by LaundryHater.  Saying "Good Morning," then pausing will let everyone it's time to begin.  You may want to repeat that after you have their attention. Depending on when you introduce the head table (see notes below), you may want to wait to introduce yourself.



At our IAAP convention the officers and those seated at the head table are introduced first, then the Chair recognizes guests.  Not sure in your case if the head table should be introduced first.  I'm still checking into that one, but my first thought would be to introduce them first (this may take care of most of your introductions).  "At this time I would like to introduce those seated at the head table -- to my far right", etc. - then, "to my far left...blah, blah, blah,...and I am JusPeachy, (and title).



The order of your introductions seems appropriate with the highest ranking official first.  According to Letitia Baldrige, you can introduce the congressman either by "The Honorable" or by using his title "(U.S.) Congressman John Jones."



Also not sure about the guest speaker unless he is at the head table.  If he is going to be introduced later in the program, I'm not sure about recognizing him as a special guest.



Depending on how many women from the women's groups, I might introduce the main representative and indicate that she has several members with her and ask them to stand.



Once you have introduced the VIPs and made your welcome, you could say, "It is now my priviledge to welcome Gen Smith to the lecturn."

 

[andrea843]

Congressman smith, General So and so, distinguished guests, (with a pointed nod to the head tables yes even if there are two you can acknowledge them just takes a little practice,) ladies and gentlemen, with a look to the audience.



 Unless you're prepared to name every single one of them and deal with the fact that there will most always be someone who thinks they should have been named, it's always better to err on the side of blanket introductions.(ergo distinguished guests)  



My name is .... and I'm pleased to welcome you to such and such an event today.



Whatever else you have to say, and then introduce the General or the speaker that follows you, the key to making an introduction is simply that, keeping it an introduction and not a speech.  Less chance of accidentally offending someone by NOT mentioning their names too, far better to let everyone assume they're in the distinguished guests catagory than commit a major faux pas (at least in someone else's eyes).



If you name individual names or ask them to stand, youre inviting applause and turning a 3 to 4 minute introduction into a 15 minute debacle.



My fourpence



 

[bethalize]

Watch your posture whilst talking! My other half has joined Toast Masters and has developed the "I'm a little teapot" posture (one hand on a hip, other arm bent at the elbow, hand palm upwards). Watch you dno't shift your weight, rock back and forwards or side to side or anything similar.

Best of British.

 

[phoenix55]

I would have to agree with Andrea, but mention specifically, the congressman, the general and the news anchor.  Something I think we tend to do in government is acknowledge the non-government groups (not the individuals) you've invited (in other words welcome to the respresentatives of such-and-such women's group joining us this morning), since I think we government workers tend to be such a close-knit group and I, myself, think at least that acknowledgement would tend to sort of invite them into our circle.  This probably makes no sense, but it's only 8 a.m. and stressed already....

[juspeachy]

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions.  



Andrea, I like the idea of a blanket introduction of the VIP's, especially since I probably won't know until the last minute who is attending for these "special groups."



Liz, does gripping the lectern with both hands count as bad posture?  LOL  Actually, I DO tend to rock when speaking to large groups.  I'd rather be able to "pace" when talking to them, but at this event, I will have to stand at the podium.  Thanks for the tip.



Phoenix, I agree we seem to "exclude" non-government agencies.  That is the reason we have invited some of them to attend our function.  I will probably name the group, but not specific individuals representing the group.



JusPeachy in GA

[bethalize]

Gripping the lecturn with both hands? It's only bad posture if your knuckles go white!

No, seriously, don't do it. But then you knew that.