Tips for Being an Expert Public Speaker

While looking for something to Blog about today, I came across an excellent infographic that can help all of us become better public speakers. Credit goes to http://holykaw.alltop.com/9-step-cheat-sheet-for-becoming-a-public-speaking-expert-infographic where I found the image. Use that link to see a zoomed in version!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

 

What I've learned while blogging...

Last week, we reached a milestone with our 500th post. First, let me thank "Dad" Labagh for stepping up and writing the post to mark the occasion. It was much appreciated. As I reflect back on having written several hundred posts, I'm reminded of one of "Dad" Labagh's favorite lines - "What have you learned?"

I asked myself this question. What have I learned from operating a blog for several years and writing so much? This has been just as much a learning experience for me, as it has for those who read the blog, which is fantastic on so many levels.

With that mind, here's my list of 5, in no particular order:

1. "Posts can come from anywhere." - I quickly learned that writing about DeMolay twice a week can be challenging. However, when you apply the lessons or ideals of DeMolay to other articles or trends, it becomes much easier to produce content.

2. "Don't be afraid of controversy." - We've had our share of controversial posts on this blog, written by several different members and friends of PA DeMolay. A little controversy can help drive your readership and keep things interesting.

3. "Plan to post." - I try to make sure that if I can't make a posting on a Monday or Thursday, that I have someone else cover for me. This spices things up a bit and provides others the chance to share their ideas.

4. "Timeliness is key." - Ensuring that posts occur when they are supposed to is one of the most important things. When posts don't go up on time, people stop reading. Consistency is your friend.

5. "Appeal to the masses." - Some of our most read posts are those that appeal to a broader group than just friends of DeMolay. By producing content that appeals to them, we expose more people to what our program is and what a great organization we have.

Blogging isn't always easy or fun, but the value of this site has proven to be enormous and I look forward to posting for several more years to come!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Ritual Memorization Tips

Here we are, the first week of December. This means that all over the Commonwealth, PA DeMolays are brushing up on their ritual parts for Grand Master's Class this coming weekend. I know that when I joined DeMolay, I never thought I'd be able to memorize the big parts. But, I soon learned that it's a process that nearly anyone can master.

Recently, I came across an article on the Masonic Trowel website that had some great tips for learning ritual. I adapted to DeMolay and am reposting it here. (Here is a link to the original: http://www.themasonictrowel.com/education/memory_files/memorization_tips.htm)

 

BEFORE MEMORIZING ANY PART OF THE RITUAL

1. Learn to read the ritual fluently without hesitating.
2. Check the dictionary to learn meanings and pronunciations of unfamiliar words.
3. Learn the full meaning of any strange sentences. Check with one who knows the ritual for explanations of the meaning and symbolism of unfamiliar phrases and sentences. It is difficult to memorize words and sentences that have no meaning to you.
4. Decide how each sentence should sentence when read or recited aloud. Decide where voice inflection should occur and where emphasis should be placed. Always read the sentence in the same way, never deviating from what you have once established to be the proper way to do it.
5. Read and re-read the ritual or lecture many times until you are thoroughly familiar with it.
6. Practice, with the book closed, writing in proper order all of the subjects discussed in the lecture, and then check with the ritual to determine what you have omitted or misplaced. In delivering the ritual you will always have to know what cues next.
7. Use every opportunity to hear others deliver the ritual. Make a mental note of what you do and do not like about the way they have given it.
    
8. Understand that these steps are to be taken before memorizing anything and are as important as the actual job of memorizing, and will require as much of your time as the job of memorizing the lines.
9. These first hints are very important because the more familiar you are with the lecture, the easier will be the job of memorizing it. Do not be impatient to start memorizing.

 

TO MEMORIZE THE RITUAL

1. Learn it paragraph by paragraph; do not attempt to learn too much at any one time.
2. Concentrate on the ritual. Try to be alone, if possible, without distractions from family, television, etc. Keep your mind on the ritual.
3. Take sections in the proper sequence; do not skip around in learning different sections.
4. Spend as much or more time in reviewing material already learned, as in learning new sections of the ritual. Refuse to learn anything new unless you are fairly confident of your ability to deliver what you have already learned.
5. Practice what you have already learned during odd moments. For example, recite while driving your car, riding a tractor, walking. You will be surprised at the benefit derived from the odd moments which would otherwise be wasted.
6. Always recite your lines in the same manner never changing voice inflections or emphasis once you have decided how they ought to be done. So: prize how, and what, you say.
7. Some prefer to recite aloud when practicing; others prefer the silent method. Most prefer the former, but do what is easier for you. If reciting silently, always concentrate on what you hear in your own mind what the sentences sound like.
8. Strive for perfection. Only by trying are we able to limit our mistakes to a relatively small number.

 

WHEN DELIVERING THE RITUAL

1. Always remember that primarily you are talking to the candidates, and the brethren about the Chapter are overhearing your remarks. Talk to them in normal voice volume and in a natural tone of voice. Look at the candidates while speaking.
2. Do not let your mind wander to the hard part that comes later on in the ritual. Think only of what you have to say at the moment.
3. Graciously accept the prompting, if needed, and go on without worrying or being embarrassed.
4. There should be a single prompter. Have this person who knows the ritual sit near your ritual station and tell him not to prompt unless you signal for it.
5. Do not talk too slowly or too fast; your presentation should be clear and deliberate.
6. Get expression into the ritual as much as possible without assuming an unnatural tone of voice.

 Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Project Run-away

We've now accumulated more than 30 posts on this little blog, and I've finally gotten the hang of looking for post ideas in my everyday life. Last week I broke down and headed to a local men's clothier to purchase a couple of new suits. Rumor has it that I am "not so little around the middle" and this in turn can make it difficult for me to find well fitting, but not overpriced, menswear. I succeeded in finding some new threads, and this afternoon I go pick them up. This was my first time buying real "suits" as, up until this point, I just went to the local department store, found one that seemed to fit, picked out some pants, and went on my way. This time though I decided that I should go to the real deal, and get something a little nicer, and better fitting. I may be a big guy, but I do care about my appearance.

I grew up in a pretty blue collar household. My father was a road foreman for many years, before becoming the Manager for a local municipality. My mother worked as a merchandiser and as a secretary, which provided her the flexibility she needed to be with the family. Even as the manager my father never really wore suits to work. Polo shirts, Oxfords, and khakis were the norm. His only real need for a suit was when he was showing our beloved Cardigan Welsh Corgi dogs at dog shows. So, needless to say, when it came time for me to join DeMolay there was nary a suit in sight in my closet. (At left: How not to dress your corgi, or your DeMolay for that matter!)

I explained to my mother that I needed a suit for DeMolay, and we headed over to J.C. Penney's, where I picked up a stylish double breasted jacket and some slacks. That jacket served me well, eventually being cannibalized to become my Commandery uniform (and might I say that I am rather proud of still being able to fit into that coat that was purchased some 8 years ago!) I had a suit, but I didn't understand anything about it, or why it was constructed the way it was. It was a coat; it fit; I was happy. So, where am I going with this? As I have transitioned into becoming an Advisor for DeMolay, and member of the fraternity as a whole, I realized how little I understood about men's "fashion" and how to properly dress for upscale functions. I didn't have anyone to teach this to me because of my blue collar roots, and now I see a whole new generation of DeMolays with the same issue. They have a suit, they know the basics, but beyond that, they have no idea what is and is not acceptable!

Society likes to use "code words" for how men should dress. These are commonly accepted phrases like formal, semi-formal, business casual, etc. If you were to go to Wikipedia and search "Suit," the applicable article that you would find is more than six thousand words long, detailing things such as cut, fabric, lapels, venting, breeches, trousers, ties, shirts, and more. It's a lot of information to digest to be sure. There is, however, a better way to get this information across to our young men. Talk to them about it! Show them a different way to tie a tie, or explain why white socks don't go with a black suit (or any suit for that matter!) If we don't explain this to them, then we can't blame them for not knowing it! These tips will help them in DeMolay, but they will be especially thankful when they go out into the real world with this knowledge and can apply it when preparing for interviews and other formal gatherings.

I'm not expecting to see a bunch of DeMolay fasionistas, but one thing it seems our society is losing is "common knowledge" information such as this; things that men used to pass from father to son, as sort of a "rite of passage." We are now in an age where that information is being lost, so take some time and pass it on to others. They will thank you in the long run!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

As a side note: For those of you that have been following along, I usually try to post on Tuesday and Thursday. I am changing that schedule a bit, and will now try to post on Monday and Thursday. If I have any special articles that come in, I may use them in place of my post, or add them to my regular ramblings. It just depends on how talkative I am that week!

Parliamentary Pointers for Presiding People

One of the toughest things to learn as a Master Councilor, or as any presiding officer for that matter, is that silly little book called Robert's Rules of Order. Let's be honest, the language is goofy, it's tough to remember, and it rarely makes a whole lot of sense. However, it is an important tool, and one that all presiding officers should make use of. In an effort to help you put that book to better use, here are some tips and thoughts on how best to use parliamentary procedure in your Chapter.

As a presiding officer, you’ll be responsible for maintaining order. You’ll want to be familiar with the rules of Parliamentary Procedure. Information can be found in the Resources section of www.pademolay.org, or you might want to check your library for a copy of Robert’s Rules. Better yet, see if you can find a simplified version like The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Robert’s Rules (not that we’re calling you an idiot, but we sure found it easier to understand, so...)

Who’s in charge here?
A good presiding officer takes charge. You usually have the right, for example, to:

• Call for order and silence.
• Call meetings to order, recess, or adjournment.
• Determine the order of the agenda.
• Say who speaks, and when.
• Limit the time for discussion on an issue, or the number who may speak to it.
• Call for a vote, and choose the method of voting (voice, hands, written, etc.).
• Declare the outcome of votes.
• Rule on whether actions or speakers are in or out of order.

With power comes responsibility, so make sure you’re being fair, and everyone is being given the chance to be heard.

So what’s the down side?
Yes, sorry, there are limits to your authority. For example, you may not:

• Make any motions yourself (you may “entertain” or ask for them to be made).
• Participate in debate (you may provide information, but not opinion)
(If you just have to have your say, you must turn over the chair to someone else to do so.)
• Vote on motions, except to break a tie.
• Authorize action of the group without a properly passed motion.
• Act outside of the accepted Parliamentary rules.

Be aware that some of the authorities listed above can be overridden by a vote of the members, so all authority has limits. Again, act fairly!

What do I need to know?
Here’s a few key ideas:

• Do not consider/debate any topic until there is a motion on the floor. Open, unstructured discussion is for committees and planning sessions, not for stated meetings.
• Generally, you may not allow a second motion to be made while another is being considered. Call it “out of order” until the first motion is voted upon.
• Familiarize yourself with some key ideas like how to amend a motion, and the precedence of motions.
• Find someone to advise you on procedure. Appoint a Parliamentarian.

Hopefully this short article gives you some quick pointers on how to best use Robert's Rules. Do you like this stuff? Head on over to http://parliamentarians.org/ and check out the National Society for Parlimentarians! You too could become a certified expert in Parliamentary Procedure!