Hiding under a rock does not get your organization and its cause noticed. People will not think about you and the good things you do if they do not know about you! You need to take the microphone, stand up, and speak out about your organization.
Get the word out about your services
and your success stories.
“How do we do this?” you may ask.
Representatives of your organization need to pull up their boot-straps, swallow their fear of speaking, and step into the spotlight. Whether a manager, staff representative, or volunteer there is someone with the gumption to become a spokesperson for your cause. They can speak about your mission, your current events and activities, or share some success stories.
And where do these people speak?
Finding a speaking gig is easier than you think. There are handfuls of organizations in your community that are looking for guest speakers. Think about the Kiwanis Club, Rotary, Optimist Club, and Chambers of Commerce. They all hold weekly/monthly meetings and welcome a guest speaker to fill fifteen minutes during their gatherings. You add to their agenda and bring a fresh program to entertain them.
"How about some presentation tips?" you say.
Your speaker needs to be loud, rehearsed, and memorable. Do something unique to cement your organization in the minds of the attendees.
If your cause helps children, have the children craft greeting cards with glitter and colorful stickers on the front and inside. Ask the children to write a brief welcoming message. Bring several such cards to the speaking engagement and pass these cards out at the end of your speech (if you hand items out during a speech, the handouts will distract the audience and they will lose focus on the speaker).
Does your cause assists veterans? Bring one of these veterans with you, talk about their service and bring some American flags to the occasion. Part of the presentation could be teaching the audience to properly fold the American flag, and reviewing the proper ways to present the flag and to honor it.
For a cause for displaced individuals and children, invite a person who successfully benefited from your help to accompany the speaker. Perhaps you could end an informative introductory presentation with a few questions from the audience for the person who received your support.
Listeners will remember your presentation.
What about handouts?
You do not want to leave a speaking engagement without having flyers, brochures or other written materials available for the audience members. Always be prepared with ways people can contact your organization. Give attendees your email address and phone number. Invite them to a future happening or activity. You never know when they will remember you and want to participate in an event or donate to your cause.
Final thoughts...
Be creative and get your spokesperson out into the community. Once the speaker begins talking and his passion gets ignited, he will forget any fear he may have had. It works. It is a positive step for your organization. It promotes your cause!
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