Joan Detz Speaker Services

The sagging US economy has been particularly rough on free-lancers. The American Society of Journalists and Author’s “Writers Emergency Assistance Fund” has seen a 500 percent increase in grant requests from desperate writers.

As a long-time ASJA member, I’ve gladly contributed to the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund – and I’m glad to use this forum to bring attention to WEAF’s good works.  

Can you join ASJA’s blogathon to spread the word about WEAF’s financial needs?   Send a link to your post to WEAFHelp@gmail.com, and ASJA will add your post to their links.

 The cries for help from fellow writers are heart-breaking:

• A single mom with credits in top magazines and a four-year-old daughter is unable to work during chemotherapy for breast cancer. Worse, her high-deductible health plan isn’t adequately covering her huge medical bills.
• A proud dance critic, age 89, who has written professionally for more than 50 years, has no money to pay for nursing care needed after developing serious complications after a hip replacement.
• Another widely published writer faced foreclosure and cutoff of her utilities after her son’s potentially life-threatening illness drained her savings.

If you can contribute financially to WEAF, that’s wonderful.  If you can help spread the word about WEAF, that’s wonderful, too.  Thank you!

In my annual Advanced Speechwriting seminar, I focus on “special occasion” speeches:  awards, anniversaries, commencements, Change of Command ceremonies, dedications, fundraisers, retirements, tributes, words of welcome.

I’m always pleased to note good examples of special occasion speeches.  Here’s one that stands out:

M. Moshe Porat, Dean of the Fox School of Business, served as the distinguished guest speaker at a United States naturalization ceremony.  His “Welcome Home” speech honored 73 new citizens at the US Courthouse in Center City Philadelphia.  

Here’s the text of his speech … with excellent content and excellent writing. 

http://sbm.temple.edu/features/welcome_home_speech.html

The National Academy of Engineering’s summer edition of The Bridge includes articles/presentations on a wide range of nuclear issues.  Several entries specifically address medical aspects: 

“Medical Preparedness and Response to Nuclear Terrorism”, by Georges C. Benjamin (Executive Vice President of the American Public Health Association).        

 ”Radiological Terrorism:  First Responders and Communicating Risk”, by John F. Ahearne.   

“Health Aspects of a Nuclear or Radiological Attack” (7 authors). 

You can read them at www.nae.edu/TheBridge 

Freedom of Enterprise Week

Umpire Appreciation Week 

National Clown Week

National Smile Week

Women’s Equality Day

International Character Day

Lefthanders Day

Davy Crockett Day

National Aviation Day

Hoteliers Day

Politicians Day

Gaming Day

Consultants Day

Lawyers Day

Detectives Day

Swiss Independence Day

Congratulations to Mike Landrum, who had an article published in Toastmasters Magazine.  His topic:  “Eye Contact.” 

The American Society of Journalists and Authors has invited me to moderate a 90-minute session at their 2011 conference (April 29-May 1, New York City).  Designed for both speech writers and speech givers, this session will feature top presenters … all talking about how to make money in the speech business. 

I’ll finalize my panel in the autumn and announce the panelists here. 

To consider for your speech writing assignments: 

National Anti-Boredom Month

National Picnic Month 

National Ice Cream Month

Special Recreation Week

National Therapeutic Recreation Week

Space Week (commemorates landing on the moon)

Freedom Day 

Debtors’ Day

Plan Your Vacation Day (on the anniversary of the first US passport, July 8, 1796)

Geographer’s Day

Diplomats’ Day (on the anniversary of the first US cabinet department, the Department of Foreign Affairs - later the Department of State - July 27, 1789)

Good news from Mike Yaple, who has attended my “Master Class in Speechwriting” seminar:

Mike works with the New Jersey School Boards Association, and one of NJSBA’s speeches was accepted for the July issue of Vital Speeches.  It’s very well written - and delightfully short.  (There’s a lesson in brevity here.)  You can read it at …

http://www.njsba.org/press_releases/da-ed-address201005.html

Congratulations to Mike and the whole NJSBA team!

Gordon Tomb has attended several of my speechwriting seminars.  He has a strong background in the energy field, having worked in communications at Three Mile Island. 

I was pleased to read Gordon’s lead column in the Opinion section of the Harrisburg Patriot-News.  Anyone with an interest in energy (and, shouldn’t that be all of us?) can learn much from his insights.  If you write speeches about energy topics, you will find much of value in this piece. 

http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2010/06/bp_diaster_echoes_tmi_incident.html

I have long admired former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for her creative use of jewelry to express diplomatic opinions.  She chooses brooches and pins to reinforce her key messages … defuse an awkward Q&A … or add a bit of humor to a tense situation.

You’ll find excellent examples of “jewelry as a diplomatic accessory” at www.Smithsonian.com/albright.