Guest Speaker Short Speech For Graduation? Top Answer Update

4. Pass on some good advice

This is perhaps the most important part of your speech. Share meaningful advice for years to come. Highlight some of the expectations that lie ahead. Keep the tone positive and remind everyone that they have what it takes to be successful in their future.

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After hours of preparation, the moment has come to deliver your speech. You stand in front of the podium, all eyes on you, with a confidence no one can take from you. Then you start…

“Hi everyone. Thank you for inviting me. My name is ______ _______ and today I’m going to talk to you about _______. First of all, _______ is important because…”

All of a sudden, people start moving in their seats, checking their phones, reading the program, talking to each other, and doing everything but paying attention to you.

Your opening often determines how long the audience “locks in” to your presentation. If you bore your audience from the start, there’s little chance your message will get across effectively.

How do you effectively open a speech or presentation to prevent this? Here are seven effective ways to open a speech or presentation:

Quote

Start with a relevant quote to set the tone for the rest of your speech. For example one I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking:

“It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain

“What if” scenario

Instantly engaging your audience in your speech works wonders. Asking a “what if” question invites the audience to follow your thought process.

“What if we were all blunt? How different would our everyday life be? What would happen if we said what we think every day?”

“Imagine a” scenario

A similar method but more relevant for sensational examples. It puts your audience right into the presentation by allowing each member to visualize an extraordinary scenario.

“Imagine jumping out of a parachute plane and realizing your parachute isn’t working. What memories would flash before you? Now imagine the parachute deployed. How different would you behave after landing?”

question

Ask a rhetorical or literal question. When someone is presented with a question as to whether or not an answer is required, that person answers intuitively.

“Who wouldn’t want to live on an exotic island?”

Be silent

A pause, whether two seconds or 10 seconds, allows your audience to sit and calm down. Most listeners expect a speaker to begin immediately. An extra pause puts all the attention where you want it—on you.

statistics

Use a surprising, meaningful, personalized stat that resonates with audiences to get your message across right away. It has the potential to trigger the emotional attraction of the audience.

“Look to the left. Now look to the right. One of your seatmates will ___________.”

“In this room, over 90 percent of us will _________.”

Powerful statement/phrase

A statement or phrase can grab the audience’s attention by guessing what you’re going to say next. Subsequent application of the Silence technique also contributes to the effect.

“We can’t win. We can’t win…”

(Break)

“…It’s in every newspaper in the country.”

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Author: Leader in me

May 23, 2019

Examples of graduation speeches are huge. You can structure a speech to enter a competition, celebrate an occasion, motivate people, or demonstrate, to name a few. With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which format is best for your speech.

With graduations happening now and over the next few weeks, we thought it would be helpful to feature some great graduation speech examples that illustrate the purpose of a speech. Whether you’re a year best, a club member, or just thanking everyone for helping you graduate, you can take away some great tips from these graduation speeches.

Closing speech examples: Purpose of a speech

First and foremost, when it comes to giving speeches, there are a few basic things to keep in mind when designing your speech. The first thing to keep in mind is the purpose of your speech. Purpose refers to the intent of your speech. Do you want your speech to inform, persuade or entertain? Determining the purpose of your speech will help you set the tone of your speech. Once you’ve determined the purpose of your speech, you can focus on crafting it.

But what are the differences between the three purposes? Let’s take a look.

Examples of closing speeches: Informative speech

Let’s start with an informative speech. An informative speech is exactly what it sounds like! Its purpose is to inform the audience. One important thing to remember about an informative speech is that there is no bias. The main purpose of the speech is simply to provide information to the audience. It is up to the audience to decide what to do with the information. The speech does not try to convince the audience in any way. Typically, these speeches contain references to data, charts, and infographics to support the speech. Lots of informational speeches might seem a little boring, but that doesn’t mean that all informational speeches have to be. Watch this informative talk on time management.

Tip: Informational speeches are informative just the way they sound. These types of speeches are not intended to persuade or entertain, only to provide information to the audience. It is up to the audience to decide what information to take away from the speech and whether to use or discard that knowledge. These types of speeches generally work better with visual aids.

Examples of graduation speeches: Entertaining speech

Entertaining speeches should entertain! When you keep the structure of a speech in mind, adding that extra layer of entertainment is a sure-fire way to make your speech memorable. Entertaining speeches don’t have to follow a traditional speech format, but their purpose should still fulfill the challenge while delivering the message in a unique way.

These two graduation speech examples do a great job of addressing the prompt in a unique way that suits the speaker’s personality.

For our first example, let’s watch this video. In this video, this 9-year-old student adds humor to her speech. She takes creative liberties with her speech and manages to lighten up why she believes a win-win attitude is the solution to people working together.

With this next example, a 5-year-old gave a pretty impressive speech about what it means to be a leader. In his speech, he provides clear examples of the qualities that he believes make a leader. He even has anecdotes in his speech to further support his speech.

Tip: If you’re giving an entertaining speech, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through! Remember that the purpose of this speech is primarily to entertain the audience on the topic of your choice. Anecdotes are a great way to support this type of speech.

Examples of graduation speeches: Persuasive speech

Last, but not least, is the persuasive speech. This type of speech is one of the most common, as a persuasive speech is primarily intended to convince the audience of a certain way of thinking. Usually, these speeches focus on a topic or issue that is of great importance to the speaker. For a closing speech, you can take the time to draw attention to an issue or topic that is close to your heart. Whether it’s climate change or women’s rights, take the time to engage your audience.

These two voice videos do a fantastic job of convincing the audience to help solve the presented problem.

In this example, this student is trying to get the audience to act. She speaks loudly, clearly and slowly. She emphasizes the topic of her speech by repeating the line “You’re never too young.” In this case, she tries to convince audiences that people are never too young to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in. She sets examples by showing her own bias on issues close to her heart. Let’s take a look.

As if to support the belief shown above, this 5-year-old student does a spectacular job of demonstrating a persuasive speech on a topic she is passionate about. In this case, the student gives a presentation on the topic “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”. Your theme would fall under an earth friendly theme. While her age may distract some of the audience, she makes up for it by using visuals and characters to further support her speech.

Tip: When it comes to persuasive speeches, it’s important to speak slowly and clearly. The audience needs time to process what you are trying to communicate. Use images to support your speech. Don’t be afraid to take your time and find alternative ways to illustrate your topic in addition to the speech.

Once you have decided on the purpose of your speech, you can now design your speech. Crafting your speech is easier when you choose a topic that is personally important to you. Once you’ve chosen your topic, you can focus on the type of speech you want to give. Remember that in this article we are talking about the purpose of speeches. There are many more variations of idioms for which examples can be given, but that is another article.

The farewell speech is an integral part of the graduation ceremony. It is usually supplied by the year-best (the student with the best grades in the senior year), although some colleges and high schools have abandoned the practice of naming a year-best. The terms “farewell speech” and “farewell speaker” come from the Latin “valedicere”, meaning a formal farewell, and this is the essence of what a farewell speech should be.

Understand the goal

The graduation speech should serve two purposes: It should convey a farewell message to the members of a graduating class and inspire them to leave school and embark on an exciting new adventure. You were probably chosen to give this speech because you have demonstrated that you are an excellent student who can shoulder the responsibilities of an adult. Now it’s time to make every student in your class feel special.

As you prepare your speech, think about your shared experiences with the class and the people you shared it with. This should include popular and quiet students, class clowns and brains, teachers, principals, professors, deans, and other school employees. It’s important to make everyone feel like they have a part to play in this shared experience.

If you have limited experience in certain aspects of school life, ask for help in collecting important names and events that you may not be aware of. Are there any clubs or teams that have won awards? Students volunteering in the community?

Make a list of highlights

Make a list of the highlights of your school years and put more emphasis on the current year. Start with these brainstorming questions:

Who has received awards or grants?

Have athletic records been broken?

Does a teacher retire after this year?

Did your class have a good or bad reputation with the teachers?

How many students stay from first year?

Was there a dramatic event in the world this year?

Was there a dramatic event at your school?

Was there a funny moment that everyone enjoyed?

You may need to have face-to-face conversations to learn more about these benchmarks.

write the speech

Farewell speeches often combine humorous and serious elements. Start by greeting your audience with a “hook” that gets their attention. For example, you could say, “Senior year was full of surprises,” or “We leave the faculty with many interesting memories,” or “This senior year set records in an unusual way.”

Organize your speech into topics that describe these elements. You might want to start with an event that everyone is talking about, such as: For example, a basketball championship, a student appearing on a television show, or a tragic event in the community. Then focus on the other highlights, put them in context and explain their meaning. For example:

“Jane Smith won a National Merit Scholarship this year. This may not seem like a big deal, but Jane endured a year of illness to achieve this goal. Her strength and endurance are an inspiration to our entire class.”

Use anecdotes and quotes

Think of anecdotes to illustrate your shared experiences. These short stories can be funny or poignant. You could say, “When the college newspaper ran an article about the family who lost their home in a fire, our classmates got together and organized a series of fundraisers.”

You can also throw in quotes from famous people. These quotes work best in the introduction or conclusion and should reflect the topic of your speech. For example:

“The pain of parting is nothing compared to the joy of seeing you again.” (Charles Dickens)

“Under the alarm clock you will find the key to success.” (Benjamin Franklin)

“There is only one success: being able to live your life your way.” (Christoph Morley)

Plan your time

Make sure your speech is appropriately long. Most people speak around 175 words per minute, so a 10-minute speech should be around 1,750 words. A double-spaced page holds about 250 words, which translates to seven double-spaced pages for 10 minutes of speaking time.

Tips for preparing to speak

It’s important to practice your farewell speech before giving it. This will help you fix problem spots, cut out boring pieces, and add elements when you’re running low. You should:

Practice reading your speech aloud to see how it sounds

Take your time, but remember that you may speak faster when you’re nervous

Focus on staying calm

Put comedy aside if it feels unnatural

Be tactful when addressing a tragic subject that you feel needs to be addressed. If in doubt, consult a teacher or counselor.

If possible, practice your speech using the microphone at the location where you will be graduating – your best chance might be just before the event. This gives you the opportunity to experience the sound of your amplified voice, figure out how you stand and get past butterflies in your stomach.

Whether you’re a communications professional or a human resource executive, there will come a time when you need to write a speech for yourself or someone else. When that time comes, your career may depend on your success.

J. Lyman MacInnis, business coach, Toronto Star columnist, accountant, and author of “The Elements of Great Public Speaking,” has seen careers stalled — even marred — by failing to deliver messages effectively in front of groups communicate. On the other hand, solid speechwriting skills can help launch and sustain a successful career. What you need is forethought and methodical preparation.

Know your listeners

Find out as much as you can about the audience and the event. This will help you target whatever insight, experience or knowledge you have that this group wants or needs:

Why was the audience brought together?

What do viewers have in common?

How big will the audience be?

What do you know and what do you need to know?

Do they expect discussions on a specific topic and if so, which ones?

What is the audience’s attitude and knowledge of the topic of your presentation?

What is their attitude towards you as a speaker?

Why are you interested in your topic?

Choose your core message

If the core message is correct, other things can go wrong. But if the message is wrong, it doesn’t matter what you write around it. To write the most effective speech, you should have extensive knowledge of your topic, genuinely care about it, and love to talk about it. Focus on a message that’s relevant to the target audience and remember: audiences want an opinion. If you offer too little substance, your audience will label you as a lightweight. If you offer too many ideas, you make it difficult for them to know what’s important to you.

Research and organize

Research until you drop. This is where you pick up the information, connect the ideas and arrive at the insights that will freshen up your presentation. It’s easier for you if you gather far more information than you need. Organize your research and notes into general categories, leaving space between them. Then go back and rearrange. Put related pieces together like a puzzle.

Develop a structure to deliver your message

First, consider whether your goal is to inform, persuade, motivate, or entertain. Then sketch your speech and fill in the details:

Introduction – The first few minutes of a presentation are important in proving your credibility and sympathy. Personal anecdotes are often a good way to get things started. This is also where you outline your main points. Body – Address the issues you want to address and limit them to five points or less. Then back up those few points with illustrations, evidence, and anecdotes. Be passionate: Your conviction can be as compelling as the appeal of your ideas. Conclusion – Conclude with feelings and facts. End with something upbeat that will inspire your listeners.

They want to leave the audience elated, not drained. In our fast-paced world, 20-25 minutes is about as long as someone listens intently to a speech. As a general rule, when writing and editing your speech, allow about 90 seconds for each double-spaced page.

Make it spicier

Once you have the basic structure of your speech, it’s time to add variety and interest. Giving an audience exactly what they expect is like handing out sleeping pills. Remember that a speech is more like a conversation than a formal letter. His phrasing is loose – but without the extremes of slang, the incomplete thoughts, the interruptions that flavor everyday speech.

Give him rhythm. A good speech has speed.

Vary the sentence structure. Use short sentences. Occasionally use long to keep audience awake. Fragments are fine if used sparingly and for emphasis.

Use the active voice and avoid passive voices. Active forms of speech make your sentences more powerful.

Repeat keywords and points. Repetition not only helps your audience remember something, but also creates greater awareness of central points or the main theme.

Ask rhetorical questions in a way that grabs your audience’s attention.

Personal experiences and anecdotes will help you substantiate your arguments and help you connect with the audience.

Use quotation marks. Good quotes work on several levels and force the listener to think. Make sure quotes are clearly attributed and said by someone your audience is likely to recognize.

Be sure to use all of these devices sparingly in your speeches. When overused, speech becomes exaggerated. Used carefully, they will work well to drive speech and help you deliver your message in an interesting and persuasive way.

Public speaking can be challenging, especially at an important event. Speaking in front of an audience can be even more difficult when you’re introducing an important or notable guest. Guest speakers often bring expertise or a unique perspective on a topic. Introductory speeches are your opportunity to generate enthusiasm for the speaker and provide background information for the audience. To properly close an introductory speech, include the speaker’s name and title.

Provide an overview of the speaker’s accomplishments and awards. Describe the speaker’s expertise in their field. For example, say, “Now I’d like to introduce you to award-winning environmentalist John Smith, who has written more than 10 books on green energy in California.”

Present a summary of what the guest will be discussing. For example, you could say, “Now I want to introduce the insightful Nancy Green, who will outline how upcoming policy changes will affect green energy and what we can do to address those changes.”

State the reason why the organization selected the speaker. For example, say, “I would like to introduce Bryan Frazier who is an expert in all areas of the field and we are grateful that he is here tonight to share his knowledge.”

Enter the title of the speaker. “Let me introduce you to Karen Smith, an environmental activist and professor of urban planning at UCLA.”

Public speaking is an invaluable skill that everyone should have. While you don’t need to deliver a speech at every interaction in your life, intrinsic skills carry over to your behavior and interpersonal skills. So this guide is all about how long opening statements should be and how to write an effective one.

The ideal length of a good inaugural speech should be between 5 and 10 minutes. But one should not exceed 18 to 20 minutes. Don’t rush during the speech either. This will have no effect and think about your audience too.

However, writing a short speech is not that easy. You need to deliver value within a short period of time. But no worry. It’s not that difficult if you know how to do it.

What is an opening speech?

An inaugural address is a speech given to students who are graduating. It is really that easy. However, there are some nuances. This speech is mainly aimed at students who are going through secondary school. It can also be given in similar institutions and is common in many parts of the world.

Thank you cards for wedding wording Sam… Please enable JavaScript Thank you cards for wedding Wording examples

Technically, beginning means a beginning. But people might confuse it when something ends as it is usually given when students finish their studies. But that should mean the start of your bachelor’s or master’s degree.

In some cases, a commencement is an actual ceremony. Degrees (or diplomas) are awarded to students. The person delivering the speech is called the opening speaker. You will see remarkable people giving these speeches. Usually it is influential political leaders or important citizens who give these speeches.

How long should opening statements be?

The general rule of thumb is to keep it reasonably short and lively. A good opening speech should last between 5 and 10 minutes as the basic goal is to engage the audience and make it memorable.

There’s no point in going on and on only to have the audience’s attention and interest dwindle. Try to keep it between 5 and 10 minutes. But it shouldn’t take longer than 18 to 20 minutes.

You should craft an engaging and inspirational speech within those minutes. The benefit of giving yourself a time constraint like this makes you more efficient at what you say. You avoid unnecessary filler and address the audience appreciatively. They’ll love hearing what you have to say.

I recommend not making the speech too short. And it shouldn’t be too long either. A speech that is too short can seem vague and superficial. In contrast, a very long speech causes people to lose interest. Hitting the sweet spot is important here.

How to create a good opening speech

When writing your inaugural address, there are a few things to keep in mind. These tips and best practices will help you stay on point and engage audiences in meaningful ways.

1. Know your audience

Honestly, this tip applies to all public speaking, not just inaugural ones. A typical ceremony may include people from a variety of backgrounds and interests. It’s important to know your audience.

It’s important to have a general feel for the space. This allows you to craft a speech that is meaningful and appropriate.

Do some research on the crowd. Before the actual speaking day, try to know who will be attending. You don’t need to know absolute details. A general idea will be good enough.

2. Tasteful humor

A bit of humor is also important! You don’t want your speech to be too boring and dry. That way it won’t have a lasting effect. A short speech without spice or humor will still feel tiring. And maybe you don’t remember.

By that I don’t mean that you put on a stand-up comedy performance. Injecting some tasteful humor along with the punchline of your speech is the recipe for success.

3. Think about the graduates and speak for them

It’s perfectly fine to share some personal experiences in your inaugural address. But don’t overdo it. Try to think about the graduates and what they might relate to. If you only speak in the first person, people may not feel interested.

If you tell a personal story, you should also craft it in a way that graduates know what they can take away from it and what they will learn. You can’t just think about yourself here.

4. Avoid touchy subjects

There is absolutely no reason to talk about sensitive issues. You want to make it embarrassing. Avoiding topics like religion, politics, and race will keep you safe. You should also not negatively comment on the views or lifestyles of others.

Avoiding sensitive issues and critical differences altogether is best here. So be more sensitive and comprehensive when writing your speech.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Speaking of writing speeches, you should practice that too. Writing it the day before and thinking you’ll own the day during the ceremony isn’t always the best way to go about it. You may be a fantastic public speaker, but with practice, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable during the actual speech.

So remember to practice your speech beforehand. You can stand in front of a mirror and give a speech to yourself. Better yet, you can get a friend or family member to act as the audience.

A little practice will help you deliver the speech with confidence. You should articulate what you say, not just mumble. That looks very unprofessional. Exercise is the way to get rid of nervousness and nervousness.

6. Don’t rush and keep to the time

Finally, don’t rush your speech. Although I told you to keep your speech relatively short, rushing through your speech becomes very embarrassing. Take your time, but don’t drag it too long.

Avoid repeating the same things over and over again. You should respect everyone else’s time, but also not be too quick that you don’t even get the point.

Difference between inaugural and closing speech

Beginning of studies is often used as a synonym for graduation. However, there are some differences. Graduation ceremonies are just ceremonies to celebrate the fact that students have met all the requirements for a particular degree. At this point, most likely, you will not receive a diploma. This is reserved when all sheet music is officially updated and released.

The closing speech, on the other hand, is more official. It states that you have indeed completed all study requirements. Students can graduate each semester if all of their requirements are met. However, there will be an opening speech throughout the year.

Wrap up

By now you should know all about how long inaugural speeches should be and how to deliver an effective one. Always think of your audience. The speech is for her and not for you. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have personality or originality.

A good acceptance speech balances all of these things and is short and lively.

Quick links

Booking | fee | Contracts | Communication before the presentation | Travel arrangements | Speaker contact and checklist | Transportation | Accommodation | Meals | The Venue | Podium | Your Introduction | Keeping the speaker on time | Managing the Audience | The Presentation | Device structure | Book Sale | Post-presentation follow-up | Miscellaneous |

introduction

Having spent several decades on the Circle of Speakers and given over 650 talks, I felt a small brochure with basic guidelines for those involved with speaker bookings was in order. I would like to thank other gardening professionals for their help and comments in the production of this booklet; Ken Druse, Pamela Harper and Tracy DiSabato-Aust, Scott Ogden, Lauren Springer-Ogden, Bobby Ward and Barry Yinger.

Talking on the go can be a wonderful experience or a stressful nightmare. Those of us who spend our lives on the move have experienced everything from magical presentations to horror epics. Will this reading prevent any catastrophe? Probably not. Program chairs who cause the most trouble probably won’t take the time to read this. Those who are interested probably already have this knowledge. Remember that the quality presentation you have booked depends on following these common sense protocols. This booklet is free for anyone to use and share, and your feedback is very welcome. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read.

Book speakers

Selection of a speaker

How do you start booking a horticultural speaker for your group? First, it’s important to realize that not all speakers are the same and your job as program chair is to find a speaker for your audience. You also need to be aware that a speaker who is knowledgeable about his topic is often a poor presenter, while the opposite is also true. Some of the best moderators often have insufficient knowledge of their subject. A good speaker is first and foremost a good entertainer. This should not detract from the information provided, but the focus is on entertainment value. If you have an enthusiastic audience, make sure you find a speaker that doesn’t fall above or below their level of interest and has the highest quality slides/images. On the other hand, if your audience is mostly beginners, you don’t need to hire a top-notch plant expert.

Word of mouth is the best way to find speakers. Attending symposiums is a great way to hear potential speakers and make initial connections. Most speakers are willing to recommend other speakers they think would be a good fit for your group. Most specialized plant groups have a speaker’s office. This includes the Perennial Plant Association. Most county extension services have a list of master gardeners who are available for local presentations. Local arboretums, botanical gardens and garden centers usually have a list of available speakers. While you can usually find local speakers at short notice, the most popular high-profile speakers book speaking engagements at least a year in advance. The most popular months for garden talk are September through November and January through March. If you book a talk outside of this time frame, you may have better luck booking on a shorter notice, although you may struggle to reach large audiences due to vacations and other family commitments.

fees

Why do speakers cost so much? Think of speakers as entertainers selling their time. Many have additional sources of income such as books, videos, plants, etc., but most need to be paid for their time to make a living. If you’re paying an electrician, plumber, or auto mechanic $100 an hour, why should a gardening speaker be any different? The wide disparities in speaker pricing are due in part to skill, but also to the value the speaker places on their time. Speakers associated with government or educational institutions may consider speaking as part of their professional duties. In preparation for a lecture, a presenter bears the cost of preparing the lecture, the cost of editing, archiving and compiling photos, if used. Added to this are the costs of being away from their workplace for the time required to travel to and from the presentation site. During this time, the speaker cannot earn any income. Most garden speakers view conversations as a break-even proposition at best. When you book a speaker, you should expect to pay their fee and cover all expenses. Some speakers are willing to compromise on published rates, others are not. In addition, some speakers are willing to offer discounts for a second presentation at the same location. Other presenters may feel they cannot do justice to a second presentation on the same day. Giving a good, entertaining presentation is a taxing experience, both physically (vocally) and mentally. Your speaker will have a good idea of ​​their limitations.

Some presenters who depend on this income for a living and do not have staff to send out invoices may prefer to be paid immediately after the presentation. Conversely, others prefer to send an itemized bill when they return home. It’s a fairly common practice for presenters to submit airfare invoices for reimbursement once their tickets have been purchased, as this can be a financial drain for some. These financial items should be clarified before the presentation.

$0-100 – mostly local or regional speakers

$100-$250 – better known local and some regional speakers

$250-$500 – good speakers, often local or regional

$500-$1000 – usually very good but maybe not that well known nationally

$1,000+ – Top quality speakers in demand, usually book authors

Speaker booking follows the old adage; You get what you pay for. Prices for horticultural speakers range from no charge to several thousand dollars per session. For local groups, you can often get good speakers for little or no fee. This may include those who are just becoming known, those promoting a product line, or government employees whose salary includes an obligation to speak without a fee. If money is an issue for your group, consider partnering with other groups nearby, charging an entry fee, or holding a rare plant sale or auction to help offset some of the expenses.

Get it in writing

While contact over the phone or in person is great, don’t assume an interview is confirmed unless you have written confirmation. Many groups like written contracts that set out details and commitments, while others simply opt for a statement of commitments. Other groups often want to attend a lecture that has already been booked for a specific region. Any additional presentations should be discussed first by the host and speaker. It is the speaker’s responsibility not to give another presentation that would dilute the audience of the original group. Some groups require that a speaker refrain from presenting another lecture in the same region for a period of x months if they feel the audience for the particular speaker is limited. The more details are recorded in writing, the less is left for misinterpretation.

Communication before the presentation

General Communication

Remember that a speaker’s time is money and the more time you spend back and forth on details, the greater the cost to the speaker. Many speakers have now prepared packages that include most of the details you need to ensure a successful program. If the speaker has taken the time to prepare such a packet, it is important that the host takes the time to read the packet and not call with details already explained. Both over-communication and under-communication can be equally irritating.

Choosing a topic

After you have booked your speaker, you must decide on the topic and the duration of the lecture. There are two different philosophies when it comes to speaker issues. Some “old school” speakers will put together a standard talk or two. These lectures do not vary with audience and are used by the speaker over a period of years. These are referred to as “canned” programs. If you want one of these speakers, stick with their pre-packaged programs. Some topics such as design and travelogues are less regional and are mostly suitable as a canned program. Most of the in-demand horticultural speakers prefer to tailor presentations to the audience and climate in which they will be presenting. Often these speakers have a topic list from which topics can be selected. The speaker then puts together a talk based on the information you give about the audience and about gardening and climate in your area. The high-quality speakers often make last-minute adjustments to the presentation to make it more suitable for the audience.

A standard duration for a talk is 45 minutes to 1 hour, often with time for questions and answers at the end. If there are time constraints, it’s important to let the speaker know before they put together their talks. Talks can be scheduled to last up to 2 hours, but this is an exception. This is usually considered too long for an audience to sit without losing interest or a pause. Ask in advance, as some speakers charge more for talks longer than an hour. Some speakers can also give two talks on the same day, but two is usually the maximum before their voice is exhausted. If you are interested in more than one talk, be sure to ask the presenter how many talks they can give in a short time frame.

slide lists

It has become standard for presenters to provide lists of slides for their presentations if it is a lecture that will be used as a reference. Dialists are not particularly valuable for “concept” discussions about garden or plant design. Requesting these months before the presentation will likely get your speaker laughing, but not much else. Speakers at the circuit can deliver 5-10 presentations in a 2 month period. Unless you have a “canned” presentation, don’t expect to see a slide list more than a few days before the presentation. You need to find a way to have the slide list duplicated at the last minute, even though it can be an inconvenience. It is the program chair’s responsibility to request these lists, reproduce them, and then distribute them to participants. This is usually done at a registration desk, at the entrance to the venue, or in the venue’s plazas. Don’t wait for the audience to be seated and then hand out the lists. I sent lists of slides to the program chairs, only to arrive at the presentation and find that they “didn’t know they were going to be duplicated.” All I can say is, “Here’s your sign.”

travel arrangements

After you have booked your speaker, you will need to coordinate your speaker’s transportation to the venue. While driving is an acceptable option for nearby conversations, most conversations require air transportation. Due to the unpredictability of air travel, it is never a good idea to fly in a speaker on the day of the presentation unless the presentation is scheduled for the evening and alternative flights to the venue city are available. For example, scheduling a flight that arrives at noon for a 3pm presentation could lead to potential disasters for program organizers and stress for your speaker. It is always preferable to take your speaker into town the night before the talk.

Most presenters prefer to make their own travel bookings. Many use travel agencies and prefer the consistency this offers. You can suggest flights you can find at a good price, but don’t ask a speaker to make several additional connections just to save money. The longer a speaker travels to get to a lecture, the more expensive it becomes for him. More importantly, the more difficult and lengthy the journey, the less energy and focus the speaker needs to have to deliver an enjoyable presentation.

Many speakers incur costs for travel to and from the airport (taxi or shuttle) and airport parking if driving their own vehicle. If your speaker lives an hour from an airport and drives himself, they have a two-hour round trip + long-term airport parking fees. Mileage is generally reimbursed at the General Services Administration standard rate available at www.gsa.gov. As the program chair, please note that you must reimburse these additional travel expenses as well as actual airfare.

Once you have booked a talk, I recommend contacting your speaker at least two months before the talk and again a week before. Be sure to provide the speaker with a contact phone number as well as a cell phone number once they arrive in the city of the venue. A backup telephone for a second contact person is also very important. When contacting a speaker, you should work from a checklist. This avoids having to re-contact the speaker every few weeks.

Speaker fees (how much and when are they due)

topic and talk timing

Slide list (requested due date and method to be sent)

Define target group (number of participants and description of target group)

Book sales and catalog distribution (details if applicable)

Equipment Required (Audiovisual Equipment)

Travel arrangements (who, when and how much)

Accommodation details (where, tickets, which nights)

Transport details (who, when, where, contact information)

Dining details (what, where, when)

Venue Details – (venue, tickets and times)

Contact information (who and contact numbers)

Site coordination and logistics

transport

Before your speaker arrives in the venue city, be sure to coordinate transportation details. If your speaker drove or rented a car, make sure they have both maps and written directions to their accommodation and presentation location (if different). There’s nothing more frustrating for a speaker than getting lost with bad directions. If you are picking up the speaker and are his chauffeur, be sure to let your speaker know how and where to find you at the airport… Signs with the speaker’s name work well. Be sure to coordinate what will happen during the time you have them in the car. Some speakers might enjoy a tour of the city or the surrounding gardens, while others prefer to rest at their hotel. Good hosts present a speaker with a list of options and let the speaker choose. While airport shuttles are occasionally used for speakers, this gives the impression that your speaker wasn’t worthy of being picked up by a member of your group. If you are transporting a speaker to and from a dinner party, it is important that you provide the speaker with a designated alcohol-free driver. It’s amazing how insensitive some hosts are to what should be common sense.

accomodation

If your speaker has to spend the night in the venue town, you are responsible for providing them with accommodation for the evening. Some speakers like to stay in houses and others prefer to stay in hotels… be sure to ask. While leaving the speakers at home saves money, if your speaker isn’t happy with this arrangement, don’t press on this issue. It is your responsibility to ensure that the accommodation does not have any surprises in store for your speaker. A good example in households would be having to share a bathroom with children, smoking or in some cases non-smoking hosts, or pets roaming freely around the house when the speaker may have allergies. Despite the best of intentions and great hosts, home seldom gives the speaker a time-out to relax and focus on the presentation at hand. Hotels that are undergoing renovations or are hosting a children’s soccer team would also not provide your speaker with a good night’s sleep. These may seem like small issues, but they are huge in mentally preparing your speaker to give a good presentation.

When reserving hotels, ask your speakers about their room preferences… smoking vs. non-smoking and bed size. Most groups book the room on their credit card and the speakers are only responsible for incidental expenses such as pay movies and personal phone calls. Hotels cannot charge a room to your card unless you physically take your card to the hotel. Otherwise your speaker card will be charged. Be sure to let the presenter know if they’re paying for the room pending reimbursement or if you’re paying for the room.

meals

Meals can also be a disaster if program coordinators don’t check with their presenters about dietary needs and preferences. Keep in mind that speakers with hearing difficulties can have great difficulty surviving a meal in a noisy restaurant. The same applies to drinks. Hosting a dinner/reception and not offering alcohol free is irresponsible. This should be inquired about in advance from your speaker. Conversely, if your speaker enjoys drinking with dinner, don’t ask them to drive themselves. When dining at home it is important that the menu is approved by your speaker. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to find a meal after returning to the hotel late at night from a dinner with speakers at home. Speakers can usually find something to suit their dietary needs at most general restaurants. If you plan to dine at an ethnic or specialty restaurant, it’s important to check with your speaker first.

If a speaker presentation is planned for the evening, be sure to plan time for dinner. Some speakers prefer to eat before the talk, while others prefer to eat afterwards. Be sure to coordinate this with your speaker before the presentation. If you bring speakers from outside your area, be aware of their time zones. I’ve flown across the country to have dinners for speakers long after I’ve been both starving and dead tired.

If you plan on having your speaker actually give an after-dinner talk, be sure to let them know in advance. Such presentations are often disasters as everyone is fed, tired and often drunk by the time the presentation begins. If you need to schedule an after-dinner conversation, make sure the program starts as early as possible and is very casual and very short. There’s nothing worse than planning a nice hour-long presentation packed with information to arrive at the venue and find out you’re the last one on the agenda after dinner. Imagine being finally introduced at 9:30pm when everyone is ready to leave. I wish I would make that up.

Symposiums, especially for professional groups, are usually terrible for meal prep. It is a common joke among speakers at these symposiums that the organizers do not give them any information about pre-planned meals or dinners. If you’re serving a buffet, it’s impolite to have your speakers line up with the other attendees. They should always have an opportunity to be shown through the line first, unless they prefer to stand in line and chat.

The presentation place

It is important that your speaker visits the venue prior to the presentation to familiarize themselves with the venue and facilities. Often speakers will say it’s not necessary, but as the program chair, you must insist. Over 95% of all presentation difficulties can be solved in advance by visiting the presentation location.

lectern

Does your speaker prefer a lectern or does that get in the way? I cannot count the number of presentations where an ornate lectern did not allow the speaker room to move while speaking, while simultaneously blocking the audience’s view of the slides. Obviously, decoration took precedence over presentation. Screen images act as a trigger for the narrator, so make sure your narrator can see the screen. If your speaker needs to read as part of the presentation, make sure the lectern is lit, but no light is shining on the screen. Again, I’ve seen presentations ruined by lectern lights glaring on the projection screen. It is important that nothing interferes with the integrity of the image on the screen. Make sure you have a clean glass or bottled water or whatever the speaker desires ready for the speaker at or near the speaker’s lectern.

Introducing your speaker

If there is a lost art, it introduces a speaker. A speaker’s introduction sets the tone for both the speaker and the audience and is an important part of any presentation. It is always preferable to have the introductions done by someone who knows the speaker and is happy that the speaker is there. At the same time, some speakers object to “cute” introductions where the presenter puts the speaker in the background… be sure to ask. Introductions should be brief but detailed enough to give the audience an idea of ​​who they will be listening to and the topic of the speech. An unfortunate trend in bad hosting is to introduce a speaker with just “this speaker needs no introduction”. All speakers, no matter how well known, need an introduction. There are many popular speakers who undergo this treatment. Sure, the audience may know his name or his business, but often the audience knows little else about a speaker. A performance should never last longer than 1-3 minutes… especially when time is tight. If the speaker has 45 minutes, it will take them that time to finish their presentation. You don’t give a 10-minute introduction and then give the speaker 35 minutes. I have often seen a 15 minute introduction to a 45 minute presentation and then the moderator would have the gall to interrupt the speaker after 30 minutes. Presenters must take time to chat with the speaker prior to the introduction. A good introduction should include the speaker’s name, their topic, and a summary of their background. The introduction includes a highlight of their work history, important awards, and often their educational background. It’s amazing how often presenters misread biographical information, make false statements about the speaker, mispronounce their name, or even introduce the wrong presentation topic. If time permits, a brief personal experience about the speaker is a nice touch. All interviews should end with a statement such as: B. “A warm welcome for…”. If the presenter has other duties, he should stand near the back door and exit quietly after the presentation has started.

Keep your speaker on time

If the speaker’s presentation time is tight, you should remind them before the presentation. I also recommend that you have a designated person sit at the front of the room giving a 10 minute signal followed by a 5 minute signal. This gives the speaker time to meaningfully conclude the presentation. A white cardboard box or something similar that is visible in the dark is recommended.

Keep your audience on time

It is the responsibility of the program chair to get the audience back to the presentation venue in a timely manner. Whether you start a program in the morning or return after a break, the schedule will be disrupted if the audience is not seated and ready when the presentation is scheduled to begin. Often presentations are delayed while the audience wanders into the room. It’s even worse to introduce a speaker when the audience is still entering the room. If you have planned diversions like book and plant sales, it’s important to stop them in time to reassemble the audience. Having someone walk through these areas with a bell or other sound generator just before the start time is often very effective.

The presentation

If things go bad during the presentation, the speaker is responsible, not the meeting organizers. Because of this, top speakers can be very insistent about setup details.

One of the first and one of the most important details is the room lighting. If the presentation is slides or PowerPoint, you want the room to be completely dark. If you can write in space, it’s probably too bright for slides. That means no rooms with large windows including stained glass, no glass doors at the back of the room, no domes, no tents, and no overly bright exit lights that cannot be dimmed. The lack of attention often paid to this crucial detail is shameful. Good speakers spend hours picking up, selecting, then dragging and assembling slides that demonstrate their point of view. When those details don’t appear on screen, the audience loses. When I ask about the lighting in a room, the typical answer is simply, “We’ve shown slides here before.” Please understand that this fact is irrelevant. Of the places I’ve been assured that the room can be completely darkened, this is only the case about 50% of the time. A speaker with bad slides might not care if the lighting is too bright. If the images are to be razor-sharp and colourful, there must be no light bleeding on the screen. Speaker choice can allow the lights in the back of the room to be turned on softly to take notes. Some auditoriums have bright lights that highlight speakers. On more than one occasion, the lights not only detract from the slide quality but almost blind your speaker. Make sure these lights are adjustable and check with your speaker if they’re even needed.

Allowing people to re-enter the venue during the lecture can also be a disaster if light floods the room when the doors are opened. Many venues suffer from poor design such as glass windows or walls just outside the auditorium doors. If this is the case at your venue, either do not allow attendees to enter through these doors or install a curtain to block light when the doors are opened or closed. In any case, someone should be stationed at the doors to minimize noise and disturbance.

Tents are never a good idea for a conversation. I’ve had several tent talks over the years, all of which have been disasters. I was never informed in advance that I would be speaking in a tent. This is unforgivable and causes hard feelings that can ruin a symposium. At one such tent presentation, the temperatures dropped to 40 degrees, at another the wind constantly blew the tent flaps and still others were hit by a surprising thunderstorm. In all cases, the slides were not visible due to too much light, even though the tent walls and ceiling were covered with black plastic.

projection equipment

Communication in advance can solve many problems. Da immer mehr Redner auf Power Point-Präsentationen umsteigen, sehe ich aufgrund der Schnittstellenprobleme zwischen Computersystemen eine Zunahme des Ausrüstungsmangels voraus. Wenn Ihr Redner einen Diaprojektor verwendet, besprechen Sie unbedingt den erforderlichen Projektortyp, da nicht alle Diaprojektoren und Karussells gleich sind. Fragen Sie unbedingt nach, ob die Referenten ihre eigenen Diakarussells mitbringen. Einige Redner nehmen gerne Folien, aber aufgrund der Handgepäckbestimmungen der Fluggesellschaften nicht in Karussells. Wenn dies der Fall ist, müssen Sie dem Redner Karussells und einen ruhigen Platz zum Laden seiner eigenen Folien zur Verfügung stellen. Nur sehr wenige hochkarätige Redner erlauben jemand anderem, ihre Folien zu handhaben. Wenn Sie eine Rückprojektionsausrüstung verwenden, erfordert dies, dass der Sprecher alle Dias umkehrt. Auch dies sollte vor der Ankunft der Referenten mitgeteilt werden. In kleinen Räumen (<100 Personen) sind gewöhnliche Projektorlampen oft ausreichend. In größeren Räumen für ein größeres Publikum sind herkömmliche Projektorbirnen nicht hell genug, um ein klares, helles Bild zu projizieren. In diesem Fall werden Lampen mit hoher Intensität und Linsen mit großer Reichweite benötigt. Normalerweise werden diese am besten von professionellen audiovisuellen Firmen gehandhabt. Dies ist genauso wichtig wie ein dunkler Raum, da es die Qualität des projizierten Bildes beeinflusst. Unabhängig von der verwendeten Glühbirne muss immer eine Ersatzbirne und ein Projektor im Raum verfügbar sein. Wenn ein Licht mit hoher Intensität verwendet und nicht richtig gekühlt wird, kann es Objektträger schmelzen, was zu einem chaotischen Rechtsstreit führt. Prüfen Sie unbedingt, ob Ihr professionelles Projektionsunternehmen gegen solche Schäden versichert ist. Projektoren müssen so aufgestellt werden, dass das Bild möglichst groß auf der Leinwand erscheint. Dies bedeutet oft, dass sie weit von der Präsentationsphase entfernt sein sollten. Projektoren sollten immer sowohl mit Autofokus als auch mit einem Weitwinkel- oder Zoom-Objektiv ausgestattet sein, das für die jeweilige Einstellung eingestellt werden kann. Es ist einfach nicht akzeptabel, einer Gruppe von 1000 Personen ein Programm mit einem drei Fuß großen Bild zu präsentieren. Auch Projektoren sollten sich auf gleicher Höhe wie die Leinwand befinden. So oft werden Projektoren zu niedrig eingestellt, was entweder dazu führt, dass Köpfe den Bildern im Weg stehen, oder dass sich der obere Teil des Bildes dehnt, weil der Projektor in einem zu großen Winkel nach oben gerichtet ist. Wenn der Projektor zu hoch angewinkelt ist, führt dies auch zu einem schlechten Diafall. Führen Sie vor der Präsentation unbedingt sowohl vertikale als auch horizontale Bilder durch, um sicherzustellen, dass der Projektor richtig aufgestellt ist. Dies muss geschehen, bevor der Sprecher vorgestellt wird. Es gibt keinen besseren Weg, eine Präsentation zu ruinieren, als den Redner vorzustellen und dann den Projektor aufzustellen. Es ist immer ratsam, jemanden in der Nähe des Projektors zu haben, um die Bilder scharf zu halten ... sogar bei Projektoren mit Autofokus. Power-Point-Präsentationen erfordern auch einen abgedunkelten Raum mit einem hochwertigen Projektor. Eine PowerPoint-Projektion von schlechter Qualität lässt die Farben und Bilder verwaschen aussehen und hat zu einigen schrecklichen Präsentationen geführt. Es wird Jahre dauern, bis die PowerPoint-Projektion von Veranstaltungsort zu Veranstaltungsort ein akzeptables Qualitätsniveau erreicht. Einer der am häufigsten übersehenen Teile der Präsentation ist die Verfügbarkeit einer Fernbedienung, mit der der Redner die Folien vorrücken kann. Fernbedienungen können entweder kabelgebunden oder drahtlos sein. Drahtlose Fernbedienungen sind heute am gebräuchlichsten, aber stellen Sie sicher, dass Sie immer eine Reservebatterie sowie eine Reservefernbedienung dabei haben. Wenn eine kabelgebundene Fernbedienung verwendet wird, muss sie das Rednerpult mit ausreichend Reserve erreichen. Ich finde, dass die Fernbedienung bei fast 25 % meiner Präsentationen das Rednerpult nicht erreicht. Oftmals werden Zuhörer gebeten, sich eine Remote-Nebenstelle von zu Hause aus zu besorgen ... vermeiden Sie diese Peinlichkeit. Während es einem Mitglied des Publikums möglich erscheinen mag, Dias vom Projektor vorzuschieben, ruiniert dies effektiv das Timing der Redner. Wie wir bereits erwähnt haben, betrachten gute Redner Präsentationen als Unterhaltung, und in der Unterhaltung ist Timing alles. Wenn eine Projektionsausrüstung verwendet wird, muss eine Person damit beauftragt werden, die Ausrüstung zu überwachen und alle Projektionsprobleme zu lösen. Es gibt nichts Schlimmeres als einen Projektionsleiter, der nicht das Wissen hat, selbst grundlegende Probleme wie verklemmte Dias zu lösen. Warten Sie, es gibt Schlimmeres... Projektionsleiter, die während einer Präsentation den Raum verlassen. Bildschirme Selbst mit der besten Projektionsausrüstung wird die Präsentation ohne eine richtige Leinwand eine Katastrophe sein. Leere Wände sind eine schlechte Idee, da sie nicht die reflektierenden Eigenschaften haben, um gute Diadetails anzuzeigen. Kleine Bildschirme sind ebenfalls eine Katastrophe, da sie es nicht ermöglichen, das Bild groß genug zu projizieren, um Details anzuzeigen. Teilnehmer hinten und an den Seiten eines Raums mit einem kleinen Bildschirm verpassen den größten Teil der Wirkung eines Diaprogramms. For a small room of 50 people, an 8' x 8' screen is a minimum. A 10' x 10' screen is a minimum for an audience of 100 people. For anything more than 100 people, you should only use a large wall mounted screen. Setting up the Presentation Room Be sure that chairs are placed where attendees will be able to see the screen. This sounds simple, but it is truly amazing how often this is not attended to properly. Seats should not be placed in front of the projector or podium/lectern or directly beside the noisy projector... unless of course this is reserved for hearing impaired attendees. Microphones Just like projection equipment, microphones are an essential part of any presentation. Microphones can either be wired or wireless. It is probably malfunctioning microphones that have ruined more presentations that any other single factor. This is due to the fact that many groups try to save money by using cheap microphones. This is not an area to save money. Again, I would recommend that groups use a professional for this purpose. Microphones should be tested before the talk begins by the speaker and the audio-visual director. The speaker must be aware of any areas to avoid to prevent microphone feedback. There is often feedback problems when the speaker is using one microphone and the introducer is using a second microphone. The speaker must test the microphone in advance to find out where to hold or pin the microphone to get good quality sound to the entire audience. Pointers Be sure and find out if your presenter needs a laser pointer. If so, be sure that it is available and in working order. Book Sales and Catalog Distribution If your speaker will be selling or signing books, be sure to decide who will supply the books, the group or the speaker. Speakers make much more money if they supply the books themselves, but usually they are not willing to carry heavy boxes of books to talks. Conversely, the groups make more money if they purchase and sell the books. Groups can purchase books from the publishers, usually at substantial discounts. The books can then be offered at a lesser discount or even at list price. Book sales near holiday times make great gifts, so be sure and order enough. If you haven't sold books before, your speaker or the book publisher can usually help with determining how many books to order. Most speakers are glad to autograph books either before or after presentations, but need a local person to handle the money. It is also not a good idea to have food or drinks on the book signing table for obvious reasons. Other speakers may have catalogs or other promotional material that they would like to send for the presentation. The will need to be provided with a contact person and address to which to send the material. The program chairman should notify the speaker when the materials arrive and is responsible for bringing them to the presentation venue and distributing them to the attendees. Follow-up It's always a nice touch to send a thank you note to your speakers. Often speakers are glad to recommend other speakers for future symposiums. Some speakers prefer to be paid at the time of their presentation while others prefer to send invoices as a tracking mechanism. Be sure to communicate this ahead of time so the speaker is not expecting a check and no one is there to write one. If you need receipts for reimbursement, be sure to mention this to the speaker. Other In the rare case that something goes wrong and the talk must be cancelled, be sure to communicate about who is responsible for costs incurred. If the program is cancelled, the speaker may have already spent time and money taking photos and/or assembling the talk. In this case, they are entitled to part of their honorarium to cover their expenses. If the talk has been assembled, usually a payment of half of their requested honorarium is considered acceptable. If little or no work has been done on the program and the speaker has not already turned down other programs, there may need to be no fee paid. This would especially be true if the talk can be rescheduled for a future date. Several of the top flight speakers are now requiring a refundable deposit to cover cancellation costs incurred. Keep in mind that most airline tickets are non-refundable. If the speaker has purchased their tickets in advance and the program cancels due to weather or other unforseen event, the speaker should be reimbursed for the cost of the airfare. Hopefully, it will be possible to reschedule the talk in the future and re-use the ticket. If you decide to bring the speaker in on the day of a talk and there are transportation (airline) problems, you would be liable for all or part of the honorarium since the speaker has fulfilled their commitments to the best of their ability. The program committee would at least be liable for reimbursements of all transportation costs. summary I hope by understanding and following these few simple rules, your program will be successful for both you, your audience, and your speaker.

Graduation Wishes: What to Write in a Graduation Card

By Keely Chace and Courtney Taylor Kudos to the Graduates! Whether they earn a diploma, program certificate, degree, or even a cool new job title, their hard work deserves some warm, thoughtful words of recognition and encouragement. Maybe you’re going through one of those “classes for everyone!” years when you have to send out a lot of graduation cards. Or maybe you just want some fresh ideas on what to write in a card for a special grad. Anyway, we’ve got you covered. Our guide, What to Write in a Graduation Card, offers tips for personal messages and inspiration from Hallmark writers. You can read the entire guide or jump straight to the specific ideas you need. Whatever you decide, we hope our ideas help you add a little sparkle to all your graduation card circumstances! Inspired? Create and share by tagging @Hallmark.

Find tips for creating your own special graduation message and catch some real-life examples from Hallmark Senior Writer Courtney Taylor in the video below, or jump straight to graduation wishes using the links above.

Congratulations

It is not necessary to provide a full starting address on your card. “Congratulations” is a great basic message and easy to say even if you don’t know the graduate well. Here are some ideas for going a word or two beyond to warm up and personalize your congratulations. Casual “Congratulations and BRAVO!”

“We have to celebrate this! Congratulations!”

“You did it! Congratulations!”

“Hats off, graduate! Well done!”

“What a proud day! We just couldn’t be happier for you!”

“What an impressive achievement!”

“Happy Graduation Day!”

“Good looks, brains, heart and now a diploma? You really have everything! Congratulations!”

“You did the damn thing, Grad! So proud.”

“The community, the church, your family and especially your mom couldn’t be prouder of you.”

“You deserve all kinds of high fives and hugs! You worked hard and made it.”

“Bravo! ¡Felicidades en tu graduación!” More formal “Congratulations on your well-deserved success.”

“Congratulations on Graduation”

“Congratulations on your graduation and best wishes for your next adventure!”

“So happy to share in the excitement of your graduation day and so very proud of you too!”

“With love and pride today and always,”

“Prayers and blessings for your graduation and for your future.”

“Tu graduación es la recompensa de todo tu esfuerzo. ¡Muchas Felicidades!“

Helpful Tip: If the card you selected already has “Congratulations” printed on it, follow it with an ellipsis […] and add the message “Congratulations”.

look into the future

Graduation is the perfect time to look ahead, offer encouragement, and express optimism and excitement about the graduate’s future. And you don’t even need a crystal ball! Casual “I hope you’ll always be as happy and full of big crazy dreams as you are today!”

“I hope you can take a well-deserved break, vacation – whatever kind of break sounds like fun. You deserve it!

“You’re going to be a star! Congratulations!”

“You deserve to see your dreams come true… Congratulations!”

“This definitely won’t be the last time I brag about you.”

“I’m so happy for you, even if it means you’re a [add school mascot here] for life.”

“You have entered the world stage and you are ready to be a star. I love to see your shine!”

“¡Lo lograste! Que todos tus sueños siempre se hagan realidad.” More formal “I’m sure today will be just the first of many proud, successful moments for you.”

“I send you heartfelt congratulations today and I wish you all the best in the state of Michigan this fall!”

“Congratulations today and best wishes for all your future.”

“All I know is that life has more wonderful things in store for you.”

“Today the field of education is getting a promising growth. Congratulations on your graduation and good luck in your teaching career!”

“I can’t wait to see where life will take you next. Wherever it is, our prayers are with you!”

“¡Muchas felicidades! Tu actitud triunfadora te seguirá llevando muy lejos.”

Helpful Tip: Let your relationship be your guide when deciding to write a light-hearted message. If humor is part of your everyday communication with the graduate, feel free to be funny when signing the card.

graduation in difficult times

Graduation is meant to be a time of joy, but sometimes life has other ideas. Here are some message ideas for when difficult personal, family, or general circumstances make it impossible to celebrate in the way you and the graduate would have hoped. If the start is canceled “Obviously we’re disappointed that we won’t be able to see you walk across the stage like we’ve always dreamed of – but that just means we’ll celebrate you even bigger once we get the chance! ”

“Even if the degree will look different for you, the achievement is still the same. They put in the same hard work. You have learned and grown so much. And I couldn’t be prouder.”

“We’re sorry you had to let go of the graduation ceremony and celebration you’ve been looking forward to for the last four years. We wish it could have been different but we want you to know that we are still so proud of you and what you have achieved.”

“It will take more than one canceled graduation to stop me from blowing an air horn in your honor. Keep it up, Grad!”

“You are still celebrated for this amazing achievement.”

“Aunque por el momento no podemos celebrar tu graduación, celebramos con orgullo tu logro.” If the graduate has problems “Congratulations on your graduation. I wish it could have happened at a happier time for you, but I hope it helps to know how much you are loved and how proud you have made all of us who care for you.”

“You may not feel like celebrating your graduation, but we hope you feel the pride, care and well-wishes that are surrounding you right now.”

“This isn’t how I envisioned your graduation, but you truly are the strong, resilient person I’ve always envisioned. Whenever you are not feeling strong, please know that you can lean on me.”

“As you graduate, you will be in all my proudest and happiest thoughts…and also in my most caring, heartfelt prayers.”

“Sé que ahorita estás pasando por un mal momento, pero quiero que sepas que eres una persona que inspira a todos a su alrededor, y que se te desea todo lo mejor en tu graduación y siempre.” When the future feels uncertain “You I’m graduating at a difficult time, but I firmly believe that better days will come. It may take time, but I hope you can persevere and keep believing.”

“One day you’re going to look back and think, Wow, I graduated at the strangest time ever… Until then, we’ll be there for you, cheering you on, excited for where life takes you next, and so proud of you.” be .”

“Graduation cards are meant to wish you a bright future, but for now I’m all for taking things one day at a time. I hope you can too. Today especially, I hope you can just enjoy all the pride and well wishes that are coming your way.”

“I pray for you as you graduate—for pride today, hope for tomorrow, and that love and support will always be with you.”

“Your talent is still your talent. Your hard work is still your hard work. Your dreams are still your dreams. You will help turn the world upside down again. Because you’re still amazing.”

“Hard work, talent, drive and vision will always outlast tough times. That’s how I know you’re going to make the world the way you want it to be.”

“Recuerda que Dios está contigo hoy que te gradúas y siempre. Él te guiará y te acompañará a cada paso.”

Helpful Tip: It’s okay to be honest in difficult circumstances. If you were actually going to say, “That sucks,” write “That sucks.” But don’t leave it at that. From there, try to take your message in a more hopeful, caring direction.

when you will be there

If you will be present at the graduation ceremony, or part of the celebration that follows, you can focus your message on the pride and fun of witnessing the graduate’s big day. Casual “Congratulations, Jamal. It means so much to be a part of your graduation day!”

“WOO-HOO! We look forward to celebrating your graduation with you!”

“First I see you walking across the stage. Then there’s a party? Brilliant!”

“Your whole village is stamping their feet and screaming your name right now, Kendrick.”

“¡Qué alegría poder ser parte de tu graduación!” More formal “So happy we could be here to see you graduate with honors. It is an honor to be part of such an important day.”

“It is my great privilege to know you… to think of all that you have accomplished… and to be with you on your graduation day.”

“You will always remember this day and so will all of us who cheered for you here. Good luck to you always!”

“¡Muchas felicidades! It’s a privilege for acompañarte in tu graduación.”

Helpful Tip: If you know something about the graduate that’s worth celebrating (graduation with honors, first in the family, job opportunity awaiting, etc.), be sure to include that in your message.

If you fail

Even if you don’t make it to the graduation ceremony or reception, you can still make your presence felt by letting the graduate know that you are with them in spirit. Casual “Congratulations on graduating from high school, Tyler! I wish we could be there to see it.”

“I wish I could be at your graduation to hug you and tell you personally how proud I am of you.”

“Although we will miss seeing you in your hat and dress, we would never miss this opportunity to tell you that we are proud of you.”

“I feel a scream! You can probably hear me from here. Congratulations, Grad!” More formal “We send warm thoughts and big congratulations to a graduate of whom we are so very proud.”

“Thinking of you with love and pride on your graduation day.”

“Our warmest thoughts and highest hopes are with you as you celebrate your graduation.”

“Ojalá pudiera estar en tu graduación para decirte en persona que mi corazón está lleno de un orgullo inmenso port ti.”

Writing Tip: If you can’t be there in person, you don’t need to include an apology in your personal message. Just sending the card lets the graduate know that you are thinking of him or her.

Give advice

Graduation is a good time for the kind of advice that’s more about building people up than bossing them around. Keep your advice general, upbeat, and encouraging, and it will be appreciated. More Casual “Always remember, there’s no limit to what you can do as long as you keep believing in yourself.”

“Take pictures. Take time to celebrate. Take it easy for a while. Then get ready to take on the world!”

“It took a lot of hard work to achieve this goal. You had to show up every day whether you wanted to or not. I hope you feel great about what you have achieved and I hope you continue to be a person who rises up to the things worthwhile and important in life, day in and day out.”

“Graduation is like a bridge to the next part of your life, and everything that got you here – hard work, drive and confidence – will carry you into the future you deserve.”

“Para alguien como tú ningún sueño es imposible de cumplir. Eres muy especial y tu determinación te llevará muy lejos.” More formally, “May you always dare to do great things with your life.”

“Growth further. Keep adding to the good and beautiful in the world. Keep developing those unique dreams and talents that make you who you are!”

“When I graduated, our graduate speaker urged us to learn for life and that is my advice to you as you graduate. Whatever you do, never stop learning, exploring, growing and challenging yourself to do your best.”

“Sigue esforzándote para alcanzar todas tus metas. Tu graduación es solo el comienzo de un future lleno de posibilidades.”

Writing tip: What is the best life advice you have ever received? Or what is the most important thing you have learned so far? Answering any of these questions could be the perfect introduction to a meaningful closing message.

For a family member

When a family member graduates—whether it’s your sibling, child, niece or nephew, cousin, or even your parents—you might want to add an extra level of warmth and pride. Casual “Your graduation day is a proud day for you and a dream come true for our family.”

“Congratulations on graduating summa cum laude! I am extremely proud to be related to someone so smart.”

“You know what makes your degree extra special? It’s watching you grow up, having so many good memories of you and knowing all the challenges you’ve overcome to date.”

“Tu graduación es un día de orgullo para toda la familia, ¡así que vamos a celebrar!” Formal “Congratulations, with love for the grandson that you are and with pride in the amazing person you are becoming.”

“It seems like just yesterday you were a kid starting high school… now you’re a confident young man about to graduate. It has been our pleasure to see how you have grown and achieved so much over the past four years. I hope you know how proud we are and how much we love you.”

“It’s a beautiful thing to watch the daughter we’ve always loved grow up and take a step closer to her dreams. Congratulations, with all our love,”

“Es maravilloso verte crecer y alcanzar tus metas. Te queremos mucho y estamos muy orgullosos de ti.”

Helpful Tip: It’s probably most natural to share a memory of the graduate, but you could also share a memory of your own life experiences or your degree—anything that would be relevant to the graduate and is fun or meaningful to him or her .

Warm finishes

A warm closure is like the bow on top! Choose one from us or create your own. Heartfelt,

Love,

With love,

Lots of love,

Love always,

much love to you

Best wishes!

Best wishes for your future,

Wishing you all the best,

Congratulations!

Congratulations and best wishes,

Congratulations,

Thankful,

Blessing,

God bless,

God bless you,

God bless you now and always

¡Felicidades!

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