'To commemorate this occasion ….' - selection of speaker's gifts

Communication World, Oct, 1991

And, speakers quickly rolled out a list of gifts they would like to receive:

"AmEx gift certificate."

"A useful desk accessory."

"Letters or phone calls from audience members saying that whatever I said was relevant to their lives/work."

"An honorarium in the form of a contribution to the IABC Foundation."

"Something that relates to my personal interests would be valued."

"Restaurant gift certificates."

"Cash, checks or money orders."

Speakers who've been on the circuit for some years have the added difficulty of figuring out how to store gifts. One speaker claims to have devoted 19 shelves to gifts, while another uses one window sill, some wall space and two large moving boxes in the garage. An innovative speaker says storage is no problem because he tends "to foist them off on unsuspecting subordinates, nephews, thrift stores, or half-price book stores."

None of the recipients indicated they give talks just to get presents. They share their expertise because they want to, they enjoy it, they feel an obligation to be involved in the growth of the profession.

And, the speakers say what they really want in lieu of gifts are: well-planned and on-time events, audiences that participate and acknowledge the speakers' efforts, a thank-you from the host organization and feedback on the speaker's performance.

There was, however, one argument to continue the practice of giving gifts to speakers. A respondent suggested that speakers' gifts have their own part to play in the economic well-being of the country: "Speakers' gifts make wonderful contributions to garage sales, bazaars, flea markets and so on. There's an entire stratum of the economy that makes its living dealing in this stuff -- and somewhere out there somebody really wants all those paperweights and plaques. So, I just do my part and keep 'em circulating."

And now I'm proud to introduce ...