15th March 2021

We want to become better speakers and that journey deserves the best recognition that the ASC can provide and, the widest audience possible. Two years ago, I wrote an article for the Speaker magazine about World Speech Day (WSD) and how the ASC had been working to establish a strong partnership with the people who lead this initiative. The work has continued since then and there have been several successes in terms of member engagement and embedded presence:

• WSD events – Central District held a World Speech Day event as part of their 2020 conference and the speech from current District President Lise Olsen was uploaded onto our YouTube channel. Clubs in the Midlands and South East Districts have also held successful events.
• The Speakers Guide – World Speech Day has a full page in the new guide signalling the ASC commitment to this annual celebration of speaking. With the new guide now distributed to members, I am hopeful that WSD will become a standard part of our activities.
• Strategic Discussions – Following talks with company leaders and WSD organisers, there seems to be a huge potential for making World Speech Day a crucial part of our approach to establishing new corporate clubs. There is a big win-win-win-win here for members, the ASC, WSD, and the companies!
• Take part right now! – WSD are currently asking for 15-second videos that they will post from speakers across the globe on the “social wall” of their website. It can be a micro speech, a show of support for WSD 2021, or a message on the theme “Humanity at a crossroads”. Follow this link to drag and drop your video to them.

World Speech Day is based on an idea that we share with them – that speeches can change the world. Everyone has ideas and on the 15^th March, the world can celebrate reaching out to #unexpectedvoices everywhere. As a diverse community of speakers, we can be a part of this global endeavour. We have rural and urban-based clubs, members of all ages and backgrounds, and stories that have not yet been told. I chose to do my speech on service delivery and social redesign post COVID, reflecting my professional interest in the improvement of mental health inclusion.

There has never been a better or easier time to get involved. We are now much more familiar with technologies that not only allow us to speak online but to record as well. Many of us feel starved of the opportunity to deliver high-quality speeches. Organise your club members to do 15-second speeches and build a club night around showcasing them. Get support from your National Development Officer – Lucy Pitts – or talk to me! Let’s do all that we can to support World Speech Day 2021 and take our Association, our members, and our voices to a global audience.

 World Speech Day

• Twitter – @Worldspeechday
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/worldspeechday/
• YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/Worldspeechdaylive
• Website – http://www.worldspeechday.com/