A Speaker Speaks
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with a popular retreat speaker and ask her some frank questions. I believe her answers will help us serve our guest speakers. I am going to bullet point her comments below. Remember, I am speaking from a small church perspective!
- Questions to ask prior to the event:
- What drink or snacks do you prefer?
- Do you have any allergies?
- What equipment do you need?
- Do you like to have breakfast served in your room so you can prepare for the day?
- Assign someone to be the speaker’s helper–someone she can call upon for any problem or need. Give the speaker a number to text to get this person’s help.
- Do a sound check with the speaker, as well as confirming that she knows how to use any other equipment she needs (for instance, if she is using a pointer or projecting slides). Microphones and other equipment differ from place to place.
- We don’t do this, but apparently some churches will decorate the speaker’s room, even to the point of leaving her a cozy robe. But the question arises: Do they mean for me to take these things home? If you do decorate her room, be sure she knows what is hers to take.
- Announcements directly after a speaker’s session can distract from what God is doing. Give God time to work. A time of reflection after a teaching session can be helpful.
- Give the honorarium check discreetly, after the retreat, and enclose a specific thank-you written after the event. Giving your women an opportunity to contribute their comments and thank-yous to this is an added blessing.
- If you leave a gift basket for your guest speaker in her room:
- Remember: if she is flying, a basket may be difficult to carry on an airplane.
- Hotel or camp water may not be to her liking; include bottled water if it is not provided.
- Eating prior to a session may be hard for her; include some snacks in her gift basket (healthy protein snacks, trail mix, bananas).
- Socks are nice.
- It is nice to have a coffee pot (or tea, if preferred) in the speaker’s room.
