Resources

Finding A Guest Speaker

Guest speakers are one of the biggest draws to any meeting. But finding people to speak can be a challenge. Who makes a good guest speaker? Where do you find someone? How do you ask a professional to speak?

Look to a variety of professions
Doctors, audiologists and hearing aid specialists all make excellent candidates. But guest speakers don't need to be tinnitus authorities. Experts from a variety of professions can have interesting and relevant information to share. Consider inviting nutritionists, psychologists, chiropractors, naturopaths, cognitive therapists, biofeedback specialists, hypnotists, massage therapists or others.

Use your connections
When looking for a guest speaker, don't go it alone. Take twenty minutes during a meeting to gather suggestions from the group. Who do they know that may be willing to speak? A doctor? An acupuncturist? Discuss the best way for the members themselves to do the asking. Professionals will be most receptive to speaking when they are approached by someone whom they know. Another superb way to connect with speakers is at hearing health events. Conferences are often affordable, informative, and a wonderful place to meet experts from a wide variety of fields. Don't forget to contact the ATA. We are always available to answer questions and provide additional resources. We have listings of providers for each region of the United States, many of whom are willing to donate their time. Enclosed in this newsletter is a list of providers who let us know they would be willing to volunteer their time to self-help groups in their area.

Offer information with your introduction
When you approach someone new, consider first writing an introductory letter or email that formally introduces your group. Including an article about tinnitus and the expert's specialty may add to their interest in speaking. When you call, explain who you are, a bit about your group, why you are interested in having them speak, and what benefit they can derive from speaking to your members. Some professionals may not be very familiar with tinnitus, so be ready to explain basic tinnitus information, and why their specialty is relevant to people with tinnitus.

Guests should be agreeable to donating their time and should understand from the beginning that their visit is a service, not an opportunity to sell their product. Keep in mind that your group will probably be responsible for your speakers' travel costs if they are coming from out of town. Sometimes professionals have their staff set up their meetings and public appearances. If you don't know the speaker, it's good to talk with them at least once before the meeting - unless you like surprises!

For more information please contact: Lisa Freeman, Manager of Member Services, 1–800-634-8978 Ext. 219 or lisa@ata.org