Every graduation has a guest speaker. In fact lots of ceremonies, especially award ceremonies have such speakers. Somebody always has the job of introducing them and that is a real challenge. Such a speech has to be welcoming to the speaker. It also has to be informative. In other words you should have done your research on the speaker so that you can speak appropriately when introducing him or her. You should know if he or she has campaigned against racism, won an Olympic medal or saved a whole village from drought. Depending on the occasion you should be able to say how fortunate you are to have such a speaker who is a leader by example. You might say that he or she will inspire others by his or her achievements. If you are also the M.C. you should make the guests feel welcome too and included in the atmosphere of the evening. In other words introducing a guest speaker is like bringing in a birthday cake with candles blazing. You are setting the scene for what is to follow.

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Welcome home. That’s what many families will be saying to their servicemen in the not too distant future. Their homecoming will be a cause for celebrations and parties Will anyone give speeches or toasts at such parties and if so, what should they say? Certainly there should be a mention of their bravery. Certainly too you should mention their dedication and loyalty to their country. Obviously you should mention how much they were missed. They may be mention of family incidents that happened while they were abroad such as the birth of a baby. You will speak of what their homecoming actually means to you and to the family. Perhaps you will say how much they were missed on certain occasions such as their being the family cook at a barbeque. Whatever you say your speech should verbalise that warm hug you gave at the airport when they touched down.

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A welcome speech is the verbal equivalent to the Hawaiian garland of flowers called a lei. . It’s a way of making guests or delegates feel at home at a function or a conference. It’s a way of making them feel involved in whatever is happening. Naturally the better the speech the more at ease your company will be. So the words you use should make them feel as though they are warmly welcome. You should make them feel that by being present they have something to offer. In other words they are adding to the occasion simply by their presence or their participation. A light-hearted or topical reference makes a good start to such a speech. It will help people relax and induce a sense of anticipation. Your speech should explain what is happening at the function or the conference and why it is necessary. Whether you are opening a business conference or a social function such as a dinner your ending should be a catchy equivalent of “Now let’s get on with the show.”

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Welcome speeches set the tone for any occasion. Whether you are welcoming people to your home, your school or a wedding doesn’t really matter. What matters is that those present feel that you are happy to see them and that the occasion will be a better one simply because they are present. It’s called giving your guests that feel good factor. If it is a social occasion if you are the M.C. or host tell them that you are delighted that they are present. Explain that you are sure they will enjoy the occasion simply because you can see that are full of interest and enthusiasm. In other words you are making them feel involved. If you are opening a business or a school term your speech should be about new beginnings or starting afresh. Whatever the occasion what you say should, figuratively speaking, be the equivalent to rolling out the red carpet.

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Students have vacations but so do have the staff. That is why it is important to welcome them back at the beginning of term. What you say to them can set the tone for that academic year. It is good too for them to realise that you know how important they are. Pupils are welcomed back but sometimes teachers are forgotten as though they are just part of the furniture. So speak to them about your hopes and wishes for the forthcoming terms. Speak about team spirit and about what you believe they can do for their pupils. Challenge them to get the best results out of those students. Speak about the extra -curricular activities in the school and how partaking in them helps to build bonds with those students. Admit that there are bound to be difficulties but suggest ways of overcoming them. Make a special point too of publicly welcoming newcomers to the staff not to mention administrative staff too. Above all make them feel that you believe in them and their abilities. School is, after all, about both teachers and pupils.

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It takes a brave person to open a new business these days. Whether they open a new restaurant, a new store or any new business he or she is making a statement that it is still possible to succeed. An artist may well have an exhibition of his or her works determined that, despite the recession, ,he or she will still sell the work exhibited. The same applies at a book launch. Every new book is a mark of confidence in the future. It’s worth remembering that the economic climate has been so bad that it can only improve. In other words it’s worth believing in better. What is said at the opening of such events is very important. The speech has to be motivational and express confidence. It has to sell the idea that there are still buyers out there. It still has to make an audience believe that it is still possible to make a good investment. So start off on the right note. Make your opening speech as positive as your belief in yourself and what you are doing.

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A welcome speech is really just a way of saying “Hello”. It is an opening for a business, a new building or indeed a new term. It can be given by a head teacher, a guest speaker or a C.E.O. If it is the welcome speech at a conference it is usually given by an M.C. Such a speech has to be warm as well as welcoming. Its purpose is to make people feel comfortable and easy at the function whatever it is. It should be light-hearted and topical too if possible. In other words it should set the scene for what is happening whether that is a fete or the homecoming of a Festival Queen. The speaker should explain why people are gathered and express the hope that they will enjoy themselves or derive satisfaction and enlightenment from whatever is about to happen. A welcome speech should be professional and have a personal touch

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Summer time is the time for Wimbledon and strawberries, for Independence Day and barbeques. It’s also the time of year when dedicated workers turn their thoughts to raising funds for different charities. There is no end to the ideas they have for such fund-raising. Generally speaking though at this time of the year an outdoor fundraiser is probable. They are relying on the public to attend such fundraising fairs and they like to open them with a bang. So the opening of charity, fundraiser or fete speeches should set the tone for the day. The speaker should speak of the need for funds for the church roof, the nearby hospital or the local school. They should mention the great bargains to be had and the enjoyment to be had browsing and buying. They should also mention those who contributed so much to the event whether in prizes, hard work or donations. The speech should be short and simple and end with the message “Buy, buy buy and support this worthy cause.”

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The Irish have been busy this week. They have had some very important guests. Firstly the Queen of England came and her visit was followed by that of The President of the United States. Naturally they were both given the traditional Irish greeting of a hundred thousand welcomes. Those welcomes started each of the visits off on a happy note. The same applies elsewhere of course. A hotel opening is the ideal time for the manager to express how important his first guests are to the business. Summer is festival time and obviously a good M.C. will make those who attend feel as though they are happily participating in the event. A pastor can make those who attend church feel welcome and at home. It all depends on how that welcome is expressed. It can sound like a jaded cliché or it can reach out to the audience and make them feel as though they are an important part of the proceedings. What you say in a welcome speech should be the verbal equivalent to outstretched arms and a welcoming hug.

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You need to be professional when acting as M.C. at a business conference. Whether you are welcoming the delegates or saying goodbye to them what you say will be noticed. It might be a medical conference or an international conference but whatever the subject matter you need to make an impression. Obviously the actual speakers should know their subject well and be able to speak about it. Setting the tone with your welcoming speech is something else entirely. It needs to make the guest speakers as well as the audience feel welcome and give the delegates a taste of what those speakers will be saying. Your speech should obviously entice those present to look forward to what they will hear during the course of the conference. Naturally too you will include any relevant notices regarding fire exits or coffee breaks. If you are closing the conference you should briefly summarise what has been discussed and express your wish that the delegates have benefitted from it as well as enjoying it. When saying your farewell you should express the wish too that they will attend another such conference shortly. In other words you will be like a polite host who makes his guests feel very special and important indeed.

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