Christmas cards convey season’s greetings to those who receive them. What, though, should you say if you are actually addressing people at a seasonal gathering? You might, for instance, be a guest at an annual dinner/party of another company. Obviously your speech should be gracious in tone thanking your hosts for their kind invitation and speaking of the connection between your companies over the years. You may have to as a club or association’s Christmas speech. You will naturally speak of shared experiences of club members over the year and, naturally, wish your members all the compliments of the season. . A retirement association annual dinner is often held at the festive season and you may be asked to address those one time members of your staff. You should speak of their invaluable contribution to the company and stress the positive side of retirement. All such speeches should be light-hearted and jovial in tone as befits the holiday spirit and end with an appropriate toast. Unless you are a riveting speaker make it short. Those attending the function are, after all, enjoying a social occasion and don’t want to listen to long speeches. A card can say it in a few lines. You should be able to say it in a few moments.

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In the Catholic faith November is the month of the dead. It’s a time when we remember those loved ones we have lost. That, of course, is not something that is particular to any one faith or religion. Perhaps, though, it should be a time too when we consider how lucky we are to have loved ones who are still with us. A family re-union might be time to
express gratitude for family and friends. A grandmother’s 80th birthday is obviously an occasion to say how much she means in the life of the family. A father’s retirement day is the opportunity to say thank you for working so hard for us all the years. In a busy world we are inclined to take others for granted and, however much we love them, we rarely express that love. So if it is your own wedding anniversary tell those gathered to celebrate how much your spouse means to you. There is a saying that feeling appreciation and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it. So go on, give that that gift. Some November you’ll be glad you did.

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Most of us love our parents but how many of us express that love? Yet your father’s birthday, your step-mother’s birthday or your mother’s retirement are ideal days on which to say a few loving words. In fact any family occasion such as a family re-union gives you an opportunity to express your feelings for them. Weddings, of course, being the sentimental occasions they are, are the ideal time to thank them for all they have done for you. So whether you are the groom or the bride make it their big day too by expressing how much they mean to you. This also applies of course if you are the best man who is son of the groom or indeed the son of the bride. Finally, if you have not told them you love them before they die a thoughtful eulogy for mother or appreciative eulogy for father will be a fitting tribute to well loved parents.

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