Rotary Club of Jaffrey-Rindge

Member Biographies

R. H. Morse

November 2013

Introduction

Presenting member bios at club assemblies might be better than members presenting their autobiography.  Through a selection process (described later), a club member would present a biography of another member.  This would require the two to get together for a get-to-know-you session.  The presenter would then prepare a presentation of, approximately 5 minutes, which would be given at the next club assembly.  One month between selection and presentation should give sufficient time to meet and prepare.  Perhaps two bios could be presented at a club assembly.

Some advantages of this approach could be:

·        The two members chould get to know each other better than by having casual breakfast conversations.

·        The club members (audience) should enjoy a prepared bio presentation rather than an unprepared (and potentially rambling) autobiography

·        The presentation would be about how another person perceives the member rather than how s/he perceives themself.

·        Just doing something different may, in itself, be an advantage.

Selection process

No one will want to select the person for whom they will present the bio, so the selection process will work like this.  The name of each active member will be written on a ping pong ball so the selections will be random. Two balls are randomly selected, perhaps by a guest and the two selected members will each prepare and present a bio of the other person.  It is now up to the two members to meet.  After a selection is made, the balls (names) are removed from the collection of balls. 

Member pairs will be selected two months in advance to give folks ample time to meet and prepare and to provide scheduling flexibility as required.  If a member is unable to make a presentation on the scheduled date, it is their responsibility to switch dates with the already scheduled member pair.

A “canned” presentation format should be avoided.  Each presenter can select the information s/he thinks is relevant and the style/format/entertainment value of the presentation is up to the presenter.

At the November 7th meeting, the member pairs for the first two club assembly meetings were randomly selected and scheduled.  Henceforth selected members will be shown on the club calendar and on upcoming speakers. 

If anyone has questions, please call me at 532-7422 or send me and email at refurniture@comcast.net.