Sunday, January 22, 2012

Butterflies

I am a featured speaker at a number of events over the winter. Some are big events and some are small events.  I hope I can inspire some new membership, new donations and new volunteers. I am so not a wonderful public speaker..I don’t enjoy it..I like groups of twenty to thirty people..not hundreds..but I will do what I have to do.  I guess it comes with the territory.

I will resurrect the makeup and get all dolled up and dressed all proper before noon and put a smile on my face to have lunch with total strangers..gosh I hope I know someone there..one friendly face can make a difference. After lunch I am suppose to talk for at least 45 minutes..uffda..maybe 20 minutes..and then a question answer session for 25 minutes. I hope no one falls asleep.

I am a little bummed out. My counterpart that worked upstairs for the Art Museum will not be returning. Kelly all dressed up everyday in her high heels with her hair just perfect is going to spend the summer with her family..I don’t blame her..but I will miss her. I am a tad on edge wondering who will take her place.

In the meantime I have to come up with some kind of presentation to give this next week..I suppose I should work on it..so the butterflies don’t get the best of me.

IMG_7303 (2)

Painted Lady Butterfly on Zinnia Profusion Cherry last Fall.

Just like this butterfly flitted from flower to flower getting the best nectar.   I have to touch on all the best parts of the Historical Museum:)

Blog Signature

27 comments:

Gail said...

You will have no trouble at all. I can hear your love of the museum, every time you talk about it.

Muffy's Marks said...

The topic is something you love and have much knowledge of, so you will be just fine.
Good luck with the butterflies, once you get started they will fly away!!

BlueRidge Boomer said...

Go Girl!!
You'll do great.....

Country Gal said...

You will do fine ! Your posts are always good so no problem ! Good luck and let us know hoe it went ! Have a great day !

DJan said...

Preparation is what keeps the butterflies under control for me. And these are all people who have some interest in the museum, not strangers off the street who were dragged in there under duress. I always pick one person out to talk to in the beginning, since for me the butterflies go away pretty quickly. Good luck! I look forward to hearing about it.

LindaG said...

If you don't know anyone, pick a person in a different part of the room who looks friendly, and maybe that will help.

I am sure you will do well though, because you love the museum and that will carry you through. Good luck, Far Side! ♥

rkbsnana said...

I totally understand but I am confident you will get it together in the nick of time. Just think, it is a room full of people who want to hear what you have to say. By the way, can you just show some of your great photos?

Anonymous said...

Fingers crossed for your public speaking - knock 'em dead!

Love that butterfly shot.

Laura said...

I feel the same way, but it makes it easier if it's something that your passionate and knowledgeable about. Be prepared! and Good Luck! You'll do just fine!

Dreaming said...

Even though I taught hundreds of kids, maybe even into the thousands, I used to fall to pieces when I had to speak in front of 'grown ups'!! When my job changed and I had to make presentations at tech conferences - I was a wreck, at first. Then I got better at it. I even went to Toastmasters after a while, for fun!
If I knew my topic, took a huge breath before I began and could interject some humor, my talk would usually go well!

Take a few friends with you - a few of the items from the museum. That will give you something to hold, something to talk about and your passion for what you do will come out in your talk!

BTW.. it's not butterfly season! So, you shouldn't have a problem at all ;-)

Karen said...

I bet you will be just fine once you get started. Sometimes the anticipation of something like that is the worst part. Makes me think of when we had to do 'speeches' in school, yuk:( I was much better talking about something I knew well, rather than something I had to research to get enough information to be able to fill up that incredibly long seeming five or eight minutes.
That said, rather you than me!

Anonymous said...

I know you will do just fine, Connie; there will be a friendly face in the crowd that will make everything all right. I remember the young boy who visited the museum last summer who made all your hard work worth while!

I don't even have proper clothes and makeup to dig out any longer!!!!!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

It'll be fine! After the first few minutes it is always easier. My biggest dread when I have to speak to my genealogy society is the topic- I don't really mind speaking, just don't want to bore them all to tears. You'll be great!

lisa said...

I hate speaking in front of a group of people, I can't imagine trying to talk for 45 minutes. Good luck!

Linda said...

You'll do FAR better than I ever would.....no butterflies for me.....crows in the gut would be more like it;)

L. D. said...

I am sure you will do a great job. You have a lot of stories you can tell. If all else fails start talking about your dog.

5 Starr's Farm said...

Hi Far Gal........... Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I truly enjoy them.
You'll do just fine, tell the great stories that you tell us. I have to agree, Chance is a good back up plan......LOL

The W.O.W. factor! said...

Cool! What do you have to lecture on? Man, if'n I had to resurrect makeup and 'doll clothes' I'd be SOL! They got discarded years ago!

Sam I Am...... said...

I agree....talk to them like you do to us and they'll be all ears! Just like we are! You are VERY interesting! What's that thing you're supposed to do to keep calm....think of them all naked? LOL! That wouldn't do it for me...I'd get more rattled! Good luck and don't forget to breathe and talk slow. Don't let pauses or silence bother you. You go girl!

Lynda said...

Okay - - it sounds like you have definitely decided to go back there and work this next summer. Even though I have never heard you speak publicly - - - my guess is you are or will be very good. Are you like me - - - you write it all out; read it enough so you are pretty much able to deliver it from memory with just a few glances at the paper? Or are you like my husband who can put a few points on paper and ad lib it and it sounds great? Even if you don't know anyone there, I am sure you know the trick of slowly looking from one corner wall to another and everyone thinks you are looking at them! It makes them feel special.

Red said...

The butterfly picture had me really wondering about your post . Did you find butterflies in Minnesota the other day? I hope your talk goes well. It gets easier each time.

Karmyn R said...

I am sure you will give an outstanding speech!

Karmyn R said...

I meant to say before I hit "Publish" - to look back through your blog...you've told some great stories about the museum in here!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I always have butterflies before a presentation, too. I write it out and then basically memorize it so I can work off of cards with key words or phrases. As others have pointed out, you've told many wonderful stories on your blog and you have a good command of your work, so you'll do well. Do you talk about ways your listeners can get involved? You know...contribute something unique, give money, volunteer, or come to visit and play hopscotch!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Thanks for the words of encouragement..I will tell you all about it on Tuesday! :)

Rita said...

The very fact that you really care about what you are doing shines through on your blog. In person, you would be a force to be reckoned with. I have no doubt you will be well-prepared and your enthusiasm will take over. :):)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh darlin' there's not a doubt in my mind that your are one terrific public speaker. Heck, if ya weren't your wouldn't get booked time and time again.

'Love the painted ladies. We used to 'raise' a couple batches in our classroom each spring. It was fun to see them interact with my very 'special' students. The kids would put sugar~water on their fingers and the butterflies would land and enjoy the sweet nectar. Their lifespan is pretty short so we'd have a 'set~'em~free' day before they fluttered their last flutter.

Have a blessed week sweetie and knock 'em dead!!!! :o)