Tag Archives: storytelling

9 tips for breathing life into every speech

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Craig Valentine, the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking, delivers his message using storytelling.

By Craig Valentine

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to speak to audiences about the importance of leadership and presentation skills. The main tool I’ve used to accomplish this is storytelling. Storytelling helps both leaders and presenters motivate, inspire, and influence their listeners and be remembered.

Here are nine storytelling techniques I use that can help you breathe life into your next speech about a Rotary club project or fund-raising appeal.

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Tips for using the Brand Center to tell Rotary’s story

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By Peter Roaf, Rotary Club of Ladner, British Columbia, Canada, and District 5040 Interim Public Image Chair

As the interim public image chair for my district, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we tell our community about Rotary and share our excitement about our organization to motivate others to join us in the work we do. Growing our organization requires three things: attracting and retaining members, supporting The Rotary Foundation, and strengthening our brand.

Many of us know the importance of membership. And we understand how our gifts to the Foundation drive life-changing, sustainable projects. But strengthening and supporting Rotary’s public image may be harder for us because we’re less familiar with how to do it. Fortunately, Rotary’s Brand Center is a valuable resource that I often turn to for guidance.

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Learning about storytelling at the 2022 Convention

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Breakout session in Houston
Participants at the 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, listen to tips on storytelling at one of many informative breakout sessions.

By Randy Bretz, Rotary Club of Lincoln, Nebraska, USA

I was seated in a breakout session at the 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas, USA, with about 200 other attendees ready to learn about story telling. I had come to the convention along with about 11,000 other members from around the world to learn and be inspired. And merely looking around the room gave we inspiration to see the diversity of nations represented.

A few minutes in, we were informed that the speaker would be unable to present. But that did not hinder this room full of creative and innovative People of Action. After taking a few seconds to confer with their neighbors, three people near the front of the room volunteered to lead the session. A round of applause broke out as they stepped up to the presentation table.

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Finding common ground during the pandemic

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Kiran Sirah Singh at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, USA.

By Kiran Singh Sirah, a 2011-13 Rotary Peace Fellow and president of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, USA

I’ve been having lots of inspiring conversations with my fellow Rotarians recently. As a Rotary Peace Fellow, I’ve found it so helpful to connect and brainstorm with my colleagues from the program. I think many of us individually and institutionally have had our thoughts crowded out by our focus on survival early in this crisis.

The question marks we all face remain overwhelming. But as we have talked with one another, it has shifted our attention on collaboration and supporting one another. We’ve been focusing on how we can help not just ourselves and each other in our own personal and professional circles, but also make a difference in the wider world. Continue reading →