Have you arranged a visit with a Memory Project speaker?

The following are some ideas to make your event run more smoothly, feel free to incorporate any suggestions that work best for your school:

• Check and see if the speaker would like to bring his/her spouse to the event.
• Arrange parking close to the building’s entrance.
• Ask if he/she will be bringing materials/ objects that he/she might need assistance carrying into the school and back to the car.
• Consider arranging for a couple of students to meet the speaker when they arrive and direct them to the classroom/auditorium where the event will take place.
• It is a nice gesture to offer the speaker something to eat or drink if they are visiting a number of classes or will be with your group for a few hours.
• Check with the speaker to see if they need/ want any of the following items: Microphone, overhead projector, screen, lectern, table and chairs, DVD/VCR and TV
• Ask in advance if the speaker is comfortable wearing a microphone, being videotaped etc. as this may be intimidating for someone who is unprepared.
• Arrange seating/ desks in a way that makes it easy for the speaker to walk around if he or she prefers this.
• Have a student introduce the speaker to the class.
• Make photocopies of student questions in advance and give these to pre-selected students for the Q&A session to get things started.
• Remind students about appropriate questions or sensitive topics. Many speakers find the common question, “did you kill anybody?” a difficult one to answer.
• Suggest that students thank the speaker personally/ shake hands when the visit is over.
• As an option for food and drink: organize a pot-luck with students interested in a less formal gathering after the veteran speaks with the class. Arrange for the speaker to come to the class preceding lunch if this is possible.

Many teachers ask if payment is expected after a visit. The Memory Project Speakers Bureau is a program that is provided free of charge to all groups and payment is not at all expected. Many schools however present the speakers with a small gift (school pens, mugs, t-shirts), gift cards for a local coffee shop or simply a card made by the class. Again, this is optional and not a requirement.

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