This month's speaker was Desson Thomson – a speaker, freelance writer, and former film critic for the Washington Post.    more »

This afternoon, about 20 members of the Washington Speechwriters Roundtable gathered at the American Medical Association to listen to Mike Long talk about freelance writing.   more »

6.  You get a FREE FORM for a $100 discount to the Ragan conference in February.  (OK, it's the same ...   more »

On February 25, Fortune 50 recruiter Jean Cardwell wowed Roundtable members with her tips on how to market yourself in the competitive field of corporate speechwiriting. 

Special thanks to the National Geographic for hosting our session.

Below is the event annoucement:

As a speechwriter, you know how to make your speaker stand out.  But do you know how to make yourself stand out in the competitive field of corporate speechwriting?   The Washington Speechwriters Roundtable is pleased to announce a special session with Fortune 50 recruiter Jean Cardwell on Friday, February 25th at noon. 

For 20 years, Jean Cardwell has helped the world's biggest companies find and hire top-notch speechwriters.  Speechwriter's Newsletter featured her insights on the job market in September, saying "among speechwriters, she is known as the first stop on the job-search trail."  Jean will tell us what employers are looking for and how speechwriters can market themselves.  Bring your lunch and your questions! Topics include:   

• Mistakes Speechwriters Make in Presenting Themselves
   
• Getting Hired by a Fortune 50 Company
   
• Climbing the Professional Ladder
   
• Is There Life after Speechwriting?
   
• Your Questions

About Jean Cardwell:  Jean Cardwell is president and founder of Cardwell Enterprises, Inc., a leading, independent executive search firm based in Chicago.  She focuses on corporate communications, investor relations, government and public affairs for Fortune 50 companies worldwide.  Cardwell holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois.  She is a frequent speaker before groups like NIRI, PRSA, and IABC.

Our meeting held on December 9, 2004 and featured two members of Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign: Terry Edmonds, Kerry's chief speechwriter (and Roundtable member) and Sarah Hurwitz.   Edmonds and Hurwitz revealed what it's like to work as speechwriters inside a top-level national presidential campaign.  Special thanks to AARP for hosting our lunchtime meeting.

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On October 6, 2004, we welcomed executive search expert David Moyer of Moyer, Sherwood Associates in New York City.  A 15-year veteran recruiter, David was once called in to the White House to advise speechwriters and press relations staff for a departing administration.

David is a good friend of the Roundable and is the only person we know of who's addressed our group three times.  The first two times were during earlier incarnations of Roundtable - long before Jan Cook, Sharon Scheidhauer and others relaunced our club in May 2001.

David's firm specializes in recruiting for senior communications/investor relations/public affairs positions, including speechwriters, for client companies throughout the country.

Thanks to the American Hospital Association for hosting our meeting.

On March 17, 2004, the Roundtable welcomed Jerry Tarver, the eminent speechwriting authority, frequent host of Ragan Speechwriter's Conferences, and long-time professor of speech communications.

Jerry has provided public speaking and speechwriting training for corporations and government agencies here and abroad and mentored thousands of speechwriters through his workshops.

Special thanks to the American Medical Association for hosting our meeting.

On October 22, 2003, the Roundtable welcomed Edie Fraser for a talk on how to place speakers at some of the nation's high-profile speaking venues.  Edie compiles the annual listing of top U.S.  speaking forums for executives.  She is the founder and CEO of The Public Affairs Group, a public relations and strategic communications firm  with three divisions -- Diversity Best Practices, the Business Women's Network, and Best practices in Corporate Communications, which produces the top forums list.  A nationally recognized speaker herself, she advises more than 100 Fortune 500 firms on communications strategy.Special thanks to the National Geographic for hosting our meeting.

On November 18, 2002, the Roundtable welcomed Senate speechwriter Pete Weissman (that's me!) for a behind-the-scenes look at speechwriting in the United States Senate.   Pete's remarks were later published in Vital Speeches of the Day (January 15, 2003), The Executive Speaker (December 2004/January 2005), and A Pocket Guide to Public Speaking (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004). Special thanks to AARP for hosting our session.

Note: Roundtable members who have contributed an article to this site can read the transcript in "Members Only > Meeting Transcripts."

For instructions on submitting an article, see: http://www.washingtonspeechwriters.com/blog/_archives/2005/4/16/568474.html

On October 25, 2001, speechwriters gathered at the National Science Foundation to hear from Marc Abshire (then speechwriter to the secretary of the Air Force), who gave a powerful and moving talk about the September 11th attacks.  After Marc's talk, there was a broad discussion of how speechwriters have responded to and written about the national tragedy.