Administrator's Corner

There was an internal competition in the organization to make a pitch to a senior leadership team on an innovative idea for our clients. A junior-level consultant was paired with a manager and together you built a presentation for this high-level executive team. We developed the presentation for weeks, wrote a script, and practiced in front of our peers. I went so far as to memorize my entire script. At the presentation, all that memorization went out the window. It was like that recurring nightmare (I'm sure some of you have had it) where you are at a piano recital in front of a crowd and you realize you don't know how to play the piano or read music. I stood there frozen in fear. My manager thankfully took the lead and prompted me with some questions, and I was able to lean heavily on my notes and speed my way through the presentation. When it came time for questions, my heart was still racing but I was calm enough to answer the questions from the leadership team. Overall, I knew that it was a terrible presentation and didn't highlight all the hard work that we had done to get to that 15 minutes. I was crestfallen and couldn't help but run through all the things I could have done better. But here's the thing -- it was low stakes. Just because I bombed the presentation, didn't mean I was going to lose my job. The competition was designed for several reasons and one of them was to give junior staff the opportunity to practice their presentation skills.

The next day, I scheduled some time with my manager to discuss feedback and determine a plan for improving. Instead of saying to myself, I'm a bad presenter and I will let other people take the lead, I wanted to learn how I could become more comfortable and effective. To this day, I can't remember what it was we were presenting on, but I remember the feeling and wanting to change my confidence level. The following are a few best practices I've learned over the years:

Do your homework: Confident and strong presenters become "experts" on their topics. Prepare a strong outline or agenda for your presentation. Ask yourself the following questions: What is the goal of the presentation? What types of questions could be asked? Are you going to have visuals? What does the room look like physically or are you virtual? How much time do you have?

Know your audience: The people in the room set the tone for your presentation. Who is in the room? Is this a formal or casual presentation? What do you want your audience to take away? Let some of these questions guide the content and format of your presentation.

Stay calm and do not rush: That's not to say a little tension in your stomach isn't important before presenting to a large crowd. It demonstrates that you are aware of the importance of the task and permits the adrenaline to carry you through a successful presentation. However, using deep breaths and pauses during a presentation are important. Rushing through a presentation loses the audience's attention and impact.

Take chances and volunteer: Find diverse opportunities to practice. Lead a small group meeting and set the agenda. Join a club where you might have the chance to present on a hobby or topic of your choice. Find ways to build up your exposure to different audiences, topics, styles, and environments for presentations. Find a colleague or friend you admire as a presenter and ask them for their tips and tricks. 

Request feedback: Just because you had a bad experience doesn't make you a bad presenter. Find ways to request feedback from your colleagues, friends, and management. It is important to learn what is working well as much as what needs improvement.

Identify your voice: What works for you? Opening with a joke? Telling a story? Do you like to jump straight to the heart of the issue? While there are best practices to creating a strong presentation, it is important to place your own imprint and style to engage the audience. Feedback often helps to identify your unique style.

Not everyone is going to be a TED talk presenter. However, for more insightful tips and tricks, please take a look at this article .

Katie Easterlin

Canon for Administration

Around the Diocese

The Rev. Catherine Henderson, Deacon, left, has created the booklet, Aging Wisely, to assist senior citizens in Liberty County in living life more fully. The booklet is available at St. Philip's Hinesville and other churches in the county. At right, members of Grace Church Waycross on Loud Pants for the Lord Sunday. 

The fourth annual Christ Church Icon Writing Workshop, led by instructor, Kara Nelson, provided a spiritually enriching learning experience for this year's participants. The group worked diligently each day to create their beautiful and highly detailed icons. If you are interested in learning how to make exquisite religious iconography, consider joining the regular Icon Writing Group, that meets in the Parish Hall at Christ Church. Newcomers are always welcome. For more information, please contact David Blatchford at  [email protected]

Education for Ministry (EfM) participants from Holy Comforter and Our Savior after the commissioning Eucharist. 

Roanridge Trust Grants Available for Leadership Development 

Applications due December 13, 2019

[September 5, 2019] Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 Roanridge Trust Grant Awards. Dioceses, congregations and Episcopal Church related organizations and institutions are invited to apply.

Offered annually, Roanridge Trust Grants are used for the "training of town and country ministry and rural Christian workers" of The Episcopal Church. They support creative models of leadership development and training of the laity and clergy in small towns and rural communities across The Episcopal Church. Awards generally range from $5,000 to $20,000.

These awards affirm the rich gifts and unique witness at work in rural communities. They are a key piece of the Jesus Movement in building leaders who sustain hope, health and creativity in often overlooked or under resourced localities. Roanridge Trust Grant recipients annually represent the great potential, diversity, and Jesus-rooted resilience in rural communities and small towns.

More information, application and instructions are in English and Spanish here ( https://www.episcopalchurch.org/grants-and-scholarships) and here ( https://www.episcopalchurch.org/roanridge-trust).

Although previous recipients are eligible to apply, and one renewal of a grant is permitted, priority is given to new applicants. Only one grant request per diocese should be submitted. Contact Canon Frank Logue if you intend to apply ( [email protected]).

Application deadline is December 13, 2019.

The Roanridge Trust was established by the Cochel family, who originally gave a working farm in Missouri called Roanridge to The Episcopal Church. Income from the Trust generates the grant funds.

Questions about the Roanridge Trust and the application process can be addressed to the Rev. Dr. Molly James, deputy executive officer of General Convention, [email protected], or Mr. George Wing, [email protected], chair of the Roanridge Trust Grant Review Committee.

Please note the following for dioceses of The Episcopal Church: Applicant understands that should its local diocese fail to pay its assessment in full or to apply for and receive a waiver, the diocese and the applicant shall be ineligible to receive grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless approved by Executive Council. In accordance with Canon I.4.6, (select the applicable response): The diocese pays its full assessment; The diocese has been granted a waiver for years (list); The diocese has made application for a waiver but has not been advised regarding a determination.

Good Friends

Remember when you were a child and had a best friend at church? Two young girls at Holy Comforter, Martinez do!