Author Topic: A very..errr..interesting lunch. I've got some 'splaining to do (Read 660 times)

Curval · « **on:** September 20, 2005, 12:43:06 PM »

This year I was elected to the office of the Vice-President of the Rotary Club of which I am a member.

One of my responsibilities is to get speakers to come and talk to the Club. The speech is broadcast on the radio and on television.

When I invite speakers I send a formal letter advising them of the time of the venue and also specifically request that the only type of speech we ask not be made are of a political nature.

Today I had Sir John Swan, former Premier of the Island, lined up to speak. He is a giant of a politician here who was in office from 1982 to 1995 and who was responsible for much of the success of this island. He is a great guy and someone who I would be proud to call a friend.

BUT...the synopsis of the speech his assistant provided to me and the topic was COMPLETELY different to the speech he gave.

When I say completely...I mean COMFREAKINGPLETELY.

He lambased the current government. He accused politicians in the government of ineptitude. He named names. He claimed the island was heading towards a Third World status unless something is done imminently.

Now...in and of itself this shouldn't be a problem...except about 5 years ago the then President of our Club was accused of using the Rotary speeches to further his and those of his political party's agenda. The fallout was pretty heavy and our Club, which does some really good charitable work almost fell apart.

Two sentances into his speech the gentleman who was tasked with formally introducing Sir John stormed out of the room and slammed the door. He is a sitting Senator of the current government. About the same time my eyes widened and I looked up at our President whose eyes were just as wide as mine. He passed me a note asking if Sir John had received a letter stating that Rotary was NOT a political platform. I confirmed that he had AND I passed over the synopsis I had been sent.

The news media present were abuzz.

This thing is going to hit the airwaves tonight and will be front page tomorrow. I know we are just a small island and this may seem trivial to most of you guys...but here its gonna be HUGE.

IF you want to follow this check out this site tomorrow morning...its gonna be interesting to say the least.

http://www.theroyalgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

I need to find a cave...fast.

Chairboy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2005, 12:48:08 PM »

The island=Bermuda.

Sir John=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Swan

Tarmac · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2005, 12:54:51 PM »

When it hits the news, post the link!

It's just politics. Embarrassing now, but in the grand scheme of things, it matters about as much as a fart in a hurricane.

AWMac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2005, 12:57:40 PM »

Curvy!!!! Your 15 minutes of Fame has yet to begin!

Rejoice in the Spotlight for Tomorrow you are a GOD!!!!

BTW I checked Ebay and yer outta luck, no caves! Sorry.

Tarmac · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:00:22 PM »

There has to be a scooter joke in this somewhere, but I'm coming up short. Help, please?

Toad · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:11:13 PM »

Goodbye, Curval. I always liked you man.

Sorry to hear you're going to be shark chum.

boxboy28 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:36:53 PM »

Bermuda news daily - " man wearing pink Bermuda shorts seen speeding thru the street on a scooter today being chased by an angry mod holding news papers!"

AWMac · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:49:36 PM »

Curvy just look them straight in the eyes and say......

HAAAAAAAAARRRRRR............

Curval · « **Reply #8 on:** September 20, 2005, 02:02:43 PM »

lol

The President of the Club promised he would call me after speaking to the senator that stormed out of the speech. I haven't heard anything yet, which is probably not good news. Either the guy can't (or won't) be reached or there is ALOT of talking going on.

It really is not my fault that this happened. I did everything right.
I had three different members actually come up and shake my hand when I arrived at the meeting place saying that they were very impressed with the lineup of speakers I have.

Getting Sir John was somewhat of a "feather in my cap". Next week I have the CEO of a major Bank speaking, the week after the CEO of Belco.

It was all going so well. Too damn well I guess

Charon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2005, 02:13:57 PM »

You kill his mike, escort him off the stage, apologize to the crowd and explain the a-political nature of the club, that this was unplanned, that you are disappointed, that there are other venues to express those views, etc, move on to the next speaker. Of course, the time to do that was 1 minute into his speech

It might have been hard to do in any case, given his stature - a case of weighing the situation and making the call. Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't. Oh well... PR can be interesting on occasion

You should be insulated in CYA, especially with the material the speaker gave you before hand, and especially if the individual gave no previous potential warning that he had become a loose cannon.

Charon

Curval · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2005, 02:37:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Charon
You kill his mike, escort him off the stage, apologize to the crowd and explain the a-political nature of the club, that this was unplanned, that you are disappointed, that there are other venues to express those views, etc, move on to the next speaker. Of course, the time to do that was 1 minute into his speech

It might have been hard to do in any case, given his stature - a case of weighing the situation and making the call. Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't. Oh well... PR can be interesting on occasion You should be insulated in CYA, especially with the material the speaker gave you before hand, and especially if the individual gave no previous potential warning that he had become a loose cannon.

Charon

On your first point in retrospect this is what should have been done. Not my place though...I think the President was so shell shocked he just froze. Needed to be 30 seconds in though...by the time a minute had passed the Senator had already stormed out.

On your second you are right...my backside is covered. Sir John is a powerful guy, not someone you want to be on the wrong side of, but then he is no longer the Premier. Poor Jeff (President) was absolutely damned either way.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 20, 2005, 03:04:30 PM »

Ummmmmm.......... hate to ask this , but......You invited a heavyweight politician to speak and expected him not to get political?
That`s like putting a tray of bon bons in front of Roseanne and expecting her not to eat.

john9001 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 20, 2005, 03:06:28 PM »

you anglos are so sensitive.

Curval · « **Reply #13 on:** September 20, 2005, 03:24:19 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Jackal1
Ummmmmm.......... hate to ask this , but......You invited a heavyweight politician to speak and expected him not to get political?
That`s like putting a tray of bon bons in front of Roseanne and expecting her not to eat.

Yes and no.

We have had lots of politicians speak on their charitable and community activities, for example. None of them bamboozled us like that.

But, you know what...I STILL like Sir John. He has HUGE nads and the political and economic muscle to back up anything he says.

GtoRA2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2005, 03:28:42 PM »

Will they take into acount he mislead you?

Or will they think you knew he was misleading you?

Whats the worst that could happen to you? Kick you out of the club?