QUESTION:  How do I find opportunities to do talks in my community?

ANSWER:  Every community has an established network of groups and scheduled functions for which health and health care are not only appropriate but desirable topics.  From civic groups to service clubs, to chambers of commerce to senior citizens groups, health is a high priority and chiropractic is a hot topic, as more and more consumers and businesses look for more cost-effective approaches to healthcare. 

Mapping out the opportunities to speak should start with looking through local papers and other informational resources to see who else is speaking, and where.  Do some homework and make a file charting out possible venues.  The logical places to look for speaking opportunities include:

1. Service clubs
2. Business clubs and organizations
3. School-related functions, including parents' organizations, coaches and teachers meetings, and health classes
4. Public safety departments and service organizations, such as volunteer fire departments, police groups and employee unions or organizations
5. Public health groups and functions
6. Senior citizens groups, clubs and facilities such as senior day care centers and nursing homes
7. Exercise, fitness and sports centers including recreation leagues, gyms and exercise classes
8. Public libraries
9. Church organizations and functions

Attend those talks and/or functions that look interesting, send a family member or staff member if you cannot go yourself, and examine the nature of the group, numbers and tone, etc.  The best intelligence is first-hand data, and, it gives you an opportunity to hear what others are saying.  This will help you develop the most interesting and effective presentations when it is your turn. You need to join those groups that are logically good places for you to personally be active and to network. An active professional should be personally involved in major service and business clubs, and your presence as a member is your next gateway to the platform.

Patients are also one of your best resources for finding and scheduling places to
speak. Don't forget that many of them are business owners or employees of
big corporations. Others are involved with local clubs and organizations.
Through their various affiliations, almost all of your patients have the
ability to get you in front of a group of people to tell the chiropractic
story. Many parents belong to well-organized clubs through their churches,
temples and children's schools; new moms often belong to playgroups and
"Mommy and Me" classes. The possibilities are almost endless!

Identify who the program organizer and decision-maker is for each group.  You will most likely have to make the first move and offer to speak to the various organizations and meetings you see as logical opportunities.  Public speaking is very difficult for most people and filling speaking spots tends to be difficult for many organizations.  Your offer, therefore, will probably be very welcome when it is made.  Match times and dates carefully, however, and be sure that you can keep any and all commitments you make.

Your message will need to be carefully crafted, accurate, honest, sincere and ethical.  It takes work, but it is worth the return.  What chiropractic has to offer is powerful, unique and fits well within the direction of today's consumer thinking about natural health and healing.  Telling the chiropractic story in the context of public health needs or other community based situations is a wonderful way to meet an urgent need for information, and to let your neighbors know that you care about them, and are available to care for their chiropractic needs.