How to Make An Address of Welcome

            Here is another speech situation which occurs frequently.

            You may be called upon to deliver an address of welcome to a visitor or a group of visitors or to the whole audience.

            It makes it imperative for you, therefore, to master the following speech plan that will always come to your rescue and one you can readily employ.

YOUR SPEECH PLAN

1.      Refer to the occasion

2.      Express goodwill

3.      Mention the achievement of your guests

4.      Extend welcome

EXPLANATION

            Refer to the Occasion

                        Make your opening serve as a reference to the occasion for the meeting.

            Express Goodwill

                        Be sure to include a distinct expression of goodwill.

                        Make your guests feel at home. Make them feel glad they came.

                        Make them to come back again.

            Suggested points:

ü  Mention the name of your visitors as the case may be and the organization they represent.

ü  Express your pleasure for their presence

ü  Say that their attendance is indispensable for the success of your gathering.

ü  Express the hope that your visitors will enjoy the proceedings and the entertainment.

ü  Assure them that future visits of the group being welcomed will be most awaited by your organization.

ü  Mention that mutual benefits will accrue from the participation of the welcomed group in the program.

ü  Suggests that all members of the host organization are just too willing to answer questions and to serve in every way possible.

ü  If you are welcoming new members, say how fortunate you are to have them on your organization.

ü  Say that you value their help and admire their spirit of brotherhood

ü  Say that their talent and experience will immensely find expression in your organization.

Mention the achievements of your guests

            If necessary, secure all information about your visitors before they arrive. Include one or two achievements of your guests in this part of your talk.

Express welcome

            Formally welcome your guest or guests into your midst. A sentence or two will do.

ILLUSTRATION

OCCASION: Meeting of the Lions Club of Makati

SPEAKER: The president of the Club

Fellow Lions

            Occasion. This is one of the highlights of my year in office. Since becoming president of the Makati Lions, I have found out that such an office has many advantages. It provides numerous occasions on which a citizen can render service. It also furnished the setting for a delightful evening such as this.

            Goodwill. Dear five finalists from the Caltex Beauty contest: we, the Lions of Makati, are most fortunate at this chance to have a respite from our daily hectic grind to refresh ourselves by mingling with such a lovely bunch of vivacious feminine pulchritude.

            Your presences make us proud to behold the paragon of Filipino womanhood.

            Achievements. Frankly, the Makati Lions have looked forward to entertain guests this evening. You, Misses Caltex Finalists, can be sure that you spread cheer not only to the young swains who would have gladly kissed the very grounds you trod on during your nationwide campaign, but also to aging Lions like me.

            It is therefore with a young heart, and eyes a glow with admiration at your beauty that express our happiness to have you with us tonight as our guests.

SUGGESTIONS

            Try to express your thought in graceful language. Remember you are speaking to a group of guests on behalf of their hosts, and a good host will always be thoughtful considerate and kindly in his conversation with his guests.

Source: Hands Out RBEC Seminar 2001