Sunday
I prepared myself physically and spiritually to direct the 2016 World Conference of the Professional Speechwriters Association last week with a run along the Potomac, from Georgetown to the Jefferson Memorial, on what simply must have been the most beautiful Washington morning of the year.
Monday
After the PSA's Speechwriting School, a presidential debate party at an undisclosed location. (In other words, at the home of a prominent Washington speechwriter.)
Tuesday
Day One of the PSA World Conference at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. Just as last year, the house was brought down unexpectedly in a bust-out breakout session. In this case, freelance speechwriter and professional cabaret singer Karen Gross showed speechwriters how to make speeches sing.
Wednesday
Terry Edmonds was the first African-American White House speechwriter, rising to Director of White House Speechwriting late in the Clinton administration. As he gently noted in a conversation with Society for Human Resource Management's director of organizational communication Larae Booker and me, twenty years later he believes he is still the only black White House speechwriter. As a profession, speechwriters are even less diverse than their powerful clients, and we're going to work on that.
Thursday
It was sad to leave, for me and PSA COO Benjamine Knight …
… and all the speechwriters, including one of the best-known in attendance, who was heard to tell an participant that when she goes home, she's just another person. "But when I'm here, I'm a star!"
No wonder we're already looking forward to next year.
Kathleen Hessert says
It was wonderful… especially to be in the room with so many idea people who can also articulate those ideas. Thank you.
David Murray says
You prominently among them, Kathleen. Can’t wait to get to know you better.