By: Alex Asiamah (#0188) and Alex Gillet (#0189)

Sunday’s Boys’ State morning assembly had some informational announcements, inspiring words, and, for some reason, entertainment in the form of dancing?

Fred Ashforth, author of the brilliant book, The Speaking Connection, delivered a captivating Seminar at Sunday’s morning assembly, guiding the Delegates on a path toward proper speaking etiquette with helpful techniques and useful advice. 

Ashforth first talked about overall success within public speaking such as dividing one’s attention span 3-5 seconds toward people throughout the audience in order for them to develop personal connection with the audience. He also suggested standing tall and confident in order to look more presentable and to make sure to have the right attitude while talking to your audience. 

Ashforth divided people into four distinct groups: the ones who hate talking, those who prefer not to talk, those who like to talk, and those who love to talk. He said, optimistically, that he’ll “turn us all into [members of] the fourth group” by the end of his seminar. To follow through with his statement of assurance, Ashforth gave the audience valuable pieces of advice to think back to next time they attempt to make a connection through verbal conversation.

These include talking about things that the audience is passionate about, standing straight and tall, and stopping their “padding” habits. The last of which refers to the act of filling in times of thinking or silence during a conversation with filler words such as “uh” or “um.”

Ashforth also noted his wife’s situation on organ donations. Thirty years ago, Mrs. Ashforth had Cystic Fibrosis and, consequently, needed an emergency double lung transplant. Thankfully, she survived the surgery and lived for another 30 years. He talked about the  importance of organ donation and how it can benefit everybody and helped train people to advocate for further research for Cystic Fibrosis and organ donation, arming them with these verbal skills.

Also during the assembly, prior to Ashforth’s seminar, a short honorary service was held to honor the deceased Boys State staff and counselors who had passed away in the last year. Of these late honorees included Lester Crossett, Carl Griffith, John W. Grotke, Joseph Barilla, and Philip J. Gomez. All of these individuals had a significant impact on Boys State and the program’s legacy and it’s crucial that they are not soon forgotten.