The Girl Scout Cookie BOX is sweet

It is Girl Scout cookie time! I don’t really love Girl Scout cookies, but I’ve eaten my share over the years and I can never pass up a cute little girl earnestly hawking them. No matter how expensive the boxes get ($4!) or how unsatisfying the cookies are (just not great) I usually end up with more than a few boxes every year.

This year, I realized that what I really like about Girl Scout cookies are the boxes. Check this out:

A Girl Scout, speaking into a microphone with passion.

Now that’s deliciously satisfying!

Thank YOU, Ms. Thomas!

Thank you, Ms. Thomas

Her phone number was easy enough to find: it was listed in the DC phone book when I looked it up and called veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas back in 2007 to ask if she would consider writing the foreword for my book on women in broadcasting. I called back a few times when I did not receive a response but on the fourth or fifth try, her unmistable, gravelly voice picked up and said “This is Helen Thomas.” After I introduced myself she apologized profusely for not getting back to me and agreed to write the foreword after she read my manuscript. I shipped out my pages immediately and in a month or so the fax machine at Penn State started whirring as it received her thoughtful and insightful foreword.

She certainly didn’t need the fame and was no fortune involved (I couldn’t pay her), so why did she do it? I think because she believed in the project and she knew first hand what the women in the book had gone through to get the top of the heap as newscasters. She worked her way up at a time when most women were going to college to get their Mrs. Degree and few used the degree they got if they made it to graduation. Helen Thomas was a worker.

She loved staying active, and in the game, which is another reason she probably said yes. I could imagine her thinking: “What is more fun then helping another woman get ahead by writing a few pages for a book about women?” She also accepted an invitation to speak at Penn State Lehigh Valley’s graduation a year later and asked only that we pay her: “What you think its worth.”

Tributes to her describe her as “feisty” and a “firebrand” but I remember her as nice, warm and happy to have been asked to share her considerable experience as a woman who has had a front row to history in the making for ten presidencies.

In the foreword she wrote:

The women in this book toughed it out and fortunately were driven enough to insist on equity. It wasn’t easy. I’ve seen the best in the business sidelines in the networks’ avid accent on youth over experience and gravitas.

She added that she loved being a journalist because “it was an education every day” and that “you never stop learning.”

President Obama paid tribute to her by saying: “Helen was a true pioneer, opening doors and breaking down barriers for generations of women in journalism. She covered every White House since President Kennedy’s, and during that time she never failed to keep presidents – myself included – on their toes.”

There is no denying that every journalist who came after her in the press corps owes Helen Thomas a hearty thanks. She elevated the role and brought integrity to it by holding her interviwees accountable, and she wasn’t intimidated by the presidents, quite the opposite, I think.

She was persistent and pointed but to me, Helen Thomas will always also be just plain nice.

Thank you, Ms. Thomas.

I could have ride-shared with a Creamery Ice Cream Truck!

Last weekend I had the supreme honor to speak at the Penn State Lehigh Valley Chapter and Society Picnic at Macungie Park. Picture it: an enthusiastic band played the alma mater, Penn State’s fight song and other motivational tunes, the grill was smoking, and the Penn State Berkey Creamery ice cream was being scooped out as fast as we could eat it and the almost 100 degree temps could melt it! Next time (and I really hope there is one) I’m going to hitch a ride with the Creamery Ice Cream folks. I would like to get as close to the ice cream as possible. It was fun and here’s my speech!

As the Penn State alma mater goes: “When we stood at childhood’s gate, Shapeless in the hands of fate, Thou didst mold us, dear old State, Dear old State, dear old state.” For me, that sentiment has special significance. I was relatively young when I lost my parents: 19 when my dad died and 28 when my mom died. Certainly not a ’child’ as the lyrics suggest, but young enough to still be looking for (and certainly in need of) some guidance, ‘shaping,’ if you will. For me, Penn State and many of the Penn State people (whether you realize it or not) served as a surrogate family. And no one will ever love you more than your family. Penn State has given me a supportive, extended family and one I cherish. And as a Penn Stater, I want to see other Penn Staters succeed. That supportive success is at the heart of what it means to be an active Penn Stater long after we’ve donned our caps and gowns at commencement.

As chapter members you may know better than anyone how Penn State continues to keep you under its wing and bring you together with people who share similar passions and experiences better than anyone. Here you are at the Penn State Lehigh Valley chapter picnic, enjoying the beautiful summer season with other Penn Staters. In Pennsylvania there are thirty-six active Alumni Chapters that sponsor events like this one, in effect reaching out the arms of Penn State to hold its extended family throughout the state. And while there are chapters throughout the United States, if you traveled to Berlin, Germany or Edmonton, Canada or to more than thirty-five other countries all around the globe, you could feel like family at the chapter gatherings there. That “one big family” feeling is what is so attractive about Penn State to me and maybe to you, too.

I’m an alumnae, and I’ve taught at Penn State Lehigh Valley for more than 20 years. Just two weeks ago I started my dream job as associate dean of academic affairs at Schreyer Honors College. So I “feel” Penn State (you could say) from a number of entry points. And it is that accessibility of Penn State that keeps it connected to its land grand mission. There really is a Penn State for everyone.

Maybe you started at a Penn State campus and transferred to University Park or maybe you completed your entire degree at a campus. At Penn State Lehigh Valley campus there are several four year degree programs including education, business, psychology, IST and the new BA in corporate communication.

You may have started when you were fresh out of high school or you might be one of many returning students who finish a degree or earn a certificate well into your adulthood. Or, you may not be an alum, instead you may be more active in the great community based education programs that Penn State offers. Or, like so many people I meet, you may be a huge Penn State football fan even though you might have gone to another school (we won’t mention names!) Everywhere I go I meet Penn Staters – and I mean everywhere—from here at Macungie Park to Beijing, China where I traveled with students – a hearty “we are” connected me to another Penn Stater. That’s that family feeling —

As an active researcher, I write about extraordinary women who have overcome significant obstacles to achieve their dreams. Though none of the women I’ve written about are Penn State alums, they knew the power of networks and alumni families. Women like Margaret Chase Smith – who was the first woman to serve in both the House and the Senate. She got the courage to amplify her voice against her colleagues – all male—and speak out against McCarthyism. Upon leaving office, she was the longest-serving female Senator in history, a distinction that was not surpassed until 2011, when Senator Barbara Mikulski was sworn in for a fifth term. Margaret Chase Smith may have been dubbed “The quiet woman” but she didn’t back down and she didn’t go away.

Another remarkable woman is Shirley Chisholm who in 1972 ran for president. She broke a lot of barriers because she was both an African American and a woman. When Barack Obama became president he acknowledged that she made the way easier for him.

It isn’t too surprising that some of the women I’ve researched have Penn State ties. Hillary Clinton’s father and brother played football for Penn State and Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan’s parents met on a train both traveling home from Penn State on holiday break. And you can be sure I tried to use those connections to interview them for my research! (Sorry to say neither attempt succeeded!) Okay – neither multiple attempts—but if anyone here knows either of them, please let me know! My research is always “ongoing.”

These women knew that leaning on their alma maters and connecting with the people that they grew up with would help them to do the work they wanted to do. It would help them to continue to serve people.

A few years ago I gave a talk about my research at Cal State Chico. The audience was filled with about 300 undergraduates, and I could see that some of them were holding my 2006 book, “Paving the Way for Madam President.” When my talk was over, many hands went up. I was thrilled, thinking ‘wow, these young people really care about women and the US presidency.’ Then the questions came: “Have you ever met JoePa?” (yes, briefly) “Will Penn State have a winning football team this year?” (I had no clue) “Will the Big Ten expand?” (again, no idea)…! Well, you get the idea. Penn State is beloved the country and world-over for many things and football is certainly one of those things!

In addition to the many Penn State Chapters, there are Penn State Societies that connect alumni to an academic unit such as the College of Agricultural Sciences, the Graduate School, and Penn State Altoona. Every college and most Penn State locations have a society. Alumni societies’ activities and programs vary but often include mentoring programs between current students and alumni, networking events for alumni and students, and student recruitment activities.

As our dean at Schreyer Honors College, Dean Christian Brady states: “Any student may enter into the Schreyer Honors College if they meet the criteria, even after the highly selective first year admission process. In the Penn State community, this sort of egalitarian “academic boot strapping” resonates positively. If you are good enough, you can make the team.” There are the sophomore and junior gates and the Paterno Fellows Program. All serve as “feeders” to the Schreyer Honors College that has approximately 1800 scholars.

At Schreyer Honor s College, alumni involvement is available in many ways that work for our alumni. Alumni give back with their talents and time, in addition to giving back philanthropically. There is the Schreyer Honors College Mentoring Program. With Mentoring with Honors, alumni mentors are matched with Schreyer Honors College students in their field. Larger alumni programming opportunities are available to alumni in their region as well. For example, the alumni admissions interview program provides alumni a way to connect to the College by interviewing prospective students seeking admission to Schreyer Honors College. This program is a wonderful way to connect alumni who want to make a difference but can’t make it to campus. There are also Career and Student Programming Initiatives. Alumni are also involved in many various career development and student programming joint initiatives. These alumni tend to be those who have stepped forward and pledged to help the Schhreyer Honors College. Scholars use these resources, often mentioning they made important networking connections with Schhreyer Honors College alumni who will help them professionally. An example, is our 19th Annual Mark Luchinsky Memorial Lecture held in each fall to showcase the achievements of Scholar Alumni. This year’s speaker will be Scholar Alumnus Dr. Casimer DeCusatis, a Distinguished Engineer with IBM System Networking Strategic Alliances. The lecture will be held on Wednesday, October 23, at 8 p.m. at University Park. I’m a former middle school classmate of Casimer’s and since he is from Hazleton, maybe some of you here may recognize him name. Talk about a family feeling.

At Schreyer Honors College our most involved alumni, volunteer-wise, are those who sit on our Scholar Alumni Society Board, and those alumni who are members of our External Advisory Board. Both groups give their time and talents by returning to campus multiple times per year and spearheading Schreyer Honors College initiatives. Without the support of our alumni donors, Schreyer Honors College students would not have the opportunities that they need to succeed and grow into leaders. Alumni support, from annual gifts to our Future Fund to large endowed gifts for scholarships and program funds make a difference in the lives of Scholars everyday. At Schreyer Honors College we shape people who shape the world and our alumni volunteers help us do that.

And being here today you are continuing to strengthen the Penn State family and I thank you for that.

Penn State has been a wonderful, supportive family to me and it is an honor to give back and to continue to serve Penn State. The ways to become a member of the Penn State family are many and varied. And I’m sure you’ll agree it is great to be part of it. We are…..

Autobiography and Student Empowerment

Status updates, Instagram, “selfies”, Snapchat and in the beginning there was “My Space.” More than ever teens and college students seem to be stroking healthy egos and engaging in lively self promotion that would make PT Barnum seem like a wallflower. Does social media help students frame themselves? That may be an argument akin to my stance that blogging may well be the draft of a scholarly article or the seeds of a book.

Students know well how to “post” information and photos, but can they go a step further and speak well about themselves? I believe that we can draw from the life stories found in biographies to frame our own and to teach students how to think and talk, not about “who” they are but, “how” they are. For years I would ask students in my introductory speech class to introduce themselves. Usually they would say where they went to high school, if they had siblings, any special skills they had and whether they were dreading or looking forward to the course.

But what I really wanted them to talk about were their personality traits and experiences that have shaped who they are and the person they envision themselves becoming. I wanted to know: are they resourceful, hard-working, diligent? What in their lives offers evidence of this? Reading about the lives of others may give students a broader framework to use when constructing their own stories. By reading, for example, that Sandra Day O’Connor, our first woman Supreme Court justice grew up on a ranch and learned to do whatever it took to get a job done, they may be able to draw parallels to their own lives. O’Connor writes that her early ranch life may have fostered her decision later in her life to start her own law firm when no established firm would hire her. Her entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured growing up on the ranch. It was after sharing O’Connor’s biography with students that one student offered: “I learned that getting up early means getting the job done. Growing up on a farm, we had 90% of our work done by noon. As a college student, I still live by that and I think it is why I’ve earned Dean’s List every semester so far.”

Drawing on experience as a published biographer of young adult biographies and work as a teacher-educator, Jacqueline Edmonson in her article, “Constructing and Engaging Biography: Considerations for High School English Teachers,” raises important critical questions and shares ideas for encouraging students to read and write in the biography genre. As a speech communication professor, I am interested in having students read, write and also speak about themselves using biographies as a basis of idea formation. In the introductory speech course at Penn State in recent years students were asked to make a “this is who I am speech,” record it and post it to YouTube. They were encouraged to make it as professional as possible, drawing from their lives as young children and experiences that formed their personalities. Reading biographies gives students a broader spectrum of ideas and helps them to connect the dots of how their early life experiences may have shaped their personalities, passions and life choices.

Parents are often encouraged to bring their children to meet new people as an important part of socialization and the development of self-awareness and communication skills. No doubt travel and social opportunities enhance young people’s ease in groups and creates confidence for them in social situations. By reading biographies, young people can also begin to construct interesting ways to convey their passions and identity when in social situations and as they transition from school into professional careers.

As Edmonson points out: “Lives are crafted from perspectives that serve various groups in certain times and places. Texts are constructed according to choices that authors and publishers make, and these have multiple justifications that result in sometimes competing accounts of a person’s life.”[i] Indeed, students must gain a sense of audience when they present who they are in a “this is who I am” speech. By drawing on the lives of others students can begin to speak more interestingly and with ease of themselves and how they make a contribution to the world. In this way biographies may serve as a vital tool for self discovery.

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[i]Edmondson, J. (2012). Constructing and engaging biography: Considerations for high school English teachers. English Journal, 101(5), 44-50. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1015602705?accountid=13158

Lights, Camera,Communicate!

The first two weeks of the new semester have passed and the modern age “digital speech of introduction” has been assigned and graded.  I’ve enjoyed watching students’ speeches (for the most part) and I’ve developed a list of ‘dos and don’ts’ for communicators everywhere who realize that speaking well on camera isn’t something you may need to know how to do.  In this video age, it is a communication imperative.  This dawned on me a couple of years ago and it prompted me to add the digital video assignment to the basic speech class at Penn State and a more professional version to the organization communication course.  In short, if you are alive, you need to speak on camera!

Peggy Noonan, former Reagan speech writer even contended in her book about public speaking that “Sooner or later, we’re all on C-Span.”  Well, I’m not sure I agree with that, but I do believe that we will all have opportunities to speak “on camera.”  Whether that’s over Skype with the grandchildren or being interviewed by Anderson Cooper, speaking effectively on-camera is a must-have communication skill.

Another observation is that today’s college-age population is relatively comfortable speaking on camera.  I think it is the You-Tube phenomenon.    But comfort does not mean effective, so here’s my list of dos and don’t for on-camera speaking.  Get your smart phone out, turn on the camera and give it a try.  The technology may have changed, but one thing never will:  practice makes perfect! 

1.  Atmosphere – Choose a neutral place, or a professional setting such as a desk area.  We don’t want to see your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom (unless you are a realtor giving a home tour).  Keep the background neutral and neat.  YOU are the main focus.

2. Dress – Again, neutral and veer toward the formal.  We don’t need to know your favorite sports team.  And we don’t want too much information about your physique (unless you are promoting a fitness video).  No cleavage, tattoos, or underwear should be revealed.  You know what clothing flatters you without revealing too much–wear it!

3.  Smile – Not constantly because you’ll look suspicious and weird.  But a little and at try to look pleasant.  I was struck by the number of speakers who said “I have a passion for ______” with the enthusiasm of someone being sedated for a root canal.  

4.  Delivery – Speak from notecards with key words on them only, not the entire script.   Some speakers write out the script and strategically place it somewhere to read it word-for word.  Invariably, it means that they are looking off camera.  Look INTO the camera.  Make a few key-word notecards for yourself and glance at them, but natural beats memorized every time.

5.  Lighting – Bright is better (trust me on this).  Anyone over 45 understands that “let there be light” may be our favorite declaration.  So position yourself in a well lit area.

6.  Not too close –  Oh, sure you can eliminate the awkward or messy  background by zooming in really close, but if we can see your nose hairs, pull back, OK?  It’s weird to have you so close.  This isn’t a soap opera.  Viewers like to have a sense of context.

7.  Relax – Who are you?  Let your personality come through.  But don’t relax so much that you are speaking in tangents unrelated to your topic. 

8.  Don’t curse – Please. 

9.  Have some fun – It will show on camera that you aren’t tortured by this experience and that’s a good thing. Maybe you’ll get that job you want, or the business you need, or you’ll get to know your family better.

10.  Practice – You’ll get better!

Lemme Just Say, “Thanks, Geraldine Ferraro!”

When I heard of Geraldine Ferraro’s death, I remembered her generosity when I asked her if she would write the foreword for a book I wrote that chronicles the lives and communication styles of five women who ran for president. At first she declined, but we traded a few emails and I expressed to her that when I graduated college in 1984 her vice-presidential bid made me feel as though the world would be wide open for me. Before long she graciously agreed to lend her significant name to my book project.

In her foreword to Paving the Way for Madam President (Lexington Books, 2006) she marveled that the “choices are unlimited” for women. No doubt we owe Geraldine Ferraro for expanding our opportunities. She courageously campaigned –and held her own—as the first woman on a major party ticket in 1984. Never shy or retreating, she often directly confronted her critics. Once she phoned the Archbishop of New York directly to explain her position on abortion. Her fast-spoken statements were often accentuated with slang phrases “Lemme tell ya” and “Lemme just say.”

 If elected, she promised to protect women’s rights. As a vice-presidential candidate she said, “Women are not better off with a president, an administration, and a party united against the Equal Rights Amendment. When I take my oath of office for my second term as vice president, I want to swear to uphold a constitution that includes the ERA. Name a program that helps women. This administration has tried to slash it. Name a policy that treats women fairly. This administration is against it. This administration is for the gold standard for the economy and the double standard for women.” On the campaign trail she repeatedly reminded voters that Eleanor Roosevelt was thirty-six before she was allowed to cast her first vote. She would add, “Not only shouldn’t she have been barred from choosing public officials, she should have been one.”

She felt encouraged that women no longer had to live in “either-or” situations. In the foreword for my book she wrote: “We could be whatever we choose to be. We can win Olympic medals and coach our daughters’ soccer teams. We can walk in space and help our children take their first steps. We can negotiate trade agreements and manage family budgets. We can be corporate executives and also wives and mothers. We can be doctors and also bake cookies with our six-year-old future scientists.”

Her own life was evidence. She was an elementary school teacher, a lawyer prosecuting criminals in the D.A.’s Office in Queens, a three-term member of Congress, Vice Presidential candidate, a candidate for the U.S. Senate and C.E.O.of a consulting firm. She was also a wife, mother and grandmother. She always said that politics is not a spectator sport.

She enjoyed the rough and tumble of fighting for the things she cared about. She believed that “becoming president isn’t an impossible dream for women. It isn’t a matter of if; it is a matter of when.”

Lemme just say: Thank you, Geraldine Ferraro for showing us the way.

Sir, that is *not* a speech!

 I was twenty-four years old when I began my career as an adjunct instructor at two community colleges.   One class was at 8 a.m. on a Saturday.  I can still remember walking into the classroom and looking into the faces of my students.  Every one of them was older than me.  No matter.  I introduced the course, distributed the syllabus, and held court.  Despite the age gap,everything was going great until a week before the first formal speech was due.  A male student, over sixty years old said, “Miss, you’ve been telling us how to give a speech and what to do, but I’ve been in the business world more than thirty years.   I know that the best way to give a speech is to show slides.  I don’t need all your ‘rules.'” Without missing a beat I said, “Sir, a slide show is not a speech!” 

 Those were pre-PowerPoint days, but if that curmudgeon was in my class today, I’d give him the same answer.  Too many speakers rely on PowerPoint slides to avoid having to take center stage and deliver a speech.   Think about it:  do political candidates show slides when they speak?  No; (except for Ross Perot)  and why not?  Because they want you to be persuaded by them not numbers, graphs and charts and pretty pictures.  You should only use PowerPoint when there is data that you cannot share without the clarification of a graphic.  Even then, less is more.  Maybe a photo, an object or a single pie chart is enough to make your case.

Keep these in  mind when “powering up” for a presentation with PowerPoint:

* Do you really need to use it or will a lively presentation by you and other visuals make your case better?

* Limit the number of slides

* Limit the information on each slide

* Skip the razzle-dazzle of special effects

*Proof your slides

Joe Downing and Cecile C. Garmon explain in a Communication Education article “Teaching Students in the Basic Course How to Use Presentational Software” (50-2001,218-219) even in business the heads of some corporations are telling their subordinates to use this technology sparingly.  The government has run into  problems with PowerPoint, and another article suggests it makes us all dumber.

Too much use of PowerPoint turns a public speech into a slide show.  And remember: “that is not a speech!”

Fox News Sly Move for Sarah Palin

She was  a small town mayor, a hockey mom with a large brood who took the Alaskan political scene by storm to become the youngest and first female governor of a state known for  its rugged frontier and Native heritage.  Her inaugural rhetoric invoked a distinctive Alaskan style when she paid tribute to the first woman to win the Iditarod, Libby Riddles.  She said:  “She was a risk-taker, an outsider.  She was bold and tough.  Libby, you shattered the ice ceiling.  Thank you for plowing the way.”   

When John McCain named her as his running mate in  August  2008, news commentators were unsure of the pronunciation of her name:  was is Puh-lin or Pay-lin?  Little was known about her except what the 24/7 news cycle was putting forward in a continuous loop:  a former beauty-queen; a moose-hunter;   mother of five.  When I wrote Paving the Way for Madam President in 2006, a book that chronicles the lives of five women who ran for president, I spent a considerable part of the last chapter positing what women were in the pipeline to emerge as national figures.  At the time—four short years ago—Sarah Palin was still mayor of Wasilla.  Her name appears nowhere in a book about women and the United States presidency.

Recently, Fox News announced that Sarah Palin will become a commentator. 

While quitting the governorship was a bad political move for anyone who wants to be president, Sarah Palin may make up some of that damage with her new national presence.  What she lacked in interpersonal agility as a vice-presidential candidate, she may quickly learn to overcome with the media exposure (and training) she’ll get on Fox.  What detractors may be reluctant to admit is that Sarah Palin’s new national television opportunity may be just the preparation she needs to shed her distinctly Alaskan style for one that will play as well in Kalamazoo as it will in Ketchikan.   Those of us who understand the power of media exposure realize that Sarah Palin’s new television gig may just turn caricature Sarah into presidential candidate Sarah. Stay tuned.

Nichola D. Gutgold is associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley and author of Almost Madam President:  Why Hillary Clinton ‘won’ in 2008 (Lexington Books, 2009).

Public speaking makes dreams come true

On Monday let us all pause and reflect on the power that Martin Luther King, Jr. had to create change in our society.  We should also consider that much of his advocacy came through speech.  On August 28, 1963 King delivered a speech that stirred the nation when he called for racial equality.  In front  of the Lincoln memorial and before a crowd of 200,000 King addressed his followers with soaring oratory.  The speech is widely considered to be the greatest speech in American history.

We may never get a Martin Luther King, Jr. moment, but we can create better lives for ourselves and others through public speaking.   What is your dream?  A better program for your daughter at school, a promotion at work, or maybe you have political aspirations.  The only way to become a good public speaker is to speak.  So, take a communication course and  build upon the skills that you already have to create confidence and refine your message.  Offer to speak to a college classroom, to church members, or a civic group.  By refining your communication skills you are making your dream come true, whatever that dream is.

And on Monday:  Remember the great words of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the change that came through speech.

Nichola D. Gutgold is associate professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State Lehigh Valley and author of several books.  Her latest, Almost Madam President:  Why Hillary Clinton ‘won’ in 2009 contends that Clinton was able use a variety of rhetorical options to become the first woman front-runner candidate for president in U.S. history.