In You Go!

This past weekend and this next weekend are filled with Installations at various Chapters in my local area.  In some ways this time of year is harder than other times because the Installations occur on all days of the week and at other times, travel is primarily on the weekends, with mid-week things planned well in advance.  but for Installations, such as the ones this week, you can practically go to one every evening and two on weekend days.

Now installing officers is fun!  They are usually pleased that their Grand Officer came to install them and an Installation it is a big party with lots of good food and sometimes the food is even planned as meals and not just as extra food on top of your regular meals.  And of course, spending what you spend as a Grand Officer is enough to make anyone feel like a college student again and one of the big rules of college was that you could not pass up on a free meal!  So some very nice Chapters will be providing me with my dinner both nights this coming weekend.  I wonder what I am having.

But traveling in your local area, especially after a work day, can be pretty tiring when you do several in a row and it really makes you aware of the traffic in your area.  You can also stretch your idea of local pretty far.  I am doing at least three installations where the event is more than an hour from my house, but since I can sleep in my own bed each time, that is still local.

You also see a lot of different traditions when you go to Installations in different areas.  So far, I have only had to give remarks once,  but I may find myself called on twice this coming weekend, which is too bad, but you have to be prepared all the time OR ELSE!!  I talk off the top of my head pretty well, but you don't want to sound like a broken record.  I mean, how many times does the audience want to hear yet another person come to the microphone and say:

I want to congratulate all the officers and the new Worthy Matron and Patron.  I am sure that you will have a wonderful year full of fun activities and exciting projects.  The decorations and carrying pieces are lovely.  Thank you so much for inviting me to share your special evening.

I mean seriously, do you really want to sit through six versions of this?  I like the places where only the Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron speak the best, as long as at least one of them has a message in their speech and it is not just a long list of thank yous, which are important, but not inspiring.  One other speech by some one other person is okay too and I can handle that.  Okay, maybe I can even handle two other speeches.  But places where they call on every person sitting in the front to speak?  What is the goal behind that?  To make sure that everyone falls asleep before they get to the dining room?  How many eyes have to glaze over before some people figure out that this is not a good idea?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Luckily, more places seem to be leaning towards fewer and shorter speeches and I am all for that.  Speeches go best when there is less quantity and more quality.  And I have heard some great remarks offered and hope to hear more of them this weekend, when I attend another handful of Installations.

Next week, I continue in the "local" area.