Ginny Richardson Public Relations   Ginny Richardson Public Relations is a PR firm specializing in media relations for business, healthcare, entertainment, and the arts.

Free Speech Speakers Bureau
History

From Ginny Richardson’s work at The Doings Newspapers and later in public relations, she accumulated quite a network of people including program chairmen from clubs and organizations. These folks would call and ask if she knew anyone who gave talks for one of their upcoming meetings. Ginny always recommended friends and clients who have a talk and who are entertaining speakers. The speaker's motivation was to teach others, tell of a personal mission, or be better known in the community.

This very casual list of speakers grew. In the spring of 1996, she named it Free Speech and formalized the list. Jan Urso of Naperville and Pam Livingston of Chicago, two GR-PR employees, worked on the Free Speech project and sent many a mailer to clubs, chambers, rotaries, churches, etc. Requests started to multiply.

Mary Peterson Kauffold, a writer from the Chicago Tribune, heard about Free Speech and wrote a very brief four paragraph story that appeared in late July 1996. Her headline did a play on words, and called Free Speech “cheap talk.” The power of the press; in one day, Free Speech received more than 100 phone calls!

What is surprising is the number of people interested in becoming speakers in the bureau - very high level people, all with experience and willingness to give a talk, unconcerned about the size of the audience or the donated time. They are screened, of course, and asked for materials about their talk. Only one or two people really were misguided about the purpose of the bureau. They had something to sell and of course, that is not appropriate. Many speakers are authors. Books may be brought to the talk, but the selling pitch needs to be very low-key.

After years of running the bureau out-of-pocket, it was decided to assess speakers a one-time membership fee of $25 to join, just to cover the considerable mailing costs. At year’s end, speakers are asked for a donation, the amount of which is up to them. There is still no charge from Free Speech or GR-PR to the club or group, nor can the speaker charge the group.

It is a labor of love for everyone involved at GR-PR, and one and all are extremely proud of the speakers and the wide variety of topics offered. Today, there are more than 150 speakers. And it keeps growing.

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