James Dyer- Past and Present

Former Danbury, CT Mayor James Dyer recently spoke about his past history in politics, and the past is the key word here. It seemed Mr. Dyer was living in the there, driving around in his convertible campaigning for civl rights and going against the Vietnam War. Personally, it felt like he mentioned many things surrounding his golden (and sometimes not-so-golden) days as Mayor, and the years prior to that. I feel like he definitely has a lot t brag about being the former Mayor and all, but the fact that he went on about it kind of made me feel like he was stuck in that decade.

James Dyer gave many good pointers on how to be a good speaker. He said, "Never rely heavily on audio or visual aids because you want the center of attention to be you, and you alone." I find that to be both true and no so true, but depending on the situation. VIsual aids are great, say, if you are presenting something to your business firm on how to generate more revenue. That way, if you are charismatic enough, the attention will be focused on your, and your presentation as a whole. Dyer also noted that "giving the audience some form of paper or handout to bring home" is a great way to keep the audience informed and talking about you, even after the speech, presentation, etc., is over. You will find that most seminars and lecturers will do that very same thing.

According to Dyer, the steps you need to follow in order to be a good speaker are these: 1.) Organization, 2.) Articulation, and 3.) Presentation. Agreeably, these are what most public speakers do. They make sure their material is organized to be presented in a chronological and well-fashioned manner, and they make sure to articulate everything they say. It's always good to follow those steps, and they seem to work well for the former Mayor.

Although I wouldn't agree with some of James Dyer's politics back when he was Mayor (or currently), I feel that he presented some useful information on how to be a good speaker, and how to handle being a part of (and handling) the media. You always have to remember who your audience is, and maybe try and rethink going into politics at this time, because, according to Mr. Dyer, "This is the worst time to be a part of any government."

Dr. Abbey Zink

Dr. Abbey Zink, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences at Western Connecticut State University, is one of the great Journalistic minds on campus. She is a woman who grew up in West Virginia playing softball and listening to Billy Idol, who graduated with a doctorate in Journalism, and became one of the key components of our small New England college.

As well as being well-read and highly intelligent, she is also very funny and compassionate to all her students' needs. For all my years here at Western, I have grown to accept her as my advisor, and highly recommend her to anyone seeking mentorship. It's hard not to have a good time with her when you sit down and talk. This woman knows her stuff, and she is more than happy to help anyone out, no matter what their major or problem.

I am proud to say that I know Dr. Abbey Zink, and regard her as one of WestCONN's most valuable faculty members.