When new members join The Rotary Club of Spruce Grove, the club asks that they give a classification speech sometime during their first year of membership.  Rotary uses the classification system to categorize each member's chosen vocation or profession, and our club strives to seek a balanced representation of the business and professional landscape of our community.  You can learn more about Rotary's classification system here.
 
A classification speech is intended to help us get to know you better.  This is a rough guide you may wish to use in designing your classification speech, which should be about 20 minutes in length.  Feel free to be creative and deal with the parts of your life that you are more interested in or proud of.  Please speak to what makes you most relaxed and comfortable.  You're among friends!  This is not intended to be any form of test or challenge.  If you need help, talk to anyone in the club for further information or advice in preparing.  It bears repeating: feel free to get creative!  You may use pictures or videos to tell your story or even ask your sponsor or someone else in the club to engage with you in a Q & A, interview-style classification speech if you think that would make you more comfortable.  After your speech, we'll have 5-10 minutes for members to ask you questions to get to know you better.
 
  1. Early History
    • Where were you born?
    • Where did you live during your youth?
    • What kinds of things did you do for fun? (e.g. sports, clubs, activities)
    • Early influences in your life - coaches, teachers, events, etc.
  2. Schooling
    • Where did you go to elementary school?  What significant things happened to you there?
    • Where did you go to high school and post-secondary?
    • Tell us about any degrees or special designations you may have.
    • What other training or professional development have you undertaken?
    • Tell us about other activities and memorable events you have to share from your schooling.
  3. Family
    • Who are your brothers / sisters?  Where do they live and what do they do?
    • Who are your parents?  What is their history and what did they do?
    • What kind of influences did you parents have on you?
    • Other family news or information?  Any famous relatives?
    • Other family who are Rotarians?
  4. Early Work
    • Beginning of your career
    • Early jobs
    • What led you to your first job?  How did you get it?
    • What did you learn from your early career?
    • Anything else?
  5. Family Now
    • Spouse's name, place of birth, brief history, career
    • Children - ages, interests, school, and jobs
    • Other relevant family activities or accomplishments
  6. Current Vocation
    • Tell us about your current job, business, or principle activity.
    • Explain what you do - how you got this job, why you are doing it, what you like or don't like about it.
    • Who do you work with?
    • What is the history of the company or organization you are with?
    • Where do you want to be / what do you want to be doing in the future?
  7. What interested you in Rotary?  Why did you join?
    • To date, what interests you most about Rotary?
    • Other observations about Rotary?