Do We Have To Recognize Everybody At A Function?

Just how important do you have to be, to be recognized at a function? Do you have to be a minster, have a Dr. title, be an ambassador or can being a mere plebe like most of us are, suffice?

  

Did M7 Ask Each Delegate To Stand Up For Recognition?

By the way, the last time I recall being a delegate at a conference was at Speke Resort some years ago. It was a conference that The Man With The Hat – M7 that is, for those of you not in the know, graced. For some reason, his opening comments were about the Chinese. He said: “The Chinese have small eyes because where they live is so closed that their eyes are always half closed.” The quote has nothing to do with today’s tale, but I merely threw it in because I felt the introduction was wanting.

Do The Chinese Really Have Small Eyes?

At the same conference, there were a number of delegates from abroad including an American Senator. Seeing it was a conference that had weight, everybody who rose to speak had a couple of things in common – especially the need to introduce everybody. To bring you squarely into the picture, this is what First Speaker opened up with.

“Your Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, Mrs. Janet Museveni who is the patron of the association, Mrs. Maria Mtagamba, honorable minister of wildlife, tourism and antiquities, the Senator from New York, the delegates from America, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, North America, our partners Brussels Airlines, Speke Resort Munyonyo, the Government of Uganda…” the list went on. At one point we thought First Speaker was going to mention everybody in the hall for his intro went on for 4:17 minutes.

I know because I was timing First Speaker.

Seeing that First Speaker had established and recognized everybody who was important, when Second Speaker took to the podium, this is what was said:

“Your Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, Mrs. Janet Museveni who is the patron of the association, Mrs Maria Mtagamba, the honorable minister of wildlife, tourism and Antiquities, the Senator from New York, the delegates from America, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, North America, our partners Brussels Airlines, Speke Resort Munyonyo, the Government of Uganda…” well along those lines but with a little variation here and there. It took him a little over 5 minutes to get through that ramble.

Third Speaker clocked in at just over four minutes as did the fourth.

Did He Introduce Everybody

If the greetings were not impressive enough, all speakers felt that they had to end with a “thank you” note. This was First Speaker.

“I would like to thank his Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda for agreeing to come and open this conference, the minister of tourism and wildlife, Brussels Airlines  - where are you, could you please stand up for recognition, the head of Uganda Chamber of Commerce Mrs. …. please stand up for recognition, Pastor…….. please stand up for recognition. Time spent? 3:20 minutes.

Second Speaker also felt it obligatory to spend 2:42 minutes saying: “I would like to thank his Excellency President Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, Speke Resort Munyonyo, the minister of tourism and wildlife, Uganda Tourist Board…..” And so on it went with the third and fourth speakers.

Moving on, at a recent wedding reception MC, and after introducing himself felt he would be doing guests a great disservice if he did not introduce his wife as well as asking her to stand up for recognition. Really?!?

Is It Right To Introduce your Wife If You Are The MC At A Wedding?

Honestly speaking, do we really need to greet everybody just because we perceive them as being important? And how do we define who is important and who is not? Why can’t we simply leave it at: “His Excellency President Museveni, The First Lady, Mrs. Museveni, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen?” 

Pictures: kfm.co.ug, chicamod.com, muzungubloguganda.com, tapatalk.com, theagentsofchange.com