It might surprise you to learn that the most important criteria for membership on the Speakers Committee are not public speaking skills. "Those we can teach you," said Dick Hudgins, chairman. "We judge future Speakers Committee members on their heart, their dedication to the Show and all it stands for, their enthusiasm and their attitude."
Peggy Lane and volunteers on the Speakers Committee share information about the Show and its purpose with people of all ages, including up-and-coming cowgirls. Without enthusiasm and a good attitude, the best speaker in the world wouldn't make it on this committee. "We're here because we love what this Show is all about," Hudgins said. "Every member on this committee is enthusiastic about what they take to their audiences. We're here because of the kids. No other reason but that we want to tell our story -- the story of what we, the Show, are all about." "The Speakers Committee is a year-round effort," according to Jerry Hickman, the committee's officer in charge. "Members make in excess of 7,500 speeches a year." The Speakers Committee provides public relations support for the Show by spreading information about its features, its history, its culture and the impact it has on the community. The committee's 200 members have developed specific topics that are popular with audiences they visit, and they are versed in areas such as the histories of cowboys and rodeo, women of the rodeo, the history of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, cattle industry history, trail rides and livestock branding. The committee's frequently updated database of topics and speakers makes it simple for a committee coordinator to find a speaker for any group or organization looking for a specific topic, often on short notice. Every speaker is prepared to speak on four to six topics. It's common for members of the Speakers Committee to visit civic organizations, such as the Lions Club and Rotary Clubs, but the committee's responsibilities have expanded to provide resources for barbecue cook-offs, elementary school programs and other events. These programs require a more specialized presentation that can involve demonstrations, such as country and western dancing, roping, horseshoeing, acting (melodrama), and even cowboy and cowgirl singing. The committee features two singing groups -- an all-women a cappella crew called the Texas Wildflowers and their gentlemen counterparts, the Lone Star Cowboys. The Speakers Committee will be an important instrument the Show will use during the next few years to spread the word about the construction underway around the Astrodome, including the new RODEOHOUSTON™/NFL stadium and the new exposition center. Members will relate to the public what the Show is doing to reduce inconvenience and make everyone's experience during the Show enjoyable. "Their role will be vital in the coming years," Hickman said, "because they will be a primary promoter of the Rodeo Express. Getting people to take transportation other than automobiles to the Show will be key to coordinating ongoing construction around the Astrodome and the movement of the large crowds we enjoy. They've got a big job." Wherever Speakers Committee members appear, you can rest assured they'll be talking -- maybe even singing -- about the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
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