Importance of discussions

Panel Discussions

Panel discussions are increasingly popular as service club programs because they bring out the many facets of an interesting subject and accentuate its various phases.

One-sided opinions do not develop a subject as fully as building up its pros and cons by discussion, because discussion increases the number of people in the program and extends membership participation.

Lions International has strongly pressed panel discussions. According to John Day, past president of Denver’s Pride of Lions, “Many members who don’t feel capable of delivering the principal address at a meeting, handle themselves quite creditably in a panel discussion. Differences of opinion not only make horse races, they also make open forum meetings and panel discussions add zip to our programs. They serve as practical mediums for encouraging timid members to participate in public speaking.”

Suggested Subjects

A subject loaded with patriotic potentials revolves around the question: “What are the traits peculiar to America that make it great?”

One panelist might stress the enthusiasm of Americans for fast action, a trait illustrated well by an incident involving an African beauty who sashayed past a corner in Casablanca. An Englishman remarked, “By Jove”; an Arab murmured, “By Allah”; but the Yank sighed, “By tomorrow night!”
Another panelist discussing the originality of Americans cited Farmer Fencerow who sought to stop gangs of boys from pilfering his pumpkin pile during the pre-Halloween hi-jinx. He posted a sign, “One of these pumpkins is poisoned.” Next morning his eyes bugged when he went out to look over his “safety device,” because some prankster added a second line that said, “Now TWO of these pumpkins are poisoned!”

Tags: public speaking

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