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GuidelinesYou get them there…I’ll take care of the rest!
Jim Matthews, M.Ed., Professional Speaker - Author - Educator
Presentation Introduction
Jim Matthews is the Coordinator of Health Education at Merrimack college in Massachusetts. Prior to this position, he was the Assistant to the Vice President for Alcohol and Other Drug Programs at Keene State College in New Hampshire where the campus newspaper identified his courses as the “most popular courses” at Keene State. He has written three books about college drinking. His “Beer, Booze and Books … a sober look at higher education" continues to be a student favorite."
The NCAA has approved Jim’s presentations as part of its Sports Sciences Speaker Program. Jim has been recognized by the New Hampshire Legislature for his work in alcohol and other drug education and abuse program.
He has appeared on ABC-TV, WOR-TV, CNN, NBC Radio and New Hampshire Public Radio and has been featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles. Jim has spoken to over 300,000 students on more than 300 campuses throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Audio Video RequirementsPlease provide your Audio/Visual Staff with the following information:
- I will bring my own computer (Mac Book Pro) and remote mouse.
- I will need a digital projector. I will bring the appropriate Mac adapter for the projector.
- Since the computer provides video and music support, I will also need access to a sound system. My computer has a mini-plug for sound output. I have an XLR (3 pin) adapter and/or ¼ inch adaptor.
- A wireless microphone is preferred.
- I will also need a LARGE projection screen. The best lighting arrangement would be having the screen area dark and the area from which I speak lit and the audience slightly lit. Obviously this is optimal so the closest we get to it the better.
Attracting a Crowd
Motivating students to attend lectures after class hours can be particularly difficult, to say the least. Alcohol presentations offer an additional challenge due to students’ preconceived notion as to what the information will be and how it will be presented – most notably…”Just say no!” delivered in a dry lecture. Here are a few tips that may help increase attendance at your event.We all know that food works!!! Try adding a theme such as Mexican Food, Tropical Drinks, Top Your Own Pizza, Make Your Own Sundae.
- Solicit support from faculty by requesting they provide credit for attendance at your presentations. First Year Experience courses can incorporate these and other presentations into their curriculum.
- Support and certainly attendance by your campus President and other Administrators will help. Send them an invitation.
Venue Suggestions
- In order to prepare the technical equipment, I would like to get into the venue one hour before the scheduled start time for the presentations.
- Gymnasiums are extremely poor locations for the presentations due to the difficulties in lighting, poor sound quality and uncomfortable seating.
- Please send me directions to the exact campus location.
Audience Suggestions- It would be helpful if staff and/or student hosts are available to move the students to the front of the venue prior to the start of the presentation.
- If you are using Sign-in Sheets for checking attendance, have students sign-in at the end of the presentations. This will help prevent a large crowd from forming just prior to the start of the presentations thus delaying the start time. Also, some students may leave immediately after signing-in rather than stay for the whole presentation.
- It is best that you do not combine Student Athletes or Greeks with First Year students in the same audience. Please avoid this as much as possible.
- If possible, when conducting Student Athlete or Greek presentations, I would like to conduct two presentations- one for women and one for men.
Beer, Booze and Books... a guide to college drinking
