Here’s a note from an extraordinary local blogger, journalist and all-around killa, Jennifer Saylor. It’s time to get on board, folks. This is gonna be way cool:
Dear friends and colleagues,
TED, the California-based organization offering free talks from the world’s most interesting and inspiring speakers (Bill Gates, Al Gore, Brian Greene, Gladwell, Dawkins, etc.) is helping Asheville produce an INDEPENDENTLY ORGANIZED, homegrown TEDx event in Asheville in late summer.
I’m serving as the 2009 executive director for TEDxAsheville and am looking for speakers. If you’re familiar with TED and have a recommendation or would like to speak yourself, skip the rest of this note and send me an email.
If you’re not familiar with TED, it’s a free event where people with varying backgrounds do a 20-minute “speech of a lifetime.” It’s billed as “Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world.”
TED stands for technology, entertainment and design. Technology is NOT the primary focus, and singers, poets, comedians, actors and teachers share the TED stage with scientists, physicians, inventors and aid workers.
TED is for anyone with a powerful message and a strong ability to impart it.
Here are our TEDxAsheville speaker guidelines:
1. Prospective speakers should fit (however loosely) into Technology,
Entertainment and Design. However, as with the official TED events,
loose is the word to watch here.
2. Prospective speakers should have extremely strong presentational
skills, even if delivered in an unconventional manner.
3. Prospective speakers should have an overarching, fascinating
message that transcends their field and involves the listener.
4. People who recommend speakers should have a realistic plan to get
their speaker onto the TEDx stage with no pay and no incentive other
than exposure and a great time sharing their message with an excited
audience. All talks will be recorded and archived on the TED website.
If anyone gets an offer to speak at an official TED event, the
after-party beer’s on you at TEDx Asheville 2010.
5. Ideally, prospective speakers will have or be able to incorporate a
strong visual element into their talk
Here’s our Facebook page. A website is in the works:
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=683723820#/group.php?gid=158890385496&ref=ts
I welcome your ideas and suggestions for this summer’s first-ever TEDx
event in Asheville. We need volunteers, too.
3 Comments
Ms. Saylor says TED offers "free talks." From the TED Web site:
A few things to know about TED2010 registration:
Only a limited number of TED registrations are available each year; they’re granted at the discretion of the TED team based on a broad set of criteria aimed at ensuring a rich and stimulating exchange of ideas among a diverse group of peers.
* Standard registrations cost $6,000. A limited number of discounted registrations are made available each year for those in the education or nonprofit worlds, who could not otherwise attend. Registration details for these are above.
I found it. Thanks
I would like to speak. Where do I e-mail her at?