The AALAS Veterinary Technicians Speakers' Bureau is a service provided by AALAS that arranges for speakers to attend class sessions in veterinary technician programs across the country to discuss the important role veterinary technicians play in biomedical research, explain what laboratory animal technicians do, and outline the many careers in the laboratory animal science field.

Participation in Veterinary Technicians Speakers' Bureau
If you are a veterinarian or vet tech speaker and would like to add your name to the list of speakers, email vt_speakers@aalas.org. Enter your name and location in the subject line of the message.

If the presentation available for download (see menu at left) does not meet your requirements, please contact vt_speakers@aalas.org.

To assist you in your presentation we suggest the following visual aids and reference materials. The reference materials listed below are available through the AALAS bookstore free of charge:

• “Accept the Challenge to Care” Career DVD
• “Careers in Biomedical Research” Brochure
• Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Understanding the Issues
• Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Animal Roles in Medical Discoveries
• Reach Out! Educating the Public about People/Animals in Biomedical Research (DVD)

Vet Tech Mailing List
Send e-mail to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG

Message body: SUBSCRIBE VETTECHS Yourfirstname Yourlastname (Example: SUBSCRIBE VETTECHS John Doe)

Note that the command must be in the body, not the subject. You will receive a message acknowledging your subscription request. Upon review by the listowners, you will be added to the list and begin receiving messages. To submit messages to the list once you're subscribed, send e-mail to VETTECHS@LISTSERV.AALAS.ORG.

Requesting a Speaker
Veterinary Technician Program instructors who desire to request a speaker should email vt_speakers@aalas.org. Enter the name of your school in the subject line of the message, and include the following information in the body of the message:

• Contact person (i.e., instructor)
• Contact person's email address
• Date and location of proposed visit
• Number of students attending the presentation
• List of speaker expenses (if any) to be paid for by the presenting group

AALAS will distribute this information to the speakers' list. Interested speakers should then contact the instructor directly to discuss details. All negotiations regarding travel, fees, dates, and so forth will be between the instructor and the potential speaker.

Once a speaker is scheduled for the meeting, please notify AALAS of the details of the speaker agreement.

Helpful Hints for Public Speaking

• Organize all materials in advance.
• Arrive on time, preferably early.
• Tailor your speech to the interests of your audience. It is recommended to survey the audience prior to the lecture in order to meet their objectives. A campus student group might be most interested in university policy on care and use of animals, while the local Rotary club might want to hear about how animal research has affected diseases that commonly strike the adult population.
• Visual aids should be used to enhance your presentation and to accommodate English language learners.
• The PowerPoint slides should not dictate the course of your presentation. Decide what you want to say based on the audience’s objectives, and use slides to illustrate certain points.
• If you are using visual aids, have the lights dimmed, but not completely out. Continue to face your audience and not the screen.
• If there is a podium, try not to stand behind it the entire time. Move around to better interact with the audience.
• The podium should be set up on the left (as you face the front of the classroom) as people normally follow the flow of information in a slide show from left to right, including the speaker.
• Consider other types of illustrative material that might enhance your presentation, such as a piece of equipment (shoebox cage with bedding, nestlet, mouse igloo, some pellets, treats, or similar items, along with foldable paper mice from CRB/CSBR).
• Permit your audience to ask questions throughout presentation, and also allow time for a question-and-answer period following your presentation.
• Use language that is simple, and define words that students may not know. Avoid using acronyms.
• Avoid abstract concepts. Use specific and concrete examples that the audience can identify with and will find applicable to their setting.
• Make eye contact with students.
• If you are challenged on a statement (such as the necessity of using research animals), you can do much to defuse the situation by acknowledging respect for another’s beliefs and values, and also by framing your statements as “I messages.”
• Never say “You’re wrong” if it is clear that someone in your audience is making statements based on misinformation. A good way to respond is to ask, “May I tell you something more about that?” Asking permission to convey the facts is more likely to induce the person to listen
• Leave materials with students, such as a VTC headpiece.
• Enjoy yourself; show enthusiasm!
  
  Hints provided courtesy of CSBR.
  

Answering Difficult Questions
The documents below offer pointers on how to answer the tough questions.

Answering Difficult Questions, Long Version: For use as study material prior to giving the AALAS VTC PowerPoint presentation. This version includes more detailed answers to more questions than the short version below.

Answering Difficult Questions, Short Version: Refer to this document while giving the AALAS VTC PowerPoint presentation.

Evaluation
After your presentation, AALAS would appreciate if speakers could take a moment and answer the questions below regarding their presentations. Please email answers to vt_speakers@aalas.org.

Speaker’s Evaluation Questions

1. Where was the presentation given?
2. Who was the audience for the presentation?
3. Please record any feedback that you may have received regarding your presentation.
4. Please record any suggestions that you may have for future presentations.