Since 1983, speakers at Services Cooperative Association have presented a variety of educational topics of interest to emerging business owners and the Greater Houston Community. They are recognized as some of Houston's best public speakers. Your participation is appreciated. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, here are some suggestions for your presentation:

Attend a Business Building Breakfast Meeting prior to your speaking date to become familiar with the location, facilities and format of the meeting.   Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before the meeting starts so that you may make your first appearance to the group in a poised, professional manner. Wear normal professional attire (coat and tie for men suggested) and bring business cards. Your speaking date will be established after you have attended a first meeting. You may send a staff member to serve this purpose. 

In selecting a title, use as few words as possible and see if you can make your title attention-getting, catchy or appealing. Your name, company and presentation topic will generally be publicized, including media, starting several weeks before your speaking date from the SCA Upcoming Speakers web page.

Should something occur that will prevent your presentation on your scheduled speaking date, please arrange for your own replacement on the topic you selected. We do not accept this responsibility. You have it totally when you commit to the date and topic. Should you be unable to find a replacement, send your presentation notes and your handouts to the Program Chair, who will arrange an Associate/Candidate to give your presentation.

On the week of your presentation, call in your reservation to (713) 932-7495 before noon on Monday as confirmation that you are the featured speaker for that week. Remember to promote yourself as Featured Speaker on all your social media platforms.

On the day of your presentation, arrive about 30 minutes before the meeting starts to give yourself time to interact with the people present, many of whom will be attending just to hear your topic. Bring a bio or whatever you wish said for an introduction by the Program Chairman. Since the time allocated for your presentation includes the reading of your bio you may want to keep it brief.

When you have handouts (strongly encouraged) give them to the Program Chairman who will arrange one at each place-setting. Of course your handout will have complete contact information, including your name, company name, telephone number, email and web address and will represent you and your organization in the most professional manner.

You will register at the returning guest table in the normal manner, with one exception; there will be a "Speaker" ribbon for you to wear during the meeting. You will sit at the head table at the end position with the Texas flag behind you and the lectern to your right.

You will have 10 minutes for your presentation, including your bio, which will be read by the Program Chairman as you are introduced. Should you have a lengthy bio, you may want to include it as part of your handout to minimize loss of presentation time.

Timing cards will be at the back table, positioned directly in your line of sight from the lectern. The Program Chairman will count down your time from 10 to 1, flipping a card after each minute has passed. When you see that you have one minute remaining, you should be in the closing section of your presentation. Shortly before the last minute has elapsed, the Program Chairman will return to the front of the room in preparation for leading the applause at the conclusion of your presentation.

When you have completed your presentation, remain at the lectern where the Program Chairman will present you with a framed "Certificate of Appreciation" on behalf of SCA.

Your presentation is to be of a non-commercial, informational, educational nature. SCA promotes you, your company and your topic with approximately 10,000+ EntrepreNEWS e-mails, notices to media and spots on our website here and here for only $50.00, which includes your breakfast.

When you have submitted payment, please send your name, company name, URL, preferred date and topic to services@servicesca.org

Should you wish to present a commercial message, you may do so by informing the Program Chairman in advance and paying the $100.00 commercial message fee which also includes your breakfast. You will have given a commercial message in the event that you make any reference to your company or what your company does or your clients.

If you wish, we will record a video of your presentation and print copies of your handouts. You may also provide the Motivational Message at the beginning of our program - 7 minutes, non commercial - or be the Business Showcase for 1 minute - highly commercial - in the middle of the room in another section of our program and you will be listed on our website for 1 full year.