This past weekend I successfully ran for a seat as Director at Large for the AVICC (see earlier post about AVICC and notes from the convention.) When I was told we'd only have two minutes to deliver a speech I knew I had to practice, because two minutes goes by pretty fast! I had also been told by many folks at the convention that they make their mind up about who to vote for based on the speech, not the bio that is circulated well before the convention. So, upon request, here is my speech (which managed to garner some raucous applause at the outboard and 12 gauge part):
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the AVICC. I'm Jessie Hemphill, and I am here today to ask you to vote for me.
I could ask you to vote for me because I am young, and young people are underrepresented in decision making bodies like this one.
I could ask you to vote for me because I am a woman, and women are also underrepresented in groups like this.
I could ask you to vote for me because I'm First Nations, a group VASTLY underrepresented in local government. My indian name, Tlali'ila'ogwala, literally means "building bridges" and I am happy to play that role in my community.
I could ask you to vote for me because I'm from Port Hardy, the community hardest hit by the recent ferry cuts, and I would love to be a part of the team that convinces the provincial government to bring ferries back into highways.
I could ask you to vote for me because, in true west coast fashion, I have spent years working in fisheries and logging camps, and know my way around an outboard and twelve gauge almost as well as I do my iPhone and twitter account.
However, I'm not asking you to vote for me for any one of these reasons. I'm asking you to vote for me because of the combination and complexity of them, and many other skills, which gives me a unique perspective that will help me advocate in a unique and important way, for my community and yours.
Thank you."
-JH
Thanks to Ryan Windsor for this photo of the installation of the new AVICC Executive - I'm the second standing from the left.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the AVICC. I'm Jessie Hemphill, and I am here today to ask you to vote for me.
I could ask you to vote for me because I am young, and young people are underrepresented in decision making bodies like this one.
I could ask you to vote for me because I am a woman, and women are also underrepresented in groups like this.
I could ask you to vote for me because I'm First Nations, a group VASTLY underrepresented in local government. My indian name, Tlali'ila'ogwala, literally means "building bridges" and I am happy to play that role in my community.
I could ask you to vote for me because I'm from Port Hardy, the community hardest hit by the recent ferry cuts, and I would love to be a part of the team that convinces the provincial government to bring ferries back into highways.
I could ask you to vote for me because, in true west coast fashion, I have spent years working in fisheries and logging camps, and know my way around an outboard and twelve gauge almost as well as I do my iPhone and twitter account.
However, I'm not asking you to vote for me for any one of these reasons. I'm asking you to vote for me because of the combination and complexity of them, and many other skills, which gives me a unique perspective that will help me advocate in a unique and important way, for my community and yours.
Thank you."
-JH
Thanks to Ryan Windsor for this photo of the installation of the new AVICC Executive - I'm the second standing from the left.
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