Sample Invitation and Thank You Letter for Guest Speaker

This article will provide an example of an invitation letter to invite a guest speaker who will deliver a presentation on "Personal Fitness Program" at a professional development formal business event.

After the event, a 'thank you' letter or letter of appreciation sample will be shown.

 
Example of Invitation Letter for Guest Speaker
 

Canadian Engineering School
PO Box 1000
Victoria BC

October 2014

Mr. John Smith
Physical Fitness Instructor
Victoria Sports Arena Gym
Victoria BC

Sir,

It is with great pleasure that we would like to extend a personal invitation for you to provide a presentation on “Personal Fitness Program” at our Professional Engineering Development Day occurring on 10 October 2014 at 8:00am. This event will be held at the Canadian Engineering School Theatre.  Dress will be casual business attire.

Please RSVP: Mary Smith, tel.no. 250-123-4567, School Secretary, or email at Mary.Smith@ces.ca.



Joe Canuck
Principal



==========


 
Sample Letter of Appreciation (Thank You Letter) for Guest Speaker


Canadian Engineering School
PO Box 1000
Victoria BC

October 2014

Mr. Jim Commando
Physical Fitness Director
Victoria Sports Arena Gym
Victoria BC

Sir,

I wish to extend my appreciation to Mr. John Smith as the Guest Speaker for "Personal Fitness Program" at our Professional Engineering Development Day on 10 October 2014.

The presentation that Mr. John Smith delivered focused on training, weight management and nutrition programs which are the essential elements of staying physically fit. He presented entertaining and realistic fitness programs that are tailored based on weight level groups and how to achieve a personal fitness level in a practical time frame.

Once again, please convey my appreciation to Mr. John Smith for his participation in our Professional Engineering Development Day.



Joe Canuck
Principal

How to read faster, understand better and retain information effectively

Problems why you read slow:
1. Fixation = focusing on one word for too long
2. Regression = repeating to read the whole paragraph or article
3. Subvocalization = audible mental reassurance (reading in your head)


Human Limitations:
Average speed of speaking --> 200 words per minute
Average speed of reading ---> 200 words per minute

How to read faster, understand better and retain information effectively

Speed Reading
- read first paragraph
- read last paragraph
- read the first sentences of each paragraph
- read the whole article
- time yourself --> 1/2 page per minute
- set deadlines, challenge yourself to read the page in lesser times


Concentrate, Focus
- eliminate distractions
- read group of words
- use hand or pen to point and pace while reading


"A picture is worth 1000 words"
- draw mental pictures
- create mental map where the pictures fit into place
- make outlines in case of sequential information
- visualize what is going on while you are reading
- after reading a paragraph, stop, get the main idea and paint mental pictures
- after reading a paragraph, stop, take notes in your own words


Use the SING technique to improve comprehension:
S - stop, get focus
I - identify main idea, main point
N - nevermind the details
G - get the gist


Use the POPCORN method to improve memory retention:
P - Positive attitude
O - Observation
P - Picture
C - Concentrate
O - Organize
R - Review
N - Natural association

Repetition helps in remembering information.


Top 3 most effective ways to retain information:
1. Teaching other people
2. Practice talking
3. Discussion, dialogues

Why Mental Photography Products 25,000 words per minute are Scam?

Reading Capability of Average Person

reading speed --> 200 words per minute
reading speed --> 4 words per second

reading comprehension --> 50 %

reading memory retention --> 10%

lecture information retention --> 5%

Why Mental Photography Products 25,000 words per minute are Scam?

Here is what these products claim:
 25,000 words per minute --> reading speed ('brain uploads')
 90% retention for life --> retained information throughout lifetime
 natural inborn ability of each person

REALITY CHECK

Letter size paper 8.5 x 11 inches can contain:
400 words
26 lines
16 words per line

if you 'read' at 25,000 words per minute speed:
1 page per second --> 400 words per second -- this is beyond human!
1 page per second --> 26 lines of words per second -- this is ridiculous!

If it sounds Too Good to be True --> it's most likely a SCAM

25,000 words per minute is imposible --> TEST YOURSELF - You can NOT do it
400 words per second is just physically not doable --> NOT practical

Every human being naturally blinks:
Blink of an eye average speed = 100 times every minute
Blink of an eye average speed = 2 times every second

Blinking just naturally prevents you from reading 25,000 words per minute.

Given for the sake of argument, you can read or 'mentally photograph' 25,000 words a minute:
reading comprehension < 1% --> you're basically looking at the page for 1 second then moving on to the next page

reading comprehension < 1% --> how can you understand 60 pages in 1 minute?

They claim you can retain 90% of the information for life:
you can NOT retain 90% of information that you did NOT understand --> this is essentially useless!

We are born with a natural ability to learn extremely fast especially during the ages 1 to 5
but NOT 25,000 words per minute
even a 5 year old child does NOT agree to this!

Conclusion:
DO NOT BE DECEIVED.
DO NOT BELIEVE.
DO NOT BUY.

SCAMS ARE COMPLETELY A WASTE.

Scams are waste of your time, energy, money and... ... your own life.

Sample Autobiography Format

An autobiography is a type of literary writing which encompasses a detailed account of the personal life of an individual. Autobiographies can be written by the person himself or herself or it can be authored by a third person on behalf of the said subject. Below is a simple format guide in point form on how to write an autobiography to help you author your own autobiography and easily start:
              

How to write an autobiography (sample format guide):  

                     

Family information and history:
-last name
-first name
-middle name
-nick names
-date of birth
-place of birth
-full name of parents
-education and profession of father
-education and profession of mother
-historical account of parents
-number of children in the family (siblings)
-education, profession, history of brothers and sisters
-childhood history (description of life as a child)

Education:
-kindergarten
-primary education (elementary school)
-secondary education (high school)
-college education (arts, trade school, etc.)
-university education (bachelor, masteral, doctorate degrees)

Employment (Work) history:
-names of employers
-addresses of employers
-length of employment (how many years, months employed)

Associations and Organizations joined:
-cub scouts
-student council
-professional organizations
-sports teams, associations
-other associations, leagues, organizations, memberships, etc.

Sports, Hobbies, Leisure, Social activities:
-favorite sports
-volunteer works
-hobbies
-social activities
-religious activities
-leisure and recreation
-other activities

Example of an Autobiography:
          
Below is a short and incomplete sample of autobiography (military): 
        
       I, Juan Cruz, was born on 1977 July 7 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada. My father, Jose Cruz, is a retired soldier in the Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas). My mother, Maria Cruz, is a retired public school teacher at Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines. I'm the oldest of 3 children. I am very proud to be a Canadian. I was inspired by my father being a soldier in the army and since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a soldier in the Canadian Army of the Canadian Forces of Canada...

Example of an Autobiography

What is an autobiography?

The word autobiography is actually a combination of three Greek root words. "Auto" means self. "Bio" means life. "Graph" means to write, or something that is written. Autobiography therefore is a written account of a person's life authored by the person himself or herself. In other words, you are writing your own events in your own life. You are the author yourself. Autobiography is a form of non-fiction (real life) prose literature. How to write an autobiography, its formatting and style, is purely subjective, meaning it depends on the author. Although it can be written in the third person, most autobiographies are written in first person, that is, using the personal pronouns "I", "me", "myself", "we", etc.

Why write your own autobiography?

Why write your own autobiography? There can be a number of reasons. Among these, some do it for inspiration to other people, to serve as an example for others to follow, to help in overall improvement by showing the lessons learned from past experiences and past events of person's lives. Each individual is unique, as shown by the fact that no two persons have the same finger print and more importantly, no two DNA's are ever the same. Because of these same reasons, autobiographies of persons will be invariably different from each other.

Five key elements of an autobiography

There are basically five key elements of an autobiography. Of course it can be more or less. These are: (1) Family Information; (2) Education; (3) Employment; (4) Associations and Organizations; and (5) Sports, Hobbies and Recreation.

I. Family Information:

This section discusses the author's legal names as well as nicknames; details of the person's birth such as date and place of birth, as well as the names of parents; childhood history; information and history of parents and other siblings; and other accounts relevant to the author's family.

II. Education:

This is the educational background of the author. It normally starts with informal education at home then it progresses to kindergarten or preparatory (prep). This is followed by primary education or in other countries, this is called elementary school. Next is secondary education or high school. This is probably the most exciting part of the autobiography because the person tries many experiences and goes out of the home to have fun and enjoyment. First relationships and high school romances start, break-ups, rivalries, proms, dates, crushes, and so much more. Then finally college education, bachelor, masteral, and doctorate degrees in university.

III. Employment:

This part is all about work experiences and other job-related activities such as seminars, trainings, etc. This will include the names and addresses of employers. You can talk about your accomplishments, promotions, and other highlights of your career in these companies that you worked for. In case of self-employed individuals, you can discuss about your own business, how it started, products and services provided, and customers.

IV. Associations and Organizations:

You can start with the associations as early as cub scouts or school teams and move on to student organizations from high school to undergraduate. As your career progresses, you can include memberships to leagues, professional organizations, national, international, and worldwide institutions, associations and organizations.

V. Sports, Hobbies and Recreation:

This portion encompasses a vast area of your life. In here, you can write about your hobbies, favorite sports, and all other activities related to leisure, relaxation, and recreation. Write things about travel trips and adventures. Social, community, volunteer, charity and religious activities are also included here. Any other extra curricular activities, write them here.


Sample Autobiography:

I, James Smith, was born on September 21, on the first day of autumn in the year 1971. My birthplace is Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. My middle name is Scot which is my mother's maiden name. My nickname at home is Jim, and Tiago but in school I was called by many nicknames such as Jimmy, Santy, and Smithy. My father was a retired miner in Alberta. He had an automotive mechanics diploma in San Luis School, Abra, Philippines. He moved to Alberta, Canada when he was 37 years old. He then worked for Sandbanks Mining Inc. until retirement. He died of diabetes and heart failure at the age of 70. My mother had a degree in Education. She started working as temporary teacher in different cities in Ilocos, Philippines. After getting a permanent position in an elementary school in Santiago city, she then met my dad, dated for 3 years, and got married. After 2 years of marriage, I was born. I am the oldest of 3 children. My younger brother's name is Marlon and my younger sister is Erika.

I can say that the best education I ever had started at home. This was when mommy and daddy taught me the principles in life and values that I still hold strong until this very day. My kindergarten was in Macaulay School. I love my first teacher in school. I also remember so well the names of my first classmates and friends in school. My elementary school was a bit far from my home. My dad or mom gave me ride to school. I received two awards in school being the most responsible student of the month of November and a Chess competition award. I took high school in Ferguson Bay High School. This was the coolest and most enjoyable facet of my life. I was a transferee from another school of a different city. The school is located on top of a mountain on a mining company. It is a 20-minute walk from my Dad's residence bunkhouse to the school. My first year in High School was a huge adjustment in all aspects. I missed my Mom, brothers, sisters and family in the province. Often I found myself in tears because I miss them all. I count the calendar days before the next vacation comes so that I could go home to the province and see them once again...

~

IQ TEST: Vocabulary Aptitude, Verbal Ability - Greek, Latin, Old English, German, French SUFFIXES

A

able = capable [readable, understandable]

ade = result of action [blockade]

age = act of, state of, result of [stoppage]

al = relating to [manual, natural]

algia = pain [neuralgia, nostalgia]

an = native of, relating to [American, Asian]

ance, ancy = action, process, state [assistance, consultancy]

ary = relating to, quality, place where [sanctuary]



B

bound = heading in the direction of [inbound, southbound]    



C

cele, coele, coel = body cavity [mucocoel, mucocoele]    

cele = tumor, hernia [hydatidocele]    

centesis = puncturing [amniocentesis]    

cephalic = relating to the head [anencephalic, macrocephaly]   

chondrion = small grainlike structure [mitochondrion]    

cian = possessing a specific skill or art [physician]

cule = very small [molecule]

cy = action, function [prophecy]



D

dom = quality, realm [martyrdom, kingdom]



E

ee = one who receives the action [payee, refugee]

en = made of, to make [strengthen, golden]

ence, ency = action, state of, quality [confidence, efficiency]

er = one who, that which [writer, rider]

ery = relating to, quality, place where [bravery]

escent = in the process of [adolescent]

ese = a native of, the language of [Chinese, Japanese]

esis = action, process, condition [genesis]

ess = female [waitress, actress]

et, ette = small one, group [baronet]



F

fic = making, causing [horrific, scientific]

ful = full of [helpful, doleful]
   
fy = make [fortify, glorify]



G

gamy = wife [polygamy]

graph = write, written [autograph]

gram = write, written [telegram]





H

hedron = seat, face [tetrahedron]

holic = love, addiction [alcoholic, workaholic]

hood = order, condition, quality [manhood, brotherhood]



I

ian = native of, relating to [Canadian]

ible = capable [tangible]

ic = nature of, like [metallic, acidic]

ice = condition, state, quality [justice, malice]

id, ide = a thing connected with or belonging to [fluid, chloride]

ile = relating to, suited for, capable of [juvenile]

ine = nature of [feminine]

ion = act, result, or state of [contagion]

ish = origin, nature, resembling [foolish, Swedish]

ism = system, manner, condition, characteristic [optimism, capitalism]

ist = one who, that which [soloist, pianist]

ite = nature of, quality of, mineral product [graphite, Israelite]

ity = state of, quality [captivity, clarity]

ive = causing, making [offensive, exhaustive]

ize, ise = make [realize, improvise]



L

ling = small [duckling]

logy = study, science, theory [theology, anthropology]

ly = like, manner of [randomly, hopelessly]



M

mancy =    divination by [necromancy]

ment = act of, state or, result [contentment, judgment]

morphism = form [isomorphism, polymorphism]    



N

ness = state of [carefulness, attractiveness]

nik = Slavic origin, corresponds to "-er" [sputnik, beatnik]    

nomy = law [economy]




O

oid = resembling [asteroid, spheroid]

ology = study of [biology]

or = one who, that which [savior, creator]

ory = relating to, quality, place where [obligatory]
   
osis = action, process, condition [osmosis]

ous = full of, having [glorious, gracious]



P

phone = sound [telephone]

phyte = little plant [microphyte, sporophyte]



S

scope = see, watch [telescope]

ship = state of, office, quality [fellowship, friendship]

sion = act, result, or state of [conversion]

some = like, apt, tending to [tiresome, lonesome]



T

tion = act, result, or state of [protection]

tude = state of, condition of [fortitude, aptitude]

ty = state of, quality [poverty]
   



U

ure = state of, act, process, rank [curvature, culture]

us = inflammation [ulcus]



V

ville =    city, town from French [Nashville]    

vore, vorous =    to devour [carnivore, herbivorous]    



W

ward = in the direction of [leeward, eastward]

wise = direction [clockwise]



Y

y = characteristic of, inclined to, tend to [juicy, fruity]

MEDICINE, BOTANY, BIOLOGY, ZOOLOGY: Latin, Greek, Old English, French, German ROOTS, PREFIXES, SUFFIXES

A

a = not, without

ab = from, opposite

abysso = extreme depths

acanth = spine

actin =    ray

ad = to, toward

adipo =    fat

affer =    carry to, bear inward

ala = wing

alb = white

alve = pit, cavity

amnio =    fetal sac

amphi =    on both sides, both

ampulla = a flask

an = without

andr = male

aniso =    opposite

ante = in front of

anthro = human

anti = opposite, against

aqua = water

arach =    spider, spiderweb

arbor =    tree

arch = primitive

arthro = joint

artio =    even

asco = cup-like

-ase = an enzyme

aster =    star

ater (atra) = black

aud = to hear, hearing

auto = self

avi = bird



B

basi = at the bottom

bathy =    very deep

bdella = sucker

bio (bios) = life

bi (bis) = two

blast = germ

brachy = short

brady =    slow

branch = gill

bronch = windpipe

bucca = cavity of mouth

bursa =    pouch



C

caec = blind

caly = covering

campanula = bell

canth =    spine

cap, capit = head

capill = hair

card = heart

carin =    keel, breastbone

carn =    flesh

-carp =    spore case

case = blind

caud, cauda = tail

cephal, ceph = head

cera, cerat = horn

cerebr = brain

cerv = neck

cest = girdle

ceta = whale

chaet =    bristle, spine

chel = claw

chlor = green

choan = funnel

chondr = cartilage

chord = cord

chrom = color

chrys =    golden

cili =    eyelash

cirri =    small tentacle

clitor = to close

cloaca = sewer

cnid = nettle

coel = hollow

com = together

conch = shell

corn = horn

corp = body

crani =    skull

crusta = crust, shell

crypt =    hidden

cten = comb

cusp = lance, point

cuti = skin

-cuel =    circular

cycl = circular

cyst = capsule

cyt = cell



D

-dae = family

dactyl = finger

de = from, away, down

deca = ten

demi = half

den = tooth

dendr =    tree or bush

derm = skin

di = twice, second

dia = apart

digit =    finger or toe

din = terrible or whirling

diplo =    double

don = tooth

dors = back

duo = two, twice



E

-eal = pertaining to

echin =    spiny

eco = house

ect = outside, outer

ef = away

effer = carry away

ejacul = throw out

embol =    inserted

encephalon = brain

end = inner

engy = narrow

enter =    inside

entom =    an insect

epi = upon

erythr = red

esoph = gullet

eu = advanced, typical

eury = wide range of tolerance

ex = outside, from

extra =    beyond



F

fasc = bundle

fenester = window

fer = to bear, carry

fili, fil = thread

flex = bend

foramen = opening (small)

foss = ditch



G

gam = marriage, a joining

gangli = knot in string

gaster = stomach

gangli = knot in string

gen = descent, generate; also knee, cheek, chin

glia = gluelike

gly = sugar-containing

glom = ball of yarn

gloss =    tongue

gnath =    jaw

gon = seed, begetting

gymn = naked

gyn = female



H

haem = blood

hali = salt-tolerant

helminth = worm

hemi = half

hepat =    liver

herp = creeping

hetero = different or other

hex = six

histo =    tissue

holo = complete

hom = like

homo = the same; human, man

hyal = glasslike

hydr = water

hyper =    high activity, above, over

hypo = low activity, below, under



I

ichth =    fish

-ida =    like

-idia =    little

insect = to cut in, divide

inter =    between

intra =    inside, within

iso = equal

itis = inflammation of



K

kary = fusion

kin = moving



L

lab = lip

lacuna = space, void

lamella = leaf layer

lepi = scale

-lemma = membrane

leuc = white

liga = to tie together

lith = stone

log, logia = treatise, study

lumen =    cavity

lumin =    light-producing

lutea =    yellow

lys = to kill; a dissolution



M

macro =    great, large

macula = spot

magni =    large

mastig = whip

major =    larger

mamma =    breast

maxilla = upper jaw

medull = marrow

mela = dark

mening = membrane

meno = single

mer = part, unit

meso = middle

meta = after

micro =    small

mit = thread

moll = soft

mono = single, one

morph = form

muco = slimy, mucus

multi =    many

mus = mouse

myce (myco) = fungus

myo = muscle

myst = moustache



N

nao = dwarf

narc = drugged, drug-like

necro =    death

nema = thread

nephr =    kidney

neur = nerve

nidus =    nest

nom = law

node = thickened area

noto = back

nudi = naked



O

odont = tooth

-oid = like

olfact = smelling

oligo =    few

oment =    fatty skin

omm = eye

oo = egg

opthalm = eye

opercul = little cover

ophi = snake

opt = eye, vision

orb = circle

oral = mouth

ornith = bird

ortho =    straight

os, osti = mouth

-ose = a sugar

-osis =    increase of

oss (ost) = bone

ostrac = shell

oti, (oto) = ear

ovum = egg



P

pachy =    thick

palae =    ancient

-palmate = webbed

papil =    nipple

par = birth

para = beside, near

pariet = wall

parv = small

pect = breast

ped = foot

peduncl = little foot

pelecy = hatchet

penis =    tail, penis

pente =    five

peri = around

perisso = odd

perenni = permanent, enduring, all year

petr = rock

phaeo =    brown

phago =    eat

phil = loving, liking

phob = fearing

phor = carry

photo =    light

phragm = fence, partition

phyl = tribe, group

phyll =    leaf

physa = bladder

physio = nature

phyte, phyto = plant

pil = hair

pinna = feather
   
pino = to drink   

plac = plate, tablet.

plan = flat, plane

plantar = sole of foot

plasm =    fluid, forming

plast =    rod-shaped body

platy =    flat, broad

pleio =    multiple

pleur =    side

plex = interwoven

plica =    fold

-ploid = chromosome

plume =    feather

pneumo = air, breathing

pod = foot

poly = many

pollex = thumb

pons = bridge

porta =    gate

post = behind, after

pre = before

prim = first

pro = in front, toward

process = to project from

proct =    anus

profund = deep

proto =    first

prox = nearby

pseud =    false

ptero =    wing, fin

pulmo =    lung

pychn =    pressure

pyg = rump, buttocks



Q

quad = four

quar = four

quat = four

quint =    five



R

rami = branch

renal =    kidney

rete = little net

retro =    back, backward

rhabd =    rod

rhach =    spine

rhage =    tear, rent

rhin = nose

rhiz = root

rhodo =    red

rhomb =    square

rhynch = snout

rodo, rode = gnaw

rostrum = beak, prow

rota = turn, wheel



S

sacch =    sugar

saggi =    mid-line

sapr = decaying matter

sarc = flesh

saur = lizard

scaph =    hollow

schizo = cleft, split

scler =    hard

scrot =    pouch

scut = shield

scypho = cup

-sect =    cut

semi = half, part

sept = seven, wall

ser = fluid on body

serra =    saw

set = bristle

sex = six

sinus =    hollow

sol = sun

soma = body

-spanch = viscera

sperm =    seed, semen

sphict, sphinct = closing

spira =    coiling

splanch = viscera

sporo =    spore-producing

squam =    scale, flattened

steg = covering

stell =    star

sten = narrow

stom = mouth

striat = marked with a furrow

striet = narrow bands

styl = column

sub = under, below

sulc = groove, furrow

super =    above

syn (sym) = together,  partnership



T

tachy =    fast

tact = touch

taenia = band, ribbon

tax = to arrange

teleo =    complete, perfect

tele = far end

tenia = band, ribbon

tentacul = holding

terti =    third

test = shell

testis = male gonad

tetra =    four

theca =    case

thermo = heat

thero =    beast, mammal

thromb = clot

tom = piece or section, cut

toti = all, total

trach =    tube   

trans =    across

trema =    hole

tri = three

trich =    hair

trop = turning

troph =    food, feeding

tympan = drum



U

ultra =    beyond

unc = hook

ungul =    hoof, claw

uni = one, single

uro = tail, excretory, urine

uter = womb



V

vagina = sheath

vague, vagus = wandering

venter = belly

verm = worm

vesti =    rudimentary

vita = life

vitell = yolk

vitro =    glass

viv = alive

volv = turning, womb

vors,  vora = devour



X

xero = drought-tolerant

xyl = wood



Z

zon = girdle

zoo (zoa) = animal

zyg = yoke