While talking with friends recently, I realized how much time we spend discussing topics related only to our work.  My friend in finance talks about the markets, my friend in advertising talks about marketing and social media trends, and of course I talk politics.  While our conversations can be highly insightful (especially to those who actually listen to us), we recently debated about good outlets to hear from experts at the top of their game.  While there was general agreement that the TEDx world and other podcasts provide great thought-provoking presenters across a broad spectrum, they are extremely impersonable.  And if your friends don’t listen to the same one, it’s hard to have a conversation about it.  However, joining your friends to hear from a luncheon speaker creates an even better educational experience and conversation.

For the past several years I’ve been a member of the Economic Club of Grand Rapids.  This is a stellar organization – the staff knows how to communicate with its members and their leadership has done a great job selecting speakers that know how to keep audiences engaged.  With twice monthly luncheons, presenters have included motivational speakers, athletes and team owners, U.S. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Generals, financial experts, economists, innovative CEOs, and even Bono.  The list is endless, and all are exceptional.

But one area that the Economic Club of GR does masterfully well—especially in the era of diminished investigative journalism and storytelling—is finding intriguing national columnists and authors.  From my perspective, these are the folks that move the needle through the power of the pen.  Over the years, they’ve hosted David Brooks, Bob Woodward, Rana Foroohar, Daniel Pink, Tom Brokaw, George Will, Stephen Covey, Charles Krauthammer, and many more.  These are people that are passionate, perfectionists, and provide deep insight into many facets of life around the world and their profession.

As the Economic Club of Grand Rapids wraps up for a summer break, I find myself looking forward to seeing what speakers will be coming starting this fall and what conversations those topics will spark.  Join me in Grand Rapids.  You’ll be impressed.

Is there an organization in your community that offers similar opportunities and access to insightful presenters?

For more information, please visit https://econclub.net/.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.