Founded in 2007, Word of Mouth (WoM) began as a public speaking club at Boston College but, as its members will tell you, quickly evolved into much more. WoM is a large organization with a close community feel, a unique experience one might attribute to its forum structure. These smaller meetings are called forums. Members choose which forum to join based on their own schedule. Before each forum m
eeting, the forum leader sends out a speech topic to the members of the forum. Topics can range from informative to persuasive but most are rather light. During the meetings, each member gives a 3 minute speech, after which the forum members provide thoughtful critiques on how to improve his or her delivery. While you are welcome to prepare a speech, most members choose to improvise on the spot, focusing not on content but on delivery. In addition, members are free to speak on any topic (not just the one provided), including class presentations that need some practice. Most forums last about one hour. Since the first forum meeting in 2008, Word of Mouth has grown to an incredible ten forums in 2015. Despite its size, the organization remains a tight community with events nearly every week. In fact, one of the key components of WoM is mentorship. Whether you are a freshmen who is new to BC, a sophomore looking for advice on where to study abroad, or an upperclassman ready to share what you’ve learned, Word of Mouth is for you. Not a huge fan of public speaking? Members of WoM have found that their experiences in weekly forums have improved communication in all aspects of their lives, namely job interviews. In addition, the club has evolved into an extensive organization full of leadership positions in all areas, whatever your interests. Word of Mouth now offers positions as Chief Financial Officer, Alumni Relations, External Networking Strategist, Web Master, Chief of Staff, Director of Operations, Director of Media Relations, Promotional Director and Branding Coordinator. Word of Mouth launched the Advanced Leadership Training (ALT) program in 2010. Unlike most leadership programs, ALT consists not of lectures but of challenges. Each challenge is designed to build the qualities essential to leadership: initiative, communication, delegation, self-reflection, and creativity. ALT runs during Spring semester and is open to all members of the BC community. Graduates of ALT are eligible to run for Forum Leader positions and will get first priority for other leadership positions within the organization.
