How do i put it without upsetting

[Thunderchild]

Right. I'm the president of my Rotaract club and we have a yearly "charter meal". Part of this not very formal formality is a speech I will have to make (but i'd prefer to hide under the table) and giving a trophy to the "rotaractor of the year": the person that I believe has contributed most to the club and/or has developed personally in the club (usually club activity merits are considered).

So I have my candidate for this year. A nice young lady who was very quite when I joined the club and who not only has put a lot into the club (2 years as secretary and increased participation) has also become a lot more talkative and yes in conjuntion participated more actively in things. (we actually got her to dress up for a fancy dress party - unheard of). she still has some road to do (we get on well and I have asked her out - yes a small complication for my role - but she has declined and i fear more out of shyness than not liking me).

Obviously I can state her dedication to the club and record attendance but i would like to mention the fact that she has "come out of her shell" (personal development) a lot without being condescending or scaring her back into her shell so to speak.

So how exactly should I put it ? I'm not good at being diplomatic, but would like to say something in recognition of all of her contribution and achievement in the club

[Thunderchild]

yes that is pretty much it. I've heard appreciation of personal development or strength of character from a previous president to another member who went through with a wedding despite being on crutches after a car crash (when she was awarded the trophy - she had in fact not really been any more of a better club member than anyone else so that was the reason for the award)

My entire point was finding something small and short as part of the overall trophy presentation line(s) to include her becoming more outgoing and confident socially(although she has always been a confident person in herself but shies away from some social situations/things)

My aim is that she will partake in our next Calvert trip (lake district) which is where a number of Rotaract members go to the lake district with a group of Rotarians (note rotary / rotaract NOT the same thing) to run an activity week for mentally and/or physically disabled adults in a specialized centre.
I know she would be good with the event itself as she has been a browney leader and has the right attitude for it although I know that dorm sleeping might not be her thing (we do have separate sex dorms and i was not over the moon about it myself when I found out but got on with it). I think it will do her as much good as it will do the disabled participants as it has done myself over these last two years and as it is in exactly one year (minus a week - I just got back from this years one yesterday).

I think by the time comes she may actually go for it as i spoke to her today and I told her about what I had been doing and she mention a possibility that she might go and I detailed where she could step out of activities as so far she has used the arthritis line and her not been able to bend her knees much - I think she is worrying too much about it as her parents have it but hey we had a 71 year old last week and this is designed for physically disabled people so I know she will not

[Thunderchild]

have any problems with it physically. Hopefully she finds she can achieve a little more than she thought although there will be no pressure to do anything

[Maydup]

You've hit the mail on the head here. ...."finding something small and short".

Make sure you do that as you are a natural chatterbox! Decide on your chosen words and then halve the number, otherwise you might be at risk of over egging it. Good luck.

[Thunderchild]

natural chatterbox - me - ;)

well socially yes if i have the topic, I do tend to fully explain particularly on forums online etc or in emails as I find explaining it properly helps overcome the limitations of internet communication. As a public speaker I struggle, which is also why I'm looking for those few choice words to make sure I use

[inksplotter]

I used to be a member of the Rotaract Club, against my socialist principles I must admit...

[Thunderchild]

what ? this question is 3 years old, what has rotaract to do with socialism ? it's totally non political

[inksplotter]

I'm glad you had a well-rounded group, but mine was full of Tories...

[Thunderchild]

We are just working class, unfortunately because rotaract is held up by rotary that is full of torries (people with money) that can filter down. The trick is to not let rotary try and find you members because rotaries ideals members are useless uni graduates who think the world revolves around them and won't do much in the way of charitable work. We are only 3 officially and now the year has tockied over we or rather they are 2 but we are hoping to find more members.