• Remember to talk to your audience. Feel free to check out the slide to see that it's the right one, or use a pointer or laser to point something out, but don't stare at the screen or image.
  
  

• Keep text simple and easy to read. If you have text in your slides or powerpoint presentation, make sure the size is big enough for the person in the next to last row to read (20 point is a minimum).
  
  

• Edit your slides. Don't catch yourself apologizing for a slide you've included, "sorry it's too dark; sorry it's not clear; sorry you can't read that; sorry this is so complicated." The message you are really sending at that point is that your presentation is a canned one and you're making do, you didn't spend enough time preparing.
  
  

• Figure on a minimum of 30 seconds per slide, and more likely 1 minute each. Don't bring too many. Don't have 50 slides "to run through quickly."
  
  

• Remember to do the hard work of preparing your talk, and thinking of your message. Don't use slides to cover up a lack of preparation.
  
  

• In addition to slides, you might consider using a video tape to help carry your message. Check with your state forestry or logging association for available videos. Remember though that your message to the particular audience is the key-the video should supplement you, not take your place.

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