Signature Manners

What is proper manners? Let us consider what the experts have to say about proper "manners" or  proper etiquette and protocol. There is no substitute for proper manners and as my mom use to say, "having a good education is  not enough, you MUST have proper manners". I was born and raised in the Island of Jamaica and having proper etiquette was a big dot deal. We were under the British rule for a long time and so we had to exhibit "proper manners & etiquette". Everyone needs to know how to behave at a formal dinner or a business luncheon with a potential employer. Etiquette and protocol is not a thing of the past and over 80% of Americans who were surveyed believe that we are rude as a society as a whole. I had the pleasure of listening to Anna Post (great great grandaughter of Emily Post) at my International Special Event Society (ISES) meeting where she made a presentation on "Etiquette in the 21st Century". The presentation was both refreshing and enlightening. Anna Post provides advise frequently on weddings and engagements and conducts seminars on business etiquette. One of my girlfriends recently published her own book on proper etiquette. Charmaine Campbell is an image and etiquette consultant.  If you need for someone to train you on what the proper fork or spoon to pickup at your next formal function is,  then she is your consultant. There is nothing worst than someone sitting beside you at a function and pickup the dinner fork to eat their salad (I experienced this recently). Then again her company Chic International is about more than that. They teach how to dress and behave in all social and business situations. Her first book is called "Money Cannot Buy Class" and you can purchase this invaluable book from her website. Her book is a wonderful tool to bring out the "chic" in you!