Business Etiquette/Letterhead Protocol

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Expert: - 5/31/2011


Question
QUESTION: In including a list of the board of directors (15) and a list of the honorary board of directors (3) on letterhead, should the "regular" board be listed first, or should the honorary members be incorported into the regular members' list and denoted "honorary member"?

ANSWER: Dear Laura:
On the left side of your letterhead are the most important and current leaders who in your case are the President and the Board of Directors (assuming you have someone who is designated President or CEO).  Current President first, then the Board. The Board is listed by protocol order of precedence. What that means is that the Chairman of the Board is listed first, then the other members based on their tenure or position - highest to lowest.  The lowest would be just a member who just arrived.  If you have several in the same position and tenure, you list alphabetically.  On the right side should be the Honorary Board of Directors under the title Honorary Board of Directors.


I hope this helps,
Cynthia Lett

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks.  So to clarify...It would be inappropriate for the organization to place both lists on the left-hand side of the stationery, even if they wanted to for design purposes?  Thanks again.

Answer
Dear Laura:
Separating the acting Board and the Honorary Board is correct but the nice thing about protocol is that you start with the correct way and you can modify to meet your needs as long as the basic structure isn't changed. So, feel free to keep to your letterhead design and place them on the same side of the sheet. Just move the Honorary Board to be underneath the Active Board.

Best regards,
Cynthia Lett

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Cynthia W. Lett

Expertise

Author of "That's So Annoying - An Etiquette Expert On The World's Most Irritating Habits And What To Do About Them" . One of the few Certified Etiquette Professionals (CEP) and Certified Protocol Professionals(CPP) earned by examination through the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals (www.ispep.org). I will be happy to answer your questions about business or social etiquette, international customs or protocol issues.

Experience

Ms. Lett has trained over 100 etiquette professionals worldwide to teach the subject to professionals and children. She has worked in 102 countries and is expert in doing business in unfamiliar cultures. Ms. Lett is principal of The Lett Group since 1983. Professionally, Ms. Lett is the founder of and serves as Executive Director of the International Society of Protocol & Etiquette Professionals headquartered in Washington, DC.

Organizations
University Club of Washington, DC She is an active member of the National Speakers Association, American Society for Training and Development; Women Business Owners; Professional Convention Management Association; and past member of the American Society of Association Executives; Foundation for International Meetings (Board of Governors 1986-1987). She was elected into Who's Who of American Women; Who's Who of Advertising Executives; 2000 Notable American Women; Who's Who of the World's Women; Who's Who of U.S. Executives and Who's Who of the World.

Publications
Ms.Lett is the author of "That's So Annoying: An Etiquette Expert On The World's Most Irritating Habits And What To Do About Them" available wherever books are sold and at www.thatssoannoyingbook.com. She has been featured and quoted in publications such as Successful Meetings, Meetings and Conventions, Meeting News, Business Travel News, Washington Business Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Regardies Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Robb Report, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Harvard Business Review, Ohio Business Review, Training and Development Journal, CIO Magazine and others

Education/Credentials
Certified Protocol Professional Certified Etiquette Professional Certificate: Adult Learning Techniques - George Washington University Master-Legal Studies - Antioch School of Law BS - Restaurant, Hotel & Institutional Management - Purdue University BA - Public Relations / Interpersonal Communications - Purdue University

Awards and Honors
Distinguished Darden Professor - Purdue University

Past/Present Clients
During 1990, Ms. Lett planned a series of Business Exchange meetings in the Soviet Union for entrepreneurs from the United States who wished to learn about joint ventures with the Soviets in many different fields. She is featured in the PBS special – Pioneer Living – as the protocol expert. Ms. Lett is also the etiquette expert for the Fine Living Channel and currently featured in Survival Guide – Office Etiquette. She is also a frequent expert on etiquette issues for Fox Cable News.

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