About Me
My name is Inge Orth. I have been involved in one way or another in luncheons, dinners, events, and receptions all my professional life.
My roots, however, go back to very thorough training years in the Foreign Office where I moved from the basic level to responsibilities in organizing state luncheons or dinners. Multiple postings abroad followed. Each country was different. I still remember the excitement at the end of June each year, when the list of newly knighted dignitaries were published and we had to change e.g. Mr. John McIntyre into Sir John and Lady McIntyre.
When I worked for the United Nations, there was excitement also in June when the new beginning of the alphabet was chosen. The protocol however was quite different from the diplomatic rules. In the U.N., there is no special treatment for “anciennete” (seniority). It is just according to the English version of the country name of the state represented.
Finally, I worked for a big corporation and things were different again. I had to learn all the abbreviations like CEO, COO, CFO and Chairman and President. And yes, there are rules here too, very important rules. Following these very different rules could mean a big contract with profits or nothing.
I've done a lot of other things in my life, but because of my unique training, I've always been called upon by other people who did seating arrangements and I had to solve special problems. I was happy to help and feel I should go on doing it. Knowing these arcane intricacies usually will mean the difference between a hugely successful event- that people will remember and talk about for years, or an event that people will not return for next year and may harbor secret insults. It is an art form that should not be forgotten.
My roots, however, go back to very thorough training years in the Foreign Office where I moved from the basic level to responsibilities in organizing state luncheons or dinners. Multiple postings abroad followed. Each country was different. I still remember the excitement at the end of June each year, when the list of newly knighted dignitaries were published and we had to change e.g. Mr. John McIntyre into Sir John and Lady McIntyre.
When I worked for the United Nations, there was excitement also in June when the new beginning of the alphabet was chosen. The protocol however was quite different from the diplomatic rules. In the U.N., there is no special treatment for “anciennete” (seniority). It is just according to the English version of the country name of the state represented.
Finally, I worked for a big corporation and things were different again. I had to learn all the abbreviations like CEO, COO, CFO and Chairman and President. And yes, there are rules here too, very important rules. Following these very different rules could mean a big contract with profits or nothing.
I've done a lot of other things in my life, but because of my unique training, I've always been called upon by other people who did seating arrangements and I had to solve special problems. I was happy to help and feel I should go on doing it. Knowing these arcane intricacies usually will mean the difference between a hugely successful event- that people will remember and talk about for years, or an event that people will not return for next year and may harbor secret insults. It is an art form that should not be forgotten.