The speaker is someone who believes deeply in the potential of poetry to enlarge the human mind—to compel us to consider the limitless cosmos that surrounds us. They are also likely to be very passionate about poetry and have an active involvement in the poetry community. Because of this, they are often sought after by universities and other organizations for whom they will speak about modern poetry. The fee can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per speech. Here are some examples of famous poets who have been speakers: Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, John Keats, Charles Darwin, Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Shakespeare, and Omar Khayyam. There are many more than these, of course; but these should give you an idea of the variety of topics and the great minds that have contributed to making poetry such a significant part of our culture. Now, there are two types of speakerships available. There are permanent positions that usually become available every few years when current speakers leave to take up other projects or seek out new opportunities. These positions are usually filled by elected officials, authors, artists, and activists who are willing to donate their time to raise awareness about modern poetry. Sometimes people who hold other jobs can also become speakers if they are able to convince the board of directors that they have enough free time to devote to the organization.