diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
index 9e3a1c166..bde383678 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/chat/client/ChatDirector.java
@@ -285,6 +285,15 @@ public class ChatDirector extends BasicDirector
         dispatchMessage(msg);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Dispatches the provided message to our chat displays.
+     */
+    public void dispatchMessage (ChatMessage message)
+    {
+        _displayMessageOp.setMessage(message);
+        _displays.apply(_displayMessageOp);
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Dispatches a {@link #requestSpeak(SpeakService,String,byte)} on the
      * place object that we currently occupy.
@@ -574,15 +583,6 @@ public class ChatDirector extends BasicDirector
         return message;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Dispatches the provided message to our chat displays.
-     */
-    protected void dispatchMessage (ChatMessage message)
-    {
-        _displayMessageOp.setMessage(message);
-        _displays.apply(_displayMessageOp);
-    }
-
     /**
      * Looks up and returns the message type associated with the specified
      * oid.