I have a very special treat for my homeschool friends this week!  The authors of the brand new book, One By One: The Homeschool Group Leader’s Guide to Motivating Your Members, are joining me for a free seminar this Wednesday and YOU’RE INVITED!    Kristen and Denise have a great deal to share about topics all homeschool group and co op leaders share.

Ever wonder how to motivate your teens?  How to avoid burnout?  How to communicate in a way that gets positive results in your homeschool group or co op?  Well, the Wednesday at 3:30pm EST/12:30pm PST you will get all your answers and MORE!

Come join us! The live event is free!

When: Wednesday, March 10th
Time: 3:30pm EST/12:30pm PST
How to join via your computer: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736
How to join via phone: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 19736

SPECIAL NOTE: Do mark your calendars to attend the live seminar.  Space is limited and this session will NOT be available to the general public as an audio afterward!

Take advantage of the collective experience we have and learn how you can regroup and rejuvenate your homeschool group experience!

Homeschool Group Leader Workshop
03/10/2010 12:30 pm PST/3:30pm EST

Join JoJo Tabares author of “Say What You Mean: The Language of Leadership” and her co-hosts Kristen Fagala and Denise Hyde authors of “One By One: A Homeschool Group Leader’s Guide to Motivating Your Members” as we discuss how homeschool group leaders can lead more effectively with less stress and get more participation!

• Why motivation is a huge part of successful leadership
• What leadership is . . . (relationship)
• Three burning questions every leader must ask
• Questions leaders have asked us: how to avoid burnout, how to get people to show up, how to get more volunteers
• Tips on motivating teens
• Why we need leadership skills
• What a leader isn’t
• 16 Biblical qualities of a leader
• Why a leader needs: effective communication skills

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 10th, at 3:30pm EST/12:30pm PST.  Here’s how to join in the call:

Listen via your computer: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736
Or call in via phone: (724) 444-7444  Call ID: 19736

Or you can sign up for a free TalkShoe account so you can join the chatroom while you listen in!

Do mark your calendars to attend because space is limited and this session will NOT be available to the general public as an audio afterward!

I’ve been working all week to bring you some fabulous values!  Art of Eloquence is adding more value packages to save you money and give you bundles of value!  Our new value packages allow you to save money by purchasing several studies together!  AND we have created a Value Package Page on our site to give you a nice overview of all the ways your family can save on these fabulous bundles we’ve put together for preschoolers all the way on up through adults! We even have a special value package that has a little something for the entire family!

Here is a list of the value packages you will now (or soon) find at Art of Eloquence.com but keep checking back because more are coming this week!

Preschool Pack
Elementary Pack
Teen Pack
Teen Bonus Pack
High School Pack
High School Premium Pack (coming soon)
College Prep Pack
Deluxe College Prep Pack (coming soon)
Fun Pack
Family Pack (coming soon)
Career Pack
Business Pack
Parent Pack (coming soon)
Leadership Pack (coming soon)
Even more coming soon!

I have also updated our online catalog.  So if you are looking for a specific topic, for a particular age group, or would just like to browse, click here!

Finally, as I began to add these packages, I thought it would be a nice feature to have a major listing of our various eStudies for each age group.  So…I created several new At-A-Glance type pages broken down by age group.  We now have overview pages for all our PreK eStudies, Elementary eStudies, Jr/Sr High eStudies, and for all of our Adult eStudies which are now linked from our home page.  I am still working to add all the pictures to these pages so bear with me as I finish that this week.

What’s New at Art of Eloquence Newsletter subscribers will get a free gift soon for Valentine’s Day!  If you are not a subscriber, you’ll want to subscribe before our next newsletter comes out so you don’t miss out!

What’s New at Art of Eloquence offers exclusive articles, special offers, free gifts and other communication fun ONLY for subscribers!  We do not give out this information anywhere else (on our site, blog or Facebook Fan Club Page!) but just to those on our mailing list!

If you are not subscribed, you can do so easily by clicking here!

Happy Valentine’s Day!  From the folks at Art of Eloquence.com!

Whether you attended the live Say What You Mean Convention events or have listened in to the pre-recorded audios, we would LOVE your feedback!  If you would take the time to answer just a few questions for us, we would be grateful.

1. What topics touched you the most?  Which ones helped enrich your life in some way?

2. Did you participate in the contests?  Which was your favorite?

3. What communication topics would you like to see explored this year in greater depth?

4. Which freebies were your favorites?

We appreciate your taking the time to share this information with us and ask also if you would agree to have your comments used in some of our promotional materials.

Thanks for coming to the 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention.  We pray it greatly blesses you and your family this year.

Don’t forget that you can still grab your freebies from our freebies page and listen to any of the audios by clicking on the TalkShoe badge at the top of the Schedule of Events page.

Oh and don’t forget to visit our sponsors, who made the Say What You Mean Convention possible and tell them you saw them at the Say What You Mean Convention!

Say What You Mean for Preschoolers is finally back!  So many of you had been waiting patiently for this 2-5 year study to be updated as an eBook and put back up on the website.

For those of you who pre-ordered, I am emailing your copies out this morning!

For those that did not yet order, but would love to introduce your preschooler or even your older boys to communication skills in a fun way, THIS is the program for you!  Come check it out here!

It’s never to early to introduce your child to communication skills.  In fact, the earlier you do, more proficient they will be!  PLUS introducing your children to communication skills early can help them avoid shyness which can become debilitating beginning in later elementary school.

Very few people understand the power of communication for their young children and Art of Eloquence is the only company I know of that offers a study for children this young!  Say What You Mean for Preschoolers is packed with fun and creative activities that help teach your youngster communication skills and grows with them as they do!  Check it out today!

Another creatively fun speech communication product from Art of Eloquence.com!

What are you doing here at Communication FUNdamentals?!  You should be over at the Say What You Mean Convention today having fun and learning from all our fabulous speakers! lol

Have Fun!  And don’t forget to enter our contests for a chance to win a prize package worth $200!

Here is the talkcast where the live events will take place and where you can access all the pre-recorded audios!  ENJOY!

Ok so you’re coming to the 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention, right?  You’ve got in on your calendar to hear my interview with Christian Comedian Michael Jr. at 8am PST and then our fabulous line up of seminars and workshops throughout the day.  You’re bringing your kids to enter our Name That Sound Contest, you’re ready to enter our Scavenger Hunt  contest to win a prize package of $200, and you’ve invited your homeschool friends to come check out all the fabulous pre-recorded audios that will be released on February 3rd.  So what did you forget?

You forgot to enter our drawings!!

But it’s not too late!  You still have 48 hours left to sign up to enter our drawings to win even more fabulous prizes at the Say What You Mean Convention this year!  At every live event during the convention, we will be drawing a name to win a prize, but you can’t win if you don’t enter!!

PLUS!!

If you are present at the live event when/if your name is drawn (and of course you’re going to want to be there for each live event because some of them will NOT be recorded!) you will win an ADDITIONAL PRIZE!

Drawings will begin during our 8am PST live session and continue through our Prayer Chat at the end of the day!  Winners will be notified via email!

Details for our two contests will be posted the night before the convention (posted Feb. 2nd) and winners will be drawn from all the correct entries.  Winners will be notified via email and given instructions to claim their prize package worth approximately $200!

Don’t miss out on all the fun this year!  Come to the Say What You Mean Convention Feb. 3rd beginning at 8am PST/ 11am EST!

See you at the Say What You Mean Convention!

Extra!  Extra!! Read all about it!

The 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention is coming to a computer near you!

Say What?

Dateline ABC…DEFG…Mark your calendars for this amazingly FUN and FREE event!

When? February 3rd beginning at 8am PST/11am EST

Where? Right from the comfort of YOUR OWN HOME…COMPUTER! http://www.SayWhatYouMeanConvention.com

What…to expect? LOTS!

Keynote Speakers: Christian Comedian, Micheal Jr. interview on Faith and Humor! AND…Talk-A-Latte’s Cindy Rushton’s seminar on Marriage!

Live Seminars:
Most of the live seminars will also be recorded for later, but if you’re listening in live, you can win bonus gifts. Plus, you won’t want to miss the Michael Jr. live interview, which will NOT be recorded at all.

•    8am PST/11am EST – Interview with Christian comedian Michael Jr. on Faith and Humor
•    10am PST/1pm EST  – JoJo Tabares  of Art of Eloquence “The Three Flavors of Communication: Writing, Speech, and Conversation”
•    12pm PST/3pm EST – Cindy Rushton of Talk-a-Latte ”Building a Passionate, Forever, Happier, and Happier-Ever-After Marriage”
•    2pm PST/5pm EST Joan Rudder-Ward of Girl Nurture “The Heat is On: Techniques to Protect You and Your Daughter from Becoming Culture War Casualties.”
•    4pm PST/7pm EST Kim Kautzer of WriteShop “Writing Skills: More Important than Ever!”
•    6pm PST/9pm EST Prayer Chat

Pre-recorded Audios:
Read the descriptions of each talk here.

•    How to Tailor Your Writing for Effectiveness
•    The Lazy Student: What’s a Mom to Do?
•    What Good Is a Speech Course If Your Kids Won’t Use It?
•    How to Write a Speech
•    Conversation: The Most Important Communication
•    Speak the Truth in Love
•    What Most Apologetics Courses Don’t Teach You
•    Talking vs. Communicating
•    Listening: THE Most Important Communication Skill
•    Humor: A Powerful Communication Tool
•    Avoiding, Reducing and Healing Conflicts
•    What It Takes to Be a Great Communicator

Even More FUN!
•    Contests
•    Freebies
•    Free Admission
•    Visit the Say What You Mean Convention for more details.

Don’t forget to sign up for our drawings on the home page of the convention site!  We will draw a name to win a prize at EACH LIVE event!  You don’t have to be present to win, but you do have to enter by signing up!  If you are present in the live event and your name is called, you will win TWO PRIZES!

Have FUN!  And bring a friend!

Art of Eloquence Has Had a Facelift!

I know what you’re thinking!  I promised to do this two years ago, but try as I might, I was unable to find the time to redesign the site with all the other events and projects I had going.  December 31st was my final podcast and I immediately got to work and it’s like Art of Eloquence bought a new hat!  See?

We’re still our old purple selves but we’ve got a totally new feel and I am happy to say it is MUCH easier to navigate and find what you are looking for!

First, the home page is completely redesigned to reflect the fact that Art of Eloquence no longer has just homeschool curricula and that we now have communication studies for various situations!  Now you can easily find whatever you might be looking for whether homeschool curricula, speech and debate, leadership training, defending the faith or business just by clicking on one of the top buttons.

Second, we have arranged it so that it is very easy to find and use all our free resources like my articles, blog, Foot in Mouth Man and all our free events!  You’ll find each of these buttons up at the top of the home page for easy reference!

A new feature is our Studies, Surveys and Statistics Page where you can read all about the research done on the importance of various communication skills and just who is looking for people who possess them!  We’ll be adding more soon but I got bleary eyed and had to move on to another task! lol

We now have a link right on the home page to our classic “Communication Effectiveness Quiz” where you can answer the questions to determine what areas of communication are your strengths and what areas are your weaknesses.  This is especially helpful for your children so you can understand where they need to be better prepared if they are going to be going to college in a few years!

In addition, we now have a few communication quotes listed right on the home page that you can click through in order to read even more Bible and other quotes of communication wisdom!  I have TONS more of those to add but that will have to wait a bit too.

Lastly, each of our subheadings has a new page that shares more about communication in that area of life and includes all the links to the various Art of Eloquence studies, audio classes and other resources that pertain to that communication topic.  The sub headings are: Homeschool Curricula, Speech and Debate, Leadership Training, Defending the Faith and Business Training.

I spent all day yesterday writing, rewriting and updating many of the pages of the website.  I still have to re work the product pages, but I’m done with the other pages.  We even redesigned FIMM”s page last week!

Since my eyes are now bulging out of my sockets and my brain is fried from looking at my monitor all day, I am wondering if you can help me see if I missed anything.  It’s possible that there might be a link that doesn’t go where it is supposed to or a word that has been misspelled.  We would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to go in and see for us.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts.  Aside from the product pages, which all need to be redone yet, how do you like our new look?  Do all the links work?  Did we misspell a word?  Have a broken link?  Something that isn’t clear?  Help us work the bugs out.

Thank you much from the tired eyes, numb fingers and NEW DO that is now Art of Eloquence.com!