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!

I can hardly believe it’s the end of November already!  But it is and, as the last Monday in November dictates here at AoE, it’s time for me to share some of your comments and questions in Mailbag Monday!

“Oh Wow JoJo – Ashlynne and I are reading her book “The Homeschooler’s Guide to Preparing for College” and it is really helpful information. Ashlynne loves reading it knowing it was written by a young person. Kelsey is helping me give my DD a good foundation too! God Bless your time together richly ” -Merit K.

My dd spent two years of her life researching her way into one of the most elite schools in the country.  She didn’t want all her hard work to go to waste and for other homeschoolers to struggle, as she had to, in order to find all of this information for themselves when she already had it all in one convenient place.  She and I are tickled to know it is helping so many homeschoolers prepare for college and to avoid the pitfalls, struggles and expense we had to go through.  Thanks for sharing this and please let us know what Ashlynne goes on to after graduation!

“When will the preschool book come available?” -Marie J.

Oh this has been the eternal question here at Art of Eloquence!  I shared a little about this last week on the blog when I announced the changes to Art of Eloquence for 2010.  I am afraid that I don’t have an exact date of re release as yet, but that is one of the first studies we will be working on next year.

“Is the ‘Say what you mean’ conference an old ad or is it in 2010?  Thanks.” -Carol F.

Some folks have been confused about the Say What You Mean Convention each year.  For those new to Art of Eloquence, the convention is a free, annual, online event that features various creative and fun activities for all ages designed to educate Christian families on the importance of effective communication in every day life.  Each year has a theme, keynote speakers and various activities.  The SWMC stays up for a full year ministering to Christian families until about January when we begin to make changes to the website for the coming new convention.

The SWMC is set for February 3rd, 2010.  All the fun is packed into one day this year instead of three so make sure to mark your calendar so you don’t miss the live events!  The theme this year is The Three Flavors of Communication: Formal Speech, Writing and Conversation and will feature keynote speakers Cindy Rushton and Christian comedian Michael Jr!  Communication fun includes various contests with prizes, live seminars and workshops, pre recorded audio seminars, scavenger hunt and prayer chat!

More details to follow so stay tuned to Communication FUNdamentals blog in December and mark your calendar for December 31st as I podcast my last live show EVER and share a preview of the highlights to come of this amazing free event.  On the show will be myself, my two moderators: Kim Kautzer of Write Shop and Joan Rudder Ward of Girl Nurture as well as perhaps our keynote speakers: Cindy Rushton and ….MICHAEL JR!!!

“We’ve started the SWYM for kids but have been moving a bit slow through it.  The kids wrote out and did their speeches (1st chapter…I did say slow right?) a week ago and gave them to the family.  They actually did very well.  Today the two younger (almost 6 and 7 1/2) were having a row over something.  We had been talking about how to communicate our “wants” and “feelings” to someone regarding play.  I took them to the bathroom, said “work this out and you can come out” and turned and shut the door.  About 5 minutes later after about 1 minute of yelling at each other, they came out and resumed play without any more hostility or anger.  I was frankly a little amazed.  They must have picked up on something as we role played last week how to get across what we think and feel.  Thanks for your good work!” -Laura K.

Thanks so much Laura for sharing this.  It’s so important that we teach our kids to communicate respectfully with each other, especially at a young age.  So many these days feel justified (even adults) in communicating in a disrespectful way that it is even more important in today’s society.  So much misunderstanding in life can be avoided by teaching our youngsters this skill!  Kuddos to you!!

Some fabulous reviews of late:

Say What You Mean The Language of Leadership

The Play Book

If you have a question or a comment about Art of Eloquence events or products, please feel free to post a comment here or email me jojo @ artofeloquence. com

I have been waiting ever so impatiently to announce this to you all for what seems like an endless amount of time so I’m just going to blurt it right out!

Christian Comedian, Michael Jr. has agreed to speak at this year’s Say What You Mean Convention (Feb. 3rd, 2010)!!

Can you tell that I’m a wee bit excited? LOL  I’ve been enjoying his amazing God-given talent for quite some time now!  I am such a fan!  He is so incredibly unique!

I ‘eMet’ him on Facebook and Twitter and decided to ask so that I (and all of you) shall receive.  Not only was he very gracious,  but to my great surprise and delight, he agreed to speak!  If you’re also a big fan, you can become a fan of his fan page on Facebook too!

I’ll be posting more on the convention later on so please stay tuned for more information on the amazing fun with communication skills in February at the 5th Annual Say What You Mean Convention.

Mark your calendar to be able to be part of the convention LIVE on February 3rd, 2010 so you don’t miss out!  We will be recording some of the events but you will miss SO much if you aren’t there live!  ESPECIALLY to hear Michael Jr who will be kicking off the entire event at 8am PST/11am EST!

This year’s event is ONLY ONE DAY and will be packed with our usual pre recorded audios, freebies, live seminars, keynote speakers and contests!  As I announced before, Cindy Rushton has also agreed to speak about marriage so you will be doubly blessed as she is one amazing lady with some great info to share with us.

Also speaking that day will be yours truly and my two moderators, Kim Kautzer from Write Shop and Joan Rudder Ward of Positive Image Network!

This year’s Say What You Mean Convention will be something to experience so mark your calendar so you DON’T MISS OUT!

I think this is my 3rd year speaking at Cindy Rushton’s Ultimate Homeschool Expo!  She puts on a fabulous event! This is Preview Week for the UHSE and Cindy is having some of her speakers on to share even more fun with her listeners!

Come join me this afternoon 11am PST/1pm CST for my seminar on FUNschooling!  Here are the details:

FUNschooling
with JoJo Tabares
1PM CST

Call-in (Call in on your phone, cell-phone, or SKYPE):
(347) 205-9175

Join Us Live Online:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ultimate-Homeschool-Expo

And get ready for some FUN!

For the last two years I have been “Boldly Serving Up God’s Word with a Side Order of Grace and Humor” over at Grace Talk Soup.  It’s been such fun and the feedback on the show has been truly amazing!  I have had the opportunity to interview the most inspiring guests!  Let me engage in a little name-dropping:

Stephen Kendrick, Co author of The Love Dare and Fireproof!

Pastor Bob Cushman, author of What if You Pray?

Lorrie Flem, publisher of TEACH Magazine

Bette Dowdell, author of How to Be a Christian without being Annoying

FIMM, Hear Foot in Mouth Man speak for the first time!

Capt’n Richie, Coma Survivor!

Cindy Rushton, of Talk A Latte and UHSE shares her testimony on air for the first time!

Cathi-Lyn Dyck, shares her story of the side effects of her abortion and what the Drs don’t tell you!

Bill Phillips, Street Evangelist in the news who was threatened with arrest as he shared the Gospel!

Next week marks Grace Talk Soup’s two year anniversary and I have BOLD NEWS to share!  In her third year, Grace Talk Soup will be serving up more communication tips and instruction and even more HUMOR because Grace Talk Soup will be serving up a bold new CO HOST!

Want to know who it is?  You’ll have to tune into the show today to find out!  How?

To join us live via your computer: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19736

To join us live via your phone: (724) 444-7444 Call ID: 19736

Grace Talk Soup is recorded live each Thursday at 8am PST/11am EST.  If you miss the show, you do miss the live interaction and the ability to voice your opinons and ask your questions BUT you can listen in any time you like to the recordings by visiting the talkcast, scrolling down to “Past Episodes” and clicking on the orange “listen” button next to the show that interests you.

Want some hints about my FUN new co host?  OK…

She’s a long-time dear friend that I have spoken of on Communication FUNdamentals a few times before.  In fact, I have blogged about her quite RECENTLY. (WINK WINK)

For those who may know her, she shares my passion for words, has an incredible sense of humor and a vast knowledge of history.  She’s actually been on the show before.  Can you guess?  If you have an idea, post it here!

If you want to hear her say a quick hello and hear more about the exciting changes we are planning for our listeners, tune in to Grace Talk Soup and hear what’s On the Menu this morning!

It’s March already!  Wasn’t it just January? For that matter, wasn’t it just 1999?  Seems the older I get, the faster I get older!

Kelsey, our eldest who is away at college, is even farther away for Spring Break.  She’s on tour with her Vanderbilt Choir in Chicago, no wait…she’s now in Saint Louis!  I can’t keep up.  I think Kelsey has traveled more in the last few years, than I did my entire life!  Well, not including moving.  I never traveled for fun, my family and I just MOVED a lot! LOL  She’s been checking in every few days from her new cell phone.  Only 54 more days til she comes home for the summer, but who’s counting?!  By the way, my baby girl turns 19 in 9 days!

Chris started golf lessons yesterday. He had fun, but was relegated to the little kids section of the class where the teacher really didn’t teach.  He spoke mostly to the older kids and just told the younger ones to hit the ball.  Chris was disappointed and I will be talking to the instructor tomorrow.  I don’t think he has taught this many students in one class before because he made a comment about how big the class was.  He seemed to run out of time and concentrated mostly on the teens.  I did wonder as the class has an age minimum of 8yrs old. My son is almost 10 but the little ones are all about 6.  Still he had fun!

We completely sold out of our hard copy studies!  I’m almost done with the eBook rewrites too!  I am working on some other projects for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and a few others.  I adore working with TOS!  Also I’ve had a rash of requests for interviews this week.  It’s been fun.  I have one more tomorrow.  Looks like I’ve been invited back to be a Keynote Speaker at Cindy Rushton’s Ultimate Homeschool Expo this year and that looks like a lot of fun too!  Cindy is awesome!

The March episode of The Misadventures of Foot in Mouth Man is up!  Come read how FIMM sticks his foot in his mouth THIS month!  Check out FIMMology 101 too.  There is a link to it on the blog’s right side bar.

I am getting ready for tomorrow’s Grace Talk Soup show.  My guest will share about a writing contest for young writers. Come check it out live or listen at your convenience to the recorded audio, but don’t wait too long!  The deadline for the writing contest is March 15th! Changes a coming on Grace Talk Soup next week!  I’ll be introducing a co host!  She and I go way back and she is another goofball like myself.  If you enjoyed the show before, check it out next week and you’ll have a blast.  Fifty points if you can guess who it is!  I’ve actually talked about her several times here on Communication FUNdamentals-just recently in fact! BIG HINT.

Did you catch our family’s homeschool segment on USC’s Impact yet?  We felt the editing was done with at least a slight agenda.  Much of the postives our family shared were left on the cutting room floor, while the other family came off as quite social.  I talked to the producer via email.  She said she graduated from the graduate program at USC just before all the editing was done.  The new producer may have wanted to compare and contrast the two families. She apologized for leaving my son out of the updates and was a bit embarrassed by the “Vanterbilt” typo.  I feel it was heart felt.

A prayer request for my dh.  Rich has been awaiting word from his company on whether or not they will hire him on permanently.  Everyone is on board but the decision rests with the owner.  The past several months of uncertainty have been kind of stressful for him.   Yesterday he woke up nauseous and dizzy.  We thought it would go away after a while but it lasted all day and so far this morning.  He did some online research and it looks like an inner ear thing.  We don’t have health insurance and he is now officially out of his diabetes and high blood pressure medicines.  I asked him to go to the doctor, but he doesn’t want to go.  Please pray he will be ok and that he will have a permanent job soon so we have health benefits.  I think if we did, he would go.

Well, that’s all the news that fit to type today.  What’s your news?  How’s your March so far?