Toastmasters, please note the following dates. .and I hope you will take a moment to review the Educational Moment regarding improving your listening skills. FRTM Special Meetings... SAVE THE DATES Thursday September 6th *Special Judges Training & Judging workshop Thursday September 13th * We will have our Meeting in the Park ... Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests... Club Contest date TBD ... Held btwn mid Sept & mid Oct Foothills Division Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests When Saturday, Oct 20, 2012 location TBD District 26 Fall Conference, Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest When Nov 9 - 10, 2012 Where Greenwood Village, CO Educational Moment 7/26/2012 According to Psychology Today: Most people believe they are good listeners but don't even consider the difference between hearing and listening. The ability to hear is typically innate, but the ability to listen well is a skill that must be developed and practiced. Listening means paying attention and making a conscious effort to process what you hear. It is one of our most important skills and it is also one of the most overlooked. Becoming a better listener is a process, not an event and it doesn't just magically happen. You get the opportunity here at our Toastmasters meetings each week to practice our listening skills... challenge yourself to become a better listener. BE PRESENT in the MOMENT, give your fellow Toastmasters your full attention and respect when they are speaking. Challenge yourself to find ONE TAKE AWAY from each meeting ....that helps you grow! Winston Churchill once said, "Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."