Hello, dear subscribers!
Because you share my interest in better conversation
and good human relationships, you have subscribed to
this newsletter.I hope you continue to find personal valueto better your life with its ideas.I strongly believe -- as Ihaveso often witnessed -- that "better conversations makeabetter world."Please invite your friends to join my list.
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Loren Ekroth, publisher
loren@conversationmatters.com
1. Free Conference Call Gift
In my Dec. 15 ezine I mentioned how to use a bridgeline for free conference calls among family members and friends. The American Automobile Association says thatfewer of you will be traveling during the holidays, but youcan connect by phone for very low cost of the long-distance charges and all be in one clear "audio room"to talk with others.I forgot to include the company that provides the bridge line to do this very simply. Mea culpa! Here it is:www.freeconferencecall.comThanks to you subscribers who quickly pointed outmy omission. You can now connect as many as 96phone lines with one bridge, 24/7, no registration fora specific time required. This is a great gift tothose who cannot physically attend for the holidays.And you won't have to do serial calls. You can allbe in on the call -- all at once!
2. CD Conversations
Instead of cards and gifts, record great lifestories and memories from the elders in yourfamily. (You can do this on the phone, ifthey live at a distance.) Then send low-costCDs of these memories to relatives. Theywill treasure them. For great questions toelicit these special stories, check withwww.storycorps.net.Such CDs can leave a lasting memory.I have often heard from folks that "I wishedwe had asked Uncle about his experiencesin India" and "If we had only taken the timewith Gramma to learn about immigrating tothis country . . ."Take time to ask, listen, and record suchprecious stories before it's too late.
3. Cookie Conversations
This gift-giving experience is both low-costand great fun. In effect, it's a cookie swap.What to do:Bake a dozen cookies for each person andyourself and invite 5 others. At the cookie swap,include the recipe with a dozen cookies for everyone.Share any special stories about this favorite recipe.(As kids, we used to make Swedish "spritz" cookieswith my mother, who was from Sweden.)You'll all come away with six different kinds ofcookies and recipes and some wonderful storiesof why those recipes are special to you.
Loren Ekroth �2008, all rights reserved
Loren Ekroth, Ph.D. is a specialist in human communication anda national expert on conversation for business and social life.
Contact atLoren@conversationmatters.com