THe Village gazette
september 2009
Volume IIi, Issue iX
TM
News for the Residents of the Villages at Western Oaks AND Legend Oaks I
Tejas Toastmasters in Southwest Austin - Greatest Fear Submitted by Kathie del Hierro
There is a fear most of us don’t wish to admit to having. Strangely, the same reason we don’t want to admit to this fear, is the same reason we have this fear in the first place. Glossophobia or speech anxiety is commonly feared more than death itself. The motivator for the fear is judgment by our family, friends and colleagues. No one wants to make a total fool of themselves in front of their community of people. We go through our childhood being told to “quiet down,” to “be seen and not heard,” and to “bite our tongue.” It’s no wonder we freeze up with gut wrenching panic, weak knees, and hives at the very thought of speaking to an audience. The majority of us run away as fast as we can from the opportunity to speak publically. This fear runs so deep in most of us that it actually inhibits us from becoming the successful person we know we are on the inside. The anxiety to speak publically can be so strong that it keeps us from saying beautiful words at important moments in our lives, such as weddings, graduations, award ceremonies, and retirement parties. This fear holds us back from sharing our best ideas with others. It’s of no wonder that we hold show biz personalities in such high esteem – they have seemingly overcome their fear to speak in public. The very thing most of us are scared to death of. So, what makes them different from everyone else? Other than pre-genetic wiring to be a calm person – and only a few of us were born with that gene – the main ingredient is a lot of practice. That’s their key to success; public personalities repeatedly face their fear until it becomes routine. There are many ways to practice public speaking. The tried and true method is to practice your speech in the mirror before the event. Asking a family member or friend to listen to your speech is always helpful. You may even consider getting the family dog in on the act. The best way to work past your fear of public speaking is to practice before an audience that will give you constructive feedback on a regular basis. There are a few places to put in this type of regular practice. Joining a public speaking organization in your community, such as Toastmasters International, is a great way to get practice in. Toastmasters International is made up of people from local communities who want to face their fear of public speaking head on. The one thing they all have in common is their desire to grow as an individual through overcoming Glossophobia, or speech anxiety. No one enjoys being scared to death unnecessarily. As Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized,” the only thing we have to fear is fear itself ” - in this case, fear of our own fear. So get out there and speak up! Kathie del Hierro is a member of Tejas Toastmasters in Southwest Austin Copyright © 2009 Peel, Inc.
Bowie High School Bulldogs & Hotdogs Submitted by Melinda McKenna
Bowie High School is Hosting the Annual ~ Bulldogs and Hotdogs Saturday, September 12 from 6- 9pm. Bulldogs and Hotdogs is a Bowie PTSA sponsored communitywide social event scheduled at the beginning of the school year. This event provides information about all Bowie student clubs and parent booster clubs in a fun filled setting in the Bowie H.S. courtyard. Mark your calendar and come join us for fun, food, silent auction, and entertainment. There will be many activities for the entire family - dunking booth, basketball toss, Kid’s train, face painting, soccer speed shot, football toss, silent auction, and much more. Live music will be performed in the courtyard by our very own Bowie students. Come hungry- there is a wide variety of food sold - hot dogs, chopped beef, candy, baked goods, popcorn, cheese burgers, ice pops, sausage wraps, pizza, beef fajitas, and root beer floats. Yo u a re i n v i t e d t o j o i n t h e Cheerleaders, Band, and the Silver Stars Dance Team in the gym for a pep rally to introduce the sports teams and coaches for the upcoming season. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your Checkbook! The Booster Clubs will be selling booster memberships and spirit items. EVERYONE IS INVITED! The Village Gazette - September 2009
The Village Gazette Important Numbers EMERGENCY NUMBERS EMERGENCY........................................................... 911 Fire.............................................................................. 911 Ambulance.................................................................. 911 Sheriff – Non-Emergency............................512-974-0845 Schools Elementary Clayton....................................................512-841-9200 Kiker........................................................512-414-2584 Mills........................................................512-841-2400 Patton......................................................512-414-1780 Middle Bailey.......................................................512-414-4990 Small........................................................512-841-6700 High School Austin......................................................512-414-2505 Bowie.......................................................512-414-5247 Utilities Water/Wastewater City of Austin...........................................512-972-0101 City of Austin (billing)............................. 512-494-9400 Emergency................................................512-972-1000 Texas State Gas Customer Service...................................1-800-700-2443 Gas related emergency............................1-800-959-5325 Pedernales Electric Cooperative New service, billing...................................512-219-2602 Problems...................................................512-219-2628 ATT/SBC Telephone New Service...........................................1-800-288-2020 Repair....................................................1-800-246-8464 Billing....................................................1-800-288-2020 Allied Waste................................................512-247-5647 Time Warner Cable.....................................512-485-5555 Other Numbers Oak Hill Postal Station.............................1-800-275-8777 City of Austin Dead Animal Collection............................512-494-9000 Abandoned/Disabled Vehicles...................512-974-8119 Stop Sign Missing/Damaged.....................512-974-2000 Street Light Outage (report pole#)............512-505-7617 Newsletter Publisher
Peel, Inc.............................................. 512-263-9181 Article Submissions..........
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The Village Gazette - September 2009
The Live Oak Network of BNI Quick Quiz: 1. Do you know a reliable and trustworthy service professional (residential, commercial, health and beauty, trades, or event planning) who places their customer’s needs first? 2. Would you refer them to your friends and or family members without hesitation? If you answered “Yes”, tell them The Live Oak Network is looking for more good people to join our growing network of professionals today! The Live Oak Network is a non-competitive professional referral organization that admits only one high quality individual or company per professional category to share ideas, contacts and most importantly referrals. Curious? Do you want to learn how to build your business by word-of-mouth referral? Visit us this Wednesday morning 7:45 to 9:30 a.m.… have a great time, meet new people - and there is no obligation to join. Please contact Susan Hale for more information at
[email protected], 369.3692 or visit www.bniaustin.com for specific location.
-ARKET 2EPORTS FOR #IRCLE # 6ILLAGE AT 7ESTERN /AKS 0LUS /VER !USTIN &ORECLOSURES