Nov. 11, 2009, 6 to 8 p.m. CST Time Zone Converter

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GROWING UP GIFTED: Issues, Concerns, and the Importance of Self-Esteem
A Presentation by Judy Galbraith, Founder and President of Free Spirit Publishing, Author of The Gifted Kid’s Survival Guides and When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers (coauthored with Jim Delisle, Ph.D.)Achievement, competence and confidence are words often associated with the gifted and talented. Yet, ironically, some possess sagging self-esteem and have unanswered social and emotional needs. These issues may strain relationships with teachers, parents, siblings and peers. They also prevent students from achieving their potential.This presentation offers a unique opportunity to explore the nature of growing up gifted today.

Author/educator Judy Galbraith will address how to recognize and meet the social and emotional needs of the gifted.;She will also present current responses from student letters and surveys to share what talented youth themselves have to say about their lives.Ms. Galbraith’s presentation offers creative, practical, and effective suggestions for helping these young people to survive and thrive. You can follow Judy on Twitter You can join Judy at Free Spirit on Facebook

As a former classroom teacher and specialist in gifted education, Judy Galbraith recognized a clear need for books to help children and teens navigate life's challenges. Judy founded Free Spirit Publishing in 1983 becoming the first publisher to focus on self-help materials to help young people lead better lives. Her first books, and the first titles for Free Spirit Publishing, grew out of her master's thesis paper and they're still in print today...The Gifted Kids' Survival Guides (for ages 10 & under and for teens).Not having a business or publishing background, Judy learned about growing Free Spirit the hard way. "I always tell people that I've done just about everything wrong...once. I'm a strong believer in the importance of persistence in the face of challenges. With every mistake or bad thing that might happen in our lives, there's always, always an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. By modeling this mindset for children and teens through our deeds and through resources such as the ones we create at Free Spirit , we can help young people do and be their best in all areas of their lives. I grew up around books, and I firmly believe they have the power to inspire, inform, and transform."

Judy is proud of the accolades that Free Spirit's books consistently garner from professionals, but she says, "How do we know our books really work? The letters from our readers. Almost every day we receive fan mail about how our books have helped someone. Those letters make it easy for us to stay true to our mission which is to provide children and teens - and the adults who care about them - with the tools they need to succeed in life and to make a difference in the world."In addition to The Gifted Kids' Survival Guides, Judy is the author of You Know Your Child Is Gifted When...A Beginner's Guide to Life on the Bright Side. She is coauthor of What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future; What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids; and, most recently, When Gifted Kids Don't Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs.

Judy served ten years on the Board of Directors of Search Institute, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and adolescents. Currently she serves on the Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2004, she was named the Midwest Publisher of the Year. She has appeared on Oprah and been featured in Family Circle and Family Life, as well as numerous other magazines,newspapers, and broadcast and electronic media. She is a member of the Association of Booksellers for Children, the Association of Educational Publishers, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, the National Association for Gifted Children, and the Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees.Judy grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, received a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin at Steven's Point, and holds a master's degree in guidance and counseling of the gifted from Norwich University, Vermont. She is a sailor and enjoys adventure travel, reading (of course!), community activism, and hanging out with her Airedale "terror" Chloe and new Scottie Sally, Free Spirit's mascots and chief mischief makers.

Judy lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Dear OGTOC list members,
As an OGTOC list member, please know that you can receive a 20% discount by using coupon code GFT09. You can use this coupon code to order any product thru the web site, fax, phone or snail mail. The coupon is good through Nov 30, 2009.
(www.freespirit.com)

As an OGTOC list member, please take advantage of your group benefit.
kindest regards,
Sally_L OGTOC Admin

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TWITTER and TWEET
Create an account at http://twitter.com/
Then locate OGTOC at http://twitter.com/OGTOC
Then choose to be a follower. This option is for all list members, but especially for those who have little time to participate in a 24/7 social network, but still want to stay connected to OGTOC - Our Gifted Online Conferences.
OGTOC is also creating a network for 2E - twice exceptional on twitter. If you are interested in adding your home state to the 2E network Contact Sally_L at comcast dot net
Idaho2E,Illinois2E,Washington2E,Maine2E ,>Michigan2E etc
>

OGTOC is also on FB at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60920414600
The purpose of being on FB is to have a larger outreach to others who have an interest in gifted issues.

Welcome to Our Gifted Online Conferences/Webinars -A place to join together to meet, share, learn, and discuss issues pertaining to giftedness and talent of all individuals regardless of race, age, gender, economic status, and/or twice/thrice exceptionalities.If your children did not come with instructions, then OGTOC will be a resource you will find very beneficial. In the past the OGTOC group was only active on an email list serv during conferences. Now OGTOC is 24/7 with many groups to join so you can talk with others with that interest 24/7. OGTOC now has expanded to hold conferences, book clubs, workshops, fireside chats, etc
As mentioned OGTOC holds conferences/webinars wherein you can signup and then receive an email with details how to participate with that guest expert and chosen topic. This information will be sent to the whole list in addition being posted to the group Gifted Online Conferences on this Ning platform which is one of the 113 groups you can join.. Information with details how to sign up and pay for any conference/webinar is located here