Media help/Gifts/Perfect Wife/Refugee/Bad Therapy/Movies-3/04

[Smart Marriages ®]

subject: Media help/Gifts/Perfect Wife/Refugee/Bad Therapy/Movies-3/04

from: Smart Marriages®

- MARRIAGE SKILLS IN GEORGIA - ATLANTA
- COUPLES: A CHANCE TO HELP
- GIFT CERTIFICATES
- STRENGTHENING REFUGEE MARRIGES
- PERFECT WIFE/PERFECT HUSBAND
- DOHERTY: BAD COUPLES THERAPY
- MORE ON MOVIE AWARDS

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- MARRIAGE SKILLS IN GEORGIA - ATLANTA
> JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION (US)
> For a piece about marriage strengthening programs and seminars in the
> Atlanta area, I would like to hear about any relationship skills being
> taught at schools, or being considered, particularly in the Georgia area.
> I'm also interested in out-of-state programs. Please include phone number
> where I can reach you. No phone calls, please.
> Need leads by 06:00 PM US/Central MAR 26
> 
>>>> Helena Oliviero <holiviero at ajc.com> URL: http://www.ajc.com

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- COUPLES: A CHANCE TO HELP

Here's another opportunity to reach couples with the good news that they can
get proactive about becoming masters of marriage - at creating successful
marriages and avoiding divorce.

Mariah Mercer, a staff writer at the Ohio Courier, is preparing a series of
articles on marriage education. She is seeking couples who are taking or
have taken a marriage education program and who are willing to share their
stories/experiences. She is also interested in couples who have taken or
plan to take marriage education classes before they wed. Couples will not be
anonymous but she can withhold identifying personal details. Please email
Mariah at mariahmercer at thecourier.com   - diane
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- GIFT CERTIFICATES

> Hi Diane!
> I've been receiving your daily news updates and greatly appreciate them.  I am
> building my practice and am offering Gift Certificates for pre-marital
> education/coaching and wanted to look at samples that you discussed on your
> news briefs - but I could not find the information.  Please direct me again.
> Thank you - What a revolutionary job you are doing!
> Carolyn Gerard

Go to http://www.smartmarriages.com/giftcertificates.html

I try to figure out how to make stuff findable, but there's just so much
stuff.  Where would you park these links? The Gift Certificate sample page
is linked from several places. There are two links from the Directory - one
from near the top at the end of Sections: Gift Certificate ideas.  Another
from near the top of the Marriage Rituals page.  Where would you put a link?

It's wedding season and the IDEAL time to be giving gift certificates.  I'm
giving classes to nieces and nephews that are getting married this spring
and summer.  - diane
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- STRENGTHENING REFUGEE MARRIGES

Catholic Charities program aims to strengthen refugees' marriages
Catholic News Service
March 23, 2004 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CNS) -- When a family flees its homeland and resettles in
the United States, the ordinary challenges of family life are dramatically
intensified on all fronts. That's why Catholic Charities of Tennessee began
a pilot community program this March called Strengthening Refugee Marriages.
"Refugee couples have experienced so many stresses in their lives prior to
resettling in the United States," said Holly Johnson, director of refugee
and immigration services at Catholic Charities. "Once here, they face many
new challenges as they struggle to establish themselves in a new country and
adjust to a new culture." In just the past two years, Catholic Charities of
Tennessee has helped resettle more than 300 refugees, primarily from Africa,
South Asia and the Near East. The marriage program, funded by a grant from
the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, includes a peer counseling
program for refugee families and their children. It also teaches
relationship and communication skills and appropriate parenting and family
behavior.
* * * * * *
We'll feature several opportunities for those working with the refugee
community to receive training and to network at the Dallas conference
including a Friday morning roundtable, lunch interest groups and a special
networking meeting.  Plus, many of the marriage education programs are being
used in refugee settings - check out these training institutes: Power of
Two, Family Wellness, Couple Communication, PAIRS, PREP, RE, IMAGO
Education, 7 Habits  - etc.  - diane

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- PERFECT WIFE/PERFECT HUSBAND

> Diane,  
> At the 2002 Smart Marriages conference in Washington you gave out free "party
> favors" - including wonderful little stocking-stuffer size books "How to be a
> Perfect Wife" and "How to be a Perfect Husband".  We picked up several and
> give them out as part of wedding-gift packages.  With a bunch of weddings
> coming up, I'd like to order a dozen but can't find them on your web site.
> Are these still available?
> Marty 

Yes, they are available but they aren't published by Smart Marriages. I
agree that they make wonderful wedding/shower gifts. They're from Shake That
Brain publishers  http://shakethatbrain.com/  - you can order them (Spanish
edition, too) on their web site along with a bunch of other neat and
inexpensive products.  Shake That Brain will exhibit in Dallas and
founder/director Joel Saltzman will present what promises to be one of the
most practical and popular (and generous) workshops at the conference:

> 414 - Saturday morning, July 10
> Shake That Marketing Brain!
> Joel Saltzman
> Learn to develop a one-of-a-kind vision, then market it like mad with your
> personal Action Plan. Practical tips for advancing your career via speeches,
> articles, books, websites, radio and TV.

Here's a sample of tips from another of the books on the Shake That Brain
website that I highly recommend: "FAIRY TALES CAN COME TRUE: How To Keep the
Love in Your Love Life" "A Picture Book for Grown Ups"
65 "retro" photos and text; 128 pages
 
> 1. Make a list. 
> When you find yourself feeling critical of your beloved, sit down and make a
> list of "All The Things I Still Love About My Mate." This will remind you of
> why you first fell in love.
>  
> 2. Start spreading the news.
> At least once a day, compliment each other. Because everyone loves to hear
> good news.
>  
> 3. Learn what to say. (And how to listen.)
> When it comes to communication, men and women have different needs. Men need
> to hear they've done a good job. So remember to compliment him for the things
> he does. (Even if he doesn't do them that well.)
> Women need to feel their man is listening. Men can help by learning the
> "Mantra for Men" and practicing it often, saying to themselves, again and
> again...
>      Just listen, don't give advice.
>      Just listen, don't give advice.
>      Just listen, don't give advice.
> 
> 4. Learn to soothe frayed nerves.
> When your partner is having trouble coping -- either with the world or with
> you -- don't shout, don't pout, don't run away. Just turn to your mate and
> lovingly say, "Honey, what do you need from me... right now?"
> 
> 5. Give a little more.
> Instead of trying to get your way, try to give a little, then give a little
> more. In other words: Practice thinking more "We" than "Me."

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- DOHERTY: BAD COUPLES THERAPY

Telecourse: Bad Couples Therapy: How to Avoid Doing It by Bill Doherty on 5
Wednesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 1-2pm EST - 5 Hrs CE.
Doherty will demonstrate the common pitfalls in couples work ­
lack of structure, taking sides, overpathologizing, giving up prematurely on
the relationship ­ and how to avoid them. It will make couples therapy more
effective whatever your model. To register: www.psychotherapynetworker.org
or (800)990-1066.

Doherty, professor and director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program
at the University of Minnesota and author of 11 books on families and family
therapy, will present a keynote and several workshops at the Dallas Smart
Marriages conference. The transcript of his keynote, "How Therapy Can Be
Hazardous To Your Marital Health", from the 1999 Smart Marriages Conference
is available on the smartmarriages.com web site at
http://www.smartmarriages.com/hazardous.html.

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- MORE ON MOVIE AWARDS

> Diane, I believe that I saw "Dinner with Friends" off broadway a few years
> ago.  It is definitely a winner in revealing key marital influences.
> Sheila Bost

> Hi Diane,
> I nominate the last episode (22 Mar) of the TV series Las Vegas, titled "Sons
> and Lovers". The owner of the casino, played by James Caan, is having jealous
> fits over his wife, played by Cheryl Ladd, who appears to be sneaking around
> with the lounge singer.  The end shows them going to the singers act, where
> the singer brings them up on stage to honor them for their 30th wedding
> anniversary, then them cuddling and smootching in his office afterwards. Great
> portrayal of ups & downs and lasting love.
> Tricia Czepiel

> Diane:
> Has anyone ever nominated the movie Spy Kids?  There is a great pro-family
> message and the husband & wife are bright, adventurous, committed to family,
> and very sexy!  Take a look at the first Spy Kids movie.  I also think the
> still married "grandparents" are involved in the 2nd or 3rd in the series.
> These are fun marriage and family movies.  Good luck .
> Andrea Brown

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