Badges/Banquets/Gungor & Troops/Doherty request/30-Days to Healthy Marriage/quotes - 5/05

Tue May 31 15:46:40 EDT 2005

- WHAT TO WEAR?
- ADDING BANQUET?
- CHECK THE BADGE MAILING LETTERS FOR MORE INFO
- GUNGOR WOWS THE TROOPS
- BILL DOHERTY REQUEST: SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE
- "30 DAYS TO A HEALTHY MARRIAGE" - FREE PROGRAM
- FROM THE SMARTMARRIAGES.COM QUOTES PAGE

######################

- WHAT TO WEAR?
(When one asks, I know many must wonder, so will share these replies.-
diane)

> Hi Diane
> We're really looking forward to the conference in Dallas. As this will be our
> first time, and we're coming from the UK, please would you give us some idea
> of the dress code, especially for the banquets.

We suggest business casual for the conference and even for the banquet
though some men do put on a suit and tie for the banquet...but, really there
is no time to even go to your room to "dress for dinner"....always something
going on.  By 'business casual' we mean it's best not to wear jeans and a
t-shirt.  Slacks, shirt w/ collar -- is what most men wear.  Remember that
the days are LONG and we suggest comfortable clothes and shoes.  And,
because it can be so cold with large zone hotel Air Conditioning systems --
impossible to regulate -- people freeze!  Bring some warm, long-sleeves.
Plan to dress in layers -- so you can adjust.  It's literally roasting
outside BUT can be really cold inside.  - diane
#########################
- ADDING BANQUET?

> Diane, 
> Several of us are attending the Smart Marriages Conference in Dallas.  Very
> excited.  We talked yesterday at a Memorial gathering and I realize I didn't
> register for the banquets.  My friends have attended before and they say the
> banquets are the best thing. I apologize for being a problem, but I really
> didn't understand how this works - I thought they were included. I understand
> now that the lunches are included but the banquets are not.  What can I do?
> I'd like to attend all three banquets but especially the Friday night with
> features Bill Doherty (my friends say he is not to be missed!) and the one
> where we'll get to experience the Marriage Course.  Can I add these at the
> conference? 
> Paula

You CANNOT add the banquets at the conference.  That is too late, but you
can do it now. Call the registrar ASAP - 800-314-1921.  The banquets are
$36.  There are three:  Wed - Ron Deal on Stepfamilies; Fri - Bill Doherty
on Weddings; and Sun - Jana Staton & Kent MacEachern on The Marriage Course.
And, yes, The Wedding Course will be experiential - you'll get to 'test
drive' this easy-to-teach, exemplary and very popular program that is an
offshoot of the Alpha Course.  - diane

#########################

- CHECK THE BADGE MAILING LETTERS FOR MORE INFO:
Oh my goodness, it's almost June!! Badges will be mailed this week with a
letter including helpful hints for getting the most out of the conference
experience.  If you're outside the United States, we'll not risk mailing
your badge -- we'll hold it at the Smart Marriages registration desk for
pick up but will send you the information letter.  We'll also hold your
badge if there is a problem with your registration -- i.e.-- you failed to
select workshops, still owe payment, etc.

Even though you'll receive this information sometime in the next two weeks,
I've posted the info on the web site.  Those of you who are new to the
conference might find it helpful to take an advance peek:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/Badge.mailing.letter.pdf

You can also click on a Room Locator which includes the Roundtables &
schedule of workshops at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/Room.Locator.05.pdf

Or, if these links don't work for you, they're on the website on the
Conference page - top of middle column.

I trust the most helpful among you will send me corrections/suggestions. -
diane 

#############################
- GUNGOR WOWS THE TROOPS

Mark Gungor who will present "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage" Sat night
at the Dallas conference just returned from Germany where he presented to
military couples.  Here's the evaluation the host chaplain sent to Army
headquarters in Bamberg.  Shows we're in for quite a treat!  If you're
registered for the conference, you are registered for "Laugh Your Way"....no
need to do anything.  Just eat dinner on time and get back in time to get a
good seat.   

> ³Evaluations submitted by participants gave the event the highest evaluation I
> have ever witnessed. This program is a thoroughly professional, effective,
> world-class presentation. Mark Gungor has the gift of hilarious humor combined
> with the boldness to speak the plain truth to couples.  The Laugh team
> warrants consideration for Army-wide marriage enhancement programming.²
>  
> Larry Pundt
> Chaplain (MAJ) USA
> Bamberg, Germany

############################
- BILL DOHERTY REQUEST: SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE

If you have had success in raising private funds from foundations or
individual donors for your local marriage initiative, I would like to talk
with you.  The Philanthropy Roundtable, a national association of donors,
foundations, and corporate giving representatives, has asked me to write a
guidebook to help funders move into the area of marriage programs and
projects.  I am talking with both donors and those who have received
funding.  Through the guidebook and the National Healthy Marriage Resource
Center, I hope to publish best practices for both sides of the funding
relationship--how people in the trenches can form relationships with local
funders and how these funders can make wise choices.  If you have had even
modest success raising philanthropic funds in your community, I would love
to pass on your learnings to others.  Be assured that the goal is not to
have other programs compete with your funding base, but to multiply the
possibilities all across the country.  Contact me at bdoherty at che.umn.edu.
Bill Doherty 
#########################
- "30 DAYS TO A HEALTHY MARRIAGE" - FREE PROGRAM

Willie Batson, Founder and Director of Family Builders Ministries, tells the
story of Lance Armstrong, six-time winner of the Tour de France, who
wrote this about his failed marriage: ³We forgot to do the most important
thing. We forgot to be married.² To help married couples all over the world
Family Builders is launching a special month-long emphasis on building a
healthy marriage. Each day during the month of June, they will email you a
marriage-building tip you can put in practice that day. It¹s simple and it¹s
free! All you have to do is sign up at their "30 Days to a Healthy Marriage"
registration page at http://www.familybuilders.net.  They ask that you
forward this invitation to other email lists around the country and around
the world. - diane 

##########################
> - FROM THE SMARTMARRIAGES.COM QUOTES PAGE

> Thanks for running the quotes from your list ...I use lots of your quotes
> and others I've found (below is my new favorite, and one couples resonate
> with) in my classes, especially at the beginning and end. Often, I think
> it's ALL some participants remember. But I just realized how seldom I
> remember to use them when I see clients privately....so I'm keeping my sheet
> of "great marriages quotes" handy in my office from now on, and vow not to
> let a session end without one for couples (and me) to go home with.
> Jana Staton 
> Marriage Works Learning Center
> Missoula, MT
> 
> New favorite (it's long, but worth it):
> 
> In the novel, Corelli¹s Mandolin (De Bernières,1994), a widowed father
> describes to his 20-year-old daughter, who has just fallen madly in love
> with a young Greek sailor, the type of love that lasts:
> 
> ³Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not promises of
> eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second minute of the
> day, it is not lying awake at night imagining that he is kissing every
> cranny of your body. No, don¹t blush. I am telling you some truths.  That is
> just being ³in love,² which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left
> over when being in love has burned awayŠ.Your mother and I had it, we had
> roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty
> blossoms had fallen from the branches, we found that we were one tree and
> not two.² 

I like this one, too, "one tree" -- very nice.  I've added it to the quotes
page. Read them all & send your favorites to add at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/marriage.quotes.html - diane

To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE, or Change your subscription address,
use the form on our website (http://www.smartmarriages.com). Click
Newsletter - right under the puzzle piece.

Please respect our copyright. If you wish to use any of our content send an
email and request permission.

This newslist shares information on marriage, divorce and educational
approaches.  Opinions expressed are not necessarily shared by members of the
Coalition.

This is a moderated list. Replies are read by Diane Sollee, editor. Please
indicate if your response is NOT to be shared with the list.  PLEASE include
your email address in with your signature.

To read ALL past posts to the newsletter, visit the Archive at:
http://archives.his.com/smartmarriages/

9th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Adam's Mark Dallas June 23 - 26, 2005
Pre and Post Conference Training Institutes June 21 - 29, 2005/75 hrs CEU
To DOWNLOAD a conference brochure:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/registration.info.html
For a complete list of training institutes, visit:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html
Subscribe to the FREE e-newslist at http://www.smartmarriages.com

List your program in the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com
Order conference audio & video tapes/CD/DVDs: 800-241-7785 or at
http://www.playbacknow.com/cmfce

Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, LLC (CMFCE)
Diane Sollee, Director
5310 Belt Rd NW
Washington, DC 20015-1961
http://www.smartmarriages.com
202-362-3332 FAX 202-362-0973
cmfce at smartmarriages.com