Get thee registered - 1% Solution calls start next week! - 8/06

Wed Aug 9 12:40:20 EDT 2006

- 1% SOLUTION TELE-CONFERENCE CALLS: AUG 15, 22 & 29/2PM EST

Chris Gersten's "1% Solution" teleconference coaching calls will begin next
week. If you haven't registered, do so ASAP. Opportunity knocks.

The "1% Solutions" is a way to tap into one of the best kept secrets in the
marriage movement: the 1996 TANF legislation approved not only federal
spending for marriage strengthening, it also approved spending of STATE TANF
money.  BUT we've not approached our ELECTED state officials to explain how
they might go about strengthening marriages in their states.  If they don't
know about the research-based, cost-effective, preventive upstream marriage
education programs - all ready to implement - then it's our fault, not
theirs.  Those of us in Smart Marriages know why spending a percentage of
welfare money upstream on prevention makes ultimate sense. Any of us could
explain what's available and how this will prevent misery, family breakdown
and welfare costs downstream. What we don't know is how to organize and how
to approach these elected officials. That's where we are incredibly lucky
that Chris Gersten is willing, ready and and so able to help us. In these
calls he will help each state group come up with a plan targeted
specifically to fit their individual state. He knows the steps and it's
become his passion to help us get what we know to the people that need our
expertise. The least you can do is sign up, listen in, find out what it
takes and decide if you want to be part of this next step. I don't think of
it as a step - but as a great leap. There is much more money available for
marriage education campaigns in the states than all the fed money combined.
The calls can handle 100 participants so you should try to get as many
people in your state to sign-up as possible.  The more people you have
rowing, the faster you can bring your boat to shore and the most likely your
state will be selected for the first concerted effort.  - diane

I also STRONGLY encourage you to listen to the recording of Chris Gersten's
"1% Solution" workshop from the Atlanta Smart Marriages Conference. In
addition to a great overview from Chris, it  includes presenters from
Oklahoma and Ohio - two states where marriage activists have figured out how
to organize and tap into TANF funding.  Listen and you'll see why I am so
excited about the possibilities and why I agree with Gersten that this is
OUR obvious next step. You can download the session in minutes and listen on
your computer or iPod - only $9.95.  - diane

> #756-516 - order at 800-241-7785 or at http://www.iplaybacksmartmarriages.com
> Getting State Money: The 1% Solution
> Chris Gersten, Krista Sisterhen, Mary Myrick
> Learn how to access state marriage money - how to open doors and build
> relationships with state and federal elected and appointed officials.

Here is Gersten's invitation:

Now that the Federal marriage grant applications are in, we have another
exciting challenge.  It is crucial that we redirect our efforts at a new
target: state TANF* money.  The 1996 Welfare Reform Act gave state
governments the authority to use a portion of their TANF money to 1)
strengthen marriages and 2) reduce out-of-wedlock births.

Government spends over $38 BILLION dollars a year on TANF.  One percent of
$38 Billion is $380 million dollars a year.  Only a few states are applying
this money to marriage strengthening. We will see significant
increases in state TANF marriage education funding BUT ONLY IF WE ORGANIZE

The 1% SOLUTION campaign will build state coalitions and teach marriage
activists how to get their elected officials to allocate the ALLOWABLE,
EXISTING resources for marriage skills-building programs.

To launch this campaign I, Chris Gersten, will host a series of FREE
biweekly conference calls which will help connect you to others in your
state, build political clout and access, raise money, and provide materials
to give to elected officials and decision makers.

The first round of calls begins next week on Aug 15, 22, and 29 at 2pm EST.
You will only be invited to participate in one of these calls.

Sign up today at the FAMLI site http://www.famli.us/signup.php to receive
notice of when your state will be scheduled and a code to tap into the call.
States will be selected depending on the number of people in each state who
sign up.

* TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

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11th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Denver Adam's Mark Hotel,
June 28-July 1, 2007
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 26-28
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 2-3
Details: http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

List your program in the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com

Order conference audio & videos/CD/DVD/MP3s: 800-241-7785 or at
http://www.iPlaybackSmartMarriages.com

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 
diane at smartmarriages.com