Conference follow-up questions - 6/29/06

Thu Jun 29 15:29:18 EDT 2006

- ATLANTA TAH DAH!!
- DENVER 2007 DATES
- HOW TO SUBSCRIBE AND HOW TO LIST WEB-BASED RESOURCE CENTERS
- WHERE CAN I MAIL MY CONFERENCE EVALUATION???
- NACFLM, LDS, AIR FORCE AT DENVER IN 2007 ??
- DETROIT ??  REGIONAL QUESTION.......LUNCHES??
- EXHIBITS IN DENVER
- CONFERENCE RECORDINGS
- PRESENTER APPLICATIONS

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WELCOME to the many new list subscribers who have signed on since Atlanta.

I got back home yesterday, Wed.  The conference was a HUGE success.
2263 attendees and everyone says it was the best conference ever. Great
keynotes, great workshops.  Thanks so much to the presenters, exhibitors and
volunteers and to all of you that traveled from near and far to make it such
a great event.  We had attendees from all 50 states and from dozens of
countries - and, great press coverage.  I'll try to get all the conf
coverage out to you in next few days.

I arrived home to a flooded basement.  It's only a few inches so "it could
be worse" and I keep telling myself that it gives me an excuse to clean out
a bunch of papers and junk.  Nothing like what those that live along the
rivers father north are experiencing, nothing like the disasters faced with
Katrina.  But it is strange.....I've lived in DC for 37 years and have never
seen anything like this.

I also arrived home to a flood 1,000s of emails.  I don't check email while
I'm at the conference which I know must have been frustrating for you. Many
inquiries were last min conference/hotel questions and I hope you reached
the registration desk in Atlanta and got answers.  I will answer those that
still apply and share the replies with the list on the theory that "when one
asks, many wonder".

I am encouraged by your eagerness to get started on Denver 2007 - lots of
exhibit, presenter, volunteer, poster, hotel questions!  I'm working as fast
as I can to get all that info ready but must first handle the 2006 Atlanta
questions about recordings, CEUs, payments, etc.   But I assure you that as
soon as these are ready you'll see the announcements here, on the list.
There is no inside track - announcements go out on the entire listserv about
how to apply, reserve hotel rooms, etc.

And, the Marriage grant applications are due Friday!  Good luck to all
applicants.  Upwards and onwards.   - diane

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- DENVER DATES

In case you haven't heard, the 11th Annual Smart Marriages Conference will
be in Denver at the elegant Adams Mark Hotel, June 28 - July 1, 2007.  Or,
June 26 - July 3rd if you're counting the pre and post conference training
institutes.  I know I said we weren't going to Denver but that was when the
best rate I could find was $169 a night. Our summer/end-of-June dates are
"high season" in Denver.  BUT, the hotel lost a piece of business and we fit
in the niche and were able to negotiate a rate of $109 single/double!!!!
That's an unbelievable for this city, this weather, this hotel.  The hotel
is in downtown Denver right on the exciting 16th Street Mall. You name it,
it¹s there - shopping, restaurants, entertainment and the Rockies!  You can
see Pike's Peak from the hotel.  Check out tourist information for Denver
and Colorado at http://denver.sidewalk.com   It's a beautiful state -- and
the kids are out of school.... bring them along for a mile-high vacation.

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- HOW TO SUBSCRIBE/HOW TO LIST RESOURCE CENTER

> Diane,  
> The conference was terrific.  This was my first.  I saw an article on MSN
> today that I thought might interest people; single women are more likely
> to face bankruptcy:
>  
> http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/BankruptcyGuide/7WaysToFightOffBa
> nkruptcy.aspx
>  
> Also, could you add me to your e-newslist. And could you add >
<http://www.carrollcountymarriagesaver.org>  to your regional resource lists?
>  
> Amy Gilford
> Marriage Savers of Carroll County Maryland

Amy, 
I'm so glad you enjoyed the conference, and thanks for the bankruptcy
article. It's a great help when subscribers send articles to share.  I'm
forwarding your link to the list so those interested can check it out.

To subscribe to the free Smart Marriages e-list, you have to do it yourself.
Go to http://www.smartmarriages.com and click the newslist subscribe link
(right under the puzzle piece in far left column.)   Please spread the word
and tell anyone you know that it's free, but that they have to do it
themselves. 

I've just listed your Carroll County site in the "under development"
section.  Let me know when you get more classes listed, and we'll upgrade
the listing.  Anyone with classes in Carroll County Maryland, get the info
to Amy and she'll list your classes for free and help expand services to
couples in your county.  Ditto for anyone creating a site around the
country.  See the link below for "how to".  If you web-based marriage
resource centers are ready to be listed in the "under development" section
or moved up to the Registry, let me know.
http://www.smartmarriages.com/grants.html

- diane 

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- WHERE CAN I MAIL MY CONFERENCE EVALUATION???

> Diane 
> First, thank you so much for the smart marriages conference.  What a
> fantastic event.  This was my first time attending and I gained so much
> information and inspiration.
>  
> As I was going over my information I found that my evaluation form was tucked
> in with my notes from the last day¹s sessions.  How can I go about getting it
> to you?  Is it too late to still get the certificate of attendance?  Let me
> know where to send it in so you can get my feedback.
>  
> Tim Reynolds, OCPS II
> Unified Health Solutions
> Program Manager for HMC

Mail the conference evaluation form THIS WEEK to:

CMFCE/Amedco
Box 17980
St Paul, MN 55117-7980

You can expect to receive the CEU certificates by Aug 15th.

AND, even if you handed in your evaluations, send me any
ideas/comments/suggestions.  Your feedback is invaluable to me in planning
Denver.  Whom would you like to see, or see more of?  Suggest format
changes/program ideas.....

- diane 

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- NACFLM, LDS, AIR FORCE AT DENVER IN 2007 ??

I've been asked by dozens if NACFLM, LDS, CASEY and the Air Force are again
meeting at Smart Marriages.  It's early, but I do know that both NACFLM and
the LDS groups will again meet.  Not sure, yet, about Casey and the Air
Force.  If anyone knows, let me know.  - diane

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- DETROIT ??  REGIONAL QUESTION.......LUNCHES

> Can you direct me to organizations in Michigan, spedifically the Metro Detroit
> area that are conducting Healthy Marriage initiatives? 
> 
> Destiny and Purpose Community Outreach (DAPCO)
>      Towana D. Parker (Executive Director)
>      22575 W. Eight Mile Road
>      Mailing address: P. O. Box 19119
>      Detroit, Michigan 48219
>      (313) 533-1931 office
>      web address: www.dapco.org

Many of you missed the regional lunch groups that we've had at past
conferences.  I never did explain from the podium that the reason we
couldn't do the lunches in Atlanta was a space issue - just not enough space
in the ballroom with our record crowd to fit at rounds, had to sit theater
style to fit you all in.  If we can't fit the lunches in next year in
Denver, I realize that we've got to build in some kind of "regional" event.
Maybe we just need to set aside an hour and have people meet in breakout
rooms by region.  Or, send me ideas.  Many of you said on the evaluations
that you preferred having the time to go out and get lunch - that you
appreciated the break to clear your head.  It's still up in the air.....
One suggestion is to mix it up.  Have a regional lunch the first day and
then breaks for "lunch on your own" the following days.
 - diane 

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- EXHIBITS IN DENVER

Many attendees wrote on their conference evaluations that they were unhappy
with dividing the exhibits on two floors.  I know.  BUT they just wouldn't
all fit on one level. We had many more exhibits than anticipated, and we
also lost space from the Marriott.  In Denver we'll have the needed space
and all exhibits will, again, be on one level.  Many of you are writing to
request an exhibit application.  I'm working on that and will send it to all
past exhibitors as soon as it's ready.  I'll also send a notice to the list
as soon as it's posted on the website.   Please realize that exhibits are
assigned as applications are received.  July is early.  October is late.  -
diane 

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- CONFERENCE RECORDINGS
If you missed the conference, not to worry - we've got it all recorded and
available on CD, MP3, and DVD.  Keynotes, banquets, master workshops all on
video DVD or CD/MP3 -- and over 140 workshops and seminars on CD or MP3.
Mix and Match and make your own package -- you can purchase ANY 20 sessions
on MP3 for only $150 (any combo of keynotes and workshops). Or, the real
deal is to purchase the entire conference on MP3 -- 140++ sessions -- for
only $295. Listen on your Ipod or computer!

Order at:
http://www.playbacknow.com/search/index.cfm?orgname=smart%20marriages%AE
Or at 
800-241-7785

Orders placed at the conference will all be shipped within two weeks.

 - diane 

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- PRESENTER APPLICATIONS

Not ready yet but I plan to have them up by August 1st.  I need to determine
if we're going to do 90 min or 2 hr workshops. Seems the opinions on this
were split down the middle - some loved the 2 hrs, some thought 90 mins was
better.   - diane 

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10th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel,
June 22-25, 2006
Download the brochure and registration form at
http://www.smartmarriages.com/Brochure.06.pdf

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