Banquets/Spouse ticets/ Gender/ Don't Take It/Refugee Marriages

Fri May 12 14:41:47 EDT 2006

- MOTHER'S DAY 
- CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS
- HOTEL - ROOMS AVAILABLE!
- ADDING BANQUETS??
- ADDING SPOUSE TICKET
- TEAM MARRIAGE
- FREE TELE-CLASS: STEVEN STOSNY'S "YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT ANYMORE'
- GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT: $22 MILLION FOR REFUGEE MARRIAGE-STRENGTHENING

###########################
- MOTHER'S DAY 

I'm taking off to go celebrate not only Mother's Day with my mother, but
Saturday is her 85th birthday!  She's so efficient that it always feels like
she planned it this way - her birthday and Mother's Day always rolled
into one - to make it easy on us, her 10 children.  As oldest, I always
noticed her "efficiency" measures and hope I've learned a few of her tricks.

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms (married, single, widowed, step,
mothers-in-law, grands and greats) - and to those of us lucky enough to
still have our mothers with us, and to those of us with just the warmth of
our mother memories to help us celebrate the day.

And, here are some favorite Mother's Day quotes.  (Yes, I know they also
apply just as well to fathers).  Speaking of which, Father's Day is just 5
weeks away - it's time to work up some marriage-related stories for your
local media: 
> 
> Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to
> have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone
> 
> Who is getting more pleasure from this rocking, the baby or me? - Nancy Thayer
>
> No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs
> of improvement. - Florida Scott-Maxwell
>  
> The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their
> mother. --Henry Ward Beecher

- diane 

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- CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS
California has now pulled ahead of Georgia, Florida and Texas.  What is
going on?  I think it must be due to Julie Baumgardner's tour last week -
she was all over California telling folks how to organize marriage
coalitions.  It's also interesting that Canada and Australia each have more
attendees than 11 of our states - they're right up there with Alaska and
Hawaii.  NOTE: there will be a list of registrants "by location" available
at the registration desk.  Check it out and connect with folks from your
area. 
- diane 

####################
- HOTEL - ROOMS AVAILABLE!

If you were shut out of the Marriott Marquis, try again!  People have been
trimming back their reservations (thank you!!), and rooms have opened up.
Call the Marriott directly at 404-521-0000.  Some of you have booked rooms
at the Marriott at $239 a night. Horrible.  Contact me if that happened to
you and let's see if we can figure out a way to help you. AND, if you are
still holding rooms that you won't be using, or have booked more nights than
you will use, PULEEZE call and adjust your reservation - 800-228-9290 or
404-521-0000.  - diane

##################
> - ADDING BANQUETS??
> Diane, 
> We rushed to get our conference registrations in by the early-bird deadline.
> Now we've taken time to study the brochure you mailed us and we'd like to add
> the Friday (Scott Stanley) and Sunday (Mark Gungor) banquets.  Hate to be a
> bother. Should we just wait and do this when we get to the conference?
> 

IT IS IMPORTANT that you add banquets ASAP, BEFORE the conference.  You
cannot add banquets once you get to Atlanta, it's too late.  To add the
banquets simply call 800-314-1921 and hit extension 22.  Banquets are $36
per person and include entrée, salad, desert, wine, tax, tip and great
keynote presentations.

And, you're right to add them - the banquets are our chance to socialize and
network - and, have fun.

ALSO, please note the special FREE offer from Mark Gungor for his "Fly Our
Flags!" banquet.  You can design your Flag Page for free on his website and
bring it with you to the banquet.  It will be more fun and much more
meaningful to have your page with you.  We always say that communication is
the key to a great marriage - well, this tool will give you stuff about
which to communicate.  Bring your spouse or significant other if you can,
but if you can't, singles are strongly welcomed and there will be a bunch of
you attending.  Design your Flag Page at http://www.laughyourway.com/sm

Also note that there is an opening banquet Wed night June 21 featuring John
Van Epp on "Love Thinks".  - diane
######################
- ADDING SPOUSE TICKET

I'm working on the Conference Badge Mailing letters today, and realize that
I should remind you that:

> It¹s not too late to register your spouse or significant other. That¹s always
> the number one complaint: ³Why didn¹t you tell me to bring my spouse?!² It¹s
> that kind of conference. You¹ll want them to hear the information about
> relationships & marriage and to learn how to teach the courses with you. (No
> one can teach the courses as well as a couple who can teach from their own
> experience.) If you¹re registered, you can still add your spouse at the
> early-bird rate!

To add a spouse, call 899-341-1921 ext 22.

#####################
- TEAM MARRIAGE

Diane,
I love the column on sleeping in the basement. I am sure it will touch a lot
of men where they live, which we as marriage educators and supporters often
fail to do because we are so busy focusing on more traditionally feminine
approaches to intimacy through talk. The other thing I love about it is the
thing I think is most important in marriage: finding ways to be on the same
side. In a sexual impasse or any other impasse, everyone loses until
everyone can find a way to be teammates to resolve it. Kudos to Ms. Morse
for seeing this situation for what it is!
Blaine Fowers

Blaine is author of "Beyond the Myth of Marital Happiness: How Embracing the
Virtues of Loyalty, Generosity, Justice, and Courage can Strengthen Your
Relationship" - great book which I highly recommend.  You can order it at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/booklist.html   - diane

##################
- FREE TELE-CLASS: STEVEN STOSNY'S "YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT ANYMORE'
MAY 24, 8-9pm EDT 

Because many who wanted to take the free tele-class earlier this month were
turned away, we are repeating the class May 24. REGISTER NOW.

As featured on OPRAH - how to turn resentful, angry, or emotionally abusive
relationships into a compassionate, loving ones. For professionals and the
public. 

May 24, 8-9 pm EDT 
Millions of women spend their lives walking on eggshells. At home, they
spend their time trying to avoid criticism, anger, put-downs, or cold
shoulders from their husbands or boyfriends. Verbal and emotional abuse can
erupt over anything and everything, matters large and small: housework,
cooking, work, spending money, buying household items and clothes for the
kids, and going out. The negative effects of walking on eggshells can
persist for years and do great damage to the children in the family.
Relationship expert Dr. Steven Stosny has been featured on national media
for the revolutionary techniques he uses in his CompassionPower and Boot
Camp programs, which help men rewire their resentment and anger, stop using
emotionally abusive language and behavior, and compassionately recommit to
their marriages and families.

The session will consist of one half hour of comments by Dr. Stosny followed
by questions from participants. If you can't make the live telephone class,
you can listen to it at anytime for a week after the session.

Register at http://www.compassionpower.com

###################
- GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT: $22 MILLION FOR REFUGEE MARRIAGE-STRENGTHENING

> ***Application due date is June 2, 2006.
> 
> The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) today announces the
> availability of funds and award procedures for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006
> Refugee Healthy Marriage Program. ORR will make approximately $4.4
> million per year in funds available for a five-year budget period under
> this announcement.
> 
> The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is currently
> supporting several initiatives that promote and encourage healthy
> marriages and strengthen families. This program announcement reflects
> ORR's participation in these initiatives as they relate to refugee
> populations. The cultures of most refugee populations are built upon
> successful and stable family life. This strength is worthy of
> preservation, and ORR seeks, through this announcement, to support
> activities toward that end.
> 
> ORR seeks to strengthen refugee families in three priority areas: (1)
> Priority Area 1 grantees will provide technical assistance on MARRIAGE
> EDUCATION to grantees in Priority Areas 2 and 3, as well as other
> non-grantee refugee organizations engaged in the resettlement of
> refugees; (2) Priority Area 2 grantees will provide MARRIAGE EDUCATION
> to newly arriving, as well as well-established refugee families through
> affiliates of large national non-profit agencies engaged in refugee
> reception and placement activities; (3) Priority Area 3 grantees will
> provide the same MARRIAGE EDUCATION services but through non-profit
> community-based refugee organizations that provide employment or other
> social services to refugee communities, but do not need to provide the
> more comprehensive refugee reception and placement services.
> 
> Additional information can be learned from the ACF web site:
> http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants . In inquiries should be directed to Ms.
> Kathy Do at (202) 401-4579

This one deserves a huge TAH DAY - so exciting and encouraging!  Over the
past three years, 24,000 people have taken marriage or relationship
education programs through the Refugee Healthy Marriage Program with such
great results that the program funding is being increased and locked in
place for 5 years!  The programs that have had great success with refugee
populations have been: Family Wellness, Active Relationships, Power of Two,
Relationship Enhancement, PAIRS, and PREP - all of which will be taught at
the Smart Marriages Conference in Atlanta.  You can meet with Loren Bussert,
ORR Director, at the Refugee Interest Group Roundtable at 7am both Fri and
Sat mornings or at the ACF Exhibit on the International Level.  - 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