Jobs/ Stosny Boot Camp/ME going Mainstream/ Rowing: How it Works/Volunteers - 10/06

Mon Oct 30 09:44:17 EST 2006

- NEW "GRANT" JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS POSTED
- STOSNY BOOT CAMP?
- REDBOOK PUTS HALTZMAN ON LINE
- MARRIAGE EDUCATION GOING MAINSTREAM, HALLELUJAH!
- OUR COALITION: ROWING TOGETHER
- VOLUNTEERING AT THE SMART MARRIAGES CONFERENCE?

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- NEW "GRANT" JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS POSTED
Check the listings: http://www.smartmarriages.com/jobs.html
And, successful grant recipient organizations, please send your job
announcements in asap.
See the web address above for the format.  - diane

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- STOSNY BOOT CAMP?

> Hi Diane;
>  
> Will the Stosny Boot Camp be similar to the one he does in Maryland?  I so
> would like to attend!  WHEN will it be offered?  I'm trying to plan my
> schedule.  - Tammy
> 
Yes, it is the same one he teaches in Maryland.  It will be offered
post-conference, July 2 & 3rd.  - diane

#############################
- REDBOOK PUTS HALTZMAN ON LINE
> Hi Diane,
> I picked up the Nov Redbook and really enjoyed the marriage make over
> article featuring Scott Haltzman.  He did a wonderful job helping this couple
> and as a RI resident I was very proud of him.  It was also impressive to see
> that he is the Redbook Love Network expert.  I am hoping this means he will be
> featured monthly.  You might want to let the list know that the entire article
> can be read on line at www.redbookmag.com/marriagemakeover .
> Take care,  Ella McMullen

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

- MARRIAGE EDUCATION GOING MAINSTREAM, HALLELUJAH!

> Dear Diane,
> 
> If you're still collecting resumes for Marriage Educators willing to
> relocate, here's another one and count me in.
> 
> It looks like FINALLY Marriage Education is going mainstream - the internet
> career sites are advertising ME-related jobs in the New York City area where I
> live. (One for Program Director at Montifiore Medical Center and another for
> research assistant for assessing the program there.) Amazing that we might be
> able to get paid for doing the work we love.  Hallelujah!
> 
> John Williams
> CouplesLearningCenter.com

############################
- OUR COALITION: ROWING TOGETHER

> Diane
> The first couple mentioned in today's Wall St Jrnl article is on our church
> secretarial staff. I forwarded your call for couples, she responded, and
> bingo. She is thrilled, a new mom and on the front page of the WSJ being able
> to help other couples!! What you are doing is working Diane, keep it up and we
> will keep running behind you.
> DAVID CARDER
> http://www.TornAsunder.org

I'm sharing this to thank Dave Carder, but also to show all of you on the
list that this is how it works.  The reporters cannot write stories without
couples to make their points.  Their editors just won't hear of it - gotta
have real couples saying this stuff works, gotta have quotes.  And, this
nicely makes the point. Dave is one of the top experts on Infidelity and for
this piece on infidelity he didn't get mentioned or quoted but he supplied
the couple.  Next time we hope he can be featured and someone on the list
will find the perfect couple for him.  Dave will teach both a one-day
training institute in his Torn Asunder program and a MINI TOOB
(teach-out-of-the-box) workshop at the Denver Smart Marriages Conference.

Also, several of you asked me if "HONEY, I WANT TO HAVE AN AFFAIR" was the
actual title of the article or if I made that up when I posted it to the
list serv.  That was the Wall St Jrnl title.  I'd have said "HONEY, I DON'T
WANT TO HAVE AN AFFAIR"....which I think would have been a bit more
accurate.  But I almost always use the title that comes with the piece. -
diane

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- VOLUNTEERING AT THE SMART MARRIAGES CONFERENCE?

> Miss Diane, 
> We're trying to come up with a way to bring several people from our community
> to the conference and are struggling with funds.  Is it possible to help out
> some hours with the conference in exchange for a discount in fees?  We would
> be very appreciative.  We are new to the smartmarriages family but people who
> have attended the conference say they have seen that you do use volunteers.
> There is confusion because people have heard it said that volunteers must be
> students but they saw many older looking volunteers and they are even sure
> that some were couples. They talked to them. We have several couples that
> would like to attend and none of them are students. We need to get many
> community members trained to teach programs. Please advise how to get included
> at your earliest convenience. If it would help to talk by phone let me know
> when to call and I will be able to explain to you how we would put any
> training we are able to obtain to excellent use.
> J. Walters-Brown

I can use 100 volunteers in Denver, however, it's true - the volunteer spots
have traditionally been reserved for students.  In part we do this because
the work is demanding and students tend to be young and strong. Also,
students, usually, can't afford to attend any other way. We've made a few
exceptions for non-students based on financial need and, I have to admit,
the non-student volunteers have, for the most part, done an amazing job.

Also, once a person is trained as a volunteer they can return each year
"forever", so in ten years many of volunteers have "graduated out" of their
student status, yet continue to serve as volunteers. Also, because this is a
marriage conference, we invite the spouses of student volunteers to also
attend on a volunteer work-exchange basis, whether or not they are students.
Just some of the reasons why your colleagues have seen non-student
volunteers at past conferences.  Some people have volunteered for 9 or 10
years.    

This year I've been receiving an incredible number of inquiries like yours,
so, yes, I welcome your applications BUT I caution you that while this is a
great affordable and a "behind the scenes" way to experience the conference,
the schedule IS very demanding.  Volunteers work the ENTIRE conference. In
fact, once you receive the application and instructions you'll understand
why no one is going to sign up to work this hard if they could afford to pay
registration fees and attend at their leisure.  Volunteers must commit to
working from Thurs 11am till Sunday 6pm.  No exceptions. However, volunteer
"work" consists of "attending sessions (workshops and keynotes)" where they
check badges and assist the presenters and attendees, equipment, recordings,
lights, etc - generally trouble shoot and keep things on schedule and
running smoothly.  Basically they run the conference.

Because we depend so heavily on the volunteers, I spend a great deal of time
trying to assign them so they "work" the sessions they most prefer to
attend.  (A happy worker is an effective worker.)  But because of the
intense investment in time at this end and because the volunteers' schedules
are so "intricate" and "interdependent", volunteers are required to pay the
full fee up front - as a deposit.  Volunteers receive a refund of their fees
at the end of the conference in the conference debriefing/feedback meeting.
Once you apply and send payment, there are no refunds for cancellations or
no-shows - or for non-performers. Which means you'd have to come up with the
registration fees up front and then you'd get them back at the end, after
you do the work.   

Volunteers can also attend the pre and post conference training institutes
at a reduced fee, one spot per institute.  But these spots are snapped up
fast.  

Volunteers also can choose to stay in reduced rate "dorm" hotel rooms - 4 to
a room.  

This may be more information than you wanted, but since so many are asking
I've tried to spell it out and I also will share this with the list and also
will post it on the website Vol info page.  IF you are still interested,
email me and I'll put you on the volunteer "prospects" list and I'll send
the applications some time next month.  - diane

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Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 26-28
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