"Something may be stirring"/ TODAY Show/ Fundraising - 1/14/07

[Smartmarriages]

- SOMETHING MAY BE STIRRING....
- TODAY SHOW ON MONDAY
- FUNDRAISING 

#####################
-SOMETHING MAY BE STIRRING....

The London Sunday Times - Comment
January 14, 2007

> And by more than two to one, married people think divorce should be made more
> difficult, a significant shift compared with 20 years ago. Married people,
> even in their second marriages, overwhelmingly believe the commitment they
> have made should be for life. Divorce rates have stabilised and there is a
> chance they will now start to fall. Something may be stirring. One possibility
> is that the children of divorced parents are determined not to subject their
> own children to the unhappiness that goes with divorce. It is a welcome shift.
> Marriage may be making a comeback and, if the research is to be believed, more
> people will be happier as a result.

The Return of Marriage
Marriage has long been regarded as the bedrock on which society is built but
for years it has seemed that marriage itself was on the rocks. In the early
1970s, the heyday for marriage, nearly 0.5m couples tied the knot every
year. Now only just over 300,000 do so. At the end of the Sixties, 340,000
couples got hitched for the first time. Now the number is less than half
that, just over 160,000. More than a third of children in Britain ‹ 4.5m ‹
are being brought up outside marriage and that proportion is growing. More
than 40% of births are out of wedlock.

Marriage has been battered by changes in social attitudes and by government
neglect. Not only are there no longer rewards in the tax system for marriage
but, particularly at the bottom of the income scale, there are real gains
from not being married. The single mother with a boyfriend who occasionally
stays the night is better off than her married counterpart. Gordon Brown¹s
tax credits have exacerbated the problem. And yet, despite it all, marriage
is refusing to die. The latest official figures show that the number of
marriages has risen for three years in a row, albeit by small amounts.

Our YouGov poll on marriage, published in the magazine today, suggests that
this revival could have further to go. Married people tend to be happier
than those who are divorced or cohabiting. And by more than two to one,
married people think divorce should be made more difficult, a significant
shift compared with 20 years ago. Married people, even in their second
marriages, overwhelmingly believe the commitment they have made should be
for life. Divorce rates have stabilised and there is a chance they will now
start to fall. Something may be stirring. One possibility is that the
children of divorced parents are determined not to subject their own
children to the unhappiness that goes with divorce. It is a welcome shift.
Marriage may be making a comeback and, if the research is to be believed,
more people will be happier as a result.

########################
- TODAY SHOW ON MONDAY
> Subject to change, of course, David Blankenhorn and Elizabeth Marquardt will
> be among those on the Today show, Monday morning, January 15, 8:09 am eastern,
> discussing and debating the new CDC report
> <http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061222/NEWS07/612220303/100
> 9> revealing a rise in unwed pregnancies with older women (not teenagers)
> driving the trend.
> 

In fact, I think we need to just Tivo the Today show and Good Morning
America in the coming weeks.  Seems they're doing lots on marriage!  A shame
we can't Tivo both, they're on at the same time.  So many shows, so little
time.... Maybe somethings stirring..... - diane

##########################
- FUNDRAISING 
Diane, 
Here is a foundation that readers of your list might be interested in. One
of their interests is the prevention of family violence which certainly
fits.  We're applying.
See: The Waitt FamilyFoundation
<http://www.waittfoundation.org/aboutus/ted.html>
- Wendy Kase

Also, want to remind you that Kay Reed will be presenting this "how to"
workshop in Denver:

> Private Fundraising 101: Beyond the Feds
> Kay Reed, The Dibble Fund
> Learn the basics for successful fundraising with individuals and foundations:
> who, when, and how to ask. Develop a strategic plan, chose your targets, hone
> your message, create perpetuity.

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

**************************
Send submissions and comments for the listserv to: diane at smartmarriages.com
Do NOT hit "reply". If you hit reply your email will go into cyberspace and
NO ONE will see your email.

This is a moderated list. Submissions and comments are read by Diane Sollee,
editor. Please indicate if your comment is NOT to be shared with the list.
PLEASE include your email address or url as part of your signature.

Please also understand that with thousands on the list, not all comments can
be shared. Also realize that opinions expressed are not necessarily shared
by members of the Coalition.

To SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, or Change your subscription address,
use the form at: http://www.smartmarriages.com. Click Newslist - in the
column under the puzzle piece.

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

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
Subscribe to the FREE Smart Marriages e-newslist at
http://www.smartmarriages.com

List your program and resources on the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com
Order conference audio & video CD/DVD/MP3s: 800-241-7785 or
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
cmfce at smartmarriages.com

FAIR USE NOTICE: This e-newsletter/site contains copyrighted material the
use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. We make such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of marriage, family, couples, divorce, legislation, family
breakdown, etc. We understand this constitutes a 'fair use' of such material
as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes. For more
information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you
wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own
that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.