A TEXAS-SIZED TAH DAH!! ||| 1% Solution || Fundraising - 6/18/07

Mon Jun 18 22:34:42 EDT 2007

- TEXAS Tah Dah!!  
- LEARN HOW IT'S DONE

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- TEXAS Tah Dah!!  

This is huge. On Fri June 15 Gov Perry of Texas signed the two HISTORIC
marriage education bills passed by the state legislature in May. Now they're
a sure thing, a done deal and we can exhale! All you lucky Texas marriage
educators - we all envy you.

To remind you, one bill authorizes a set-aside of 1% of Texas TANF money for
healthy marriage initiatives - $7.5 million each year for fiscal years 2008
and 2009.  This one becomes effective Sept 1, 2007.

The other bill is a premarital education bill that waives the marriage
license fee for couples that take an 8-hour premarital preparation course.
The course must cover communication, conflict management, and other aspects
of healthy marriages.  This bill's effective date is delayed until Sept
2008 so enough educators can be trained across the state. We'll give them a
good head start at the Denver Smart Marriages Conference where more than 200
Texans will be trained as certified Marriage Educators. It's not too late
for the rest of you to get registered.  ;)  http://tinyurl.com/2j2ghk

Our hats-off gratitude goes to Rep WARREN CHISUM sponsor of the legislation;
to former Texas Rep ARLENE WOHLGEMUTH who as President of Three Point
Strategies shepherded the legislation through the hoops and over the land
mines; and to our own very determined MAGGIE RUSSELL who helped organize a
smart, strong marriage education coalition to help write the legislation,
lobby and testify. I say she's our own because she's attended the last three
Smart Marriages Conferences and makes me mighty glad we took the conference
to Texas in 04 and 05!! These are clearly MARRIAGE EDUCATION bills.

You can meet Arlene at the Denver Conference and she can fill you in on how
they helped their state policy makers see that it makes sense to spend a
small percent of TANF/welfare money UPSTREAM to help couples get and stay
married and to offer incentives to couples to take a class and get smarter
about marriage so they have a chance to keep their life-long vows.

I'm sure Maggie Russell will attend Chris Gersten's "1% Solution" meetings.
See the next message for how to follow this incredible Texas leadership!

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- LEARN HOW IT'S DONE

Chris Gersten/FAMLI will be hosting "1% Solution" small group meetings at
the Smart Marriages Conference in Denver. All Meetings are in Plaza 8:
Thurs, June 28: 5-6:30pm
Thurs, June 28: 8:30-10pm
Fri, June 29: 5:30-7pm
Sat, June 30: 4:30-6pm

Agenda:
*   Success in 7 States in 2007 - including the TEXAS $7.5 million a year!!
*   Plans for the Future
*   Use of the Internet for grassroots activism
*   Planning for Federal Grant Opportunities for Fiscal 2008

These small group meetings are important in helping you get organized so
YOUR state can win TANF resources for healthy marriage programs and to start
planning for 2008 grant announcements.

Visit http://www.Famli.us to register.  You must register to participate.
If you won't be in Denver, register at http://www.famli.us to receive
notification about the FAMLI "1% Solution" conference calls plus calls to
discuss new funding & grant opportunities.

Also, plan to attend the Gersten Smart Marriages workshop:

> 320 - Fri, June 29, 2:15pm
> Getting State Money: The 1% Solution
> Chris Gersten
> Learn how to access state marriage money  how to open doors and build
> relationships with state and federal elected and appointed officials.

And, if you're interested in funding, don't miss these:

> 620 - Sun, July 1, 8:3am
> Grant Writing 101
> Dennis Stoica, MBA
> Understand the fine points of grant writing in order to qualify for government
> and private foundation marriage money.

> 720 - Sun, July 1, 10:30am
> Private Fundraising 101: Beyond the Feds
> Kay Reed
> 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.

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11th Annual Smart Marriages Conference, Denver Adam's Mark Hotel,
June 28-July 1, 2007
Downlaod a brochure: http://www.smartmarriages.com/Brochure.07.pdf

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