Basic Training in Georgia/Boot Camp in Cyprus/Family Feud on Campaign Trail- 3/12/07

Mon Mar 12 16:53:45 EDT 2007

Basic Training/Boot Camp/Feuds/Campaigns - and none of this has anything to
do with the military....  - diane

- THANKS TO RONNI
- BASIC TRAINING IN GEORGIA
- BOOT CAMP IN CYPRUS!
- CULTURE CHANGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?  OR, NOT?
- A FAMILY FEUD THAT IS FAMILIAR

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

- THANKS TO RONNI

I meant to mention that the HEALTHY DEPENDENCY article in the NY Times
science section was by Benedict Carey, one of our favorite reporters, and
that I had shared his request for interviews on the listserv AND that it was
one of our own, Ronni Weinstein, that he interviewed and featured in the
article.  It is this kind of help that keeps reporters coming back to us and
helps them help us get our messages out to the public. They can't write
without real people to interview. So, thank you Ronni and thank all the rest
of you that contacted Ben. He said, that, as always he got a great response
from the Smart Marriages listserv. It's so wonderful to be able to count on
all of you. - diane

> Dear Diane,
> Thanks for sharing the NYTimes article on dependence. I contacted Ben Carey
> after seeing his request for help on your listserv. I have attended 3
> Smartmarriage conferences and have learned a great deal, to say the least! The
> information, programs and research at the conference have influenced the work
> I do tremendously, even after 37 years of practice. I will be in Denver this
> year and wish I could clone myself to attend all the sessions I would like.
> While I know some have complained about too many emails, shorter, longer or
> whatever, I am delighted there is such information being shared, whatever the
> form. So, thanks again and I look forward to seeing you in Denver.
> Ronni Weinstein,LCSW
> Jewish Child and Family Services
> 
############################

- BASIC TRAINING IN GEORGIA

> Hello Diane,  
> My name is Joyce Whitted.  I am a Program Coordinator for Georgia Family
> Council.  We have Train the Trainer Sessions (also know as T3 sessions) to get
> marital education courses into the communities.  This weekend (March 9th,
> 10th) we had Basic Training for Couples taught by the program founders, Nisa
> Muhammad and Rozario Slack.  Believe me when I tell you that it was
> OUTSTANDING!!!! I am normally not getting trained, I just am in the room to
> make sure all goes well and to ensure that the students and trainers have what
> they need.  Diane, I was glued to the presentation.  It was such a "heart"
> exchange!  They were knowledgeable, real, honest, forthcoming, loving, genuine
> and truly cared!  Everyone in the class loved them.
>  
> I was so moved that I called my EX husband and apologized for not having
> honored him when we were together.  He thought that maybe I was on my death
> bed (smile).  He then apologized to me and said that he had a lot of guilt
> about the relationship.  It was freeing for both of us.
>  
> The class wanted to know where they will be next and wanted to know everything
> about them and of course they pointed them to Smart Marriages!!  They will be
> showstoppers!!!!
> 
> Joyce Whitted 
> Program Coordinator
> Georgia Family Council

Take the two day training with Nisa and Rozario at Smart Marriages:

> 111 Two Days - Wednesday & Thursday, June 27, 28
> Basic Training for Couples and Singles
> Nisa Muhammad, Rozario Slack, DMin
> Learn to teach two programs to help couples and singles in the Black community
> understand the benefits of marriage, communicate better, manage their conflict
> and
> increase their intimacy.   Includes presentation and marketing skills and
> materials.
> $100 spouse discount. Click for more information:
> http://www.smartmarriages.com/black.html
> 

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

- BOOT CAMP IN CYPRUS!

> Dear Diane,
> I attended the January three-day Boot Camp on Compassion Power given by its
> founder Steven Stosny. It was an excellent experience to see Steven "dancing"
> with the whole group caring and respecting the participants. In his sensitive
> way he was able to touch the core values and core hurts of the group members
> connecting them with HEALS. For myself it was an excellent experience which I
> felt I needed before I launch the same program here in Cyprus. To this extent
> the Cyprus Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Domestic Violence
> was granted funding to create a program for perpetrators. We are set to start
> the Compassion Power on Pilot basis within the next few weeks. I am very
> confident that we will have similar successful results in the Greek
> population. 
> I agree with your recommendation of the boot camp exerience for colleagues who
> plan to teach the course and have already taken the trainers course. The
> learning experience is unique.
> Regards
> Andreas Orphanides
> 
It's wonderful to hear about the marriage education programs spreading
around the world. Andreas has attend two Smart Marriages Conferences.

Take the boot camp training in Denver:
> 902 Two Days - Monday & Tuesday, July 2 & 3
> CompassionPower Boot Camp & Love Without Hurt
> Steven Stosny, PhD
> Qualify to teach the intensive, 3-day Boot Camp format to reduce anger,
> resentment and emotional abuse as well as the "Love Without Hurt" 8-hour
> program to add to any marriage education course - designed to recognize &
> prevent domestic violence and child abuse. These programs include emotional
> regulation skills that make it easier to learn marriage skills and use them
> under stress. $100 spouse discount.
> Click for more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/stosny.html

########################
- CULTURE CHANGE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?  OR, NOT?
Diane, 
It was actually stated on several of this weeks news shows that the upcoming
presidential campaign will "DECIDE WHERE WE ARE ON MARRIAGE". Do we accept
the new standard of family breakdown in our leaders? Or, not? We shall see.
But this may be the thing to watch - not what they say about the "M" word
and supporting marriage strengthening efforts but what they actually do in
their own lives. I've seen many articles as I'm sure you have. It's getting
down to it.  Here is one:
Stan 

> CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who remarried
> one month after his 1980 divorce, said Friday that the personal lives of White
> House hopefuls shouldn't become an issue in the 2008 campaign.
> 
> STICK TO RECORDS, HE URGES CONTENDERS
> By Mike Baker
> Associated Press
> 
> "I would like to see this campaign conducted on past record and ambition for
> the future," McCain told reporters after a fundraising luncheon in Charlotte,
> N.C. "I would hope that gossip - or, quote, `family issues' - would not enter
> into this campaign."
> 
> McCain's call to keep personal lives private came the same week that chief
> rival Rudy Giuliani asked for privacy as he deals with strained relationships
> within his family, including estrangement from his children.
> 
> The Arizona senator's remarks also came as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich,
> a potential candidate for the GOP nomination, admitted to having an affair at
> the same time he was leading the effort to impeach President Clinton for
> allegations of perjury connected with the president's affair with Monica
> Lewinsky.
> 
> Another Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, has emphasized his 38-year
> marriage.
> 
> Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptist Convention, has
> said religious voters may have deep doubts about Giuliani, who has been
> married three times. Land told the Associated Press that evangelicals believe
> the former New York City mayor showed a lack of character during his divorce
> from his second wife, television personality Donna Hanover.
> 
> "I mean, this is divorce on steroids," Land said. "To publicly humiliate your
> wife in that way, and your children. That's rough. I think that's going to be
> an awfully hard sell, even if he weren't pro-choice and pro-gun control."
> 
- A FAMILY FEUD THAT IS FAMILIAR
And, here's another.  "A Family Feud That is Familiar" A LONG article on the
front page of the NY Times Style section with photos all about "blended"
families - inspired by the Giuliani/son estrangement and pointing out how
normal it's all become.  And, they use stats that only count the "remarried"
blended families, not counting the MANY that are cohabiting.  - diane

> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/fashion/11blended.html?ref=style

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