Inspiration: Austria | Mississippi | Virginia | Feminists - 11/05/07

[Smartmarriages]

- PRO-ACTIVE IN AUSTRIA: RESPONSE TO THE DIVORCE FAIR!
- MARRIAGE PROMOTION IN MISSISSIPPI
- CELEBRATION BANQUET IN VIRGINIA
- MARRIAGE IN A FEMINIST AGE: WHY AM I STILL MARRIED?

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- PRO-ACTIVE IN AUSTRIA: RESPONSE TO THE DIVORCE FAIR!

Wish I had a way to forward the wonderful photos of their booth, but I'm not
able to send attachments to the list. Just trust me the photos would warm
the cockles of your marriage-strengthening hearts. And, you'll be inspired
just by reading what they put together with such short notice. It's all
about being prepared to spring into action when opportunities like this
present themselves.   -diane

Dear Diane,
Because you informed the listserv about the "Divorce Fair" in Vienna, we
were able to respond appropriately and make a statement FOR
marriage.  We have a "Marriage Network" here in Austria compiled of
7 different Christian organizations committed to marriage
education and enrichment.  I immediately contacted them with the news
of the "Divorce Fair" and asked if anybody had ideas about how we could
respond.

Franz and Johanna Teufl, who attended the Smart Marriage Conference in
Denver, were able to enlist the help of several co-workers from Vienna
who are involved in the Protestant "Marriage Encounter"
movement which they direct.  These dear folks rose to the challenge and
within one week's time created an attractive exhibition booth complete with
colorful banner, a short eye-catching PowerPoint
presentation, brochures and posters from all 7 organizations
advertising the various marriage enrichment weekends and seminars
available.
 
Three articulate couples took turns manning the booth and talking to
interested visitors.  Furthermore they gave interviews with about 20
different newspaper and television correspondents, not only from
Austria but also from several other European countries.
They reported having many good conversations with couples that were
actually quite thankful to find somebody who could offer an
alternative to divorce.  An older gentleman commented on how
refreshing it was to meet Christians "out in the world" ready to meet
the very real needs of hurting marriages and families.
 
At the end of the Divorce Fair, the main organizer himself came up to
the marriage booth and personally thanked them for their presence and
invited them to take part in the large "Wedding Fair" to be held in
the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna next year.  Thanks to Smart
Marriages, we too are learning how to be pro-active in informing the
public about ways to strengthen marriage and avert divorce.
 
Beth Domig
Salzburg, Austria
www.familyplus.at <http://www.familyplus.at>
 
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- MARRIAGE PROMOTION IN MISSISSIPPI

New program promotes healthy marriage
Laurel Leader-Call 
Nov 5, 2007 
By Brandon Fincher/community at laurelleadercall.com

‹ Laurel is promoting healthy marriages through a grant from the Mississippi
Healthy Marriage Initiative.

Housed across Oak Street from the YWCO, the staff of the Laurel Community
Family Center has begun to get to work on seeing marriages in the area be
the best they can be.

But why are healthy marriages important to Laurel?

Mariann Taylor is in charge of Laurel¹s Community Family Center and said,
³The city administration was able to see the connection between healthy
families and a healthy community. When you have strong, stable marriages, it
trickles down into all aspects of your society.

³You have a better economy, you have less crime. So that was the city¹s
thinking in writing this, and I¹ve been to some conferences and training,
and they¹re really applauding the city for being that forward thinking.²
Taylor said governments have begun to fund healthy marriage initiatives
across the nation because research shows children, on average, do better
when raised in a two-parent family.

³The city wrote this grant and was awarded it by the Department of Human
Services. It is TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) money,²
Taylor said. ³We are one of only 11 centers across the state that¹s a part
of this initiative, and we are the only city, so we¹re very, very proud of
the city of Laurel for being chosen to do this.²

The Family Center is not a place to get marriage counseling, according to
Taylor, though they can refer people to marriage counselors, but promotes
and educates the public about the benefits of marriage.

³Marriage kind of gets a bad rap sometimes, but if you have a stable, strong
marriage, there are a lot of benefits. People live longer. They have more
money,² Taylor said.

Taylor is assisted by several staff members including Marketing Specialist
Mary Anna Taylor, Multicultural Specialist Haile Gaddy and Community Liaison
Rev. Cecil Ashford.

The Community Family Center receives input and ideas monthly from a group of
coalition members made up of city and community leaders. The center also
partners with the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, Head Start and First
Enterprise Missionary Baptist Association.

The center serves Jones, Wayne, Jasper and Clarke counties, and Taylor said
they will have an active presence in all four counties, conducting classes
and meetings in each.

The Community Family Center can be reached by stopping in the Oak Street
office or calling 601-425-4035.

For photo: http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_308103524.html

Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.

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- MARRIAGE CELEBRATION BANQUET IN VIRGINIA

This marriage banquet included the town mayor!

'Til death do us part...
Couples share tips for long marriages
November 5, 2007

By PAUL COLLINS - Bulletin Staff Writer

The Healthy Relationship and Marriage Banquet on Friday night was a mixture
of food, fellowship, laughter, a bit of heartbreak and lots of practical
advice on having successful relationships that will last.

The healthy relationship and marriage tips will be compiled into a journal
and used as an educational tool for young people.

About 85 to 90 people ‹ mostly couples from Martinsville, Henry County,
Danville and Pittsylvania counties who have been married at least 25 years ‹
attended the elegant event, held at Gallery Banquet and Convention Center in
Martinsville.

The banquet-goers entered through a wedding arch, could have their pictures
taken surrounded by flowers and candles and listened to the jazz band Small
Town Orchestra. They dined at well adorned tables, and during dinner,
discussed what tips they would give young people about how to handle
finances, how parents can raise successful students and the importance of
commitment in marriage (for better or worse, in sickness and in health).

Some also discussed ³red flags² young people need to look for in new
relationships. Patricia Carter, one of the directors of For the Children
Partners in Prevention, one of the hosts of the event, said those red flags
may include controlling and abusive behaviors and poor financial management.

. . . The event is part of the Healthy Marriage Initiative through a grant
from the Virginia Department of Social Services and a part of President
Bush¹s Healthy Marriage Initiative.

For the full article with photo:
http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/article.cfm?ID=11502

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- MARRIAGE IN A FEMINIST AGE: WHY AM I STILL MARRIED?

I found just this little snippet on-line.  If anyone can find access to the
full article, I'd love to see it. Send the url if you can find it. (I&M is
the Inquirer and Mirror "Nantucket's newspaper since 1821".)  - diane

> The meaning of marriage in a feminist age
> 
> By Carrie Leland
> I&M Staff Writer, Nov 5, 2007
> 
> The meeting of Karen Propp and Jean Trounstine was not only a meeting of the
> minds. It was a marriage, of sorts.
> 
> When chatting over Starbucks coffee after reading their work in Providence,
> R.I., the two writers stumbled into a conversation about husbands which led to
> a fortuitous moment. They discovered they had both written essays with the
> same title: ³Why I am Still Married.²
> 
> In this age of feminism where single women can support themselves and divorce
> rates hover around 50 percent, both Propp and Trounstine wondered not only why
> marriage still happens but also half the time why it still succeeds.

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