IMPORTANT - Updates - 11/16/07

Fri Nov 16 16:48:55 EST 2007

- NEW EASIER TO PRINT FLYER
- WHEN WILL APPLICANTS KNOW IF THEY'LL BE PRESENTING IN SF?
- MY NAME OR MY PROGRAM NAME IS NOT ON THE POSTCARD OR FLYER OR ADS!?
- EXHIBIT SPACE
- DIRECTORY LISTING
- THE BEST WEAPON - PLUS PAIRS HEADS UP

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

- NEW EASIER TO PRINT FLYER

Apparently many were having trouble printing the San Francisco flyer because
of the "night scene" photo that was coming out too dark. I just posted a new
flyer pdf on the website that uses a daytime photo of the bridge.

Hope you'll print these and distribute them everywhere.  Download at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/uploaded/Flyer.Sf.11.16.pdf

You'll note today's date in the pdf title.  I'll be updating the flyer as
the program continues to take shape and will post updated versions on the
website.  

#########################
- WHEN WILL APPLICANTS KNOW IF THEY'LL BE PRESENTING IN SF?

As it says on the application, "Presenters will be notified of acceptance by
Feb 30, 2008".  That's the latest notification date, but in some cases it
isn't until Feb that the final slots are decided.

It's a gradual process. First Institutes, then Keynotes, then Workshops.

The INSTITUTES are all posted. These go up first so attendees can determine
when to arrive and depart and to make hotel and airline reservations:
INSTITUTE SCHEDULE: http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html

Many KEYNOTES have been selected, though even those that are posted are
subject to being moved around based on outstanding invitations to Gov &
First Lady Schwarzenneger and Speaker Pelosi. (Anyone know them and can put
in a good word for why the Smart Marriages conference would be a great
platform? If so, let me know.)
KEYNOTES: http://www.smartmarriages.com/program.html

And, many WORKSHOPS have been decided but we've a long way to go before
announcing or posting the workshop roster.  With 150 sessions to fill, we
have to juggle and balance to be sure we have coverage of topics before we
post them "in cement".

If your name is on the Conference Flyer you can assume you've been selected
for something.  
###########################
- MY NAME OR MY PROGRAM NAME IS NOT ON THE POSTCARD OR FLYER OR ADS!?

One of the major goals of the conference is to bring in NEW attendees each
year. That gives us the best chance to grow - to increase the reach and
availability of Marriage Education, and eventually to strengthen marriage.
People recognize certain names and not others. The postcard, flyers, ads do
not serve the purpose of rewarding the loyal or even the winners - those
with the largest or highest evaluated sessions. They serve the purpose of
convincing those that have never attended, to come try us out.  - diane

###########################
- EXHIBIT SPACE
The most frequently emailed question is about Exhibit space. It's NOT too
late, there are still good spots. This will be our largest conference with
TONS of new customers for your marriage resources, so get your applications
in. 
Exhibit Application: http://www.smartmarriages.com/exhibits.html

############################
- DIRECTORY LISTING
This is the best time to get your program listed - you get a baker's dozen,
13 months for $75. It's also great timing because of the hits to the site
due to conference ads and media articles. How To List:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/directorylisting.html

###########################
- THE BEST WEAPON - PLUS PAIRS HEADS UP

I have to share this one from Steve Goodier's Life Support newsletter (
http://lifesupportsystem.com/ )  It's so easy to feel like you're down to
the last minutes on the enemy's 1/2 yard line and to forget all about the #1
weapon. We also need to remember to equip couples with an abundance of humor
- give them this power. Maybe we should tap Lori Gordon and have her do 30
minutes in SF of her best - her PAIRS program includes a treasure trove of
marriage humor. BTW, Lori Gordon will be back this year and will present the
three-days pre-conference PAIRS training! And she's co-teaching with Elaine
and Hal Braff (parents of movie and Scrubs TV star, Zach Braff, and of a
daughter who was a finalist on Last Comic Standing) who are also teaching a
Power of Play workshop.  So, the Pairs Institute will not only qualify you
to teach four (4!) PAIRS programs - you'll also get plenty of laughs and
have lots of fun. - diane

THE POWER OF LAUGHTER

Did you follow the 1987 football season when the Denver Broncos
played the Cleveland Browns for the AFC title?

Less than two minutes remained in the game and Cleveland was ahead by
a touchdown. The Broncos had just fumbled the ball out of bounds on
their own 1/2-yard line. Hostile Cleveland fans were already throwing
dog biscuits onto the field and celebrating a sure Cleveland win.

While the announcer was discussing who Cleveland would play in the
Super Bowl and Denver fans were nursing bruised egos, the Broncos
huddled in their own end zone. Quarterback, John Elway, was known for
miraculous wins, but this situation was almost impossible.

All-pro left tackle, Keith Bishop, looked around the huddle at his
teammates, took a deep breath and said, "Hey, now we got them right
where we want them!" Tense silence was broken by laughter. One player
laughed so hard he fell down! Somehow the joke lent perspective to an
absurd situation and a sense of calm confidence replaced anxiety.

What followed has been dubbed in the annals of football lore as The
Drive. In less than two minutes, John Elway and the Broncos drove the
length of the field and tied the game with just seconds left. They won in
overtime and went on to the 1988 Super Bowl (which, judged by the Broncos'
poor showing, was itself a kind of joke...).

An amazing shift occurred in the huddle that day. Laughter prepared
them to bring their best to a demanding situation as nervous,
negative energy was swept away in the absurdity of the moment.

Laughter has a way of creating positive change in any tense and
stressful circumstance. But, as Mark Twain said, laughter is the
greatest weapon that we humans possess and it's the one we use the
least. Daily, we have countless opportunities to use the power of
laughter to make a positive difference.

-- Steve Goodier http://lifesupportsystem.com/

**************************
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 of subscribers, 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 left
column under the puzzle piece.

To read past posts to the listserv, visit the Archive at:
http://lists101.his.com/pipermail/smartmarriages/

12th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Hilton San Francisco Hotel,
July 2 - 5, 2008  
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 30-July 2
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 6

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

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.