Saturday: PDFs to extend our reach | Marriage Songs | Candidates - 2/2/08

Sat Feb 2 13:12:39 EST 2008

- BROCHURE LINK AND PDF
- PREPARE/ENRICH
- MARRIAGE SONGS??
- SATURDAY MAILBAG: PROUD OF | CANDIDATES

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

- BROCHURE LINK AND PDF

>> Diane:
>> If you have an electronic format for the brochure, we could send that to
>> all of our trainers (600+) and the thousands of PREPARE/ENRICH Users in
>> the California region.
>> 
>> We can also email them an endorsement with a link to download the brochure
>> off your website.
>>  
>> Peter Larson
>> PREPARE/ENRICH 

> Hey Diane, 
> Cosette suggested you send the pdf to us and we will forward it to several
> different sites and listserves that we're on. There is a resource site that
> has information for local family therapists, as well as through our contacts
> at universities. When I have them sent out, I will let you know who they were
> sent to so you can track results.
> Hope that helps, Erin

These are great ideas. Sending the electronic version of the brochure
definitely extends our reach.

If you have your own websites; email newslists; lists of trainers; belong to
list servs or blogs; are on denomination lists, etc please forward the pdf
of the  brochure AND/OR post the link so readers can download.  You can
download the pdf at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/uploaded/Brochure.08.HIGHres.pdf

OR, send people to the page where there are different versions to be
downloaded (some full color high resolution, some low resolution):
http://www.smartmarriages.com/download.brochure.html

You might tell people that they can also order a "real" brochure at Smart
Marriages - I'll mail them a printed copy.  - diane
##########################
- PREPARE/ENRICH
AND, if you're interested in joining the ranks of the thousands of
PREPARE/ENRICH instructors around the world mentioned above, there are many
opportunities to check out the PREPARE/ENRICH - LIFE INNOVATIONS family of
programs in San Francisco - everything from a keynote on the new Couple
Checkup to a TOOB training to a full-day certification training for
PREPARE/ENRICH instructors:

> Keynote: The Couple Checkup - Friday, July 4
> David Olson, PhD
> People get a dental checkup annually and get the oil changed on their
> car every 3,000 miles, but almost never get a checkup on their marriage.
> The Couple Checkup helps couples identify their strengths and growth
> areas and primes them to attend marriage education programs.

> 908 One Day - Sunday, July 6
> PREPARE/ENRICH
> David Olson, PhD, Matthew Turvey, PsyD
> Learn how to help couples prepare for marriage and enrich their
> relationships with five 165-question inventories (PREPARE, PREPARE-MC,
> PREPARE CC, ENRICH or MATE) and a series of feedback sessions focused on six
> couple-strengthening exercises. Qualifies you to administer, interpret and
> give feedback on 5 couple inventories. Includes all training materials,
> PREPARE/ENRICH leader manual, 5 inventories, and coupon. $50 spouse
> discount. Click for more information:
> http://www.smartmarriages.com/olson.html
> 
> 211 - Thurs, July 3
> PREPARE to Last – TOOB
> David Olson, PhD, Peter Larson, PhD
> Learn how to help premarital and newlywed couples laugh, learn & grow!
> Easy-to-use, entertaining, DVD-based program includes an online Couple
> Checkup. 

> 703 - Sat, July 5
> The Couple Checkup
> David Olson, PhD, Ron Deal, MMFT, Peter Larson, PhD
> Using research from 100,000+ couples, understand the unique differences
> between first and subsequent marriages and how to use the online Couple
> Checkup to empower premarital, married, and remarried couples.

########################
- MARRIAGE SONGS??

Marriage Matters: Sing a rockin’ song of marriage �- please!
Sturgis Journal 
February 1, 2008

Why is music about marriage so sappy? In a discussion with our teenage
daughter about her music choices, something became quite evident to us.
Marriage-themed music is "boring."

This conversation led to a quick Internet search where we found there are
plenty of mushy wedding songs out there, but very few "marriage songs." And
of these, country music seems to be the dominant genre.

We certainly agree that there are some lovely slow songs and romantic
ballads that extol the wonderful virtues of marriage. But when it comes to a
toe-tapping, "just gotta get up and dance" kind of song, we could not think
of one marriage song in this category.

And we want to know, why not? You might have noticed that marriage is a
fairly common experience. You might even agree with us that it is the
coolest thing on the planet. So where is the hot dance music for marriage?

For decades, popular songs about hooking-up have been about the thrill, the
chase, and the physical pleasures, which some would say is absent in
marriage (we beg to differ). But we do concede that certain benefits of
marriage, such as companionship, predictability, and emotional safety, are
much more suitable for cuddling than rocking down the house.

For one thing, it is not easy to write lyrics for a rockin' marriage song.
We tried. Lines like "Ooo Baby Baby, you do the washin' and I'll do the
dryin'" or "The kids are at Grandma's tonight, let's read a book and go to
bed early, yeah, yeah, yeah" just did not seem to inspire the mad, gyrating
images we were looking for.

Even big-time music dudes seem to struggle with writing about marriage. A
quick tour of the ages shows some examples. Ted "Motor City Madman" Nugent's
1970's rocker "Wango Tango" was full of... er, "colorful" metaphors about a
relationship. Although, in recent years he has extolled the virtues of his
marriage in interviews, where is his happenin' song about marriage?

A bit too old for you? What about Trace Adkins' chart-topping,
genre-crossing "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk?" A great bar song, but could he pull
out the same jammin' tune with lyrics specifically about marriage?

How about some current pop music? Billboard's top song, Flo Rida's "Low"
might be a cool club song, but it's a prowling song, not a marriage song.
Giving "that big booty a smack" is more the context of boys behaving badly
than marital fidelity.

We've got some toes that are achin' to be tappin' to some happenin' marriage
tunes.

So there's a niche to be filled, and here's our challenge to the music
industry: produce fun, upbeat, rockin' songs about healthy marriage. Your
audience awaits.

James Burg is executive director of the Healthy Marriages Sturgis program.
His wife, Audora, is a homemaker and free lance writer. They are parents of
three children and reside in Sturgis.

***If you search the listserv archive for "marriage songs" you'll find
earlier discussions of this.  Also, Aaron Larson is working on a marriage
songs CD - expect it to launch any day.  Archive:
http://lists101.his.com/pipermail/smartmarriages/

And, on the Marriage Quotes page, I've got a songs/lyrics section including
the lyrics to God Bless Our Love written by John Lennon ....though I warn
you not to go there....it's hard not to stay and reread the marriage jokes
and scripts and quotes, and you should be out playing on Saturday!  Do send
marriage song ideas and I'll see if I can get them linked. - diane

###########################
- SATURDAY MAILBAG: PROUD OF | CANDIDATES

I'm getting lots of emails like this one "finally" "4-color makes such a
difference" :
> Congratulations Diane:
> Now, this is a brochure that I can be very proud of giving to folks. We've
> always had a great conference with top notch programs; now the "dress" matches
> the body. Great!!!!
> Elizabeth Einstein

- CANDIDATES 
And, a bunch that are asking me to endorse one presidential candidate or
another on the listserv as someone who would support marriage strengthening
funding/legislation. It just proves once again that this is truly a
coalition and that marriage strengthening is not a partisan issue. And, it's
encouraging that people are working on influencing ALL the candidates and we
seem to have someone who feels "inside" with each of the various contenders.
- diane 

To SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE to this Free listserv, or change your subscription
address, use the form at (http://www.smartmarriages.com). Click Newsletter
in the column under the puzzle piece.

Please respect our copyright. If you wish to use any of our content send an
email to request permission.

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 read past posts to the newslist, 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

Details: http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

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