License | Schedules | Ohio | PAIRS | Corporations | Training Options | Lingering | Stereotypes - 1/7/08

Mon Jan 7 15:36:50 EST 2008

- LICENSE PLATES 
- YOUR SCHEDULES: MONEY TO BURN?
- SPEAKING OF DIRECTORY LISTINGS, JUST POSTED THIS NEW ONE A FEW MINS AGO
- PAIRS INSTITUTE 
- TEACH MARRIAGE SKILLS IN CORPORATIONS ‹ "INDIRECTLY"
- HOW TO BECOME A MARRIAGE EDUCATOR IN SAN FRAN? INSTITUTES, TOOBS, FOOBS?
- LINGERING KISSES 
- WHAT KILLS SEX IN A MARRIAGE? LOOK PAST THE STEREOTYPES

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- LICENSE PLATES 

> Hi Diane,
> Our license plate gets lots of attention. We have had people wave and toot as
> we drive down the road. On several occasions we have found couples standing by
> our car and having their picture taken. Our RV plate is ACUPLE.
> We often tell folks we are the only people licensed by the State of Washington
> as A Couple. 
> Joe & Helen Hesketh

I just hope you have a smartmarriages.com bumper sticker next to that plate!
Anyone else got great marriage plates?  -d
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- YOUR SCHEDULES? MONEY TO BURN?

I'm sharing Lynn Turner's note to remind several of you that you that you
PAID for the Schedule listing on the Directory but haven't sent me your 2008
dates!  You must have money to burn. :)  Email them and I'll get them
posted. 

> Hi Diane,
> Here are the dates for our spring classes. Do you remember the guy who emailed
> you saying they had been through 7 couple therapists in our area. You referred
> them to me and they took full semester (6 week) PAIRS Mastery course and have
> turned the corner - it looks as though this 30 year marriage is going to
> stick! Thanks for the referrals. Note in my dates listing that I can also
> train PAIRS leaders in the short PAIRS programs. Please add the training
> designation to our listing.
> Lynn Turner

In case you're curious, here is Lynn's listing on the Smart Marriages
Directory: http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory/80

I refer couples to programs by sending them to your listings. I just sent
two referrals a few mins ago.  One to Lynn with her new dates.

If you want to add your listing, here's how:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/directorylisting.html

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- SPEAKING OF DIRECTORY LISTINGS, JUST POSTED THIS NEW ONE A FEW MINS AGO

> Marriage Works! Ohio: Free Couple¹s Educational Programs - check out the
listing at: http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory/209

#######################
- PAIRS INSTITUTE 

This above reminds me to remind you that you can take the PAIRS Institute
training and qualify as a PAIRS Instructor, teach four PAIRS short programs,
and be trained by the program founder, Lori Gordon - a very special
opportunity!    

> 106 Three Days - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, June 30, July 1 & 2
> PAIRS I
> Lori Gordon, PhD, Elaine Braff, MPS, Hal Braff, JD
> Teach four brief PAIRS programs: Jumpstart, Passage to Intimacy, Love Knots,
> and the Pre-Marital 4-hr workshop. Each program includes core skills and
> exercises that transform relationships and develop emotional connection. $150
> spouse discount. Click for more information
:http://www.smartmarriages.com/pairs.html

FOR A FULL LIST OF THE 30 PRE AND POST CONFERENCE TRAINING INSTITUTES IN SF:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html

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- TEACH MARRIAGE SKILLS IN CORPORATIONS ‹ "INDIRECTLY"

There are many ways to influence marriages. One indirect way is through
skills training and development in corporations. The collaborative
communication that skills employees learn and use at work can also trickley
down and improve communication and relationships at home. For years, Sherod
Miller has been indirectly enriching marriages through his corporate work.  

On Feb 28 and 29, he will present a two-day Instructor Training Workshop in
Golden Colorado (near Denver) that will equip you to teach two programs in
the workplace: the I-SkillsZone (for individuals) and Collaborative Teams
Skills (for intact workgroups).  The programs include skills and tools for
enhancing a wide range of challenging, on-the-job processes and team
building. 

If you are thinking about expanding your practice into the corporate arena,
this is an opportunity to gain certification to offer businesses two
practical and effective systems with multiple applications. 

For details, visit http://www.I-SkillsZone.com/ or call: 800-328-5099.

Sherod and Phyllis Miller will present several times at the San Francisco
Smart Marriages Conference including a workshop that introduces their highly
innovative new THRIVE on-line inventory and their always sold out two-day
training institute.  You can't register until March, but do register as soon
as you receive the brochure.  They limit the size of the training institute.

> 110  Two Days - Tuesday & Wednesday, July 1 & 2
> Collaborative Marriage Skills: Couple Communication
> Sherod Miller, PhD & Phyllis Miller, PhD
> Teach the newly revised Couple Communication I & II programs (plus CORE
> for singles) for creating Collaborative Marriages. Learn to use THRIVE (the
> new Collaborative Marriage profile), 6 talking and 5 listening skills, coach
> practical processes with powerful skills mats including with low-income
> couples. Marketing and practice-building strategies. $100 spouse discount.
> Click for more information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/miller.html
> 
Workshop:
> THRIVE 
> Sherod Miller, PhD, Daniel Lord, PhD, MDiv
> This new cost-effective, web-based assessment tool provides a quick,
> comprehensive picture to increase self-partner-relationship awareness and
> conversation. Use pre, post, and follow-up for highly affordable program
> evaluation.

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- HOW TO BECOME A MARRIAGE EDUCATOR IN SAN FRAN? INSTITUTES, TOOBS, FOOBS?

> I plan to attend the San Francisco Conference. What I need to do to be trained
> and certified to teach marriage education classes? Should I select certain
> workshops or I will get live training? Please explain the process. - Tanvir

You can get live training and certification as an instructor in several
programs by attending the pre and post conference Institutes. See the list
of 30 Training Institutes at:  http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html

Or, you can buy the TOOB (Teach Out-Of-the-Box) or download the FOOB
programs (Free Online Out-of-the-Box) programs and just use them to start
teaching.  No training or certification necessary, though the developers of
the TOOB & FOOB programs will also present 90-min workshops in SF to give
pointers for how to best implement their programs.

Within a few weeks I should have the list of TOOB and FOOB programs posted.
Watch the listserv for the notice and/or check the website. - diane

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- LINGERING KISSES 

> Diane, I think you should invite this author to present at Smart Marriages!
> Mandy
Agree that she gives good advice, but, trust me, we don't need any more
talent for San Francisco.  We're overflowing. Thanks for sending the
article, and I'll pass it on. Maybe it will inspire a lingering kiss or walk
in the woods. -d 
> 
>> lifestyle
>> Couples should strive for quality alone time
>> By Douglas Brown
>> The Denver Post
>> 12/31/2007 
>> 
>> Writer Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "The Weekend Marriage: Abundant Love in a
>> Time-Starved World," (Harmony, $23) and many other relationship books, has
>> some very clear ideas about how couples can work together to strengthen their
>> union. Q: Why is it important for couples to get alone time? A: One of the
>> big mistakes harried couples make (is) confusing "time for us" with "time for
>> vegging out."
>> 
>> So here's what you have to do. Just the way the first thing you do with your
>> paycheck is pay the bills, the first thing you do with the precious little
>> time you have together is make sure it's "time for each other."
>> 
>> That could mean making love, giving each other foot rubs, talking about how
>> you've been doing recently, going for a walk in the woods ‹ but it's got to
>> be 
>> something that makes you feel again the way you felt when you were first
>> together.
>> 
>> Q: Give us some ideas, please.
>> 
>> A: (First), commit to having one real connection a day, no matter what. A
>> real 
>> connection could be a lingering kiss. A hug that feels like you really mean
>> it. A conversation that starts when one asks, "How are you these days?" and
>> then (the questioner) really listens to the answer.
>> 
>> Tell each other what makes you feel especially loved. (And then follow-up by
>> helping your partner achieve that feeling every day).
>> 
>> Say something positive to your partner, even if you are in a rush. Show
>> appreciation in both your words and actions.
>> 
>> Touch more, but don't push touching, and don't assume that all touching needs
>> to be sexually motivated. Asking for or offering a hug, reaching over and
>> gently holding your partner's hand, means a lot.
>> 
>> Look for the things you enjoy doing together, whether playing games, movies,
>> walking, etc., and make time for these activities.
>> 
>> Make sure things are balanced in your life together. Check the various loads
>> you are carrying. It is easy for workloads to become unbalanced. Sitting down
>> every month, and discussing them, can help prevent this.
>> 
>> Be open with each other. Don't make your partner have to second-guess what
>> you 
>> are thinking or feeling. At least twice a week, at a minimum, share what is
>> on 
>> your mind at the moment.
>> 
>> Q:Anything else?
>> 
>> A: Listening is one of the great time-savers. Five minutes of listening
>> prevents five hours of fighting and 50 hours of being mad and distant from
>> each other. - Douglas Brown

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- WHAT KILLS SEX IN A MARRIAGE? LOOK PAST THE STEREOTYPES

Here's the article in today's USA TODAY on the new Michele Weiner-Davis
book, The Sex Starved Wife - for the full article with photos and lots of
great tips:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-01-06-sex-marriage_N.htm

Michele will present twice in San Francisco!

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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/directory_browse.html

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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

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