Ultimate Relationships: Divorce Prevention / Madanes - Johnson / Doherty Marriage-Friendly DVDs/Roommates - 6/10/08

Thu Jun 12 09:21:03 EDT 2008

- ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS: DIVORCE PREVENTION
- MADANES/JOHNSON UPSET
- DOHERTY MARRIAGE FRIENDLY DVDS NOW AVAILABLE!
- ROOMMATES ANYONE? WE NEED BOTH MALE AND FEMALE

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- ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS: DIVORCE PREVENTION

I just read the hot-off-the-presses Manual for Program Leaders developed by
Cloe Madanes and Tony Robbins for their new Ultimate Relationships: Divorce
Prevention Program.  It's wonderful and I can't wait for you to see it at
the launch in SF. Cloe will present clips in her keynote and will give
step-by-step guidelines for how to teach it in her full-day training
institute.  And, there will be a special introductory on-site price at their
exhibit. Don't miss that. This program was developed with the guidance of
the California Healthy Marriage Initiative to be sure it is especially
user-friendly for marriage educators in community and congregational
settings.  

This also brings me to the disgruntled email, below - frustration with the
Mandanes schedule.  I've been getting a lot of DISGRUNTLED emails lately as
the conference approaches from people that 1) missed the early-bird
conference deadline and feel an exception should be made because of their
extenuating circumstances; 2) got shut out of the Hilton at the $115 rate
and feel I should be able to get Hilton to add more rooms to our block -
"They obviously HAVE rooms if they have them to sell at $269 a night! Why
won't they sell more at the $115 rate?!"; 3) are upset that they can't
attend this year because of family plans over the July 4th holiday and are
irate when I tell them we aren't likely be back in the SF area for some
years; 4) think I need to turn the listserv into a BLOG because I won't
print their comments about a certain presidential candidate's marital
history; 5) and a whole bunch like the one below where people are realizing
that they can't be in two sessions at once.  I understand each and every bit
of these frustration......with the hotel, the rates, the schedule, the
listserv, and with me. WHO would plan a conference over the July 4th
holiday!?  I did it as the only way I thought most of us could afford to
come to SF - in hindsight, maybe one of my bigger mistakes.

As for the Hilton, there are still rooms at the $115 rate - just not on Sat
July 5th. I've tried, but NO they will not add any additional rooms to our
$115 block for that night. They have another group moving in and can sell
them at the higher rate. We had our "usual" percentage of rooms for that
night, but then John Gray is presenting late Sat night and we've got
extremely popular post-conf institutes.  Poor planning on my part.    BUT we
are amazingly lucky - the Parc 55 Hotel - a luxury property just across the
street continues to offer the $115 rate and has availability every night:
415-392-8000.

- MADANES/JOHNSON UPSET
> Diane,
> I am extremely upset.  I've planned to attend the Smart Marriages conference
> for some months. I received a post card and saw that Cloe Madanes and Sue
> Johnson would be presenting and made plans to be there. Not only were they
> listed on the postcard but I confirmed on the website and saw that it said
> they'd both be there, "live and in person".  I was attending primarily to take
> their classes. I wrote recently to receive a conference brochure and it
> arrived today.  I see that each is presenting only ONCE - and at the exact
> same times and not on the dates that were advertised on the post card.  This
> is extremely poor planning and I feel that what you are doing falls into the
> category of misleading advertising. It is now very inconvenient to change my
> plans.
> Estelle
> 
I apologize.  It's true that Madanes and Johnson are each presenting a
full-day training institute and that the one-day training institutes are all
scheduled on Sunday. We don't have room on the postcards to explain the
concept of the pre and post training institutes - that does cause confusion.
I also realize that these women are leaders - giants - in the field and can
understand how upsetting this is to you. I'm amazed at how many emails I've
received along these same lines, complaining about this conflict -
scheduling these two on the same day. The only consolation is that each
will present a keynote on Saturday - you can hear each of them speak for an
hour.  And, each will have an exhibit and will make themselves available to
talk with you, sign books, etc.  Other than that, I can only offer my
apologies and try to get both to present again next year.  - diane

> 901 One Day - Sunday, July 6
> The Ultimate Relationship Programs - including a brand new program focused on
> Divorce Prevention
> Cloé Madanes, Lic HDL
> Two easy-to-teach DVD-based programs developed by and featuring Tony Robbins
> and Cloe Madanes, help even the most troubled couples understand their core
> needs and master eight essential skills to develop trust, rekindle passion,
> break barriers, align goals, and design a compelling future. Ideal for
> clinical, coaching, or educational settings, or for couples to use on their
> own. $50 spouse discount. Click for more information:
> http://www.smartmarriages.com/ultimate.html

>  904 One Day - Sunday, July 6
> Hold Me Tight: Strengthening the Bonds of Love
> Sue Johnson, EdD
> Understand the exquisite logic of love  the concept of "effective
> dependency"; the cycles that sabotage a felt sense of connection; the music of
> the relationship dance; and, finally, how to shape conversations that will
> foster a secure lasting bond between partners. $50 spouse discount. Click for
> more information: http://www.smartmarriages.com/eft.html

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- DOHERTY MARRIAGE FRIENDLY DVDS NOW AVAILABLE!

Finally, DVDs of Bill Doherty's highly-rated two-day Smart Marriages
Training Institute on marriage friendly therapy are finally available. It's
just like being there. Order at: http://www.drbilldoherty.org  I encouraged
Bill to video the training institute - his wisdom NEEDS to be made
widely available.  I highly recommend the self-study program to anyone
working with couples.  And, to make it even more appealing, you can earn CE
for watching the DVDs.  Topics include: Bad and Good Couples Therapy,
Working with Couples on the Brink, How Even Experienced Therapists Undermine
Marriage, Working with Remarried Couples, and Priority Setting in Couples
Therapy.  

And, just a huge "by the way" his daughter Elizabeth has been so successful
at OPTIMIZING his website that it now pops up FIRST on Google when people
search for  "marriage counseling".  I've told you and told you how good she
is! And, generous.  Take her very affordable, easy-to-understand tele-course
and optimize YOUR own site ASAP: http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory/222

In addition to encouraging all of you to take the telecourse, I've
encouraged Elizabeth to but the intro session on CD and to make it available
at their booth in SF.  I want to get ALL Marriage EDUCATION sites OPTIMIZED
- get them to pop up first in all the search engines - reach the world with
all our info.  How else are we going to change it?!  I predict these will
sell out the first day.  Elizabeth can also consult with you at their
exhibit.  

And, also btw, Bill Doherty will present three times in SF - including once
with Elizabeth on their First Dance TOOB. Even if you've already registered,
it's not too late to add the banquet and if you haven't done so, I strongly
encourage you to join us.  The banquet is always the highlight of the
conference - fun to gather, and Bill's keynotes are always over-the-top.  To
add the banquet, just call 651-487-3001

> B-2 Thurs, July 3, 7pm
> BANQUET Keynote
> Raising Children for Good Marriages
> Bill Doherty, PhD
> Role-modeling a good marriage is important, but it¹s not enough in a me-first,
> commitment-lite culture. As parents, we have to be intentional about raising
> children who are ready for the brave new world of contemporary marriage, and
> about supporting the marriages of our adult children.

> 604-Saturday, July 6
> Marriage-Friendly Therapy
> Bill Doherty, PhD
> Marital therapy is a challenge. Learn about the essential skills and values of
> a good marital therapist and about an exciting new resource for locating these
> therapists in your community.

> 805 - Saturday, July 6
> The First Dance: Wedding Planning - TOOB
> Bill Doherty, PhD, Elizabeth Thomas
> Wedding planning often involves complex, conflicted couple & family dynamics.
> Learn how to plan a ³family-systems² wedding that will lay a solid foundation
> for life-long marriage.

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- ROOMMATES ANYONE? WE NEED BOTH MALE AND FEMALE

I know I just asked and thanks to all that responded, but we're matching up
roommates as fast as they come in.  If you have a reservation at the Hilton
(especially over the prized Sat night) and would be willing to take on a
roommate (cut your costs in Half) please send your info:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/roommates.html

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12th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Hilton San Francisco Hotel,
June 30-July 6, 2008  (General Conference July 2-5)
Pre-Conference Training Institutes June 30-July 2
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 6
DOWNLOAD a conference brochure and register at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/download.brochure.html

List your program and resources on the Directory of Classes at
http://www.smartmarriages.com/directory_browse.html

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