The economy and marriage education & a bunch of Conference Questions - 6/14/08

Sat Jun 14 15:22:43 EDT 2008

- THE ECONOMY AND MARRIAGE EDUCATION: ISN'T IT IRONIC!
- MARRIAGE FRIENDLY THERAPY
- COMPLETE LIST OF INSTITUTES
- ADDING SIGNIFICANT OTHER
- CLICK TO READ THE BADGE LETTER IN ADVANCE

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- THE ECONOMY AND MARRIAGE EDUCATION: ISN'T IT IRONIC!

I just talked to Steven Stosny about how many workshop handouts he should
ship to San Francisco.  And, it's ironic.  For the first time in 12 years,
the conference registrations are not going to increase over the prior year.
Each and every year we've grown. With yesterday's registration reports, I'm
facing the reality, that it's not going to happen this year.  Even though
we're in San Francisco, America's favorite city and have the most amazing
$115 hotel rate and, even though we have one of the most exciting presenter
line-ups in our 12 year history, even though we have registrations from all
across the country and from around the world, we're not going to break last
year's record.  

It's the economy.  

Yet that, in itself, presents an amazing contradiction. As Stosny said and
so many articles point out, as the economy goes down, the demand for our
marriage-helper services go up. Stosny's emotional abuse Boot Camp makes the
case.  The June group held this past weekend sold out well in advance and
was bursting at the seams because he granted a dozen desperate
on-the-brink-of-divorce couples overflow spots. The next Boot Camp, Sept.
12-14, is already a third filled with no advertising. It's filling by
itself.

So, it's crazy-making that our numbers are down for the Conference just when
the demand for our services is increasing.

And, I can bear witness. If you can add the two-day training in Dr. Stosny's
techniques at the pre-conference Institute in San Francisco, do it! Become
certified to teach your own Boot Camp or use the techniques in any setting -
add to your marriage education classes or in your clinical work with
couples.  

Of the 64 people in this week-end's Boot Camp was a couple I referred  a
couple that even I - the eternal optimist about these things - thought could
probably not be saved. I strongly supported that they attend this last ditch
effort...but it was very touch and go. They almost backed out every day of
the week leading up to the camp, but called Monday to report that they had
experienced an epiphany. The husband said he "got it" and that he not only
liked the H.E.A.L.S. Process but thought "he was good at it" and "could do
this". The course, developed inside the prison system, is definitely popular
with men. And with Oprah. She featured Stosny and his Emotional Abuse Boot
Camp three times and said she received more email about the series than on
anything they'd done in 20 years.

> 109 Two Days - Tuesday & Wednesday, July 1 & 2
> CompassionPower Boot Camp & Love Without Hurt
> Steven Stosny, PhD
> Learn skills to teach the intensive, 3-day Boot Camp format to reduce anger,
> resentment and emotional abuse as well as the "Love Without Hurt" 8-hour
> program to add to any marriage education course - designed to recognize &
> prevent domestic violence and child abuse. These programs include emotional
> regulation skills that make it easier to learn marriage skills. $100 spouse
> discount. Click for more information:
> http://www.smartmarriages.com/stosny.html

If you can't make it to the two-day training, you can attend this workshop:
> 308 - Thurs, July 3, 2:15pm
> Love Without Hurt
> Steven Stosny, PhD
> Learn how to use this approach in marriage education settings to help overcome
> entrenched resentment, anger, verbal and emotional abuse BEFORE you try to
> teach communication skills.

And, because I know you will ask, I'll try to anticipate the questions:

1) Yes, the public CAN attend both the two-day Institute and the workshop.

2) To add an institute if you've already registered for the conference, just
call: 651-487-3001 on weekdays.  To extend your stay at the Hilton, call:
800-445-8667.  If that doesn't work, email me and I'll get you someone to
help.  The hotel does have $115 rooms for the pre-conf institute nights.

3) If you can't attend the conference, Institutes are NOT recorded, but
workshops are.  Order on CD or download at 899-241-7785 or at
http://www.iplaybacksmartmarriages.com

4) Visit the Stosny website to register for the Sept Boot Camp or to hire
Stosny to come do a training in your area: http://www.compassionpower.com
- diane  

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- MARRIAGE FRIENDLY THERAPY

> Hi Diane, Karen and I are excited to be able to attend the conference this
> year at the last min. We're just getting registered today and want to sign up
> for Bill Doherty's marriage friendly post conf institute but cannot pick it in
> the drop down menu
> Greg  

HEY!!  I'm so excited that you're coming. Can't wait to see you, again.  Be
sure to come say hello (at the END of the conference, of course - when I
begin returning to human).  So sorry but we had to cancel the Doherty
Institute due to lack of registration. It seems Cloe #901 & Sue #904 gobbled
up all the more "therapy" oriented attendees. You may have missed it on the
list yesterday, but there's a great solution for you: Doherty just released
the DVD's of a TWO-DAY Marriage Friendly Institute that he recorded at an
earlier Smart Marriages conference.  It's even got CE.  The DVDs will be
on-sale at their exhibit in SF. So, plan to buy the DVDs and study kit and
then spend 90 mins with Doherty in his Marriage-Friendly workshop:

> 604 - Sat, July 5, 10am
> 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.

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- COMPLETE LIST OF INSTITUTES
http://www.smartmarriages.com/institutes.html

############################
- ADDING SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Diane,
A question.  On the badge mailing letter (I took your advice and read the
advance copy), you say we can add our spouse OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER at the
early-bird rate if we're already registered for the conference.  Does this
also apply to the Institutes?  Can a significant other still get the
early-bird rate on the Institute? In the brochure it just says there is a
spouse rate for the Institutes.  By the way, I think it is very helpful to
make that letter available in advance.  By the time our badge arriveS in the
mail it will be hard to make some of these changes - travel and other
limitations. 
J.K. 

I am so sorry. I thought sure it spelled that out, that the institute
discount is for a spouse OR a significant other, but you're right, it does
just say "spouse discount" on the institute page and on the registration
form.  The logic is that you get the $50 per-day Institute discount because
you are sharing one set of Institute MATERIALS.  So, YES, it's fine to share
the materials with a significant other.   NOTE: 1) there is no early-bird
rate for the Institutes, just the "spouse/material-sharing" and the "with
conference" discounts.  2) There is not a spouse/material-sharing discount
if you are attending two different institutes (that's where we get the most
questions). You can only share materials IF you're both in the same
Institute. 3) The institutes are discounted if you are also attending the
conference. SO, yes, your significant other CAN get the early-rate for his
conference registration if you call and add him since you are already
registered.  And, then, yes, he can get the "with conference" discount AND
the "spouse/materials" discount for the institute.  Whew. Complicated. Call
if you're still confused.  651-487-3001.

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- CLICK TO READ THE BADGE LETTER IN ADVANCE
http://www.smartmarriages.com/SmartMarriages.conference.advance.info.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