Comments / Video Contest / Practically FREE / Michigan Free/ Virginia Beach: Free / Free Teleconference / Black Marriage Day -

[Smartmarriages]

- FOREPLAY 
- OVERCOMING PROGRAMMING
- THE "WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP REALITY?" VIDEO CONTEST
- DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY: PRACTICALLY FREE!!
- HEALTHY MARRIAGES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS (HMHR): GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN
- FREE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN VIRGINIA BEACH
- FREE: TELECONFERENCE SEMINAR ON "LIVING TOGETHER"
- BLACK MARRIAGE WEEK APPROACHING

- FOREPLAY 
> Are you saying men shouldn't have to make love to their wives - talk to us,
> be nice to us????  It makes it sound like Madanes (and you) are blaming the
> wives.  Foreplay does begin in the morning!

Not saying that.  Just that this is a way to understand what might be part
of the appeal of a prostitute - that it takes sex out of the
romantic/relationship requirements context.  I also received replies that
agreed with this "zipless" perspective - that were not quite fit to print.

- OVERCOMING OUR PROGRAMMING
> Just because our fathers are bad is no excuse.  We have a brain.  If our
> fathers are alcoholics or gamblers or players and they think that's being the
> man, it doesn't mean we have to follow their footsteps.  To share these
> excuses in the form of "explanations" is damaging. We need to hold ourselves
> to a higher standard or we are never going to rebuild marriage.

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- THE "WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP REALITY?" VIDEO CONTEST

Encourage teens to enter! Submission due by April 7, 2008. Prizes!!

Winners Will be Announced on the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy -
May 7, 2008 - http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national

Is there a budding actor or actress in your house? Know a future
director?  Give them the chance to turn their talents into prize moneyŠ
<http://www.stayteen.org/default.aspx>

The contest asks entrants to submit a 15-30 second video that deals with the
theme of healthy relationships. 

Anyone ages 13-19 is eligible. Send them to StayTeen.org
http://www.stayteen.org/default.aspx for full contest details including how
to enter, what Stay Teen is all about and, most importantly, what prizes are
up for grabs. 

##################
- DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY: PRACTICALLY FREE!!

Three days of discounted (practically free) training in the Dibble
Institute's best research-based School/Youth marriage education curricula at
the Smart Marriages Conference in SF.

Download the pdf for details and spread the word to everyone you know. Post
these fliers!  We have to start with the kids if we're ever going to turn
things around. 
http://www.smartmarriages.com/uploaded/Dibble.YouthEducation.pdf

####################
- HEALTHY MARRIAGES HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS (HMHR): GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN

ATTEND: Thursday, March 20, 8:30-11:30am
An invitations is extended to the nation for an update on this federally
funded project that for 4 1/2 yrs has provided relationship classes
(primarily Family Wellness and How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk programs) to
over 3200 low-income individuals. Learn what's worked: how they've
successfully recruited thousands of individuals and couples, innovative
collaboration with community partnering organizations, the value of
relationship skills for low income parents and how lives and the community
have been changed. Speakers include HMHR Director Mark Eastburg and Wendy
Manning Co-Director of the newly funded National Healthy Marriage Research
Center.  
RSVP by calling (616) 222.4575 or e-mail Marlene.Olson at pinerest.org
 
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- FREE MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IN VIRGINIA BEACH

A research project at Regent University provides FREE couples enrichment
counseling marriage "tune ups". Research shows that couples who have
participated in the program have significantly improved their relationship.
We're looking for couples to try out our new brief program which is 5-6
weeks long. The link to more information and registration is
http://marriagetherapy.googlepages.com/
Heather Kemp
Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology
Regent University

##################
- FREE: TELECONFERENCE SEMINAR ON "LIVING TOGETHER"

Briefing #2 on Living Together:
A number of people participated our my first briefing last Friday on our new
book, "Living Together: Myths, Risks &Answers."  That briefing focused on
the soaring numbers of cohabiting couples (5.4 million vs. only 2.2 million
marriages in a year), the myths that are driving this trend, and the risks.

This briefing, conducted by Harriet and me, will focus on three answers that
any church can offer to provide a healthy way to prepare for marriage: (1)
take a premarital inventory, (2) be mentored by a mature couple in a stable
marriage, and (3) learn communication and conflict resolution skills.

Please join us Friday March 14 at 2 pm by dialing 641-715-3200, and then
type in the Access Code, 640718#. There is no fee for the briefing.

The book, Living Together - order a signed copy for $15 plus shipping (the
retail price: $20).  Discounts are available for multiple purchases.

Our final briefing will be next Thursday, March 20, at 2pm.  It will deal
with the most sensitive issues of all, how to encourage cohabiting couples
to move apart and/or stop having sex.

If you missed Marriage Savers featured on CBN's 700 Club last Friday, go to
http://www.marriagesavers.org, and scroll down to the first news item.

Michael J. McManus
President & Co-Chair
Marriage Savers
www.marriagesavers.org
########################
- BLACK MARRIAGE WEEK APPROACHING

First Things First To Celebrate 6th Annual Black Marriage Day
The Chattanoogan 
March 12, 2008

Sunday, March 30 has been proclaimed as Black Marriage Day by Mayor Ron
Littlefield of Chattanooga and Mayor Claude Ramsey of Hamilton County.

On March 30, First Things First will join more than 200 organizations and
places of worship across the country to celebrate Black Marriage Day.
National organizers have set a goal to have 5,000 African American married
couples across America renew their sacred vows.

First Things First is urging local churches and organizations to encourage
couples to show their support of marriage by conducting a vow renewal
ceremony on that day.

³The black community is in need of a legacy of strong healthy marriages,²
said Dr. Rozario Slack, director of Marriage, Fathering, and Family
Initiatives. ³We encourage local churches to demonstrate their support for
marriage in celebration of Black Marriage Day.²

Marriage in the African American Community is on the decline. Today, African
Americans have the lowest marriage rate of any racial group in the United
States. According to the U.S. Census, 43.3 percent of black men and 41.9
percent of black women in America have never been married. In 30 years, the
overall marriage rate in the United States declined by 17 percent, but for
African Americans, it fell by 34 percent.

It is estimated that 80 percent of all African American children will spend
their childhood living apart from their fathers. While an estimated seventy
percent of African American children are born to unmarried mothers.

³First Things First wants to send a message to the next generation of black
couples that long lasting marriages are important,² said Dr. Slack.

There are many ways to celebrate Black Marriage Day 2008. FTF encourages
people to exhaust their creativity and offer programs that reach a range of
the Black community to include couples, singles and youth.

For creative ways to celebrate Black Marriage Day, visit
www.firstthings.org.
########################

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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

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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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