Heads UP - Early-Birds / Teetering on the Brink? - Urgent May 17 / Retreats in August? - 5/5/08

Mon May 5 14:19:04 EDT 2008

- EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 12 - ONE WEEK TO GO!!
- TEETERING ON THE BRINK? INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY
- RETREATS AND GETAWAY COURSES: PLANNING AHEAD
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- EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 12 - ONE WEEK TO GO!!

Don't say I didn't warn you: SAVE $60 if you register ONLINE for the Smart
Marriages San Francisco Conference at the The EARLY-BIRD conference rate by
May 12th.  

PLUS all ONLINE early bird registrants are automatically entered in a door
prize drawing for a 2009 Conference registration. Four chances to win.

Register ONLINE at:
http://gotomylist.com/cme/smc05/smc08rf2.cfm

You can also register by FAX or by mail by May 12 and receive a $50
early-bird discount.

For Registration details:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

FAX # is on the registration form on page 23 of the brochure.
Download a brochure here:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/download.brochure.html

If you register by mail, be sure you mail early enough to be received by May
12th.  Not postmarked by May 12th.    - diane

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- TEETERING ON THE BRINK?  INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY

If you know of a couple teetering on the brink of separation or divorce,
this is an awesome opportunity to get top notch help. Preferably a couple
that lives in the greater NY area - travel expenses are not covered.  As we
know, learning marriage skills will help these couples (and their children)
WHETHER they stay married or eventually divorce.  Please forward this to
your lists - especially BAN, Retrouvaille, Family Dynamics, Torn Asunder,
Third Option, Controlled Separation, Divorce Busters or any list that serves
couples in the deep end of the ocean.  Mark it "URGENT" - the opportunity is
for next weekend, May 17.  Stan Posthumus has presented his Focused Thinking
Mediation model at Smart Marriages and has worked with Judge Jim Sheridan in
Michigan.  It's a model and way of thinking we'd like to help make
available.   -diane

> A FREE MEDIATION / FOCUSED THINKING SESSION - NY CITY, MAY 17, 2008
> 
> On May 17, 2008 Stan Posthumus will provide a free Focused Thinking mediation
> session (4 to 6 hours typically) to a volunteer couple.  In exchange the
> couple will allow the session to be filmed and the recording used as a pilot
> to be shown to TV companies to interest them in creating a show for the public
> on the Focused Thinking approach.  The recording will be used ONLY as a pilot
> to show TV producers - in other words this couple session will never air on
> television.
> 
> The 4-6 hr session is a $2000 value. The couple, while receiving this
> invaluable personal  mediation session, will learn 4 things not available with
> regular mediation, with therapists, or with lawyers.  The couple will learn
> the following relationship skills:
> € How to communicate -- they need this whether the stay married or not
> € How to have good relationships -- they need this for this relationship and
> the next -- and to teach their children
> € How to change -- if you keep doing the same thing you will get the same
> result
> € How to resolve conflicts  -- about money, intimacy, raising children,
> beliefs.
> 
> Follow-up shows that 80% of couples who come to Stan Posthumus for divorce
> mediation change their minds once they learn these four things. As with all
> the mediations he does, Stan will give the couple a personal DVD of the
> session for them to reflect on and learn from, because there is so much to
> remember.
> 
> First the producer and a cameraman will interview each of the couple
> separately.  Then Stan will meet with them, in their home (typically) or an
> office or hotel room and do one long session with them that will be recorded.
> A follow-up will be recorded in a few weeks.
> 
> Stan Posthumus' phone number is 973 428-1034
> Website           www.BeyondWinWin.com
> Email                 stanp at BeyondWinWin.com
> 

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- RETREATS AND GETAWAY COURSES: PLANNING AHEAD

Dianna,
I'm looking for classes that would be integrated into something my husband
might consider a vacation.  I know you've mentioned programs that are held
as part of canoeing trips or on islands or other retreat centers. I think
you had one that was part of a fishing trip. Can you please direct me to how
I would find something like this. I've tired Google and was overwhelmed. The
best month for us would be August.
Elsa  

Yes, I've shared info on the list about marriage education classes combined
with kayaking retreats, wilderness retreats (ANASAZI in Arizona), rock
climbing, Hawaii, etc....just check the 'Retreats/Cruises/Getaways" section
on the Directory of Programs "How to Find a Marriage Education Class" for a
whole list of fun getaways:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/app/Directory.BrowsePrograms#type_1

In fact, your inquiry piqued my curiosity about the Directory search engine,
so I did a search for August and found three that sound wonderful - Gabriola
Island in British Columbia; Monhegan Island, in Maine, and a retreat with
Howard Markman of PREP in Denver - you can plan wonderful side trips in the
Rockies.  I'm sure if you can expand to July, there are even more
opportunities.  Good luck.  I'd love to hear your feedback.  - diane

> PAIRS: If You Really Loved MeŠGabriola Island, British Columbia
> July 30-August 5, 2008, Michele and Bud Baldwin teach a six day residential
> workshop with an emphasis on transforming destructive patterns into positive
> interactions.  Couples are helped to resolve issues that keep their
> relationship stuck in the past and negotiate for a relationship that sustains
> love, pleasure and happiness.  Tuition: $930,  $840 (early )
> The Haven Institute, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada
> Website: http://www.haven.ca
> Email: mailto:mabaldwin at aol.com
> Phone: 312-337-0506

> Love Your Relationship Retreats: Howard Markman, Colorado
> A little PREP goes a long way! Join us for the best of PREP combined
> with a luxurious, romantic getaway  an opportunity to escape the pressures
> of life and immerse yourselves in a weekend devoted to learning, connecting,
> communicating, loving and playing. Howard Markman, author of the
> best-selling Fighting For Your Marriage and co-founder of PREP will present
> the workshop and lead activities focused on enhancing and protecting the
> positive connections between partners: friendship, fun, love, passion.
> 9am  4:30pm
> Romantic and Historic Oxford Hotel, Denver CO.
> August 9, 10, 2008
> Website: http://www.loveyourrelationship.com

> Being Together: Couples Retreats in beautiful settings
> Learn to become unconditionally present, create a balance
> of self and other, and identify and dissolve fears that limit intimacy with
> Richard & Antra Borofsky.
> Couples Retreats:
> Long Weekend Wilderness Camping Retreat, Great Duck Island, ME: July 11-14
> Five Day Couples Retreat, Monhegan Island, ME: August 10-15
> Website: http://www.beingtogether.com
> Email: mailto:Borofskys at Borofsky.net
> Phone: 617-661-7890

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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

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