Ooops - premature tah dah / Bush Marriages/First Dance/ Ebony / Farmers - 1/22/09

Thu Jan 22 13:14:06 EST 2009

- ACF WEBSITE UPDATE
- BUSHES HAD EXCELLENT MARRIAGES, TOO
- THAT FIRST DANCE
- EBONY MAGAZINE: COMMITMENT ISSUE
- MARRIAGE VIDEOS
- FARM COUPLES 

###################################
- ACF WEBSITE UPDATE

Ooops, another example that proves the old adage that one should never
assume.....or forward emails without checking them out.  I received "the new
Obama team had arrived at ACF and updated the site" email late at night and
in my enthusiasm forwarded it without checking.  I heard, today, from many
of you who were encouraged, like this one:

> Nice! What is anything does this change to the worries many of us have about
> the marriage education funding being cut?
> 
> Steven Hernandez
> Program Coordinator
> The Marriage Resource Center

Hmmmmm.....in the morning light, it turns out that it was a case of
premature enthusiasm. The person who sent me the email had assumed....saw
the updated ACF website, saw that team Obama was already at work in offices
all across Washington and just assumed that they'd arrived at ACF and that
the notoriously tech-savvy, internet-based Obama team had updated the
website as one of their first orders of business  just as the White House
website had been updated in the first few mins of the new administration.
Turns out it was ACF Marriage Education Specialist, Bill Coffin, who had the
site updated. Bill, at ACF since 2002, is not part of the new team but is
excited about the Obama marriage strengthening potential.  As of this
morning, there is no sign of the new Obama team yet pulling in at ACF.

If you missed it, here is the acf website link:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/index.html

 - diane 

##################################
- BUSHES HAD EXCELLENT MARRIAGES, TOO

Thank you to the MANY of you who have written in to remind us that both
Bushes had strong, loving, exemplary marriages  one of which produced a
president and two governors. Yes they did!  And apologies to those who are
extremely annoyed and who think I'm joining in the madness. One of you said
I might as well be working at MSNBC  that the world has clearly
collectively gone crazy in overvaluing the Obama marriage effect. That is
what I hope I'm reporting. Not that one marriage is better than another but
that there is a new focus on marriage inspired by the Obamas that might help
us in our efforts. - diane

###################################
- THAT FIRST DANCE

And, this might be seen as continuing that effect, but many of you wrote to
say you missed the dance (guess you were on Mars for the past few days) and
wanted to know where you might see it while several others helpfully sent
links to share *in case anyone had missed it*.  TV news had only the
briefest of clips - I hadn't seen the full-length version.  So here is a
link: 

> Diane‹just had to send you this YouTube linkŠ.  Barack and Michelle dancing at
> the ball.  Maybe this is something that those on your listserv would like to
> see?  The Obamas are most certainly modeling their own Healthy Marriage
> program.  Nancy Gonzalez, NCFR
>  
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF63wsV4L58
>  

#################################

-   EBONY MAGAZINE: COMMITMENT ISSUE

> Diane, In the special inauguration issue, EBONY magazine features Black
> Love/Black History - Real Love...the Obamas' story of commitment inspires
> America.  They also feature Black entertainment couples and their commitment
> to each other.  It might be a useful tool for those on your list.  Check it
> out.

###################################
- MARRIAGE VIDEOS

Diane, 
Here are my latest marriage videos - each 90 seconds.  I'd love to hear what
people think of these.

Cockatiel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwJOmrSLLsI&fmt=22

Car Trouble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh4z3s6I_xI&fmt=22

Lori Odhner 
lori at caringformarriage.org

##################################

- FARM COUPLES 

> Diane, 
> I am getting requests for information/material/ resource persons  who have
> expertise in supporting farm couples.  I think farm families have a unique
> circumstance as their life style and financial support are often steeped in
> tradition and intertwined. Perhaps their stresses/strains are similar to
> couples who are business partners. Can you point me to some good resources?
> Thanks!
> Kristi
>  
> Kristi Cooper
> Family Life Specialist
> Iowa State University Extension

I don't know of any particular farm couple course BUT can tell you that all
the courses seem to work for ALL couples -- I get inquires about all kinds
of populations: military, first responder (police/fire), inner city,
business, adopting, infertility, chronic illness, commuting, job loss  and
the same communication skills work no matter what the stress (time
management, financial stress, illness, parenting, or getting the crops in in
time.).  IF you come up with something special PLEASE share it, perhaps in a
poster session in Orlando.

One excellent Smart Marriages workshop, Marriage Education for Good Ole'
Boys was all about reaching your population - talked about farmers - I think
you'd find it of great help.  Order as a CD or download at
http://www.iplaybacksmartmarriages.com/
Or at 800-241-7785 

> #756-614
> Marriage Education for Good Ole Boys
> Jennifer Baker, PsyD, MFT
> Learn to supplement existing marriage programs with film clips, Country music,
> humor and stories to engage often neglected low-income white couples.

In Orlando, Mary Ortwein of MML is launching a special Hometown Marriage
application (she points out that the large majority of us live in small town
America).  

> 205 - Thurs, July 9, Orlando
> Happy Hometown Marriage Kit
> Mary Ortwein, MS
> Receive a free Kit and learn to mix TOOB¹s, free materials, and the Mastering
> the Mysteries of Love RE program to affordably/effectively strengthen couples
> & families in small town America.

There will also be a Poster session in Orlando on implementation of Marriage
Education in Rural America.

 I'll also copy to the list to see if I'm missing anything. - diane

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