Support Florida Marriage Legislation/ Basic Training / Flying on 4th - July 24/09

[Smartmarriages]

- ADD YOUR SUPPORT TO FLORIDA'S MARRIAGE LEGISLATION EFFORT
- BLACK MARRIAGE BASIC TRAINING
- ABOUT 2010 DATES 

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


- ADD YOUR SUPPORT TO FLORIDA'S MARRIAGE LEGISLATION EFFORT

Dear Marriage Movement Leader:

Would you please consider signing this letter on behalf of your
organization, ministry, church or business? The final letter will contain
the names of dozens of other marriage leaders across the country and is
urging the leadership of the Florida Legislature to pass the Florida
Marriage Preparation Act which is explained in greater detail in the letter.
We want the legislature to understand the importance of the Strong Marriages
Florida effort and the significance of this bill. The letter should be self
explanatory but let me know if you have questions.

If you are willing to sign, just forward to me your name, title and
group name. A signature image is not needed. Our deadline to submit
this is Thursday July 30, 2009. Thanks for your support.

Here's the letter: 
http://www.yes2marriage.org/letter-for-national-marriage-leaders-/

John Stemberger
Chairman
Strong Marriages Florida
stemberger at orlandolawyer.tv
www.Yes2Marriage.org

PS- If you would like to forward this letter to other National marriage
movement leaders please feel free to do so.


################################
- BLACK MARRIAGE BASIC TRAINING

I've heard today from so many of you who were blown away by CNN's Black in
America 2.   It will be repeated at least four times over the coming year -
this has got to help turn the tide.  I'm hoping a certain couple in the
White House saw the show and took note of Nisa Muhammad and the impressive
Basic Training program for couples.  Here is the curriculum listing on the
Directory - note that Basic Training is a TOOB (teach right out of the box
program). - diane 

The Chattanooga Times Free Press
Thursday July 23, 2009
Yolanda Putman

A local minister's curriculum on saving black marriages will be put to the
test tonight on CNN.

"The goal is to restore black marriages for the sake of our future
generations and to show people that marriage, contrary to popular belief, is
obtainable and you can do it and be happy," said Chattanooga's Rozario
Slack, co-creator of the "Basic Training for Couples Curriculum."

For its new documentary, "Black in America 2," CNN spent eight weeks
following a couple married 21 years who worked through Dr. Slack's
curriculum in hopes of bringing their marriage out of distress. The couple's
outcome will be broadcast at 8 p.m. today on CNN, the final portion of the
two-day documentary broadcast.

Last year's "Black in America" focused on the experiences of black women,
men and families. This year's broadcast features the works of people who
have developed solutions to problems facing the black community.

Blacks have one of the highest divorce rates in the nation, and Dr. Slack,
married 16 years to local pediatrician Dr. Angela Smith-Slack, said he
co-authored the couples curriculum with Washington, D.C.-based Nisa Muhammad
to strengthen and encourage black marriages.

Dr. Slack, formerly the director of fathering at First Things First, holds
master's and doctoral degrees from Interdenominational Theological Center at
the Atlanta University Center. He is a relationship consultant and the
pastor of Temple of Faith Deliverance Church of God in Christ.

Mr. Muhammad is the founder of National Black Marriage Day and of Wedded
Bliss Foundation, a national initiative to promote marriage in the black
community.

Auburn University picked up the pair's curriculum and is using it as a
portion of the Alabama Community Healthy Marriage initiative, a statewide
program to promote healthy relationships and stable families. The initiative
is funded by a federal five-year $8 million grant.

More than 2,000 people in Alabama have or are participating in the
eight-week curriculum program, said Dr. Francesca Adler-Baeder, Auburn's
professor of human development and family studies.

Auburn has just started recording data from the hundreds of people who have
followed the curriculum and, so far, results have been positive, she said.

"People report feeling more trusting of their partner, more committed to the
relationship, and they do less critical or negative behavior," Dr.
Adler-Baeder said.

D'undray Peterson, who taught the curriculum to about 30 married and dating
couples in Tuscaloosa, Ala., this year, said he hopes those who learn about
the curriculum from the CNN broadcast become more receptive to the idea of
relationship consulting.

"The first thing people say is, 'Wow, I hadn't thought about getting
training in my marriage,'" said Mr. Peterson, program coordinator for
Tuscaloosa One Place, a nonprofit family resource center. "We work and get
training on our job, we go to school and get training. We want people to see
that people are getting training in their marriage."

###############################
- ABOUT 2010 DATES 

> Diane,
> Before you adjust the conference dates to start on 6th of July rather than
> 5th, realize that travel on the 4th is cheaper due to traveling on the actual
> holiday.  Our plane tickets were reduced by $150 each flying into Orlando on
> the 4th rather than any other day.
> Sarah Kramer, Fairborn, OH

Actually on some airlines it makes no difference. I flew from DC to Orlando
this year on Air Tran on the 4th and price was no different on 3rd or 5th.
But even if it is true, many people do not want to be away from their
families on the 4th AND the govt will not reimburse travel on the holiday
(go figure??).  Also, people can still choose to fly on the 4th and enjoy
the holiday in whatever city we land in.  -  Diane

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