Want to help? Call for Conference veterans......

[Smartmarriages]

- VOLUNTEER GUIDES?

Would any Conference Veteran experts like to volunteer to guide folks like
these through the bewildering process of understanding the conference
brochure, selecting sessions, understanding the discounts, and registering?

If so, email me and I'll refer some of these folks to you.

Diane 
> 
> Good morning,
>  
> This will be our first time to attend the conference.  Your brochure is very
> detailed and somewhat hard to understand.
> First, it lists two workshops at the same time (ex 201 and 202). Am I to
> choose one, or are they run back-to-back?  If back to back, are there others
> that run the same way?
> Second, we  realize some are faith based, but it is hard to tell which ones.
> If there were a symbol (fish, cross, etc) included in the description, it
> would be easier to choose them.
>  
> Third, we haven't registered yet, for we are having a hard time choosing the
> workshops.
>  
> Finally, we would appreciate any advice of which ones to choose.  We are lay
> ministers and have conducted a marriage class on covenant marriage, and are in
> the middle of teaching (facilitating is a better word) a Fireproof class.  So
> we are relatively new at teaching marriage classes and I would guess we would
> need to learn mostly basic marriage principles.
>  
> thank you in advance.  we are looking forward to Orlando.
>  
> Dan & Laurie Lipsey



Yes, I know it's incredibly confusing for first-timers.  I promise that
after you've attended one conference you'll *get it* and be able to help
guide others. 

It's a week-long event with several basic components.

1) The General Conference begins Wed night at 6:30pm and ends Sat night at
10pm.  A general registration includes 22 keynote speeches (three of which
include lunch) and seven 90-min workshops. There are regular, spouse,
student, and group rates for the general Conference.

2) Training Institutes.  There are 17 pre-conference Training Institutes and
8 post-conference Training Institutes.   These are optional and require an
additional fee. 

3) Banquets Tues and Thurs night and a Wed Fireproof luncheon which are
optional and require an additional fee.

There are 20 90-min workshops in seven different time frames - the 200s,
300s, etc.  Yes, you must pick one to attend.

It would help to include symbols in the brochure but we don't do that
because most sessions would need several symbols  - faith based,
stepfamilies, African American, beginner clinician, advanced, Mentors, etc.
....we'd soon run out of space and when I tried it at layout everyone said
it added to the confusion/distraction.

INSTEAD, there is a web page that groups sessions by category or by TRACKS.
Visit this page to see the FAITH BASED, Mentor, Infidelity, Stepfamily, etc
interest area groupings:  http://www.smartmarriages.com/tracks.html

There are also many Networking opportunities: Morning Roundtables where
others who are lay ministers who have established successful church marriage
ministries will generously share with you what has worked.  Be sure you
attend these.  There are also networking meetings on Wed night after the
opening keynote and Thurs night before the banquet.  Try to attend those.
See here: http://www.smartmarriages.com/roundtables.html

There are also TOOBs - teach out of the box programs.  Look for that
designation in the brochure and visit the webpage to learn more about what
these are and for links to order the boxes if you are interested.
http://www.smartmarriages.com/toobs.html

And, note that for each Training Institute there is a live link to a full
page description that details and outlines what you will gain by attending
the Institute.  Start here and click on the live link for EACH Institute.
Each is different and specific to that particular training.
http://www.smartmarriages.com/instituttes.html

Also, realize that the Fireproof Marriage Ministries Training Institute is
FREE and that you can attend either or both days, July 8 and July 12, for
guidance about what others are doing to expand and enhance and sustain their
Fireproof Ministry. What to do after you get people fired up with the
Fireproof film. 

There is also a free Film Festival to sample other Marriage Movies.
http://www.smartmarriages.com/film.festival.html

I hope this helps.  I encourage you to study the brochure and website and
especially the TRACKS categories AND read the FAQs page - frequently asked
questions: 
http://www.smartmarriages.com/faqs.html

If, after studying the brochure and website, you'd still like help, let me
know and I'll connect you with a conference veteran.


Diane Sollee, Director
Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education, LLC (CMFCE)
5310 Belt Rd NW,   
Washington, DC 20015
www.smartmarriages.com
202-362-3332  
diane at smartmarriages.com

13th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, Shingle Creek Resort,
Orlando, Florida, July 6-12, 2009 (General Conference July 8-11)
Pre-Conference Training Institutes July 6-8
Post-Conference Training Institutes July 12

Download a Brochure here:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/download.brochure.html

Register Online at  http://www.smartmarriages.com

Shingle Creek Resort ($115 single/double): http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/

Conference fees, information, and FAQs at:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.html

Exhibit Applications:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/exhibits.html

Subscribe to the FREE Smart Marriages® e-newslist at
http://www.smartmarriages.com