Reaching Moms & Dads/ Marriage Stimulus / Haltzman Series/ Movies - 3/28/09

Sat Mar 28 19:17:12 EDT 2009

This one is all about reaching the world - through internet Banners, TV
shows, Twitters, Bricks in a Wall, Movies, and Chicken Sandwiches - you know
what they say, the way to a man's heart is......

This is our challenge - we know we've got what it takes to turn things
around, but we can't change the world unless we REACH IT.

Remember, I have more brochures.....let me know if you need a package.
3 months to Orlando!!  -diane

- BANNER STAKES RISING
- REACHING MOMS 
- REACHING DADS 
- MARRIAGE STIMULUS PACKAGE
- SURVIVING AFFAIR AND ADDING SPARK - TV
- MOVIE FESTIVAL - CROSSING THE BRIDGE

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- BANNER STAKES RISING

Look what Peggy Vaughan created!  Now this is what we're talking about!
http://www.dearpeggy.com/2-affairs/seminars.html

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-   REACHING MOMS 

Diane, 
Just in case anyone is doubting that moms are online and that this is a
place to reach them, check this out.

Wall Street Journal: A Twitter Spinoff Launches for Moms

> The more popular the site becomes ‹ it is adding millions of users by the
> month ‹ the more knock-offs pop up. . .

> In the first few hours of the launch, moms were already getting the hang of
> it. . . 

> . . . an online community where moms can gather and CONNECT. Sign up and share
> what¹s happening in your world, 140 characters at a time.

Link to the WSJ article: http://tiny.cc/sraND

Link to the site: Today's Mama: http://www.todaysmama.com/

Marc Payan

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- REACHING DADS

Marriage increases the odds that men will be involved, responsible and
committed fathers.  The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) is highlighting
the importance of marriage through efforts like the ³What¹s Your Legacy?²
campaign (http://legacy.fatherhood.org/) and this week released an
innovative marriage-readiness program.  There are many programs to help
couples prepare for marriage or strengthen existing marriages, but, until
now, none TARGETED to help prepare men ages 18 - 35 TO MAKE THE DECISION to
get married.  The Why Knot? program fills this gap.

Why Knot? breaks down myths and misconceptions about relationships and
marriage, shows men the connection between marriage and being a great dad,
equips them with relationship skills, and helps them asses their readiness
for marriage - especially unmarried and ³fragile family² fathers.

I'm so pleased that Why Knot? Is a TOOB (teach out of the box) program that
will be presented at the Orlando Smart Marriages Conference and that NFI is
offering it to Smart Marriages for only $175 - more than 10% off the regular
price!  For information, or samples, visit
http://www.fatherhood.org/whyknot/smartmarriages/buynow.asp
Or visit the NFI Exhibit in Orlando for this special introductory rate.

> 414 - Fri July 10, 10:15am
> Why Knot? Marriage-Readiness for Men  TOOB
> Erik Vecere
> This program addresses the negative beliefs and attitudes many men hold about
> marriage and moves men and single fathers to a positive ³readiness² view of
> marriage.

p.s. Sunday, March 22 was Black Marriage Day! Help celebrate the power of
African American Marriages by visiting the NFI African American Marriage
Wall. Add your brick to the Wall today!   <http://legacy.fatherhood.org/>

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- MARRIAGE STIMULUS PACKAGE

A joke among friends became a way to enrich marriages for Richard Marks in
Jacksonville, FL. After hearing news of the economic stimulus package, Rick
told some friends that what America really needed was a marriage stimulus
package. Rick spoke with his local Chick-fil-A operator who quickly saw the
potential of the idea. Together they formulated a plan: Rick's organization,
Marriage for Life, gave away 500 "Marriage Stimulus Packages" in Chick-fil-A
bags filled with coupons from local businesses, marriage tips, info from
Crown Financial, goodies from Chick-fil-A, a marriage enrichment class
listing, a local pastor's sermon on marriage, and a half-off ($300) coupon
to a Marriage for Life weekend for couples in crisis.

The Chick-fil-A volunteered to host 50 couples in his restaurant for a
date night on March 24. The date night participants were treated to free
food served with flowers and tablecloths, along with "4 Questions For Your
Spouse" to help stimulate conversation among the couples. WinShape Retreat
donated a weekend getaway as a door prize (along with other prizes from
local businesses). Each couple received a free DVD of Fireproof, a local
Catholic priest gave a humorous, entertaining performance, and a local
musician played.

The response was overwhelming. One date night participant wrote, "I wanted
to thank you for Tuesday evening. My husband and I have been miserable and I
was about to give up. I have been praying for our marriage but I was
beginning to believe the message for me was to leave. We fought all the way
to Chick-fil-A that night but have not had a screaming match since. I now
feel God wants me to stay, no matter what."

By his work to leverage his community relationships and to cast the vision
of what others could do to support marriage, Rick designed a tangible way to
enrich the relationships in the Jacksonville area. He also earned local
TV media attention: watch the show here: http://tinyurl.com/c6lhuw

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- SURVIVING AFFAIR AND ADDING SPARK - TV

Here are the final two in the 4-part marriage series produced by Boston's
Channel 5 that showcases the wisdom of Scott Haltzman aka Dr Secrets of
Happy Wives, Husbands, Families.  Click on links below or find them
permanently linked from "Watch/Listen" page here:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/listen.html

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/19031813/index.html

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18978697/index.html

Scott will present all the secrets in Orlando.

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- MOVIE FESTIVAL - CROSSING THE BRIDGE

Films are one of our best bets to get our message to the public - you all
know about the amazing culture-changing effect of Fireproof. Couples love
the film.  Churches are wild for it.  Well, Fireproof is not our only
hope....start with Fireproof and then offer an ongoing Marriage Film night
at your church or CHMI.   I can't wait for you to see the incredible films
in this year's festival many of which include workbooks and study guides.
If they don't include them, maybe you can offer to write one.

I've had a several film questions this week mostly from frustrated folks who
can't find the festival schedule.  It says in the brochure to see the
schedule at www.smartmarriages.com.  I'm told that's not much help and that
people go blind looking for the info.  It's linked from the home page and
from the Conference page, but here's the direct link.
http://www.smartmarriages.com/film.festival.html

NOTE that the schedule is still very much in progress.  Also note the link
at the bottom of the page to ORDER these films on DVD.

Someone who did find the schedule asked me to recommend WHICH films I liked
best and would recommend. Honestly, they're all fantastic. They wouldn't be
in the festival if they weren't (many are submitted and only a few are
accepted.)  The one I watched most recently is a new one: Hedy and Yumi
Scheifer's - Crossing the Bridge. I encourage you all to make time to see
it.  It's a documentary produced by a couple who took the Scheifer's
workshop and were so transformed that they decided they wanted to get the
model/message to the world - to help couples everywhere learn the skills to
*cross the bridge* and intimately connect to each other.  Click on the order
button on the film list for a very special introductory gift package or
order it here: http://hedyyumi.org/ctbfilm.html   Or, at their exhibit in
Orlando.  

AND, anticipating your questions:
1) to submit a film, mail 5 DVDs BY APRIL 15 to:
CMFCE/Smart Marriages
5310 Belt Rd NW
Washington, DC  20015

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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

Shingle Creek Resort: http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/

Conference schedule, registration, & exhibit information:
http://www.smartmarriages.com/conferencedetails.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

3) Email me if you want recommendations for film producers.  You should all
get your work filmed!

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