EARLY-BIRD rate ends Friday/ Fireproof / FAQs/ CFLE / Texas Legislation - 5/11/09

Tue May 12 00:21:34 EDT 2009

- SMART  MARRIAGES EARLY-BIRD RATE EXPIRES FRIDAY MAY 15
- REGISTRATION CHANGES/ADDITIONS
- FIREPROOF CONFUSION
- DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS
- CFLE EXAM
- TEXAS DIVORCE/MARRIAGE EDUCATION LEGISLATION

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- SMART  MARRIAGES EARLY-BIRD RATE EXPIRES FRIDAY MAY 15

Register online, by fax, or by mail by midnight Friday

http://gotomylist.com/cme/smc05/smc09rf2.cfm

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- REGISTRATION CHANGES/ADDITIONS

I've had several calls today from people who registered online or by Mail or
Fax who have since had time to really look at the brochure or compared notes
with a colleague and who have changed their mind about a session, want to
add an Institute or banquet or the Fireproof Lunch or want to bring their
spouse.  What to do?  CALL or email as soon as possible and make the
changes: 651-789-3738  Or email smc at cmehelp.com

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- FIREPROOF CONFUSION

Ooops - a few people assumed that not only the Fireproof Institute was FREE
but that the Gary Chapman banquet Tues night July 7 and the Fireproof Awards
luncheon on Wed July 8 were also free. I suppose you could think there was a
sponsor and it was all included, but we do have to charge for the meals.
We're just charging what the hotel charges us for the meals, no added fee to
hear Gary Chapman on the Five Languages of Apology or to hear from the
Directors and Producers of the Fireproof movie.

If you misunderstood and didn't buy tickets for the banquets and luncheon,
you can add those by calling 651-789-3738.

Also, if you are interested in the Fireproof Institute or have questions,
please go here http://www.smartmarriages.com/fireproof.ministries.html
And scroll down to the Frequently Asked Questions - send yours if I didn't
answer it here.  Basically, anyone can attend the Institute and you can send
as many from your church or organization as you want - there are no limits.
You can attend the Chapman Banquet and the Fireproof lunch if you are NOT
attending the Fireproof Institute, or any institute.  You can attend either
Fireproof day - can attend day 2 even if you couldn't attend day 1, and so
on. 

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- DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS

Dianne,
I've been to two conferences and I've never been able to figure out how to
get registered for the door prize drawings you do in the big sessions.  I'm
always busy visiting the exhibits or standing in line to buy coffee and have
never even seen the door prize box except when you hold it up and shake it
on stage and by then it's too late to get my name in the box. Could you
arrange it that we could register in advance? I'm sure others miss out on
this because things at the conference are very busy.
Darla

I agree things are very busy at the conference, but not to worry. If you are
registered for the conference, your name is automatically entered - we print
out registrants names and put them in the door prize box.  You simply have
to be present in the ballroom to win - drawings are 5 to 10 mins before the
keynote sessions begin.

Am compiling prizes, some just in:  Sue Johnson, Steven Stosny and Michele
Weiner Davis are each giving away their 3 day trainings; Imago DVD sets of
their CASP and Connections trainings: Chapman his Five Love Languages DVD;
Basic Training their DVD program, and so on.  Great prizes.
 - diane

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- CFLE EXAM

> Diane, 
> WHEN did you say the CFLE exam was going to be?  And, do we just show up or
> do we need to reserve a spot?  - Ed

You need to register in advance.  I think that's so that NCFR can be sure
you're qualified.  Or, maybe just to be sure they bring enough materials:

The exam will be administered Sat, July 11 at 6pm at the Conference hotel.
Information on the CFLE designation can be found at
http://www.ncfr.org/cert/index.asp Pre-registration deadline is June 29.
Questions? Contact Dawn Cassidy at dawncassidy at ncfr.org or 888-781-9331 x
12

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- TEXAS DIVORCE/MARRIAGE EDUCATION LEGISLATION

Bill to encourage couples to attend marriage course before a divorce on the
calendar for Monday

HB 480 by Rep. Chisum is scheduled to be voted on in the Texas House of
Representatives on Monday.

This bill would require a spouse who is seeking a divorce based on issues
such as a personality conflict; the marriage is characterized by financial
difficulties, difference of issues, to attend a marriage education course no
more than 60 days before the petition for a divorce is filed if there is a
child in the home. HB 480 would also allow the other responding spouse to
complete a marriage education course before the divorce occurs. When the
judge is making the decision about child custody, the judge may take into
account whether both individuals have attended a marriage education course.
By allowing judges to account for attending a marriage education course when
determining child custody, more people are likely to attend the courses.

The marriage education course would have to last a total of ten hours and
the focus of the counseling must be on marriage restoration.

This bill does protect the victims of domestic violence by not requiring the
marriage education course if there is evidence of abuse.

Last session the legislature passed legislation to encourage counseling
before a couple gets married in an effort to protect the sanctity of
marriage before the couple is married. This session the legislature is
working to preserve marriages before the couple ends the marriage.

This bill would further show that Texas understands how detrimental a
divorce can be to the well being of children and would encourage families to
stay together when children are involved.

Link at:
http://www.heritagealliance.com/members/takeaction.php?link=http://...

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13th Annual Smart Marriages® Conference, The Shingle Creek,
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: http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com/

To download a Conference brochure, register online, or for 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

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