Call for Presenters

Healthy Relationships Initiative Presents the 2013 Singles’ Retreat

Camp Kiswah in Spanish Lakes, Missouri • August 22 – 25^th, 2013

 

We are seeking FOI and MGT who are licensed in counseling/therapy, psychology and/or  have skills in relevant fields who can provide best practice information in the areas of communication,  goal setting, finance, merging blended families marriage, mission & your faith. In addition we will cover topics concerning; relationships with brothers and sisters with STDs, courtship basics, and young adult concerns. Prospective presenters must demonstrate a level of expertise and complete a Call for Presenters form. Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot guarantee that travel expenses will be covered.

 

Call for Presenters: Please share information on specialty areas (350 word maximum). Please include your name, address, phone, email and please attach a resume, bio or vitae. Send all information to: SinglesRetreat@email.noi.org. Deadline: June 30, 2013 or when filled. If you are interested in giving a presentation, your presentation must fit the criteria below:

 

Criteria for Presenters

 

1.   Possess the skill and/or expertise in the area one is proposing to present. This can be a combination of skill, education and experience(s)

2.   Be an effective communicator

4.   Complete the Call for Presenters short outline of what will be presented

5.   Submit a bio, resume or vitae

6.   Read the Courtship Manual and information given by Min. Farrakhan, pioneers, etc.

7.   Experience and training as a Dianetics Auditor is a plus.

 

Presentation must:

 

§    Have opportunities for attendees to develop new skills

§    Contain practical “how to” information

§    Have interactive and engaging content

§    Directly address the needs of participants

§    Be rooted in Islamic principle and philosophy

§    Tie into the theme of the conference

§    Include handouts if possible

§    Information must align with what Min. Farrakhan states in the Courtship Manual

 

TOPICS FOR 2013 RETREAT

After conducting a survey, the topics chosen by brothers and sisters are;

• Proper Courtship
• Brothers Only and Sister Only
• Communication skills for Islamic Culture, Successful Courtship and Marriage,
• Financial Discussions: Planning and Management for Successful Marriage,
• Goal Setting
• Blended Families
• Some sub-topics that will also be targeted are; Long Distance Courtship, Relationships with Believers who have an STD, Issues facing young adults, and Goal Setting. There will be time for participants to ask about other issues of concern.

 

Workshop Topic Objectives

 

All presenters must be on topic at all times and present on areas pre-discussed with conference planners. Workshops presentations should also include best practices and tried and true methods that serve to improve and/or strengthen marriage and family-life.

 

PROPER COURTSHIP

Interactive workshop that breakdown the benefits of proper courtship, the do’s and don’ts of courtship, how to begin and end a courtship, the importance of chaperones at any age, courtship on a fixed income and tips for a successful long distance courtship.

 

BROTHERS ONLY

Breakout workshop addressing key issues specific to brothers in courtship and marriage

 

Objectives

• The Top 3 errors FOI make during Courtship and how to avoid them
• What are the 5 Essentials; Spiritual, Mental, Physical to provide the Greatest Potential for Success in Marriage and Family
• What role does the Ego play in Mate Selection
• Creating Wealth
• Goal Setting & accomplishment
• Tools for Brothers who have never married and those who are divorced or widowed

 

SISTERS ONLY

Breakout workshop addressing key issues specific to sisters in courtship and marriage

 

Objectives

• The common errors MGT make during Courtship and how to avoid them
• How to get beyond the surface level information
• The impact of your relationship or lack of relationship with your father in the selection of a mate and how to identify patterns in men.
• Tools for Sisters who have never married and those who are divorced or widowed

 

COMMUNICATION – Communication for Successful Courtship and Marriage

Interactive workshop addressing removing internal communication barriers, effective courtship communication and managing conflict in the marriage

 

Objectives

• How to initiate communication among singles
• Removing internal barriers to communication as a way of resolving internal conflicts and ultimately communicating in a healthy, proper manner with others
• Identifying healthy and unhealthy communication methods
• Methods of speaking effectively and clearly getting ideas across to the other person so that it is received as was intended by the speaker to include the impact of how messages are conveyed (body language, tone, words used) is and how to listen
• Successful Inter-cultural communication
• How to handle conflict properly and use conflict to create win/win solutions
• The 4 main goals of communication (to inform, to request, to persuade, to build relationships)

 

FINANCE – Personal Financial Management for Success in Marriage

Participants should come out of this workshop with tools for:

 

• Being realistic about income of the man and lifestyle expectation of the wife who does not work outside of the home
• Blending incomes; what are we each bringing to the table
• Importance of credit; Reviewing each other’s credit; credit repair; tax considerations and debt responsibilities
• What you need to know about each other’s finances/economic status before getting married
• Your relationship with money; what it says about your values, handle on life, etc.
• The impact of finances on relationships and marital success
• The importance of Zakat
• Setting family financial goals/plan (including children’s allowances)
• What do you want to happen after you marry (and are we prepared or do we have to prepare for it)
• Marriage Contracts

 

SUCCESSFULLY MERGING BLENDED FAMILIES

Objectives to Present

 

• Definition: what is a blended family? Types of Families
• Going into a blended marriage/family with a realistic perspective and how to set a common vision for the family
• How to set clear goals in regards to how the children will be raised and disciplined
• How to handle conflicts that will arise (“you’re not my mommy/daddy!”)
• Working with the Ex (including the difficult Ex)
• Determining how the biological and step-parent will parent all of the children (functions and responsibilities)
• Discussion of family traditions (“we’ve always done it like this” or “mommy always let us go to X place for Christmas”) and cultures and merging (or getting rid of unhealthy cultural norms)
• Putting your spouse first
• Helping the children navigate through all of the changes
• Ensuring the parents have healthy outlets to deal with stress

 

PANEL DISCUSSION on the following issues: The necessity of Dianetic Auditing, Dealing with STDs, Concerns of the More Mature Believer, and Courtship; Additional questions

Objectives to present:

 

• The use of Dianetic Auditing and getting Audited before entering Courtship and Marriage
• How to broach the topic of STDs when courting and maintaining confidentiality
• What should be disclosed; how far back do you go in disclosure
• Finding a mate in my age range who does/does not want children
• Issues facing the more mature MGT/FOI
• Examples of Marriage and Courtship done right
• The Basics of courtship