Call for Presenters
“Securing Our Nation: Strengthening Our Commitment to Strong Marriage
and to Allah”
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, 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 senior’s concerns. Prospective presenters must demonstrate a level of expertise and complete a Call for Presenters form. If you are experienced in facilitating meditation or yoga, please email us at SinglesRetreat@noi.org.
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@noi.org. Deadline: July 31, 2010 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
3. Complete the Call for Presenters short outline of what will be presented
4. Submit a bio, resume or vitae
5. Read the Courtship Manual and information given by Min. Farrakhan, pioneers, etc.
Presentation must:
Have opportunities for attendees to develop new skills
Contain practical “how to” information
Have interactive 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 2010 RETREAT
After conducting a survey, the top 4 topics chosen by brothers and sisters are; Communication, Finance, Marriage, Mission & Faith, and Merging blended families. Some sub-topics that will also be targeted are; Relationships with Believers who have an STD, Issues facing Seniors, and Courtship basics. 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.
COMMUNICATION
Focus: removing internal communication barriers and managing conflict in the marriage
Objectives to Present
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
Participants should come out of this workshop knowing;
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
MEN ONLY/WOMEN ONLY
Objectives to present:
How the absence of a parent in your life (father or mother) affects your relationships with the opposite sex and how to overcome those issues
Creating Wealth
Finances including Working from home (entrepreneurship or working for a company)
Basics of Courtship; MGT asking for FOI
Other issues to be brought up by participants
MARRIAGE, MISSION & FAITH
Objectives to present:
How to have balance in your life as it relates to taking care of one’s family, giving to the Mission and keeping your Faith
Strengthening your faith as a foundation for your marriage and the mission
PANEL DISCUSSION on the following issues: Relationships with Believers who may have an STD, Concerns of the More Mature Believer, and Courtship; Additional questions
Objectives to present:
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 when you have an STD; Educating yourself about STDs
Finding a mate in my age range who does/does not want children
Issues facing the more mature MGT/FOI
Seniors & Courtship questions
Understanding life stages
The Basics of courtship
