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Comments on the Pages

  • 1972 Conference: Politics, Power, and the Family (2 comments)

    • Comment by Dennis Orthner on August 13th, 2013

      One of my first NCFR conferences was in Portland and I was still a doctoral student then, and a member of the Executive Committee of NCFR as the student rep. It was at that meeting that I was really thinking about my career and where I should go with it. I was a student in family sociology and my chair was Lee Axelson, then the President of NCFR. He wanted me to take a sociology position. But others suggested that my interests would be better served in Child and Family Development (then in Home Ec) where relationship issues would be easier to study. I did not know which way to go.

      At that meeting we took a bus trip to the coast of Oregon for a “salmon bake” on the beach. I sat on the bus between Eleanor Luckey and Ruth Jewson. All the way over and back we talked about career directions and those two people who I respected so much listened to me, and gave me their counsel, experience, and wisdom. Eleanor noted that she had been trained in psychology but chose to go into child and family development since there were more peers there who could help her frame her ideas and help them mature. Ruth saw the emerging scholarship in CFD and the quality of research coming out. The result of that was my turning down sociology jobs and taking the CFD position at UNC-Greensboro, where John Scanzoni and others later joined me a a great department. And my first students there were Jay Mancini and Gary Bowen, who have become successful scholars in their own right.

      So the memories of that NCFR in Portland so many years ago remind me of how important it is to continue to foster opportunities for young student scholars to meet with senior people who can give them other ideas, and perhaps bring perspectives that their own programs may not be able to offer. Keep mixing us all up, and recognize the key role you play in the stirring of the creative pots in this vital area of family research and practice.

      Comment by Gary Bowen on August 21st, 2013

      Dennis,

      Enjoyed the story. And, what a lucky break for me that you did make this decision. Hope all is well.

  • Leadership in 1988–89 (2 comments)

    • Comment by David Olson on July 11th, 2013

      Edits–

      1. Please add that he was a professor for nearly 30 years

      2. Also change “:marriage and family therapist” to “marriage and family researcher and therapist”

      3. Prepare and Enrich should be all CAPS—PREPARE ENRICH

      Comment by Jason Samuels on July 12th, 2013

      These changes have been incorporated. Thanks for your feedback.

  • Affiliates in 1989–90 (2 comments)

    • Comment by Marilyn Flick on July 8th, 2013

      In 1988-89, I was Association of Councils president-elect. In 1989-90, I was president. There was no vice president. Other officers were program chair, secretary/treasurer, and past president. Both the president elect and the president served on the NCFR Board.

      Comment by Jason Samuels on July 8th, 2013

      That terminology has been corrected. Thanks Marilyn.

  • Leadership in 1995–96 (2 comments)

    • Comment by Michael Sporakowski on May 24th, 2013

      Several changes/additions.  Under leadership 1995-96 —

      He was a professor in the Department of Family and Child Development and Extension Specialist in Family and Consumer Sciences.

       

      Insert before “He was also an avid golfer”

      He served NCFR at the state and regional levels as President of the Virginia Council on Family Relations (1972-76) and the Southeastern Council on Family Relations (1979-81).

      Comment by Jason Samuels on May 27th, 2013

      These edits have been incorporated. Thank you.

  • Leadership in 1999–2000 (2 comments)

    • Comment by Steve Jorgensen on May 21st, 2013

      It should be noted in the first sentence that I am at the University of Missouri.

      Comment by Jason Samuels on May 21st, 2013

      That has been noted.

  • 1980 Conference: The Quality of Family Life: Integrating Theory, Research, and Application (1 comment)

    • Comment by Cindy Winter on August 15th, 2013

      The 1980 Portland Conference was 12 days after Mt. St. Helen had erupted. There was lots of ash around all over, and I still have a bottle of that ash. That was the year we had an afternoon trip to near Mt. St. Helen’s planned, and still took the trip. On the way up the bus stopped at Crown Point which was typically one of the windiest spots around. The wind was so strong that it blew the name badges out of the plastic holders. It also blew Ruth Jewson, Helen Hartness, and me on top of each other (which was scary for us with Ruth, but she wasn’t hurt). The bus also stopped at Multnomah Falls which was stunning. That evening I played for Bert Adams to sing songs from some musicals. He did a magnificent job.

  • 1998 Conference: Families in a Global Context: Media, Environment, and Peace (1 comment)

    • Comment by Judy Myers-Walls on May 24th, 2013

      A colleague had told me when I was nominated for . program chair that, along with editing a journal, being program chair was one of the most powerful ways to influence the professional disourse. I took the responsibility seriously and used the opportunity to raise awareness of some of my strongest professional passions–internationalism, mass media and families, and peace. The session by Sesame Street was fascinating and very well received, and so was the address by Atle Dyregrov. The U.N. speaker was a substitute, so we didn’t have much chance to clarify the focus. I also tried the idea of international games for conference participants to play during the conference. Mary Jo was a wonderful help!

  • 2003 Conference: What Is the Future of Marriage? (1 comment)

    • Comment by Paul Amato on November 12th, 2013

      Also worth a mention:  John Gottman gave a Research Update for Practitioners on his marital research, which was well attended.

      By the way, the name is “Celine Le Bourdais.”

       

       

  • CFLE in 1989–90 (1 comment)

    • Comment by Judy Myers-Walls on May 24th, 2013

      This was my first NCFR Board meeting. I was just in the “elect” position, but my predecessor was not available to attend. There were former NCFR presidents–the biggest names in the field–sitting all around the perimeter of the room, wanting to see what would happen at this critical time. Then I was placed in a leadership position of this Task Force, entrusted to take action to heal an ailing organization. I was quite intimidated! It was a great experience to work with the Task Force members, however, and we worked hard to find answers that would meet the needs of as many as possible. I am so glad the CFLE patient flourished!

  • CFLE in 1990–91 (1 comment)

    • Comment by Judy Myers-Walls on May 24th, 2013

      I was especially excited about the provisional membership option. It allowed students and new professionals to ease into the position and discover the benfits of certification even though they often feel poor and penny-less at that stage.