By now, it should come as no surprise that Marriage Enrichment has universal appeal no matter what the culture. During their lifetime, David and Vera Mace traveled extensively and wherever they landed, they took the time to spread the message of strong marriages. That same enthusiasm continues among the members of A.C.M.E.

Here at home we have member couples in every state in the Union. In truth, some of those states are so thinly populated with A.C.M.E. members that it is difficult for them to hold events. These couples have learned to gather a few couples together to form a MEG, and from time to time lead a workshop or work in their faith based community to share A.C.M.E.

In California, we have A.C.M.E. couples (86) in the central part of the state where a retreat is held each year in January. This year the retreat will be combined with a Leadership Training Workshop with trainers Ben and Trish Goossen. This annual retreat is open to any couple. California is the home for one of our National Board Couples, David and Barbara Plum

In Southern California, there is a group of chaplains on the U.S. Marine Corp Base in San Diego who have led hundreds of service couples through marriage enrichment retreats.

Just across the border in Reno, Nevada (1), Fred and Kathy Jakolat are working to get A.C.M.E. started there. If you know any couples who have retired to the Reno area, send them to Fred and Kathy.

In the Northwest, Oregon (9) and Washington (8), we have a number of A.C.M.E. couples. Phyllis and Randy Michael have been working to strengthen our efforts in the Portland area.

Out in the island state of Hawaii (2), Shirley and Verne Bechill have been telling the story of marriage enrichment to anyone who will listen. If you are headed to Hawaii, make sure you visit them in Honolulu.

Our numbers are growing in New Mexico (10 couples) and Arizona (21 couples). We anticipate that it will not be too long until we are able to have a two-state conference. If you want to help plan such an event, let us hear from you.

Colorado (12), Montana (1), Wyoming (9) and Utah (1) have small pockets of A.C.M.E. couples. In Colorado we have a strong pocket of A.C.M.E. couples from Denver south to Colorado Springs. In Wyoming we have a strong pocket of members in the Riverton area. Everyone else seems to be spread out with many miles between couples.

Texas (133) is one of our strongest states. In Lubbock you might want to contact Bob and Lane Powell to learn more about what is happening there. Call Dana and David Graham for information about A.C.M.E. activities in the Abilene area.

Texas provides two couples on the National Board. The first is Diane and Ken Martin in Bryan who would be happy to assist couples find an A.C.M.E. event in that part of the state. Over in Houston, our second Board Couple, Kay and Tom Gallatin, are involved in marriage enrichment within their church as well as the whole community. In Fort Worth you might want to contact Bobbye and Britton Wood or Neal and Nancy Sanders in the Dallas area.

Our A.C.M.E. numbers are growing in Oklahoma. Three years ago we had two members in that state. Today we have fourteen and the numbers continue to increase. Greg and Priscilla Hunt in Norman, OK, would be an excellent couple to contact.

With over 32 A.C.M.E. couples in Arkansas, there is a strong movement there to establish a State Coordinating Council and to set a date for a State Conference. We have only five couples from Louisiana in A.C.M.E. Anna and Chuck Cole are a leader couple from Monroe, and have expressed a desire to start a program, not only for Monroe, but for the entire state. We look forward to much growth in Louisiana.

When we look at Kansas (48) and Missouri (92) , we discover the third largest contingency of A.C.M.E. couples. In the Kansas City area, we are pleased to have a relationship with the Heart of American Family Services. Sara Pestinger provides invaluable support to the Heart of America Chapter. In St. Louis, the Gateway Chapter runs a full program of communication workshops. They have also benefited from the leadership of Bob and Bess Mosby and the “Double V Dialoguing” process which the Mosbys have pioneered. Bill and Diane Otten from the Gateway Chapter serve on the National Board and Clark and Ruth Achepohl serve on the Board from Kansas City.

While Nebraska (4), Montana (6), North Dakota (2) and Iowa (8) have low counts of A.C.M.E. couples, South Dakota (31), Minnesota (26), Michigan (27) and Wisconsin (27) show promise of developing strong state programs. Following the 1999 IMEC in Kansas City, Sally and Paul Hanson returned home to South Dakota and began working in Brookings. It will not be too long before we have a Leader Training event in their area.

Over in Minnesota (15), we have the leadership of Donna and Glen Hambleton who also serve on the National Board. In Michigan, Martha and Ray Burgess would be a good couple to ask about what is happening, as would Alex and Mary Brodrick.

Crossing over the Mississippi River and heading East, we find that Illinois (38), Indiana (22), Ohio (31) and Kentucky (28) are just beginning to develop as state organizations. Membership is spread throughout each state. Hopefully, each of our member couples will take the lead in getting marriage enrichment started in their little corner of the world.

Down in Kentucky, we have 28 couples and a strong advocate in Bob and Eddie Fields. They own their own retreat center. We are planning a Kentucky State Conference in the very near future. Likewise, Tennessee (40) has strong leadership in Ginny and Pete Rowlett in the Knoxville area and Pat and Zellie Earnest in the Kingsport (Tri Cities) area. Pat and Zellie are our formet Board President Couple. In the Nashville area, you might consider the Watertown Bed & Breakfast where Robert and Sharon McComb have held workshops and training events. And in Memphis you can contact Bill and Lida Jones for information about MEGs.

The New England States of Maine (11), Massachusetts (17), Rhode Island (5), New Hampshire (2), Vermont (4), Connecticut (15), and New York (20), all have pockets of activity. In New Jersey (14), Carol and Charles McCollough lead programs and are A.C.M.E. Trainers. In Pennsylvania (41), we have the leadership of Brad Sheeks and Pat McBee who give us an excellent tie with the Quaker Couples movement.

The A.C.M.E. couples from Maryland (117), Virginia (98), Washington DC (9), Delaware (4) join together each year to hold a regional conference. In 2001 it will take place in Virginia Beach on November 8-9. Interested couples can get more information by calling Joan and Richard Liversidge in Columbia, MD, or Eleanor and Gerald Roller in Roanoke. Carl and Nancy Terry from Newport News represent this region on the board. In the mountain state of West Virginia (52), there is an annual banquet in Charleston. For more information you can contact Arlen and Margaret Bishop. Couples who would like to attend a retreat may want to call Hugh and Judy Erskine in Hedgesville, WV. They operate a wonderful B&B as well as lead a very good retreat.

North Carolina (336) has an extremely active State Coordinating Council. With chapters from Wilmington to Asheville, it holds an annual State Conference on the weekend closest to Valentine’s Day. A new chapter is under way in Rockingham, NC. Winston-Salem is the site of the A.C.M.E. headquarters. Jim and Johnne Armentrout and Sue and George Carson serve on the National Board.

South Carolina (22) promises to be a fertile state for expansion of A.C.M.E. Our strongest activity is in Spartanburg where Gary and Kimberly Jordan serve on the National Board. This is a state that we hope to organize into a State Coordinating Council and hold a State Conference in the near future.

Georgia (105) has always been a stronghold of A.C.M.E. Their State Coordinating Council has been active in organizing a State Conference for over 20 years. In Waleska, Eddie and Sylvia Robertson hold regular “tasters” in their home where couples learn about marriage enrichment. Down on the coast, Donald and Louise Streever (Savannah) are the couple to contact.

Alabama (32) has developed a strong state organization. Each year they hold a state conference on the weekend closest to Valentine’s Day. For information about opportunities in Alabama, contact Bert and Lindsay Pitts in Mountain Brook or Charles and Janet Alexander in Birmingham.

Finally, our trip around the country ends in Florida (75). The Florida State Coordinating Council focuses on a State Conference in September of each year. In September of 2001, the conference will take place in Daytona Beach. Ken and Martha Cook in Gainesville are the couple to contact for more information. In Pompano Beach interested couples should contact Kip and Kristine Barkley and in Tampa you should call Charlie and Debbie Parsons.

As you can see, there is a lot going on across the country. In addition, we have members in 17 other nations. Even while we work to improve marriage enrichment opportunities here at home, we continue to spread the message that David and Vera Mace have shared throughout the world.