Mission

To promote better marriages by providing enrichment opportunities and resources to strengthen couple relationships, increase intimacy, and enhance personal growth, mutual fulfillment, and family wellness.

Vision

To create a network of couples building healthy marriages by providing marriage education and enrichment opportunities in partnership with other public, private, and faith-based organizations.

In September of 1967, and at the age of 60, David Mace moved to Winston-Salem, NC to become a Professor of Sociology with the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. Previously David and his spouse Vera had jointly served as executive directors of the American Association of Marriage Counselors from 1960-1967, and even earlier during the 1940’s as joint directors of the Marriage Guidance Council in England. They would both move to the United States in 1949 when David would begin his first decade of professorship at Drew University in New Jersey, before finally making their last move to North Carolina.

Following a lifetime of “working for better marriages”, David and Vera would establish the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment (ACME) on their fortieth wedding anniversary in July of 1973. Following their slogan for ACME, “to work for better marriages, beginning with our own”, David and Vera would create an organization that married couples could join to express their support of marriage and grow in their marriage relationship. This emphasis would significantly differ from their earlier focus on counseling and intervention, and instead focus on enrichment and education. According to David Mace:

“Our hope was that it might be quite natural (with no direct religious, political or professional connections of any kind) and might, therefore, become a coordinating agency for other organizations that were developing programs in this new field; that it might undertake the task of setting standards for leadership; that it might encourage the development of local chapters which could promote in their communities the cause of better marriage.” (Mace, Close Companions, 1982).

Following the lead of David and Vera, a small group of North Carolina couples, many from the Winston-Salem area, soon joined to establish the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment North Carolina Council. With a focus on marriage support groups and education, the North Carolina Council has grown to include local chapters and marriage enrichment groups from Asheville to Wilmington.

Additionally, the North Carolina Council has presented an annual marriage enrichment conference for three decades, historically during the month of February. Most recently, following the lead of the national organization (Better Marriages), our state council has undergone a name change, becoming known as Better Marriages NC, and has continued to operate with one of the largest state memberships nationally. Additionally, North Carolina is the home of the Better Marriages national office, located in Winston-Salem, NC.

Couples had a wonderful time at the Better Marriages NC's annual conference on February 8-9, in Clemmons, NC. Using the theme of "Keep It Simple Sweetie," we offered quality sessions designed to help couples look at their relevant issues.  Presenters were local experienced favorites who present marriage enrichment in very entertaining and meaningful ways, and married couples had the opportunity to hear and dance to your favorite love songs during the conference! This was a great time to connect with other couples committed to their marriages and it was definitely a weekend to remember. Check out the brochure here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a fantastic marriage enrichment experience in western North Carolina on Friday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22, 2012! From quality sessions designed to help couples look at their relevant issues, to fantastic local mountain music, dancing and dining where couples connected with others committed to their marriages, to exclusive time to enjoy the area's beautiful offerings, this was certainly a weekend to remember. After this retreat centered on a theme of music, many hearts continue to sing in harmony! To see more about the program, take a look at the brochure here.

The first Chapter Meeting this fall for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County chapter was held on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 (third Tuesday) at Maple Springs United Methodist Church, 2631 Reynolda Road (27106) beginning at 7:00 p.m. (NOTE THE TIME). The program to start the year off was a take-off on the popular television shows of “Jeopardy” and “Newlyweds” and was entitled “So You think You Know Your Spouse!” and involved each couple being asked to provide the correct answer to some important aspects of their spouse in a thoughtful but fun manner.


Babysitting was Provided

Babysitting was provided to attract some younger couples, and the starting time was an effort to make the meeting early enough for young kids and provide babysitting to reduce the cost.

Meeting Schedule for 2011-2012

Our other chapter meetings this year will be on the third Tuesdays of November (15), January (17), March (20), and May (15). Programs will be thought-provoking, interesting and fun and are appropriate for all ages and years of marriage. We would hope you will invite your friends, particularly younger couples, to join us for this meeting. We want and need to grow our local membership and we need your help in doing that.

Marriage Enrichment Groups Forming

At our first chapter meeting, we usually look at the Marriage Enrichment Groups to see which ones are changing, which ones might have vacancies, and the couples interested in joining a MEG.  It would be helpful if you and your spouse talk beforehand and discuss whether your needs and schedules will permit you getting into a MEG.  With the busy schedules everyone has, it is hard to be firm on meeting dates for a particular MEG but we'll try gather all of the pertinent information and do the best we can.

Local Chapter Dues

Local chapter dues of $25.00 for the year will be solicited at the Chapter meeting. It’s an economical way for the next nine months to provide a “date” for you and your spouse for five evenings, get you out of the house and see some extremely nice folks who share your desires for a Better Marriage.

Mace Medal Awarded to Carl and Nancy Terry

Congratulations are in order to Carl and Nancy Terry on their receipt of the Mace Medal at the Better Marriages Fiesta in Albuquerque, NM in July. The Mace Medal is the highest award given by Better Marriages to those who have made considerable contributions to the promotion of better marriages in their communities and across the nation (and world). Carl and Nancy have been active in local chapters (Newport News, VA and Raleigh, NC) and were on the National Board for a number of terms including a stint as President Couple. They are currently serving as President Couple for North Carolina. They have been instrumental in incorporating Better Marriages into other marriage efforts through programming and “cross’ training with others in the field. They are Better Marriages Ambassadors, a Certified Leader Couple, have served on the Training and Certification Committee, and currently are working at scheduling training workshops across the country. They are qualified to present to groups other information through such efforts as the Mentors program. They are richly deserving of this award and we congratulate them for not only the recognition they have received through this award but also the benefits that they have provided to many others through their efforts for Better Marriages.

If you are interested in learning about marriage enrichment groups or education opportunities in your area, please contact us by email.

NC COUNCIL PRESIDENT COUPLE Jim and Kathy Weidner Charlotte, NC
NC COUNCIL SECRETARY/TREASURER COUPLE Chris and Ron Musgrave Winston-Salem, NC
NC COUNCIL PAST PRESIDENT COUPLE Carl and Nancy Terry Raleigh, NC 919-845-4825 nmterry@nc.rr.com
NC COUNCIL DIRECTOR COUPLES
Jim and Leslie Rhodes Burlington, NC 336-229-6335 JRLLRHODES@aol.com
Joel and Joyce Goodwin Salisbury, NC
Debby and Richard Howard Wilmington, NC 910-520-9249 captain153@aol.com
Cranford and Othella Johnson Winston-Salem, NC
Elaine and William Matthews Garner, NC 919-229-4456 pastorwmwm@gmail.com
Doug Burns and Janet Doughty Raleigh, NC

Nathan and Anne Johnson
Asheville, NC

Ann and Dennis Wooten Burlington, NC
Jim and Kathy Weidner Charlotte, NC
Nancy and Carl Terry Raleigh and Durham area, NC
Debby and Richard Howard Wilmington, NC
Doug and Candy Murray Wilson, NC
Jim and Johnne Armentrout Winston-Salem, NC