Justice of the PeaceNewsletter
September 2011
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In This Issue: Fill-In Survey for Justices of the Peace Westporter Emanuel Margolis One JP's Ramblings Conference Registration |
JP CONFERENCE IN HARTFORD
Friday, October 28th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capitol Building, 210 Capitol Ave.
Directions on the website.
Peter Merry, Renowned Wedding Industry Guru
On the Program
"Better Consultations Bring Better Bookings" is the title of Peter Merry's interactive talk, especially designed for Justices of the Peace. In it, he will show us how to do more of what we love to do: officiate at weddings!
We will learn why the first 15 minutes of a meeting with couples
are the most important, whether the meeting is in person
or via telephone or email. We will learn how to help
couples uncover their real needs while demonstrating the value of
our services. We will learn how to develop a
relationship with our clients that can lead to years of referrals to
other couples.
Why should you attend? This talk will help you increase the number of weddings you do and boost your confidence that you can communicate why your services are the best.
Peter Merry is the author of "The Best Wedding Reception Ever!" and he will sign books for purchasers. He is a dynamic speaker who has taught countless wedding planners, photographers, caterers, musicians, etc. how to improve their sales. We are thrilled that he is traveling from his home in Dallas to participate at our JP conference. Peter is regularly the keynote speaker at many (far more expensive!) conferences like WeddingMBA. His background includes 20 years of public speaking and teaching, hosting his own Talk Radio Show on KBRT, and doing Stand-Up Comedy at Improv, the famous comedy club. He's coming. You should come too!
Morning Program
The
office of the CT Secretary of the State (SOTS) oversees Justices of the Peace and
keeps the JP Manual updated. We'll ask keynote speaker SOTS Denise Merrill about
recent and pending marriage
laws and other duties that JPs may perform.
Marriage licenses that are returned to Town Clerks throughout CT make their way to Registrar of Vital Records Jane Purtill, who tracks marriage statistics and trends.
We have a lot to learn from both speakers. We hope you'll be there!
Wait, there's more... Other Topics we'll cover:
- What Every Professional JP Should Know
- Sound Systems for the JP: Let Your Voice Be Heard!
- What Are My Services Really Worth?
- Be a Bride (or Groom) Again even if you're married- it's a mock ceremony!
2011
Survey for Justices of the Peace
It's been
years since we polled JPs about their
experience performing JP duties.
Everyone wants to know how many weddings
other JPs are doing and what they are charging,
among other issues of universal
interest. Please contribute your
perspective to the survey and we promise
to pubish the results in the November
newsletter.
We are hoping for a large volume of
responses, so the survey is available in
two formats. You can
fill it out on-line
or you can
print the survey, then fill it
out and mail it at your leisure... so
long as it is received by October 15th,
when the survey analysis begins. Mail
to: Justice of the Peace Association, 8
Webb Road, Westport CT 06880.
We think you'll find the survey questions provocative
(in a good way) and enjoy the process.
There is space for comments. We thank
you for your participation.
Westport JP Emanuel Margolis Dies
It's been years since we polled JPs about their experience performing JP duties. Everyone wants to know how many weddings other JPs are doing and what they are charging, among other issues of universal interest. Please contribute your perspective to the survey and we promise to pubish the results in the November newsletter.
We are hoping for a large volume of responses, so the survey is available in two formats. You can fill it out on-line or you can print the survey, then fill it out and mail it at your leisure... so long as it is received by October 15th, when the survey analysis begins. Mail to: Justice of the Peace Association, 8 Webb Road, Westport CT 06880.
We think you'll find the survey questions provocative
(in a good way) and enjoy the process.
There is space for comments. We thank
you for your participation.
Isn't it gratifying to know that
so many accomplished people are also JPs who
share our joy at officiating at weddings? Emanuel Margolis was one of those people. Besides
being a JP, he was a lifelong fighter for civil rights and an original member
of the American Civil Liberties Union of
Connecticut. He died August 17th of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the
age of 85.
"For more than half a century, Manny was a remarkable
advocate for civil liberties and justice," said David McGuire, staff
attorney for the ACLU-CT. "He was an invaluable mentor, a fierce advocate
and kind-hearted person. His teachings, legal work and spirit will continue
to inspire future generations."
Manny campaigned tirelessly for
peace. His commitment to free speech, even speech he detested, was so
unshakeable that he successfully defended the right of the Ku Klux Klan to
hold a rally in Meriden in 1981.
He lived in Westport for 46 years
with his wife, Estelle. He also leaves five children and 10 grandchildren.
One JP's Ramblings
"The smallest wedding I did was two people in the back seat of my Jeep at the Tilton Tanger outlet; the largest was about 220 people in a church in Hanover. The shortest turnaround time was 15 minutes from phone call to ceremony. I usually book one wedding a day, but on 10-10-10, I did three all over the state of NH. My ceremonies are maybe 10 minutes, but I will do whatever the couple wants. The longest I waited for a guest (a mother) to show up was 2-1/4 hours. At that point we went ahead; she arrived 15 minutes after we were done. The hardest wedding I did was a Jewish-Christian ceremony, which included elements of both faiths. I did a ceremony where the bride and groom were on horseback (I was dressed like a cowboy). I did an outdoor midnight ceremony on Halloween. I have done a semi-biker wedding. I have not done a nudist wedding (and unless I could wear shorts, probably wouldn’t). I did one wedding in a gondola car heading up a mountain."
Dave Berman is a New Hampshire JP and a blogger. His ramblings can be read at www.bermansbits.com andjpdave.blogspot.com but the one above was written especially for the JP Newsletter. Why? "As I don’t really communicate with other JPs," Dave explains, "I have no idea what others charge, etc., so this may be a chance to find out." He hopes his ramblings will start a dialogue.
So... can you out-do Dave on any of the following: the smallest, the largest, the shortest, the longest, the hardest, the strangest -- we're talking about weddings, of course! Write to us! (And don't forget to fill out the survey above.)
MAIL-IN CONNECTICUT JP CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
I will attend the JP Conference on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.
First Name _____________________ Last Name_________________
Nickname (for nametag) _________________
Address __________________________Town/City ___________________
State _____ Zip_________ Phone
________________________
Email
____________________________________
Please mail with check to: Justice of the
Peace Association • 8 Webb
Road • Westport CT 06880.
Enclosed is my check for $ ______.
We welcome help publicizing the conference and
encouraging other JPs to attend. Check here if you can
distribute flyers to JPs in your town
PAY
NOW:
$40 for Justice of the Peace Association members Directions to the JP Conference
are on the website.
For further information:
203-226-1710 or Email:
conference@jpUS.org
$45 for
non-members
$50 (cash or check) at the
door.