Over 160 people attended the CFLE Dinner in Minneapolis on November 3^rd. The evening provided an opportunity to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) designation and to recognize the people responsible for its success. 

The program consisted of a number of updates regarding the status of the program and current and future projects. CFLE Forum Facilitator, Bryce Dickey, provided information on some of the projects planned for 2011 including a Practitioners Resource Library and a Career Center promotion specifically for practitioner positions. CFLE Tammy Whitten shared information on the implementation of a Family Life Education Month, slated for February. Sharon Ballard, Chair of the CFLE Advisory Board, presented a report of the activities of the Advisory Board over the past year. Mary Bold, NCFR Academic Program Liaison, presented information on NCFR's plans for a clearing house of NCFR-approved academic courses available online. Lane Powell, Chair of the Academic Program Review Committee, recognized eight schools with newly approved CFLE programs, and 14 renewed programs.

The evening also provided an opportunity to launch the newly revised Family Life Education Framework poster. David Bredehoft and Michael Walcheski, both of Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, have continued their service to NCFR by editing the third edition of the FLE Framework. The new poster and PowerPoint are now available for purchase via the NCFR website.

The highlight of the evening came under the capable emceeing skills of former NCFR President Sharon Price. Sharon was a member of the original Committee on Standards and Criteria for the Certification of Family Life Educators. This Committee developed the CFLE Standards and Criteria, over 25 years ago. Eight of the original 14 members were able to attend the CFLE Dinner! In recognition of the tremendous contribution the Committee has made to NCFR and to families everywhere, the Committee was presented with the CFLE of the Year award. CFLE Advisory Board Chair, Sharon Ballard presented the group with a crystal plaque which included the names of all of the Committee members. The plaque will be displayed at the NCFR headquarters in Minneapolis.

The Committee worked very hard over a number of years and at their own personal cost to develop the CFLE criteria. Sharon shared that while the group worked very hard, they also took the time to have some fun. Apparently there was a tradition of circulating a Ken doll, (in honor of the Committee Chair, Ken Davidson), from meeting to meeting.  Each person bestowed with the doll had to bring it to the next meeting with a new outfit. I was extremely honored when Ken retrieved the doll from the shoe box in which it had been stored for the past many years and presented it to me! While a light-hearted tradition, the significance of being trusted with the doll was not lost on me!

All in all it was a wonderful evening and an opportunity to enjoy each other's company and celebrate the importance of the CFLE designation in promoting family life education.