Conference, Cults and New Religious Movements,

Early Registration Discount Deadline of May 20th Approaching for AFF Conference, “Cults and New Religious Movements,” in Southern California

On Friday and Saturday, June 13 th and 14 th AFF will conduct a conference at the Chapman University Conference Center in Orange, California (near Orange County’s John Wayne Airport). Preconference workshops for families and former group members will take place on Thursday, June 12 th . Fifteen CE credits are available for California MFCCs and/or LCSWs – see p.s. below.

The early registration discount deadline is May 20th, so register now! Registration information is at the bottom of this message, after the AFF contact information.

AFF conferences are unique in that they bring together researchers, helping professionals, clergy, attorneys, exit counselors, and families and former group members. Our conferences have usually had 200 – 270 attendees. Hence, attendees, in addition to having learning much about the cult phenomenon, have an opportunity to meet and converse with a wide variety of people who share their interests. We schedule long breaks and have evening socials at the end of each day in order to facilitate such conversations.

This conference, like most AFF conferences, runs three sessions simultaneously, except for a few plenary talks. This means that attendees have a wide variety of programs from which to choose. Whenever possible we try to videotape sessions, so if you are attracted to two sessions at the same time, you can usually purchase the video of one of them.

Usually one-third to one-half of participants have attended prior AFF conferences. Their repeat attendance is perhaps the best indicator of the conferences’ quality.

In this conference:

Psychologist Dr. David Foy of Pepperdine University, an authority on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Vietnam veterans, will give a plenary talk on trauma research and cults.
A team of Southern California therapists (Rachel Bernstein, MS.Ed., M.F.T., Mary Jo Cysewski, M.A., M.F.T., Jonibeth Whitney, Ph.D., and Doni Whitsett, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.) with experience in this area will discuss clinical assessment and treatment issues.
Experienced exit counselors ( David Clark and Pat Ryan and Joe Kelly) will discuss two illustrative cases on which they have worked.
Noted authorities Dr. Ronald Enroth, Dr. Jorge Erdely, and Rev. Dr. Harold Bussell will discuss aspects of spiritual abuse.
Attorney Lawrence Levy will discuss lawsuits won, lost, and turned away in order to shed light on the many complex factors former group members must consider before deciding to file a suit.
Dr. Janja Lalich, co-author of Cults in Our Midst and Assistant Professor of Sociology at California State University Chico, will moderate sessions involving eight papers on gender issues and cults and two papers on new theoretical approaches to cult involvement.
Dr. Stephen Kent of the University of Alberta will talk about the generational revolt of the adult children of the first generation members of the Children of God/The Family.

These are only a sample of the many interesting sessions that will be presented at this conference. For a complete list go to the California events page at AFF’s online bookstore (here is the url, in case the hyperlink does not work for you):

http://cultinfobooks.com/infoserv_events/2003/aff_conference_2003_06ca_events.htm#Conference%20Events

The top of the events page includes hyperlinks to other pages that provide information on the facility, presenters, fees, CE credits, and registration methods.

Hyperlinks to information on all three of AFF’s 2003 events (California June conference, Colorado July ex-member workshop, and Connecticut October conference) can be found on this page of AFF’s online bookstore (here is the url in case the hyperlink does not work for you):

http://cultinfobooks.com/infoserv_events/idx_affevents.htm

You will be pleased to learn that the costs at the Chapman University Conference Center are among the lowest of any AFF conference. Your registration fee includes three meals for each day that you sign up for. For those staying at the conference center, single rooms are $50/night and double rooms are $35/night/person. All rooms have private baths.

We hope to see you there. It will be a great conference!

Regards,

Herbert L. Rosedale, Esq.

President

P.S. This course meets the qualifications for 15 hours of continuing education credit for California MFCCs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences – American Family Foundation (California CE Provider PCE 2682). Full refund if made 30 days prior to conference. Partial refund thereafter (contact AFF).

AFF

P.O. Box 2265

Bonita Springs, FL 34133

Tel: 239-514-3081

Fax: 732-352-6818

E-Mail: [email protected]

Websites: www.cultinfobooks.com; www.culticstudies.org; www.culticstudiesreview.org