A non-jw Convention you may want to attend.

by blondie 6 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

  • blondie
    blondie

    2007 SNAP National Conference
    July 20 - 22, 2007 - Washington, DC

    Join together with other survivors for a weekend of seminars, speakers, fun and healing in our nation's capitol. The 2007 national conference in Washington DC promises to be the most exciting and memorable SNAP conference yet!

    The conference will be held at the beautiful Marriott Metro Center, centrally located in Washington DC just ½ mile from the White House and less than a mile away from the Washington Monument and the National Mall. Call 202-737-2200 to reserve your discounted room. Room rate for SNAP conference attendees is $139.

    Conference speakers include a number of prominent individuals who've not spoken before to clergy sex abuse survivors about their experiences: Family members from MA, WI, OH, and NY whose loved ones were murdered by priests. They will tell about the horrors their families have endured and the arduous process of trying learning the truth of seeking justice.

    Walter Robinson, editor of the Pulitzer Prize winning Boston Globe Spotlight Team whose January 2002 series prompted hundreds of articles about clergy sex crimes and cover ups. His work led to an extensive, nationwide examination of the issue and encouraged hundreds of survivors to come forward, speak up, and get help.

    Barbara Westrick, a veteran Catholic school principal and teacher who was fired this month for exposing duplicity by Cardinal Francis George. She called the police about her boss, Fr Dan McCormack, for sexually abusing one of her students in 2006 which led to a massive scandal in the Chicago archdiocese.

    Thomas Roberts, a former CNN anchor and a survivor who courageously and eloquently testified before the Maryland legislature on statute of limitations reform. He told his story to the nation on the Anderson Cooper Show and elsewhere.

    Tom Doyle, a whistle-blower priest and canon lawyer who once worked in the Vatican embassy and warned America's bishops in 1985 about the enormity of the problem of sexually abusive clergy. He has been repeatedly ostracized by the church hierarchy for his steadfast, decades-long support of survivors

    Jeff Dion, a survivor who directs the National Crime Victim Bar Association, which links survivors to services. He also works to eliminate and extend statutes of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse.

    Please join us in this great opportunity to network with survivors and supporters, learn, heal, and visit our nation's capitol!

    Conference Fee: $130 per person, all weekend.

    One-Day Pass: $75 per person.

    Note that meals and hotel accommodations are not included
    as part of the conference price.

    Conference Registration Here

    Register on-line with credit card.

    - or -

    Register by mail and pay with check.

    Cancellation Policy: Any cancellation received prior to May 15th , 2007 will be entitled to a full refund. Any cancellation received by June 15th, 2007 will be entitled to a 50% refund. Cancellations before July 1 st, 2007 will be entitled to a 25% refund. Any cancellations received after July 1st, 2007 will not be entitled to any refund.

    Book Your Hotel Room Soon!

    Marriott at Metro Center
    Call 202-737-2200

    Marriott at Metro Center
    775 12th Street NW
    Washington, District Of Columbia 20005

    Contact the hotel directly to arrange accommodations. Ask for discount code "SNPSNPA." There are a limited number of rooms at the discounted rate of $139, so make your reservations soon!

    http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_conferences/WashDC_2007/preview_announcement.htm

    You don't have to be Catholic or ex-catholic; just interested in what others are doing to heal, fight back, and have a productive life.

    Blondie

  • stevenyc
    stevenyc

    Blondie, thanks for the reminder.

    steve

    PS. and the kick in the pants

  • blondie
    blondie

    I went for 3 years but not this year...too far and health won't deal with it. But you get to hear and meet some topnotch non-jw speakers such as Marci Hamilton (who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor) who wrote God and the Gavel; ex-priest, ex-Catholic, Tom Doyle, canon lawyer for the Vatican, who fought the child abuse laws while still in. Marilyn VandeBur, Miss America, who was brave enough to step forward and tell of her abuse by her father.

    Local chapters of SNAP may be in your area. You can learn how they run theirs to form a chapter for Silentlambs (www.silentlambs.org)

    It is not boring. There are main sessions, and the breakout small sessions, that you can pick and choose what you want to go to or take a nap.

    If clergy abuse is to be reduced and a base of laws to be enacted uniformly nationwide, at the state level, this group has the know-how and has proved in in the last 5 years especially.

    Learn that this is not only a WTS issue and that the more the better is fighting this crime.

    Blondie

  • blondie
    blondie

    So no one knows that SNAP is the organization behind almost all the victories against the Catholic church in regard to child sexual abuse; who opened the door for other religions to be held responsible for their actions and not hide behind the Constitution? I applaud those people and their sacrifices.

    There was a convention for Silentlambs in 2004 but it was poorly attended by ex-jws for good reasons I'm sure. But I did go and met JunctionGuy and CountryGirl and got to see Kimberlee Norris in action, a very dynamic woman. I was able to meet Richard Ostling who puts out the professional AP articles on the WTS and child sexual abuse and their policies.

    That's where I first met people from SNAP and the Healing Alliance. SNAP focuses on the fight and HA on the healing.

    If you are in the DC area and can attend part or all, I encourage you to do so. If the cost is beyond your means, contact them, they do help out people in real need to attend.

    Personally, I hope that as xjws we could arrange a similar convention again without any religious conversion content.

    Blondie

    http://www.healingall.org

    http://www.lovenorrisattorneys.com/jehova.html

    http://www.snapnetwork.org/

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    I hope it is well attended. Since SL and SNAP have affilitated, I am surprised SL is not involved in the conference. Since this will be likely well publicized in the press, it would be a good one for SL to be a part.

    Thanx for the info.

    Jeff

  • blondie
    blondie

    Bill Bowen usually conducted one of the breakout sessions and was one of their board members. I don't know his current status in re to SNAP. SL is so small in comparison. But local chapters can be formed in your area of SL using the model SNAP has. SNAP has been also reaching out to Protestant groups with similar battles re child abuse.

    The problems they encounter in both the Catholic and Protestant churches are very similar to the ones we have with the WTS. We can learn from each other to combat what the enemy we definitely have in common.

    Blondie

  • nvrgnbk
    nvrgnbk

    Thanks blondie.

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