2008 Exmormon Foundation Conference
I WENT TO THE WOODS
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." – Henry David Thoreau
Please join us for our annual weekend of education, enlightenment, personal stories, and mingling with a group of interesting and brave people who are exploring life after Mormonism. You're in for a real treat! This weekend has proven to be life-changing for many who come, and you will be energized and healed by the people you meet and the presentations you hear. It's a weekend of shared experiences, and a chance to meet some incredible people. You need not be a Foundation member to attend, but Foundation members do get a discount on the registration.
| Embassy Suites Hotel 110 West 600 South Salt Lake City, UT 84101-2701 Telephone: (801) 359-7800 Fax: (801) 359-3753 |
A block of rooms has been reserved for our group at a special rate. To reserve a room, please call the hotel, ask for reservations for the block of rooms for The Exmormon Conference. Some rooms are already reserved, and they tend to go quickly, so don't wait too long.
Agenda
|
|
|
| 4:30-6:30PM | Registration, dinner on your own |
| 6:30-7:30PM | Social Hour, Cash Bar |
| 7:30-8:00PM | Welcome, Introduction, & Greetings:
|
| 8:00-10:00PM | Open Mic for Conference Attendees |
| 10:00-1:00AM | Hospitality and Socializing Time |
|
|
|
| 9:00-10:30AM | Panel – “Leading the Way:
Experiences of former 'Part Ex-Mo' Families”
|
| 10:45-12:30PM | Ken Clark – “Lying for the Lord” |
| 12:30-2:00PM | Lunch on your own |
| 2:00-4:00PM | Steven Hassan – “Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves” |
| 4:30-5:30PM | Breakout Sessions
|
| 6:30-7:30PM | Social Hour, Cash Bar |
| 7:30-8:15PM | Dinner in the ballroom |
| 8:15-9:15PM | Lyndon Lamborn – “Chased Out of Mormonism” |
| 9:30PM-1:00AM | Hospitality and Socializing |
|
|
|
| 8:30-9:45AM | Foundation Business Meeting |
| 10:00AM-Noon | Rick Robison – “Awakening From the Addiction” |
| Noon | Closing Remarks/Announcements |
|
|
|
Featured Speakers and Panelists
Ken Clark resides in Moscow, Idaho. He is the Director of Grants & Contracts at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, ID. Ken received a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Idaho, a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University, and a BA in Education from Central Washington University. Ken worked full-time in the LDS Church Education system for twenty-seven years, 1975 to 2002, as a Seminary Principal, CES Coordinator, Institute Faculty, and Institute Director. From the mid-1980's until the mid-1990's Ken was a licensed therapist in Washington State, with a thriving part-time practice. Kennewick General Hospital and LDS Social Services contracted his services. He and Teresa (Cline); who was born and raised in Richland, Washington; have been married thirty-eight years. They have five children and nine grandchildren. They enjoy spending Sundays doing anything they want, including visiting Starbucks for foo-foo coffee.
Steven Hassan is a licensed Mental Health Counselor who holds a Master's degree in counseling psychology from Cambridge College. He has been involved for many years in educating the public about mind control and destructive cults, and has appeared on Nightline, 60 MINUTES, Dateline, Oprah Winfrey, and Larry King Live. He is the author of two critically acclaimed books: “Combatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults” (1988) and “Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves” (2000). He established The Freedom of Mind Resource Center, available at www.freedomofmind.com.
Lyndon Lamborn was born in Logan, UT to pioneer-stock ancestors with polygamists on both sides of the family tree. Lyndon has five brothers and one sister. All six boys served foreign missions. Lyndon served in the Belgium Brussels mission from 1977-1979, and was a Cum Laude graduate of Utah State University with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1982. He received a Masters of Sciences degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry Riddle in 1990. He was employed by Boeing for twenty-five years, and is also a part-time professor of mathematics at Mesa Community college, Mesa AZ. His former callings in the LDS church included Elders Quorum President four times, a ward membership clerk, Stake Missionary, serving in a Stake Mission Presidency, and Scout Master for six years. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, off-road motorcycle riding, running, and has competed in seven marathons. This picture is at a mine field in the Golan Heights, Israel.
Rick Robison is an optometric physician in Salt Lake City, Utah. He did his training at UC Berkeley and residency at UC San Francisco. He returned to Utah and grew a large practice called EyeCare Utah. He held many leadership positions in the church including acting bishop. After an injury, he found himself addicted to pain medication. His struggles with addiction resulted in criminal convictions, loss of his professional license, bankruptcy, and divorce. After drug rehab and recovery, he became a drug counselor at a few clinics in Utah. He considers Mormonism his "drug of choice", and talks of the similarities of healing from drug addiction and leaving the LDS church. He has four children, and recently married Sheryl, a fellow Exmormon. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Richard Teerlink grew up in a devout LDS family, served a mission that included England, Scotland and Ireland, was married in the temple, and raised two daughters. He has five grandsons. He is a retired high school chemistry and A.P. Biology teacher who taught in Granite School District in Salt Lake County for 31 years. Richard has lived in a gay relationship with Paul Trane for fifteen years. Both attend the Unitarian Church where they have found a welcoming community. Together they were advisors to the West High Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) for five years. It was the second GSA to form in Utah. The first GSAs caused a fire storm in the Utah State Legislature that continues to smolder today.
Paul Trane was born in Salt Lake City, but grew up in Lehi, Utah in his grandparent's home. He was president of his high school seminary, served a mission to the Central States Mission, and graduated from BYU. He married in the Salt Lake Temple, attended the U of U where he received his MSW and worked a year as a medical social worker at Primary Children's Hospital. He then supervised the school social work services for twenty-one years in the Granite School District. He changed careers and received his endorsement in Educational Administration and Supervision, then served as an elementary school principal for eleven years. He is the father of five children and has ten grandchildren. He has been a teacher, Elder's Quorum president, counselor in bishopric, high counselor, and bishop. After a Divorce in 1990, he met Richard Teerlink in 1992, and they have been in a very happy gay relationship for fifteen years. Both are members of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City where Paul has served on the Board of Directors. Together, Paul and Richard have taught adult education classes.
PRIVATE CONSULTS AVAILABLE WITH STEVE HASSAN!
Steven Hassan will have some time during the weekend to do private counseling with anyone who would be interested in this. This will not be limited to those who attend the conference. There will be a charge for this, and those fees are up to Steve. The scheduling of these private sessions will be your responsibility, rather than that of the Foundation. If you are interested in looking into this, go to his website at: www.freedomofmind.com, and click on the link at the left titled: Help for Oneself. There you will find information, phone number and a form to complete. There will be a telephone consultation first to see if you both feel additional time with him would be helpful. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone who feels the need for a one-time, but intense, session with one of the leading authorities in the dynamics of mind control, whose work has helped countless people rethink their past and move forward with positive skills.
In addition, we have discussed the option of having a small group session on Sunday afternoon -- probably a maximum of 10-15 people. We would be meeting at the hotel, and it would probably be a 2-3 hr. session. We haven't worked out any details yet, but there would be a separate charge for this. Please let the conference chair know if you have interest in this. Contact info below.
Registration Information
The Hotel
Rooms at the hotel have have been blocked for us at a special rate. Be sure to ask for “The Exmormon Foundation” rate ($105.00). That rate includes a fully cooked-to-order breakfast each morning in the beautiful hotel atrium. Parking is free for all attendees. Our block of rooms will be held until September 25th. Contact Embassy Suites at (801) 359-7800 for reservations. Staying at the hotel, and being there for the entire conference really does enhance your experience for the weekend!
Children
Due to the nature of the conference presentations and the serving of alcohol during the evenings, we have established a strict policy that no children are allowed except for nursing infants. In addition, since the presentations are recorded for our website, it's important that we control the ambient noise during the recordings. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact the Conference Chairman.
Registration and Fees
All registrations that include dinner must be received no later than October 14th. There may be a very limited number of meal tickets available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, but there are no guarantees if you haven't pre-registered for the dinner. These tickets will be available only until noon on Saturday. After that, there will be no dinner tickets available.
You also may register at the door for partial attendance, or single sessions. To qualify for the student discount, registrants must present their current student ID at the registration desk upon sign-in.
You may pay using PayPal or a personal check. Please carefully read the How to Register section below before registering.
| Type of Registration | Regular Price |
Foundation Member |
Student |
| Full conference, with dinner, before Sept 30: | $100 | $90 | $75 |
| Full conference, with dinner, after Sept 30: | $105 | $95 | $80 |
| Saturday only, with dinner, before Sept 30: | $80 | $70 | $55 |
| Saturday only, with dinner, after Sept 30: | $85 | $75 | $60 |
How to Register
There are three ways to register, as described below. No matter which method you choose, please provide the following information to Dianne Ormond at <dormond22@hotmail.com>, or include it with your check as instructed below. This information is needed from everyone, regardless of the method of registration:
- full name
- phone number
- email address
- home city and state (or country)
Additionally, there are three lines on the name tags. Please supply the information you prefer.
- preferred name or alias (required)
- email address or posting board name (optional)
- home city and state, or country (optional)
Please make sure you've given us a valid email address with your registration, as you will be receiving more information via e-mail as we get closer to the conference dates. The Exmormon Foundation understands the need for pseudonymity and discretion in handling your contact information. We recommend using a private, non-shared email account for your Conference registration information if receiving email from the Foundation is a concern.
Pre-Registering By Postal Mail
All mailed registrations should be sent to:
Dianne Ormond 957 North 910 East Orem, UT 84097-3448
All mailed registrations must arrive no later than October 13th.
Pre-Registering By Electronic Mail
If you pay via PayPal rather than by check, please email the information we've requested, including the specifics for your name tag, to Dianne Ormond at <dormond22@hotmail.com> after completing your PayPal transaction.
Registering At The Door
We prefer that you pre-register in order to have your name tag and materials ready in advance, but if necessary, you may also register at the door. As noted above, this does not guarantee a ticket for the Saturday night banquet.
Contact Information
Emmett
This year's conference is being organized by Sue Emmett. If you have questions, please contact Sue via email at <Sue97062@aol.com>.
Spread The Word
Please share this information with friends and family who might be interested. Help us get the word out!