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THE NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE MAY 23-25, 1997 THE NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION INAUGURAL CONFERENCE: The First in a series of Regional Organizing Meetings Leading to our National Conference EASTERN CANADA ORGANIZING SESSIONS AND CONSULTATIONS WITH THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP The Maritimes, Quebec & Ontario Networking with Central and Western Canada FRIDAY MAY 23 - SUNDAY MAY 25, 1997 10 AM - 9 PM WHEN OUR POLITICAL STRUCTURES FAIL TO SERVE the needs of the people, it becomes the natural responsibility of the governed to provide leadership and direction to our political processes. THE NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION has come about from what a flawed political process has wrought for children of divorce across this land. DESPITE HAVING THE ABILITY TO USE EDUCATION as the proper and fitting tool to educate our populace about shared parenting solutions during the tragedy divorce is for children, our governments have chosen to pit mother against father, using the child as the elusive prize. THEY HAVE DELIBERATELY CHOSEN TO ABDICATE the political and moral responsibility to an agenda of promulgating the intractable difficulties that arise when divorce is chosen without any regard to the true needs of the child to love both parents. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT than the through passage of Bill C-41, a bill disguised as a measure to help children of divorce, but which when examined closely is exactly the opposite. In true fact, it is a cleverly designed "tax grab", crafted for the sole purpose of adding to the coffers of yet another bankrupt government. AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CHOOSING MORAL BANKRUPTCY OVER EDUCATION to resolve the divisiveness of divorce, we the fathering and grand parenting groups of Canada have banded together to heal our Canadian divorced families. THEREFORE, NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED. When parents divorce, the siege mentality of divide and conquer is often exacerbated by our legal traditions of pitting two adversaries against each other to "shake out the truth." WE FATHERS BELIEVE THERE ARE BETTER WAYS to divorce, if in fact divorce is the only true alternative left. OUR VISION IS SIMPLE: To create a National Shared Parenting Association in order to provide the necessary educational resources, networking and leadership to solve the difficulties acrimonious divorces and single parenthood without forethought presents children of divorce on a moment to moment basis. OUR GOALS ARE THREE-FOLD: 1) TO DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH: - A NATIONAL DIVORCE PREVENTION STRATEGY: Designed to create a shift over the next 10 years to end acrimonious divorces which are always harmful to children's self-worth, sense of identity, developmental needs to learn problem solving skills, mercy, forgiveness, love. - A NATIONAL DIVORCE EDUCATION PROGRAM: Designed to empower divorcing parents with resources that are within their control rather than within the control of those who often mean well, yet who have not nearly the resources to pave the "road to heaven, rather than "the road to the divorce from hell". 2) TO ENSURE THAT ANY FUNDS THAT HAVE BECOME A WINDFALL FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE RECENT TAX CHANGES SURROUNDING CHILD SUPPORT ARE ONLY SPENT HELPING CHILDREN OF DIVORCE: For example, 1/2 Billion per year is being "raked in" to pay down the national debt on the backs of these children. 1/2 Billion can purchase a lot of divorce education in today's multimedia world. YET OUR GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN TO REPEATEDLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY IGNORE OUR LEGITIMATE REQUESTS TO ESTABLISH DIVORCE PREVENTION/EDUCATION PROGRAMS with these funds. WE FATHERS BELIEVE it is time to "un-elect" those who would harm Canadian children, politicizing them in this manner. WE SHALL ABSOLUTELY AND IRREVOCABLY MAKE THIS ISSUE THE # 1 ITEM ON THE NATIONAL AGENDA FOR THIS CANADIAN ELECTION - OUR CHILDREN DESERVE NO LESS. 3) BRING TOGETHER CANADIANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHOM THIS ISSUE IMPACTS ON: Children, women, men, grandparents, family members across Canada who seek to work together need a means to provide the necessary vision, resources and leadership to solve the problems and obstacle to continuous shared parenting before, during and after divorce. THE NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION is an initiative borne out of the love of fathers to make the first step forward, to reach out in partnership to mothers who wish better options during divorce, by the means of applied education. WE INVITE ALL LIKE MINDED MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN to join with us, to make divorce as peaceful a process as is humanly possible through education, compassion and the acquiring of whatever skills are necessary to ensure our children are protected and loved by all during the difficult times divorce can be. TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY. But only if we act with one mind and one purpose. To rectify a longstanding and greivous harm that has enslaved children to circumstances that are far less than is their birthright - to be loved and to love their parents, without infringement on their constitutional rights under section 7 of the Charter: Security of the person, as is best represented by continuous shared parenting during their time within an intact family. IT IS THIS RIGHT that is too often justice denied those having no political voice, who rely on parents for oprotection against such oppression, enslavement, prejudicial circumstances to healthy emotional, intellectual, physical, spiritual development. IT IS THIS IDEA THAT WE SEEK TO EXEMPLIFY FOR CHILDREN TO EMULATE, through educating ourselves in partnership with others likeminded. THAT EVERY CHILD OF DIVORCE ASKS BUT ONE THING - Please don't fight over me, making me choose bewteen parents. Let me love and be loved. SUCH A POLITICAL REALITY CAN ONLY OCCUR IN A NON-PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT. It is to this end we shall strive during the election of a new government for Canada. One that refuses to politicize the most vulnerable members of Canadaina Society - the child of divorce. PLEASE JOIN WITH US AT THE NSPA CONFERENCE IN TORONTO, CANADA TO MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY ON: DATE: Friday May 23rd, 1997 TIME: 10 AM - 9:30 PM LOCATION: METRO HALL - DOWNTOWN TORONTO EVENT: NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE - DAY 1 **** Hosted by Fathers' Resources International **** DAY ONE ACTIVITIES: Keynote - TBA What private enterprise must do: Introducing the NSPA phone line/www site donated by Modus Operandi International Corporation & Fathers' Resources International. Adult Children of Divorce Panel - Session # 1 Shared Parenting Panel - Session # 1 What is Divorce Education and recovery? National Divorce Prevention Strategies - Open Discussion National Divorce Education Strategies - Open Discussion Videos running throughout the lunch/dinner hour with staff answering questions. Networking/Social time with professionals and grassroots groups working together to create solutions instead of rhetoric. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: Saturday May 24th, 1997 TIME: 10 AM - 9:30 PM LOCATION: METRO HALL - DOWNTOWN TORONTO EVENT: NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE - DAY 2 **** Hosted by Fathers are capable Too (F.A.C.T.) **** DAY TWO ACTIVITIES: Keynote - TBA THE NSPA Rally, sponsored by Fathers' Are Capable Too (F.A.C.T.): A educational march to meet with the members of the Federal Minister of Justice, Alan Rock Election Campaign Staff. We shall be encouraging dialogue and requesting the Minister of Justice to meet with us and commit to making Shared Parenting and Mediation the norm during divorce. Videos at Conference Facilities/Social networking Adult Children of divorce/Shared Parenting Panel Shared Parenting Groups Political Action: Creating a climate for non-partisan action at the provincial and national level. Child Psychologists Panel Open Discussion of the solutions that we believe are available so far/masterminding & brainstorming solutions yet to be considered. Dinner hosted by FACT --------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE: Sunday May 25th, 1997 TIME: 10 AM - 9:30 PM LOCATION: METRO HALL - DOWNTOWN TORONTO EVENT: NATIONAL SHARED PARENTING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE - DAY 3 **** Hosted by Ontario Wisdom Council **** **** Golden Horseshoe Chapter **** DAY THREE ACTIVITIES: Keynote - TBA The National Leadership Panel/Founding members Vision what we'll take to the next conference, where and when announced. Partnerships with Women's groups Authors speak out on divorce The legal Community Speaks Out: Judges, lawyers, mediators, those who craft family law legislation and court procedural rules share their vision of what they can do to foster shared parenting. Political action reports from across Canada Political guests of honour Political leadership panel Finale - next Regional Conference TBA/September 19-21, 1997 - Western Canada -------- DETAILS: The actual conference (which is open) to the public starts on Friday May 23rd at Metro Hall, following 2 days of internal meetings amongst fathering/grand parenting group leaders from across Canada. Metro Hall is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, seating 410 people in the main chamber and 60 people in our theatre "hospitality suite" comfortabl. It is within reasonable walking distance to dining, shopping, and accomodations suited to all budgets. It is also within walking distnce to the Skydome, home of the Blue Jays, the CN Tower, one of the worlds largest freestanding structures and our national television network CBC. Teleconferencing of the event across Canada is a distinct possibility under negotiation but remains TBA at this time. We strongly encourage you to come and participate in the conference. The more of you that come from across Canada during this election period, the more impact we can create in having this issue become THE # 1 ELECTION ISSUE. It can be done, if we set out to make it so. Evidence of this is the impact fathers had on c-41. More evidence is that we have facilities for up to 400 people for the conference. Please indicate your attendance ASAP so we can make arrangements to pick you up at the airport, train station, bus station and match you up with a father who will be hosting you during your stay. For those of you who wish to become more involved in the programming end of the meetings, please indicate so and what you'd like to contribute. CONFERENCE INFORMATION THE FIRST TWO DAYS - May 21, 22 - Leadership Summit: The first two days are open only to those leaders/activists on the gen-m leadership list of the NSPA or those leaders/activists known to NSPA leaders who are not on the internet. We would also welcome those who wish to volunteer themselves as leadership candidates who understand that leadership = service, not glory. Toronto Fathers' Resources will be hosting the events for the first two days. These will be days of internal networking, strategizing, getting to know one another at a farm located in Mt. Albert, Ontario. This is with the understanding that we are fostering a sense of teamwork, inclusion and outreach. Those disruptive to this spirit will be asked to re-consider their commitment to the mission of the NSPA of bringing peace through reconciliation of diverging views through the art of educated and intelligent compromise as required. Local Toronto groups will be hosting those leaders/activists/individuals from out of town. This will occur within the residences of members. Please indicate your attendance WITHIN 10 DAYS OF POSTING THE ATTENDANCE LIST to gen-m (which will be posted within 24-36 hours) in order for us to arrange for your accommodations. We have yet to secure any means of inexpensive/free transportation at this time, but if this changes it will be immediately posted. Therefore it is TBA. We shall be wherever possible be attempting to make your visit to Toronto a good one at as low a cost as is possible. It is suggested that you make your travel arrangements ASAP and CONFIRM YOUR ARRIVAL to help facilitate pick-ups at the following locations: Toronto International Airport; Union Station (For those arriving via train); and Bay St. Greyhound Terminal (Greyhound Bus). It is hoped to have a www site up over the next 7-10 days with maps giving directions to the events appended to this information. More information to follow over the next few days as details solidify. THE NEXT THREE DAYS - May 23, 24, 25 - The Conference: The next three days are public events. Again, this is with the understanding that we are fostering a sense of teamwork, inclusion and outreach. Those disruptive to this spirit will be asked to re-consider their commitment to the mission of the NSPA of bringing peace through reconciliation of diverging views through the art of educated and intelligent compromise as required. As is possible, local Toronto groups will be hosting those from out of town. A phone line will be set up within the next week to deal with inquiries. We have yet to secure any means of inexpensive/free transportation at this time, but if this changes it will be immediately posted. Therefore it is TBA. We shall be wherever possible be attempting to make your visit to Toronto a good one at as low a cost as is possible. It is suggested that you make your travel arrangements ASAP and CONFIRM YOUR ARRIVAL to help facilitate pick-ups at the following locations as is possible. Toronto International Airport; Union Station (For those arriving via train); and Bay St. Greyhound Terminal (Greyhound Bus). Such assistance however at this time is offered on an "as available" basis only. We can help to point those of you who we are not able to assist with accommodations and transport in the direction of the least costly means. However, we may be in a better position to offer more assistance as the conference date approaches. It is hoped to have a www site up over the next 7-10 days with maps giving directions to the events appended to this information. More information to follow as details become available. Danny Guspie - Chair VMC, Box 8082, Victoria B.C. V8W 3R7 -- Phone: 370-4MEN (370-4636) --- E-Mail: vmc-e@victoria.tc.ca |
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