Annual Report 2013 - 2014 5655 Park Avenue, Suite 208 Montreal, Quebec H2V 4H2 Phone: (514) 274-2333 Fax: (514) 274-7576 www.infocult.org [email protected] Office hours, Monday to Friday 9 – 5. PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE There are countless religious, spiritual, human potential and other groups active in our province and across the country, and many of them actively seek new members or donations. A number of these groups may be unfamiliar to most people, so making a choice about who to donate to or get involved with can be a daunting task. In addition, there are people whose loved ones have gone through dramatic changes upon joining a group, and who desperately need accurate information and an expert in the field to talk to. One of Info-Cult’s main objectives is to provide information and assistance to the public so they can make informed choices. We have been doing this for almost 35 years. Since its beginnings, Info-Cult has amassed a unique collection of documents on cults, new religious movements and related subjects, making it one of the largest libraries of its kind in North America. In providing information to the public, Info-Cult has kept up with the times. In the early years, we used to receive countless letters requesting help and information. This past year we received just two. The rapid evolution of the web and social media has transformed the ways in which people connect and obtain their information. Thanks to a knowledgeable and dedicated network of volunteers, we have been able to respond to this new reality. Info-Cult’s website, in existence since 1999 and updated regularly, contains a wealth of information from around the world, and our Facebook and YouTube pages provide users with pertinent, current and thoughtful resources. In place of the letters that we used to receive, we respond daily to email inquiries. What has not changed, however, is that there is always someone at Info-Cult who people can talk to, and receive the information and help that they are looking for. Info-Cult is a unique organization. What we have accomplished so far, and what we hope to achieve in the future, is possible thanks to all the individuals, groups, organizations and institutions that continue to support us in our mission, as well as the many volunteers, who so kindly offer their time and expertise to Info-Cult. Carolle Tremblay Mike Kropveld President Executive Director TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INFO-CULT Profile Objectives Board of Directors, Volunteers, Staff Media appearances Board of Directors Radio and Television Members Print Media Volunteers Staff Decision making and Funding 4. COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND History of Community Service NETWORKING Testimonials Community Relations National and International Networking 2. STATISTICS Breakdown of tabulated requests 5. FINANCIAL REPORT Subjects/groups 3. SERVICES, RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES Assistance and Support Services Overview Second generation Missing persons Reasonable Accommodations Education and Information Resources Information for Students and Teachers Educational Programs Info-Cult’s Book Info-Cult’s Video Conferences Meeting with Groups Give but Give Wisely / A Policy for Renting Rooms Documentation Centre Web Site Facebook YouTube E-mail information lists Newsletter: News from Info-Cult Research Service 1. INFO-CULT Profile Info-Cult is one of the leading organizations involved collections in the world of information in this field and in responding to questions and concerns about cults, we provide a variety of services in response to new religious movements and related groups and individual and community needs. subjects. Info-Cult houses one of the largest Objectives The objective of Info-Cult is to promote the dignity Our objectives are: and integrity of the individual, the respect of To promote the study of cultic phenomena; collective and individual rights, the freedom of To sensitize, inform and educate the public thought and expression, and the right of access to about these phenomena; information. To assist people with problems related to these phenomena. Board of Directors, Members, Volunteers, Staff Board of Directors President Directors Carolle Tremblay Michael Crelinsten Lawyer Executive Director Jolicœur Lacasse Avocats Jewish Public Library Secretary Christophe Nowakowski Maria Peluso Psychiatrist Professor, Humanities, Dawson College Meeting of the Board Marie-Andrée Pelland, Treasurer Assistant Professor Sociology Department, University of Jean-Pierre Fafard Moncton Retired Lawyer Formerly with Sylvestre Fafard Painchaud Herschel Segal Directors Businessman Dianne Casoni Executive Director Full Professor Mike Kropveld School of Criminology, University of Montreal Members There are 22 who include former group members, the “cult” issue and are involved in supporting the parents, academics, lawyers and mental health activities and services of the organization. professionals who share a common concern about Volunteers Volunteers play an essential role in Info-Cult’s daily they have volunteered to talk with: operations. Many people assume that Info-Cult is a large organization with different departments. The Other former members in need of support; reality is Info-Cult operates with a skeleton staff. This Families who were in a time of crisis; and impression has come about as a result of the profile The media in search of a former member’s Info-Cult has attained and is in large part due to the experience. countless hours that volunteers have dedicated to the Volunteers include: organization. There are more than 30 volunteers who Professionals (including educators, mental health donate their time and expertise to our organization. professionals, lawyers, business professionals, etc.) who recognize the need for Info-Cult and its Volunteers are involved, in policy development and services. decision making, providing legal advice, publicity, office work, fund-raising, research, public education, Concerned individuals who have taken the time helping to organize conferences, cataloguing of new to learn about the issue. acquisitions to our documentation centre, translation of documents from English to French and French into Individuals who have, or have had a child, sibling, English, in constructing and maintaining our web site parent or friend involved in a cultic group and and in a very important area - support to ex-members understand the harm that such a problem can and families. cause. Former members who want to use their Volunteers who are former members play an integral experience to alert others to the potential harm role and we cannot underline enough the time that that involvement in a group can entail. Staff Info-Cult's founder and Executive Director Mike He has been recognized for his work in this field by the: Kropveld was the only full-time staff person, assisted Government of Canada: In 1992 he received by one part-time contractual employee. the 125th Commemorative Medal in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, The Executive Director serves on the: community and to Canada. Board of Directors [since 2009]: International ICSA: In 2007 he received the HERBERT L. Cultic Studies Association (ICSA)* ROSEDALE AWARD presented in recognition of leadership in the effort to preserve and Board of Directors [2011 – 2013] International protect individual freedom. Society for the Study of New Religions * The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) founded (ISSNR) in 1979, is the leading professional organization in the field. Based in the United States, ICSA is a global network of people concerned about psychological manipulation and abuse in cultic groups, alternative movements, and other environments. (www.icsahome.com) Decision Making and Funding Decision Making The day to day operations and decisions are taken meetings were held during the year. by the Executive Director. On matters that touch on Alternative methods such as conference calls or policy and the direction of the center, Info-Cult’s email are used to reach a consensus on matters Board meets during the course of the year. Four that require a rapid decision. Funding Info-Cult receives funding from various sources. In Other sources of funding included: 2013-2014, Info-Cult received its annual grant from Foundations, the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Companies, Services. In addition, discretionary funds were Religious communities and groups, received from our provincial member of the Service fees, National Assembly as Minister of Finance and Individual donors. Minister responsible for the Region of Montreal, Donations are also received through as well as from our provincial www.canadahelps.org and PayPal. Minister of Justice Info-Cult is a registered Canadian charity - Revenue Canada No. Minister of Public Security 125754242 RR0001 History of Community Service Info-Cult was founded in 1980 under the name Cult families about the “End of the World”. Project and at the time was under the auspices of the B’nai Brith Hillel Foundation of Montreal. In August 2010 marked 30 years of service to the 1990, Info-Cult was formed as an independent, community. Over that period Info-Cult bilingual, non-denominational centre run by a Board responded to tens of thousands of requests, of Directors concerned by the impact of cult detailed in our Statistics section. phenomena on our society. 2009: Info-Cult (www.infocult.org) has been on Info-Cult is widely recognized for many of its services line for 10 years, providing a wealth of English and specifically for its expertise in assisting families and French information and is constantly and individuals affected by cult-related problems and updated. in providing the community at large with objective information on “cults”, “new religious movements” Info-Cult in collaboration with two other and related groups and subjects. Info-Cult has Montreal organizations organized a 2 day evolved since its founding and like the groups that it conference at the University of Montreal. Du observes and studies has developed and modified croire à l’extrême et des pratiques sectaires: its perception and understanding of cult prendre en compte et intervenir.