Dear Friends,
The ICSA Annual Conference is the conference to attend in the cultic-studies field. Since
2005, the location of these conferences has alternated between the United States of America
or Canada and Europe.
More than any other ICSA service, the annual conference, open to everyone, demonstrates
how effectively ICSA serves its four main constituencies, each with different needs and
perspectives: former group members, families, helping professionals, and researchers. This
year’s ICSA conference, cosponsored by Info-Secte/Info-Cult of Canada and Hjälpkällan
(Help Source) of Sweden, included a day of preconference workshops, 5 concurrent session
tracks over 3 full days, and 100 speakers, with more than 200 participants from 29 countries.
There were also poster presentations and the 2015 Phoenix Project, a captivating display of
former-member art and literature.
What a change from ICSA’s early years, when conferences began as 2-day gatherings of
mostly Americans, held exclusively in the United States, with a limited range of topics
presented.
This issue of ICSA Today focuses on the 2015 conference, which took place in Stockholm,
Sweden, and whose main theme was children in cults. Through papers and photos, you will
get a sense of the range and depth of ICSA annual conferences.
Eva Mackey’s story, “Mommy, Did You Get to See the Dolphins?,” which the author read during
the 2015 Phoenix Project, is a moving testament to the resilience of second-generation adults
(SGAs—people born or raised in cultic groups).
Speaking of the Phoenix Project, many of us who regularly attend ICSA conferences were
delighted to learn that Diana Pletts, who conceived, developed, and runs the Phoenix Project,
received ICSA’s 2015 Margaret T. Singer Award. William Goldberg’s presentation of the award
and Diana’s acceptance are included in this issue.
Personal accounts of former members constitute an important part of annual conferences.
This issue includes an illuminating reflection by Camilla Hanke, who described childhood in a
Mormon family at one of the conference’s SGA panels.
ICSA’s New York Educational Outreach Committee reported on its activities at a preconference
education workshop. This issue includes a paper on how cults impact children, by Ashley
Allen, one of the members of the committee. And Jill Mytton, who participated in another of
the conference’s SGAs panels, contributes a case study of a young man’s journey from cult to
personal freedom.
Also included in this issue are the 2015 Paul Martin Memorial Lecture, delivered at the
conference by Gillie Jenkinson, who knew Paul as the opposite of the cult leaders whose
victims Paul treated for so many years and a discussion by ICSA president Steve Eichel on
hypnosis and mind control, based on his conference presentation.
We trust that you’ll find this issue to be rich in content and a reason for you to make a special
effort to attend the 2016 ICSA Annual Conferences in Dallas, Texas, or to plan for a future year.
Sincerely,
Mike Kropveld,
Founder and Executive Director,
Info-Secte/Info-Cult
Michael Langone,
Executive Director, ICSA
Working together on ICSA conferences
since 1998
For biographical information on Michael
Langone and Mike Kropveld, see
icsahome.com/elibrary/peopleprofiles
About ICSA Today
ICSA Today (IT) serves ICSA members by
providing information that enhances
understanding of all aspects of the cult
phenomenon, including how groups
function, how they affect members,
techniques of influence, dealing with
harmful effects, educational and legal
implications, and other subjects.
ICSA Today issues may include
• practical articles for former
members, families, helping
professionals, researchers,
and others
• opinion essays
• theoretical articles
• reports on research
• summaries of news reports on
groups
• information on books, articles, links
• information on ICSA members
• biographical profiles on selected
members
• personal accounts
• art work
• poetry
• short stories and other literary
articles
• special reports from correspondents
around the world
ICSA Today is published three times a
year.
Regular ICSA members receive the print
edition of ICSA Today and have access
to its Web edition. Students and other
special members gain access to the
online edition only.
Nonmember print subscriptions are
available. Submissions to the magazine
should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief,
Michael Langone, PhD:
mail@icsamail.com
We prefer Microsoft Word or a program
compatible with Word. Articles should
be no more than 2,500 words. Please
include a jpeg photo (less than 150 KB)
and biographical sketch (less than 150
words) with your submission.
Appropriate submissions are reviewed
by the relevant section editor and,
when appropriate, editorial review
advisors.
International Cultic Studies Association
P.O. Box 2265 • Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Phone: 239.514.3081
Email: mail@icsamail.com
Website: icsahome.com
Mike Kropveld and Michael Langone
register conference attendees.
The ICSA Annual Conference is the conference to attend in the cultic-studies field. Since
2005, the location of these conferences has alternated between the United States of America
or Canada and Europe.
More than any other ICSA service, the annual conference, open to everyone, demonstrates
how effectively ICSA serves its four main constituencies, each with different needs and
perspectives: former group members, families, helping professionals, and researchers. This
year’s ICSA conference, cosponsored by Info-Secte/Info-Cult of Canada and Hjälpkällan
(Help Source) of Sweden, included a day of preconference workshops, 5 concurrent session
tracks over 3 full days, and 100 speakers, with more than 200 participants from 29 countries.
There were also poster presentations and the 2015 Phoenix Project, a captivating display of
former-member art and literature.
What a change from ICSA’s early years, when conferences began as 2-day gatherings of
mostly Americans, held exclusively in the United States, with a limited range of topics
presented.
This issue of ICSA Today focuses on the 2015 conference, which took place in Stockholm,
Sweden, and whose main theme was children in cults. Through papers and photos, you will
get a sense of the range and depth of ICSA annual conferences.
Eva Mackey’s story, “Mommy, Did You Get to See the Dolphins?,” which the author read during
the 2015 Phoenix Project, is a moving testament to the resilience of second-generation adults
(SGAs—people born or raised in cultic groups).
Speaking of the Phoenix Project, many of us who regularly attend ICSA conferences were
delighted to learn that Diana Pletts, who conceived, developed, and runs the Phoenix Project,
received ICSA’s 2015 Margaret T. Singer Award. William Goldberg’s presentation of the award
and Diana’s acceptance are included in this issue.
Personal accounts of former members constitute an important part of annual conferences.
This issue includes an illuminating reflection by Camilla Hanke, who described childhood in a
Mormon family at one of the conference’s SGA panels.
ICSA’s New York Educational Outreach Committee reported on its activities at a preconference
education workshop. This issue includes a paper on how cults impact children, by Ashley
Allen, one of the members of the committee. And Jill Mytton, who participated in another of
the conference’s SGAs panels, contributes a case study of a young man’s journey from cult to
personal freedom.
Also included in this issue are the 2015 Paul Martin Memorial Lecture, delivered at the
conference by Gillie Jenkinson, who knew Paul as the opposite of the cult leaders whose
victims Paul treated for so many years and a discussion by ICSA president Steve Eichel on
hypnosis and mind control, based on his conference presentation.
We trust that you’ll find this issue to be rich in content and a reason for you to make a special
effort to attend the 2016 ICSA Annual Conferences in Dallas, Texas, or to plan for a future year.
Sincerely,
Mike Kropveld,
Founder and Executive Director,
Info-Secte/Info-Cult
Michael Langone,
Executive Director, ICSA
Working together on ICSA conferences
since 1998
For biographical information on Michael
Langone and Mike Kropveld, see
icsahome.com/elibrary/peopleprofiles
About ICSA Today
ICSA Today (IT) serves ICSA members by
providing information that enhances
understanding of all aspects of the cult
phenomenon, including how groups
function, how they affect members,
techniques of influence, dealing with
harmful effects, educational and legal
implications, and other subjects.
ICSA Today issues may include
• practical articles for former
members, families, helping
professionals, researchers,
and others
• opinion essays
• theoretical articles
• reports on research
• summaries of news reports on
groups
• information on books, articles, links
• information on ICSA members
• biographical profiles on selected
members
• personal accounts
• art work
• poetry
• short stories and other literary
articles
• special reports from correspondents
around the world
ICSA Today is published three times a
year.
Regular ICSA members receive the print
edition of ICSA Today and have access
to its Web edition. Students and other
special members gain access to the
online edition only.
Nonmember print subscriptions are
available. Submissions to the magazine
should be sent to the Editor-in-Chief,
Michael Langone, PhD:
mail@icsamail.com
We prefer Microsoft Word or a program
compatible with Word. Articles should
be no more than 2,500 words. Please
include a jpeg photo (less than 150 KB)
and biographical sketch (less than 150
words) with your submission.
Appropriate submissions are reviewed
by the relevant section editor and,
when appropriate, editorial review
advisors.
International Cultic Studies Association
P.O. Box 2265 • Bonita Springs, FL 34133
Phone: 239.514.3081
Email: mail@icsamail.com
Website: icsahome.com
Mike Kropveld and Michael Langone
register conference attendees.
