It has come to my attention that many folks
recently attended a conference held by a small group calling themselves
An Infinite Mind (or something similar) believing that conference was
somehow affiliated with Ivory Garden Annual Conference. If this group
contacts you misrepresenting themselves as an Ivory Garden
representative asking for donations, personal information, or promotion
relating to Ivory Garden or our conference, please contact us
immediately. This has happened, and is a scam.
Those who spent
the money and time to attend in Florida were not happy. The conference
did not compare to the Ivory Garden conference they had previously
attended. I felt badly, but was not aware, or I would have clarified
that we are not affiliated with any other organization.
I spend
a lot of time on the internet and am suddenly running across many sites
that are promoting An Infinite Mind as a 'part' of our conference or
visa-versa. I am again unsure where this confusion is originating. We
do our own promotion and if anyone wants to help us promote on their
own, we are thrilled and honored. We just need to clarify that we are
not affiliated with any group and should not be promoted as if we are
part of another group.
I do not support An Infinite Mind or their conference for several reasons.
We
work hard to put on a quality and professional conference. Everyone
involved puts their all into the project in order to fulfill our purpose
as a nonprofit corporation: to bring renowned researchers, authors,
lecturers, and leaders in the field of trauma and dissociation as
speakers who volunteer their time to present expert educational
information; to provide a quality venue and audio/video so that
attendees will be comfortable and speakers will be proud.
This
year, we are hosting the conference as a fundraiser for the TOP DD
study, because we feel that we can do more than provide an amazing
conference, but also financial funding for research.
My concern
is the real conflict with another group misrepresenting themselves as in
any way being a part of our organization. Ivory Garden is a credible
and reliable corporation. We provide all financial information for
public inspection. Ivory Garden websites are prolific and openly
available to the public. We follow through with all that we promise
perspective attendees, sponsors, and speakers. We have legal privacy
policies and terms of services posted to all of our sites and follow
them as dictated by law. We need to ensure that everyone is aware to
only donate through our site.
I am leery of any organization
that provides 'fluff' in their websites and simply expect people to come
to their conferences just because they have gained support/loyalty from
'important people' who promote their organization or conference through
here-say without evidence. That is simply not enough information to
guaranty professionalism or credibility where financial responsibility
is involved.
I advise that you carefully investigate
organizations and past conferences before deciding to attend.
Conferences are expensive to organize and promote. Please, please, know
that all conferences are not the same. Of course, any conference on
the topic of trauma and dissociation is wonderful. There can't be
enough education and support. By practicing consumer awareness, you
will not be disappointing and such organizations will be forced to
comply to professional standards as dictated by law.
I am
writing this, because Ivory Garden is working long and hard to help
others - not promote ourselves. We have removed our name from most of
the material in order to promote this event as a fundraiser for the TOP
DD studies, which we believe will benefit people with DID
internationally.
Do NOT be fooled because someone has made
friends in big places or attach themselves to other organizations rather
than take the time to provide quality events. We don't want people to
decide that attending is not worth their time because of the poor
quality and misrepresentation of a few unscrupulous folks. We should
expect all events and organizations to be run professionally and not
settle for less, just because they are associated with trauma and
dissociation/DID.
I am always available if you have questions
about our conference or us. We hope that more groups will think about
having more events. We will begin organizing a regional conference soon
and hope to organize even more.
We would like to support other
organization with the similar purpose as ours' in the future. We look
forward to connecting with others who want to or have been organized to
promote similar purpose.
recently attended a conference held by a small group calling themselves
An Infinite Mind (or something similar) believing that conference was
somehow affiliated with Ivory Garden Annual Conference. If this group
contacts you misrepresenting themselves as an Ivory Garden
representative asking for donations, personal information, or promotion
relating to Ivory Garden or our conference, please contact us
immediately. This has happened, and is a scam.
Those who spent
the money and time to attend in Florida were not happy. The conference
did not compare to the Ivory Garden conference they had previously
attended. I felt badly, but was not aware, or I would have clarified
that we are not affiliated with any other organization.
I spend
a lot of time on the internet and am suddenly running across many sites
that are promoting An Infinite Mind as a 'part' of our conference or
visa-versa. I am again unsure where this confusion is originating. We
do our own promotion and if anyone wants to help us promote on their
own, we are thrilled and honored. We just need to clarify that we are
not affiliated with any group and should not be promoted as if we are
part of another group.
I do not support An Infinite Mind or their conference for several reasons.
We
work hard to put on a quality and professional conference. Everyone
involved puts their all into the project in order to fulfill our purpose
as a nonprofit corporation: to bring renowned researchers, authors,
lecturers, and leaders in the field of trauma and dissociation as
speakers who volunteer their time to present expert educational
information; to provide a quality venue and audio/video so that
attendees will be comfortable and speakers will be proud.
This
year, we are hosting the conference as a fundraiser for the TOP DD
study, because we feel that we can do more than provide an amazing
conference, but also financial funding for research.
My concern
is the real conflict with another group misrepresenting themselves as in
any way being a part of our organization. Ivory Garden is a credible
and reliable corporation. We provide all financial information for
public inspection. Ivory Garden websites are prolific and openly
available to the public. We follow through with all that we promise
perspective attendees, sponsors, and speakers. We have legal privacy
policies and terms of services posted to all of our sites and follow
them as dictated by law. We need to ensure that everyone is aware to
only donate through our site.
I am leery of any organization
that provides 'fluff' in their websites and simply expect people to come
to their conferences just because they have gained support/loyalty from
'important people' who promote their organization or conference through
here-say without evidence. That is simply not enough information to
guaranty professionalism or credibility where financial responsibility
is involved.
I advise that you carefully investigate
organizations and past conferences before deciding to attend.
Conferences are expensive to organize and promote. Please, please, know
that all conferences are not the same. Of course, any conference on
the topic of trauma and dissociation is wonderful. There can't be
enough education and support. By practicing consumer awareness, you
will not be disappointing and such organizations will be forced to
comply to professional standards as dictated by law.
I am
writing this, because Ivory Garden is working long and hard to help
others - not promote ourselves. We have removed our name from most of
the material in order to promote this event as a fundraiser for the TOP
DD studies, which we believe will benefit people with DID
internationally.
Do NOT be fooled because someone has made
friends in big places or attach themselves to other organizations rather
than take the time to provide quality events. We don't want people to
decide that attending is not worth their time because of the poor
quality and misrepresentation of a few unscrupulous folks. We should
expect all events and organizations to be run professionally and not
settle for less, just because they are associated with trauma and
dissociation/DID.
I am always available if you have questions
about our conference or us. We hope that more groups will think about
having more events. We will begin organizing a regional conference soon
and hope to organize even more.
We would like to support other
organization with the similar purpose as ours' in the future. We look
forward to connecting with others who want to or have been organized to
promote similar purpose.
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