PA is real

Steve Jobs - adopted but estranged

Steve Jobs passed away on Oct 6, 2011 from pancreatic cancer.  The Wall Street Journal revealed a part of his personal story that makes one wonder how it may have influenced his life.

Steve Jobs was placed for adoption soon after birth in 1955 by his birth-mother, Joanne Schieble who was a college student at the time but who's parents disapproved of her boyfriend.   Soon after graduating Ms. Schieble's father died and she was able to marry Job's birth-father, Abdulfattah 'John' Jandali.   Together they had his sister, Mona, but the relationship eventually ended in divorce.

Steve Jobs knew of his birth-father but the two did not meet until 1985 and had little contact except for a few birthday cards since.  Their estrangement was perhaps common of that era - but in some way this is the fear for Alienated Parents.  Yet however these events influenced Steve Job's life - if they did - it did not stop him becoming one of the  most important visionary's of our time.

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Federal Not-for-Profit Legislation comes into force Oct 17.

Much anticipated, new Legislation The Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act has been proclaimed in force effective October 17, 2011.  This is long overdue as it was first brought into force in 1917 (although there have obviously been revisions since).  Here are some more details.

Spaths

Certainly it's tempting - but much of what we understand about PA seems to confirm that "severe" PA manifests with some degree of psychosis or mental illness.  That was the thrust of Dr. Craig Childress's PAAO Webinar on Aug 28 entitled "Working Effectively with the Mental Health Profession”.  The Webinar was well received with about 50 paid attendees and a core message was that traditional "voluntary" approaches to treatment are not useful when dealing with a personality disordered individual.  This demands a different method and Dr. Childress decribed his evaluation framework - including what he calls "Pathogenic Parenting" which evaluates "normal-range" parental conflict and what is overtly negative and damaging parental influence to a child.  Dr. Childress plans to hold more webinars in the next few months.

Coincidentally the September cover issue of Readers Digest was entitled "Are you a Psychopath?"  and it highlighted Canadian Psychologist  Dr. Robert HARE of UBC and his world-recognized Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R).  The core of this checklist are 10 characteristics that are markers of psychopathy.   Dr. Hare is also part of a support group for victims of psychopaths called Aftermath: Surviving Psychopathy and a prominent FAQ is entitled "Is it sociopathy or psychopathy?".  Again - it may not be a surprise to learn that Dr. HARE and his supporters are hoping to expand the current definitions of ASPD (Anti-Social Personality Disorder) within DSM-V.

Stay tuned.

PARK Meeting Oct 18@630pm - Red Deer

In her spare time Rhonda Pisanello is affiliated with a PA Discussion Group.

And anyone is welcome to attend (but BYOC - Bring your own coffee).

Parental Alienation Risks Kids (PARK) 
will meet next Tuesday Oct 18 from 630 until 830pm.

Village Gate Parent Link Centre
Parkland Mall, (Gaetz Ave and 67st)
Red Deer, AB. 

North east corner of Mall across from SportChek.

For more info call Craig at 403-598-9978 or email parkca@hotmail.ca

UK Child abducted by mother found in Montreal

The majority of abducted children in Canada and the US are Parental Abductions and I have felt for some time that these cases represent one of the extremes of PA.   It was reported today that a 7 yr old UK girl was found in Montreal after going missing in Dec 2008.  The father and daughter are on the way back to Britain while the mother has been detained and will be deported back to the UK as soon as possible.  All are British citizens. An alert gentlemen who felt the pair was acting oddly while in the Metro Station and notified police is credited with solving the case.

There are approximately 300-400 Parental Abductions in 1Canada every year.

1Source: Enfant Retour Quebec/Missing Child Network

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PAAO 2011 Online AGM - Recap

The PAAO AGM was held online on Sunday Sept 18 at 3pm MST and almost 40 people attended via browser and an unknown number via the Conference Line (we are not quite sure how many called in - but there were alot - we estimated perhaps as many again.)  190 voted.

Jill Egizii and Barbra Mills were re-elected and out of a very competitive list of new candidates we welcomed new Board-members Wendy Archer and Pat Burton from Fort Worth/Dallas area, Texas; Daniel Holmes from near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Kristin Titus from near Toronto, Ontario.  Rather unfortunate that everyone could not make it - but it speaks to the level of interest that we had so many quality candidates.  I want to thank those who threw their "hats in the ring".

Jill gave a brief address about plans for the year ahead and then threw open the "floor" to questions.  And were there ever alot! (The Wordle image above was generated from many of the online comments.)

I want to thank everyone who attended what turned out to be a very promising AGM - and we look forward to the next year ahead.

Another "Family Matters" Weekly Radio/Internet Show

I feel I should mention that current PAAO President - Jill Egizii (image to left) - also co-hosts a weekly radio show in Chicago IL called  "Family Matters" (similar to recently mentioned new Canadian TV program).   It covers all of Family Law - but has a heavy emphasis on PA.

Jill ALWAYS has a fascinating line-up and has great help of remarkable co-host, Judge Michele Lowrance, who is a sitting Judge and brings her keen legal insights and common-sense questions to the program. (She is also author of  "The Good Karma Divorce")

With all programs archived online, it is easy to good back and "catch-up" - or signup for weekly podcasts.

All "Family Matters" radio programs - past and present - can be  accessed via http://syndicatednews.net/#

Special Canadian TV Series on Family Law - "Family Matters"

This program has been in production all summer and well-known Alberta PA Advocate (and PAAO Board member) Rhonda Pisanello was interviewed for one segment.  Here is a brief clip on the program that taped in Victoria BC at CHEX-TV.



The complete season can be previewed at http://www.familymatterstv.com/2011/09/chch-ontario/

Join us for the 2011 PAAO AGM - ONLINE!

Really - it's easy. Come-on - give it a try!
We look forward to your participation.
Here is a PDF of this poster in case you want to download and share.