MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS TO THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARENTS FOR DRUG FREE YOUTH CONFERENCE TWIN BRIDGES MARRIOTT HOTEL, SEPTEMBER 28, 1983 WASHINGTON, D.C.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R000701200025-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2008
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: September 28, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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NFP
NFP
Frank Nelson, Florida State Office of Drug Abuse Control
John M. Keller, USIA
Minutes of the Meeting of the International Participants to the National
Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth Conference
Twin Bridges Marriott Hotel, September 28, 1983
Washington, D.C.
INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS
Jan Krogh, Norway
Kathleen Michael, Canada
Joan Gitelman, Canada
Eloise Opheim, Canada
Glenda Kombies, Canada
Dr. Clare Sprague, Australia
Gerald Williams, Australia
Dr. Cornelius Keogh, Australia
Rev. Brian Power, Ireland
Rev. Paul Lavelle, Ireland
Carol Samuels, Jamaica
Dr. Charles Thesiger, Jamaica
Margaret Lescene, Jamaica
Lloyd Williams, Jamaica
Jonas Hartelius, Sweden
National Federation of Parents (NFP)
Robert Retka, Dept. of State Bureau of International Narcotics Matters
STAT
STAT
51H1
STAT
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John Keller chaired the meeting. He opened by inviting
NFP to say a few words.
of the STAT
welcomed the group and expressed NFP's willingness to cooperate STAT
with the international participants to help create an effective international
network of drug abuse awareness groups. She also explained that NFP is
severely limited in resources but will help to the extent possible.
Mr. Keller said that the breakfast meeting of international participants held
on September 27 had informally agreed to form an international coordinating
committee to help establish effective international linkages. As articulated
at the breakfast meeting by Mr. Hartelius, the major points of contact for the
international steering committee were to be the annual meetings of the
National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth (NFP) and of PRIDE (Parent
Resources Institute for Drug Education). Mr. Keller said that he would like
the group to continue discussion of this proposal made by Mr. Hartelius. Mr.
Keller also explained that this proposal had not yet been submitted to PRIDE
and that everything that was suggested would, of course, be subject to the
approval of both PRIDE and the NFP.
Mr. Hartelius continued the discussion by. suggesting that the international
commitee appoint a board consisting of two or three members each from PRIDE
and NFP and a representative from Canada, Jamaica, and Europe. (It was later
proposed that one of the Australian participants currently in the U.S. also
serve on the board). expressed her concern that the NFP could not STAT
afford to fund transportation for NFP members to international conferences,
but Mr. Keller explained that most meetings could be held at the NFP and PRIDE
conferences.
Mr. Hartelius and Mr. Keller- both proposed that future NFP and PRIDE meetings
include an international focus. Mr. Keller said that the upcoming PRIDE
Conference in March, 1984, would be built around an international perspective
in any case.
Robert Retka broke in to say that, unfortunately, Asian countries were not
represented at this meeting and that there were significant groups to be
contacted in Asia. He suggested that the international coordinating committee
get in touch with the Federation of Non-government Organizations in East
Asia. The contact is Mr. Pio Aberro, the Colombo Plan Drug Adviser, who is
perhaps the most knowledgable person regarding the Asian situation. Mr. Retka
further opined that it would be dangerous to get over organized, too fast.
There is always the danger, Mr. Retka said, that a group like this would
develop too heavy an administrative agenda and that members would get the
reputation of accomplishing little and spending time attending conferences.
He cautioned that it was very important to develop solid roots in the
community, before developing an elaborate administrative overhead.
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Dr. Sprague said that she was enthusiastic about the formation of an
international coordinating committee because it could be the focus for a
tremendous sharing of information. By offering the opportunity for
international participants to attend conferences and to meet with American
groups which are already well organized against drug abuse, the international
committee can make an impact quickly.
Mr. Keller stressed the importance of information exchange and expressed his
opinion that this could be the most significant role the international
committee could provide. He said that he thought an informal newsletter to
get the flow of communications going would be necessary. Mr. Keller expressed
his willingness to act as an intermediary between USIA and NFP/PRIDE to
investigate the possibility of getting some support from USIA's Private Sector
Program Office for the international exchange. mentioned that STAT
NFP has had a policy of not accepting U.S. Government funding for grants and
that she would have to explore Mr. Keller's idea further before commenting on
it).
said that there already was an established network of .
international therapeutic communities and that she recommended that the
international steering committee establish ties with this group.
Mr. Krogh said that he thought "how to" information would be very useful
internationally. Countries wishing to form drug awareness groups often do not,
know how to get them started. Every country seems to have to go through the
same process and to make its own mistakes. However, if "how to" information
could be exchanged, it would facilitate a country's task considerabley. He
thought the American experience could be pivotal and that the U.S. could help
share its knowledge of how to form drug awareness movements.
Dr. Keogh asked whether it would be possible for the international comittee
to focus on urgent international problems. For instance, Australia was facing
an imminent decriminalization of marijuana. Could the international committee
help work on such urgent problems? Mr. Hartelius said that the NFP Nancy
Reagan Speakers' Bureau was exploring the possibility of establishing an
international component. Mr. Keller suggested that it would also be useful
for groups to get to know the Narcotics Coordinating Committee at the U.S.
Embassy in their country since the NCC could help obtain information and
provide advice.
Mr. Hartelius read a resolution (see attached) which met the approval of the
international participants establishing the guidelines for the formation of an
international coordinating committee. It was agreed that the international
participants on the committee would be:
Jonas Hartelius, Sweden
Dr. Charles Thesiger, Jamaica
Dr. Cornelius Keogh, Australia
Eloise Opheim, Canada
STAT
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These participants committed themselves to attending the PRIDE Conference in
March,1984, in Atlanta.
It was also agreed that the resolution would be submitted to PRIDE and the NFP
for approval.
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We, the international participants at the Second Annual Conference of the
National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth in Washington, D.C.,
September 25-28, 1983, hereby move:
1. that the NFP and PRIDE open their annual conferences to an international
sharing of the experiences which parents and young people throughout the world,
have encountered when dealing with drug abuse. 4
2. that NFP and PRIDE form a joint international coordinating committee with
two members from each organization to streamline efforts.
3. that the following international participants serve in a consultative or
associate capacity to the international coordinating committee:
Dr. Cornelius B. Keogh, Australia
Mrs. Eloise Opheim, Canada
Dr. Charles Thesiger, Jamaica
Mr. Jonas Hartelius, Sweden
4. that all other international participants serve as corresponding members of
the committee.
5. that a joint newsletter be circulated to review efforts, projects, and news
of interest to the international community.
6. that a separate international body be considered for incorporation at a
later time.
7. Finally, that NFP and PRIDE provide staff and logistics for the above-
mentioned committee until other arrangements are made.
Read and approved __
September 28, 1983
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