Rob Colquhoun

The national abstinence clearinghouse, and American organisation committed to promoting abstinence education, held a very inspiring and motivating conference for 900 attendees in Rosen Shingle Creek Resort and Conference centre from the 22-25th July. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘gather active minds and watch them grow.’ Some of the best speakers from around the country gathered to bring together new information, network, encourage others, teach new skills and exchange products and services. Leslee Unruh, the founder and President of the NAC, reminded the attendees, “As you educate today’s youth, you are inspiring and guiding them as they become the next generation of leaders.”

 

This year’s conference saw a youth track and a Spanish set of talks in action for the first time. The organisers noted that the message does not change but the carriers of the message do. Abstinence educators were described as life changers, leaders and role models for the next generation, helping young people to save sex until marriage. One of the first plenary speakers was Doctor Tom Lickona who reflected on the ten emotional dangers of pre marital sex. Kim Cernovsek talked about the medical arguments for abstinence from the perspective of a dermatologist. The overwhelming prevalence of the HPV virus was frequently mentioned as well as strategies to increase awareness and prevent transmission. Keith Deltano talked of the need for both comedy and evidence of effectiveness of abstinence education.

 

Many of the conference delegates where aware of the need to develop skills to be able to communicate well to teenagers: dance, comedy, theatre, music, stunning multimedia displays and rap were used to bring the message to save sex until marriage. The news of an extension to the title V fund, a federal funding program to promote abstinence, was warmly welcomed. Fundraising initiatives were discussed by Dan Morgan and Rob Siedlecki. Lakita Garth and Keith Deltano described how to bring a media message to websites popular with teenagers.

 

The conference also included an excellent new documentary for teenagers called ‘look before you leap.’ This is a creative drama and comedy using skydiving as a metaphor for sex in order to encourage healthy relationships. The conference culminated with a banquet, awards dinner and talent contest called abstinence idol to find the best entertainer. Overall, the conference was an impressive way for those working with young people to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.