I wanted to send my outreach tip early. The above can be effective in 12 Step work by letting those in need know that they are not alone. By providing meeting information and encouraging attendance at a Naranon meeting. The decision to have this service is within the groups to support. The line/answering service should respect your anonymity as a volunteer to this service. Members names and personal phone numbers should not be given out. There should be a number established that is not a personal number and volunteers will be willing to accept phone calls. If you are in an area where there are a lot of meetings, a suggestion is that maybe one group starts this and emails the secretaries of the other groups to see if there are any volunteers. It may be harder where there are less meetings and not a lot of Naranon members willing to do this. You might be in a state where there are only a handful of meetings, establishing an information line, might have to,work where the meeting who wants to establish this, contact the secretaries of the other meetings to see if there would be the volunteers needed. This type of outreach may need to be put on hold. Will there is a will there is a way.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy Holiday weekend.
Judy

So many places are recognizing the family members. 10 years ago, it was unheard of for our jail to have Naranon information along meeting Naranon members speaking there. We know that rehabs welcome us to bring info, has anyone thought about half way houses, 3 quarters housing and the recovery centers. Recovery centers are newer in our area, but with the opening of this center, this will bring opportunity for volunteers. Whether it is helping to clean out the building, introducing ourselves, literature or having meetings. The Recovery center will offer, GED's, resume help, teaching job skills picnics and help for family members. There are different places opening up in more and more areas as the need arises. Keeping our eyes open we do not know where we may be able to be there to help others. Just a quick reminder as the weather starts getting better, there will be more outdoor events occurring.
Judy

I found out this week that one of the rehabs we sent information to last year did not have a meeting on the list that was given. That is why it is important to have spreadsheet or have it written down, the facility, your contact person and when you gave info. As we see by Tim V. the new meetings and the disbanded meetings. Which brings me to another point, if the list is not updated in different facilities, people may go to disbanded meetings. Remember your first meeting, how would you have felt if there would not have been anyone there and find out it was disbanded, date change, and/or time change. Sharing my experience, strength and hope, when I went to my first meeting, it had taken all the courage I had to go through the doors. I was at the point of my life. I would have been lost if the meeting was not there.
I wish all Mothers a very Happy Mother's Day.
Judy

Our neighborhood is recently looking at having a sober facility that would help addicts learn how to find jobs, learn skills, write resumes, etc. The facility would have a place for family members to learn about addiction and have Naranon info there along with anyone who would want to volunteer to help out with meetings for families. There has been opposition because people think that this would attract drug dealers. Even when it is pointed out that it is not a rehab facility or even a 3/4 housing. Educating a neighborhood that has already made up their minds that this would be dangerous is very hard and almost impossible, but we have to keep trying. We always say we love the addict where they are at, we have to remember to love our neighbors where they are at. It can be frustrating, but we are not responsible for others feelings. How education is important is when I hear there is a drug problem, but I don't want anything to help the situation in my neighborhood. Can it be moved to another neighborhood.
Judy