When going to a recovery center, rehab, courts, etc: have you been asked to display literature along with a meeting list? If so, did you think how everything would be displayed? Recently with the new recovery center being opened in Medina, we were asked to have a bracket for our literature and to have someone from the group to check and update the literature and meeting list. What a great idea, just checked the cost of literature rack and the cost is$32, which of course I will take back to group conscious. I think it is important that when being asked to set out literature in an office setting, what is this going to look like. Will it be displayed in the counselors office or in the waiting room? Are you going to check on the literature or are you waiting for a phone call? Are they willing for a Naranon member to come in with the people working in the office, courts, rehabs, centers, etc to explain what Naranon is and ask if anyone has any questions regarding Naranon? We have a literature chair person at our meeting, she counts the literature and before group conscious brings to the group what is needed and the cost. She will also be the person that if we set up literature at the recovery center will keep track. I realize that not all meetings can have a literature chair person, it was years before our group did. When I talk about community outreach there are so many ways besides going to an event and setting up informational tables.
Judy

Through the summer as we have vacations, kids out of school, hot days going to the watering hole (pools), are we still doing outreach projects? Or do we take a break and look for events after Labor Day? We suddenly think I haven't been out and I know there have been events. When we remember that we came in broken, confused and not knowing which way to turn, there are family members out there struggling like we were. As we always know addiction and family members hurting does not take a holiday nor does it take summer vacations. Maybe outreach has been tabled or just not talked about at the meetings. It could be as simple to bring up at a meeting to see if anyone has heard about an event or if you know of one, see if there is anyone with new interest in doing outreach functions.
Judy

When we talk about educating the community, the legal system, schools, etc. How many of us deal with family members that believes that addiction is a choice? These same family members or friends who have heard recently that cities are looking at reviving someone three times and after that will not, believe that is okay. I had to remember the Naranon principles today because a family member said let them die. He knows how involved I am with Naranon and this broke my heart. I told him to check the CDC to see that addiction is a disease, that was a no. I offered to bring info for him to read to learn about addiction and that was met with that he knew everything he needed to know. There are times when you have to let it go, however today was not the day I could. When he said something negative, I could not let it go and came back with what addiction is and felt that I could bring him info for education. He is not interested and actually walked out on me. I have to remember education within the family is as important as the community.
Judy