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

I am in Amish country for the weekend. Sometimes we need to take a break from addiction. Whether the addict is in,recovery, active addiction or even from,thinking too much on what we should or should not be doing either for the addict or ourselves. Sometimes are thinking can be stinking thinking.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Judy

This is an early outreach tip. This event occurs at different cities on August 31 every year. The Medina county groups had two events in different cities where we had Naranon tables. As I receive the information about who to contact and places where this event will occur, I will reach out to the group closest. If you have not had a table before and have questions please reach out to me. Also, please let me know if you are not going to reach out to the contact person, so I can reach out to the second nearest group.
This is a great event, to where you can make great contacts within the community and the community itself.
Judy

As we see events during the week it is hard to make all events. During the week, there are times due to work, kids, etc that we cannot make events. This is to,see where other members within the group are willing to do. In our group, we have a couple of people that are retired, stay at home, has a flexible work schedule, etc that make weekday events possible. We find within the group to divide up events between the people that work 9-5 during the week, that are willing to do evening or weekend events. I found it rewarding when I did my first table, nervous, but after talking to the first person, knew how important outreach is.
Judy

We have put together an event listing where Naranon tables, booths or speakers will be. Instead of having individual flyers, each week, I update for the Brunswick, Manchester, Medina and Tallmadge meetings, since we tend to work Medina and Summit counties together. We do have events outside of both counties that we are also involved with. It seem to make it easier to have everything on one list make copies and then pass it around, or if you are working with other groups within your area, someone can do the updated last and email to secretaries, the ideas are endless I am trying to add it to this post and hope that it works.
Judy

Just wanted to let people know that are doing events, when checking with the coordinator of the event, find out if a table will be provided. The Akron, Brunswick, Medina and Tallmadge meeting has a table that we bought. Most indoor events will have tables, a lot of the outside events do not.
Judy

Happy St. Patrick's day. Sometimes as family member's we think of the drug as being heroin, meth, etc. Alcohol sometimes can be forgotten, especially today when so many people are enjoying green beer. We have to remember any mind altering substance will be a relapse to the addict, as well to ourselves if we go to our old way of thinking. People at our meetings, may think it is only alcohol so I am not going to reach out to a Naranon member to talk. We must remember doing outreach which is included in our meetings, are letting people know that we are there for them no matter what and no problem is too small to reach out to another member.

The events are coming up, as you set up the table or booth, see who your neighbors are; rehab centers? Police? or another support group? I have found going around to each table or booth and introducing Naranon and having IPS helps me with getting the word out. I don't go empty handed; I take the IP's of What is Naranon and What Happens after Treatment to be most beneficial. I also take a meeting list. Remember to gather their information, most rehabs will have cards. When I talk to rehab's I will ask, about Family Day's, do they have Naranon information to pass out? Would you like a Narnanon representative to come to the rehab and talk about Naranon? As we are there for the community, we are there for the other people that have been invited. If there are speakers, I will go talk to them after the speak. A quick reminder, if this is in your community and people are walking around, you might see someone you know. Some Naranon members are not ready for their anonymity to be known and that is okay. I know some members will go out of town and do an event. It is what you feel comfortable with. I just remind myself, if someone I know is coming to learn about addiction.......I am there.
Judy

I have reached out to a few of you in regards to events or programs. I was copied on the below email that was sent out and thought what a great way to introduce Naranon See below from a Naranon member in Louisville, what a way to introduce you and Naranon. Please share with the group what you do as introduction, we can all learn from each other.
Judy

Greetings,

I was notified by Judy, our Nar-Anon Central Region Outreach Secretary (of which Kentucky is a part), that you would like for Nar-Anon in Louisville to set up a table at your rally in September 2017. We welcome the opportunity to set up a table!

We currently have only two meetings in the Metro Louisville area and it is our hope that this exposure will help us to get the word out. I have attached our meeting schedule and we do plan to include both groups in this outreach.

Please send me the details so we can begin to plan for this event. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for this awesome opportunity!

I have been in touch with a few groups from last year and some new ones this year in regards to events. Even though I live in Ohio, I do hear from out of state events. As I hear of events, I will go through the listing that Tim V has given me on the groups GSR email addresses. I will go into Naranon family and find the closest group and see if the group currently does out reach within the community. I do realize that Naranon cannot be at all events. As Interim chair for Outreach, if anyone has any questions, please let me know either by face book or use the contact US on the Central Region website. If you do outreach and want to let me know that you do, I am starting to also have a spreadsheet with the information, so I can it have it at my finger tips. STEP 12- Having had a spiritual awakening of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.
Judy