Having information at the table is so important and when the group has to pay for the IP's the thought of any being in color can make any group say .40 cents per IP too much. If you go to Outreach at the Naranon Family Groups there are IP's that are black and white that you can download and use. Our group came across such an event where there were going to be treatment centers, lawyers and judges it ended up being a luncheon at the Hilton with over 200 people attending. As a group, it was decided that we spurge on color IP's, even for the ones that come in black and white. Why did we do that and why would you do this? We look at that particular event and knowing that it was a big event of so many people coming that make decisions within the community on addiction, we wanted to have the table that Naranon had, popping with color. For some reason when you see something in color it attracts the eye. We also wanted to make sure that the judges, lawyers and treatment centers knew that Naranon was available for family members. It worked out so well and all of our IP's were gone, we met people from rehabs that wanted for us to come out and talk to them.
Judy

1. Outreach is essential to spreading public awareness of the Nar-Anon program and is easy to do. Here are low cost ways to get information about your new meeting to the public.
   Add your group information to the poster that are available when ordering literature,(you can copy the poster to save the group money)and post on bulletin boards at libraries, doctor/dental/mental health offices and waiting rooms, treatment centers, hospitals, churches, restaurants, supermarkets, laundromats, oil change/carwash businesses, post offices, sheriff/police offices, barber shops, hair salons, movie theaters, etc. 
2. I Contact local and community newspapers and television stations about free postings on their  community events, calendar pages, or bulletin boards. 
   Sample: Are you affected by someone else’s addiction? Nar-Anon offers hope. You are welcome to join our group for a meeting of support where we share our experience, strength, and hope. (Include day/time, location, address of local meeting.)
   Sample: Addiction is a family disease. It affects the relationships of those close to the addict: parents, spouse, siblings, children, longtime friends, and employers. If someone’s addiction is affecting you, first you must help yourself. Nar-Anon is a twelve step program for families and friends of addicts. There are  no dues or fees to join - just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, share about how they cope and find recovery. To locate a meeting in your area, go to our website at www.nar-anon.org or call (give local hotline phone number).

I know that some of the information has been repeated in previous Out reach tips.
Judy

many times we will not see the members of the meeting until next week, at another meeting or if someone needs to talk. As I have stated, outreach can occur with the members of Naranon other than in the meeting. The Tallmadge group, usually goes out to a late dinner, when I have been up to the Warren meeting they have met for dinner before or after the meeting. I had been down to a Cincinnati meeting and we went out afterwards for a bite. The Warren group has actually taken this a bit further and has a picnic every year, for NARANON members, NA and loved ones. The Medina group has talked about meeting for coffee prior to the meeting and maybe Once a month go out on a Saturday. There are many times when we talk that people can share more outside the meeting. Retreats are another way to outreach to many groups and meet people, share ideas and be able to put a face to a tweet, email or message. We are stronger together when we share our ideas
Judy

It is almost time for the Ohio Convention of Narcotic Anonymous (OCNA). Has most states and cities have conventions, I wanted to bring outreach in regards to this. We have been at OCNA a couple of times due to cooperation by NA. Though each time there are different situations, we can have a Naranon table, we cannot have a Naranon table, Naranon will be on the flyer for OCNA, Naranon will not be on a flyer for OCNA. It is hard, because each NA group that runs OCNA, looks at Naranon differently, so with cooperation, we bend towards what makes them comfortable, why may this be the case? Could it be that some NA groups do not know about Naranon,or what Naranon is? As we talk about educated the community, what about NA, a lot of the groups meet the same time and place as NA. Who among us go up before the meetings or after the meetings just to say hi? Of course your annoymity is no longer hidden, a decision that you must make. Do we know NA tradition 6? That tradition is the same as ours except for what is after spiritual aim. I actually meet with the group that will be holding OCNA the following year and introduce myself, along with information about Naranon and my email address. How many of us seen NA members come see what Naranon is about at OCNA. Look at what NA is doing outside with conventions and camp outs etc.
We also don't just have to attend Ohio's convention, there are three other states involved, who has met with a member from NA to see when the state convention will be?
Judy

The Medina NARANON group just passed the following that may help other groups and out reach to those members that cannot make a regular meeting due to child care, illness, etc. There will be an option for members that have been coming to the meeting to be on a speaker from a NARANON member's cell phone. This will not be given out at tables set up at events, it is only for people who have been coming. The secretary has a list of all numbers, in case the church would be closed, or weather was too bad. There have been people coming for awhile comfortable in using their phones as speakers, most of The people held a position within the meeting itself.  For some who are not able to go to meetings, there is a Thursday night phone meeting at 9PM EST. there is also the forum meeting online go to: Forum Nar-Anon Family Groups; this is sponsored by, Area10 eastern Pennsylvania region.
Judy

So I was thinking of doing a freaky Friday today. What do you, a NARANON member or your group do as outreach. This is the perfect place to share your experience, strength and hope. What has worked, what has not. We all learn from each other. I'll be first to give out something: As a lot of people are reading the paper less and less, Medina county as online: MEDINA COUNTY EVENTS, there any events can be posted. We post the meetings online. Once a year add them back on again. It is also great to where we can post if there will not be a meeting due to weather or holiday.
Judy

As we start a new year, let's look at what as groups and individuals we can do for NARANON as a whole. Will 2017 be the year, I go to the county or city to find out about health or drug events in our area? Will 2017 be the year I see a member of our NARANON meeting doing outreach and I in turn take a more active role in the meeting to free someone else's time? Will our home group in 2017 make sure that our GSR is an active member in region? You and you alone can decide on how active and how much you take on. As we remember that this is a WE program and WE see the hurt within the community, what do you decide to do?
Judy

Saturday, December 24, Christmas is December 25, Kwanzaa starts Monday, December 26. As NARANON is a spiritual program, we also know that with a lot of us, spiritually is entwined with other things in our lives. We need to remember that when we do outreach and a lot of times outreach is within the meeting itself, that we need to remember not to make the program a religious program. Many people have God as their higher power, but we must respect those who have a different higher power.
Happy Holidays to all.
Judy

There are times when we end up going to court, we hear the judges say that people need to go to the probation department. Does the judge and the probation department have information for family members to attend NARANON. Recently our judges and probation departments have asked us for information, because they have family members who are not sure what to do. As education continues, we can be there. I have called and set up appointments with judges and their departments to give them the information about NARANON. Since we have drug court, the judges want families to look at doing something for themselves. We have the local court on TV. sometimes when I hear that the addict has to go to so many meetings per week, I wish they would do the same for family members.
Judy

When cold weather hits there are less events to set up an informational table. GOGGLE is great tool to look up events coming up and events from the past. Events from the past you can find a name, number, E-mail address and find out if there will be an event in 2017. If you are told not sure, ask them to take your information and explain what NARANON is. I keep a list of contacts and if I don't her back or see any thing on their calendar, I reach out again in 2017. Most county offices will have their 2017 calendar available, which includes in our area the Drug abuse commission office. There are so many ways to have your 2017 outreach planning it in 2016. In GOOGLE, I put in events and put the city and state, health events, city and state, drug events, etc.
Have a great day,
Judy