Hi,

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy 2006. May it be all that we want and expect it to be.

I am new here. Been to chat a few times and attended a lot of the New Years Marathon meetings. Learned a lot.

I am making a goal to become more familiar with and use the 12 Steps and work them. I don't have a f2f meeting in my town so I believe I will be using the Step Board here that I heard about in chat.

I am thinking of starting a f2f group here. I already have to place, my church agreed to let me use the same room that my son attends AA in. That is a big step for me. I know there are more families of A here that could use fellowship. I know I sure could use f2f at times.I will take it slow and see what happens.

I have read and read Al-Anon material that I have found online and ordered a ton of stuff from the WSO. (I see there is a book store here also, I will check that out)

Thanks to my HP for guiding me to this website and the chat. I have found it invaluable. You guys are incredible.

Any thoughts on getting a group started would be appreciated.

Doxie

Doxie: i have definitely been in the start meeting mode.  I can say from my experience it can be helpful. I would also say that it is a good idea to set time limits. I started an online meeting once. It ended up just being me doing it. Other people told me they would make a commitment and didn't.  I wanted to be super heroine (I am good at that) for once I did not. I let the group go because I needed to concentrate on me. So I would say as long as you don't try to be super heroine and try to do it all yourself go for it. Set limits (do you have them I didn't) set goals, set a time scale and see what happens.

Maresie.

Hi Maresia,

Thanks for the thoughts.

I will set time limits. That is a good idea.

 I mainly want someone to talk to f2f that has lived through this hell called addiction. Or rather being in the family of A. I absolutely think I am going to go nuts sometimes having no one to talk to about this. I hope that doesn't come off as selfish, but that is where I am. My husband just loses himself in work and has basically disappeared from daily life. Not whining, that is just how he copes I suppose. He works, he fishes, he works, he fishes. I am alone a lot and that can get old real fast.

Thanks for letting me share my feelings here.

Doxie 

Hi Doxie,

Nothing selfish about it. One thing you will learn here is that you cannot deal with it alone, and you are not alone, there are others out there and here who have been through the same stuff and still are.

If we don't reach out, we will go insane, we will be sucked right into the sanity that is addiction.

I have never started a meeting, but maybe you could contact your regional Alanon and get some suggestions from them. Or even speak to someone from the AA meeting that is already there and see if they have any suggestions. maybe someone from a nearby Alanon can give you a hand. I wish you lots of luck.

I agree with what has already said, set limits, don't try to take on too much. This is to help you and others, not add more to an already full plate.

                            Love jeannie

Hi Jeannie,

All good suggestions.

I am working with 2 members of an established AA group here. They have been tremendously helpfull. I have also contacted and got info coming from Alanon.org.

I think I will get ahold of someone from the nearest group, which is 60 miles away from me. They should be able to help.

Thanks,

Doxie

 http://www.al-anon.alateen.org (this link can also be found on our main MIP website page)

I see you have contacted WSO already.  Did you ask for the Service Manual?  WSO can help you with all your literature needs in setting up a local meeting.  I have one of the CAL (conference approved literature) catalogs... lots of stuff in there!! 

Our local newspaper here has a "calendar" section where you can submit your group name, location and time of meetings (and contact number if you so choose).  I think it is a free community service.  You might want to check into that to help get the word out.  Our local AA group has a bulletin board where they have a section for Al-Anon info. 

It's great that you are doing this!! 

Thanks for all the great information.

I plan to follow up on all of it.

Right now it is off to work for me.

Doxie