The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
One of our Al-Anon family is going to be moving back to the mainland. I am sad, as I will miss her. She's always had such wonderful shares and she has this contagious laughter that I love.
One thing I found out about her is that she actually started many of the meetings in my area. Her funny reason for starting the meetings was because she didn't want to have to drive long distances to get to one, so she started them herself.
I am so enormously grateful to her for starting so many meetings in our area - most of which I attend.
So I was thinking about this when I read so many people saying they can't attend face-to-face meetings because there are none close by... remember there is the option of starting your own!
I'm sure if you visit the http://www.al-anonalateen.org site, you can find information on how to get a meeting started.
I just can't imagine where I'd be if this wonderful member hadn't started so many meetings. And she'll be off to start new ones where she's moving to now.
I have never started a meeting however many meeting rooms have been lost and I have had to find new meeting rooms over the years. I too looked in locations convenient for me.
I found Hospitals (VA , City and State hospitals) were very welcoming and never charged a fee.
The meeting rooms were clean and safe. In the spirit of the 7th Tradition the meeting always contributed a % of the collection to the Patient Funds in the hospital.
Starting a meeting, just as moving a meeting can be scary but very rewarding. It may take a month or two for the new meeting to catch on but when they do a new meeting is up and running.
It is important to notify intergroup of your meeting place so they can refer members and notify other meetings so they can announce your meeting.
Good LUck
-- Edited by hotrod on Tuesday 13th of October 2009 09:30:30 PM
Amen and very blessed in return from HP and on top of that the memories that come from planting the seed somewhere, watching it grow and create miracles and participating in that process is a w e s o m e. Do it, Do it, Do it!! The need is there and your recovery keeps going on and on and on. (((((hugs)))))
There is no group near me. I really do not want to start one. Why? Because that is what I always end up doing! My son was born with a condition little know about at the time. No suuport network. So what did I do? Started a group which grew and grew until it became a national (if small) charity with paid staff and I was Chair for a number of years. I remain an adviser. I am a Trade Union rep. No local branch near me - so, yes, I formed one and have been chair for over 10 years. I have spent years and years helping and supporting other people. Why am I finding it so hard now when I am the one needing help? Maybe I am selfish but I don't want to start a group - right now, for once in my life, I want to go to a fully functioning group and have people support me!
The beauty that this other member I speak of demonstrated that she'd get the meeting going, but she was VERY QUICK to turn over the service roles to others. She would stand in as a temporary GR, but would let everyone know that the group needed a GR and a treasurer, etc. She would not run the thing at all.
The nice thing about Al-Anon is that it encourages rotation of leadership so no one person is locked in a service position beyond three years (and even then, a person can always step down before the term - there's no enforcing the unenforceable). After that term, they really MUST step down and let someone else take on the role.
Aloha Aloha! I know I sound selfish and I also know I am probably good at starting support groups and good at supporting others. Maybe in a little while I will. It's just right now I feel so defeated by my own personal circs and my AH.
Currently, in my Union rep role, I am supporting others who are fighting for their jobs and have all sorts of probs. I have to hide my own worries while I help others and also do my own job (the union bit is an add-on extra)
I can only hope someone ELSE starts a group near me.
You certainly don't sound selfish at all - just that you know your limitations.
This was a general all-around suggestion I wanted to share with our MIP members - I apologize if you felt personally targeted. I should have worded my topic heading a little better... like "you have the option to start your own if you feel up to it" or something to that effect.
No worries - and most certainly no explanations needed! Not one single person here owes me an explanation for anything. :)
My wife and I have thought about starting a meeting cause we live with an A, but we are still new.
it's awkward for us to start a meeting if we are still new.
Do you have to have a lot of "program time" to start a meeting?
I understand that to lead a MIP meeting, (according to my wife) you have to have time at a f2f meeting? sometimes there aren't leaders at the AM online. Neither one of us has a meeting to attend f2f so that puts us both in a bind.
Aloha - No need for apologies at all! I didn't feel personally targeted. I think I was just having a bit of a vent. Going through a tough time time right now and was just expressing the wish that there was a group nearby for some support. Having said that, the support from this board and the chat room has been enormously beneficial - so many, heartfelt thanks to all the MIP family.
