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.
Two of our members were in other parts of the country this week. In this neck of the woods- a solo member my sit alone for months and months sometimes, waiting for the next member to arrive.
But tonight there were two of us there- and we got a newcomer.
In our district one rural city has large Alanon groups, and formed another new group this year. I wanted to know what the secret to success was. I am sure there are several.
Bu tin my F2F group- one of the secrets is the local AA group. They seem to refer group members to us, and also family members- when they can.
This excites me because it takes me back to the early days of Anne, Lois Bob and Bill...
...of of Alanon's secrets is "keep it simple one day at a time..." easy peasy...
I loved this share... mainly b/c it showed me that your HP answered when you said, "Why am I even here?" You know, the nights you would sit, just you... holding down the fort, so-to-speak.
Glad you are there to welcome newcomers!!
__________________
"The wolf that thrives, is the one you feed." - Cherokee legend
"Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields... Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness." Mary Oliver
David, thank you for sharing how your local groups are doing. Public outreach is very close to my heart. How can we get more people to know about Al-Anon, and more people in positions of influence to point others toward Al-Anon?
Where you noticed that the local AA groups were a big influence -- that was an eye-opener for me. I have been working on my feelings of resentment toward alcoholics, including my late husband. I was sometimes resentful that we invited AA speakers to speak at our big district meetings, along with Al-Anon speakers. The organizers would point out that by inviting AA, we got more attendees, and hence more 7th tradition donations at the event. I would think that I've heard enough from alcoholics, I really don't want to hear another alcoholic story! What I had never thought of was that the AA members are in the best position to influence families and friends to check out Al-Anon. Of course, they know lots of people who have been affected by someone's drinking. Sometimes, for the AA speaker, it is their first experience in an Al-Anon setting.
Now my perspective is shifting. The program I love can actually be helped by alcoholics -- what a concept! Of course!
Two of our members were in other parts of the country this week. In this neck of the woods- a solo member my sit alone for months and months sometimes, waiting for the next member to arrive.
