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Archive Outreach info

March 18, 2012 in Uncategorized

July 16, 2011

Therese M., Judy F. and Ruth D. visited a presentation at Common Ground, entitled, “From Crisis to Hope”, in order to see how Outreach may touch them. The presentation was enlightening as to the ways they help so many people find the help and support they need. We hear stories of strength and hope from the amazing staff who so unselfishly give of themselves to help others.

June 28, 2011

A group of 8 Al-Anon volunteer parents went to the Oakland County Juvenile Drug Court (JDC). They conducted an Al-Anon meeting to the parents of the kids who attend the program. Therese M., the Outreach Coordinator for Oakland County, ochestrated the meeting, and it was very well received by the court, as well as with the parents. There are still openings left for volunteers for the next session July 26. PLEASE consider volunteering for this amazing opportunity to reach out and help people who really need your Experience, Strength and Hope. The writer of this post, Ruth D. attended the court session, and would willingly do it again and again. It was a powerful experience for me as well as those parents with children in the court system. There are Three Legacies in Al-Anon: Recovery – through the steps, Unity – through the Traditions, Service – through the Concepts. Please consider this opportunity to do Service as part of your Recovery Process. Contact Therese M. for further information. Email: outreach@oaklandafg.org

As mentioned at the Group Rep meeting on June 4, 2011, Shirley Ann is ordering the table cards for Alateen. The fee is nominal, and we hope that each and every gets at least one to display at all their meetings.

REMINDER: The Michigan AFG Spring Assembly is in St. Louis, Michigan on Saturday June 11, 2011. Tthis meeting is for YOU, the Rep., although everyone is invited to attend. For New Reps, please come at 9:30 for the orientation. The meeting lasts until 3:30. If anyone wants to carpool, please indicate below. It is okay to ask your group members for contributions for gas, etc.

We were given new information about a new Alateen meeting. Please share with your group.

Also, please ask if anyone is willing to help out with the Fall Workshop. They need help with the craft project, the auction, and other duties. This is a wonderful opportunity for Service Work (and a great way to meet people AND have fun!) Please contact Joane B. at: joanne.bigler@gmail.com

Public Outreach needs money! Therese Marie, who spearheaded this venture, has put in many hours, a lot of sweat and tears, and has engaged the help of others; Judy F., Elle G., Linda C., Nicole K., Carolyn F., and yours truly, Ruth D.Tthank you ALL for your hard work and dedication to getting the word out! The past budgeted amount, $330 for the year, was appropriate for what was being done to reach out to the community. Now that this team has come to together with some exciting plans, that budget has all but been exhausted. Gratefully there have been some VERY generous donations to help out, and we are hoping to be able to create sub-committees; a Thought Force and a Task Force to investigate what funds are needed. Volunteers are needed for fundraising for Outreach. Again, another GREAT opportunity to do Service. On that same note, they are also looking for people to contact the clergy to inform and attract. When your group is donating its funds to Oakland, it is okay to designate whatever portion it has decided, to Outreach. Make sure to include that information when you send in the money. OUTREACH will be getting their OWN Page on this site, when the Webmaster gets to it! Please be patient…

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What, No Instructions?

March 10, 2012 in Personal Stories

What, No Instructions?

The hardest thing for parents is to see their children suffer. Unfortunately the only thing that we can often do is to make ourselves available to them and provide them with love. Sometimes this is not an easy task, especially when a child is addicted. I know, because I am suffering the angst of having a child in such a situation. I often wonder why when these young people are brought into the world we don’t get an operator’s manual. I guess God figures we can learn on our own.

In my instance, I tried to give both of my children all of the love and encouragement that I could. Sometimes I did not do such a good job. I was too harsh, too demeaning and sometimes downright nasty. I said things to them that a loving father should never say, often berating them instead of nurturing them. I now have a son who is in rehab and a family that barely communicates with each other. All that I can say is that I tried.

It’s funny; when your children are first born you have these high hopes and ambitions for them. You picture them as growing up and becoming a doctor, a lawyer, or any one of a hundred other professions. You want them to be better than you. I remember how I used to talk to both of my children when they were infants and I would rock them. God, how I would pour my heart out to them and tell them that I wanted to be a better father than my dad was. Dad was hard but fair and never afraid to voice his opinion or offer his advice, often unsolicited. Unfortunately, I think that I became my father. I guess we learn by example. I did try to take my dad’s softer compassionate side and blend it into my child rearing experience.

I had an undying need to control, and unfortunately that need is still with me. As a result of this need I figured that I had to plan the kids’ lives for them. I (thought I) knew what was best and what they should be when they grew up. I failed to realize that they may have ambitions and goals. I sometimes wonder what would have happened had I listened more and spoke less. After all, it’s one thing to be a fun family, but you don’t want to be the family that put the fun in dysfunctional. You ask yourself, “what I have learned from these experiences?” I have learned that I sometimes have to step back and say, “I need a time out”. I need to take a deep breath and remove myself from the situation before it becomes too volatile, and I say or do something that I may regret later. It’s better to regroup and know what you want to say rather than shoot from the lip and regret it. There is a quotation from Al-Anon that goes, “Say what you mean; mean what you say, but don’t say it mean”. This is a good rule to follow and I hope that I can learn to apply it.

So you see, I now know that there is no instruction manual that tells you how to raise your children when they are born, but there is an organization that can help you to prevent or lessen the damage. That group is Al-Anon and I am grateful that I am a member, because without the friends I have made throughout this fellowship, I would be lost. They have supported me and given me the courage to admit my faults and to stick to the decisions I have made.

Mike A.

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