H. I. T. C. H.™
Help Inform Touch Connect Heal
Saturday Sept 26th, White Oak Volunteer Rescue Squad
535 White Oak Rd.
Federicksburg VA 22405
Rappahannock area of NA
Great Speaskers
Fish Fry
Hamburgers
Dance after the Speaker Jam
$7 donation for fish fry
Good Orderly Direction Speaker Jam I Hosted by We Do Recover Group of NA (Covington, VA)
“Doing the right thing for the right reason”
Date- November 14th 2009
Time- 11a.m. - 5p.m.
Where- Emmanuel Episcopal Church
138 N. Maple Ave
Covington, VA 24426
FOOD, REFRESHMENTS, AND FELLOWSHIP!!!!
Contact info: Stephanie R. 1-540-958-6837 e-mail(lilswee4u@aol.com)
Bessemer Group NA
1520 2nd Ave. N., Bessemer, AL
22nd Annual
“Chili Cook Off”
This year we added music to dance to & a…
“Costume Contest”
October 31st,2009
5:30pm: Chili served
7:30pm: Judging
1st, 2nd, & 3rd place
Prizes awarded for best chili & best costume
8pm: David F from Tennessee
NA related items & 50/50 raffle
after closing of speaker meeting
Money raised from raffles goes to support our
6th Annual Unity Weekend Camp out @
Tannehill State Park
March 26,27,28 2010
For more info. Contact
Chris N. 205-966-7088 or Jennifer M. 205-292-9514
‘…Despair Turns to Hope’ O.G.A.N.A. Oct 23 - Oct 25, 2009, Ocean City, MD
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.
In February 2006, founder Jamie Tworkowski wrote a story, a glimpse into a friend’s life and her first steps to recovery from drug addiction, self-injury, and depression. The story, titled To Write Love On Her Arms, along with the t-shirts Tworkowski printed to help pay for his friend’s recovery, started a movement, not only within his local Orlando, FL community, but one that was swiftly embraced by people everywhere. Many bands (Paramore, Thrice, Anberlin, Switchfoot, Bayside, The Almost) quickly picked up the message, informed their fans, and started finding new ways to donate to the cause and help out. Within a year Myspace.com announced TWLOHA the winner of their August 2007 Impact Awards in the category of “Community Building”, garnering the most votes in the history of the Impact Awards.
Jamie has been a guest on CNN.com as well as Steven’s Untitled Rock Show on the FUSE Network and the organization has been featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and MTV. Print publications who have covered the inspirational movement have been Seventeen Magazine, Paste Magazine, Teen Vogue, Alternative Press, Foam Magazine, and a soon to be feature in Rolling Stone Magazine, amongst many others.
VISION: The vision is that we actually believe these things…
You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you’re part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters.
We live in a difficult world, a broken world. My friend Byron is very smart - he says that life is hard for most people most of the time. We believe that everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you’re not alone in the places you feel stuck.
We all wake to the human condition. We wake to mystery and beauty but also to tragedy and loss. Millions of people live with problems of pain. Millions of homes are filled with questions – moments and seasons and cycles that come as thieves and aim to stay. We know that pain is very real. It is our privilege to suggest that hope is real, and that help is real.
You need to know that rescue is possible, that freedom is possible, that God is still in the business of redemption. We’re seeing it happen. We’re seeing lives change as people get the help they need. People sitting across from a counselor for the first time. People stepping into treatment. In desperate moments, people calling a suicide hotline. We know that the first step to recovery is the hardest to take. We want to say here that it’s worth it, that your life is worth fighting for, that it’s possible to change.
Beyond treatment, we believe that community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone.
The vision is that community and hope and help would replace secrets and silence.
The vision is people putting down guns and blades and bottles.
The vision is that we can reduce the suicide rate in America and around the world.
The vision is that we would learn what it means to love our friends, and that we would love ourselves enough to get the help we need.
The vision is better endings. The vision is the restoration of broken families and broken relationships. The vision is people finding life, finding freedom, finding love. The vision is graduation, a Super Bowl, a wedding, a child, a sunrise. The vision is people becoming incredible parents, people breaking cycles, making change.
The vision is the possibility that your best days are ahead.
The vision is the possibility that we’re more loved than we’ll ever know.
The vision is hope, and hope is real.
You are not alone, and this is not the end of your story. For more on To Write Love on Her Arms: www.TWLOHA.com.
Hazelden and Writers In Treatment® present “Creativity and Recovery - Chasing the Muse” at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles on October 13, 2009.
Hosted by William Cope Moyers, with filmmaker Timothy Disney, actress/singer Katey Sagal, writer/creator of Sons of Anarchy, Kurt Sutter, novelist Michelle Huneven, and jounalist/author Mark Ebner.
The evening will be moderated by William Cope Moyers, Director of Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy, and author of the bestselling memoir, Broken.
Why is it that so many of our most celebrated writers, entertainers, artists, and musicians are associated with addiction to alcohol or other drugs? Our panelists will explore the creative forces that influence their work and the role of recovery in their creative process.
Creativity and early recovery? How does one get through the valley, when your muse is hiding? There will also be clips of the panelists’ work. The program will run 1½ hours. followed by a discussion and Q & A. A dessert reception and book signing will follow.
In addition, other local authors will be present to sign their books.
Writers In Treatment is publishing a Commemorative Souvenir Program for this event called, CHASING the MUSE. If you would like to publish a Commemorative ad, it’s only a $100 contribution for 25 words.
Writers In Treatment
12059 Hoffman St. # 201
Studio City, CA 91604
818.762.0461 - Land
310.767.6970 – Cell
info@writersintreatment.org
Who May Join:
All veterans, from any era, any country, with any amount of time, in any branch of service, who have been discharged with anything other than a dishonorable discharge are welcome.
Dishonorably discharged individuals may request membership - and their approval or disapproval will be addressed individually, based on the reason for the discharge (drugs, for example).
Questions, problems and frustrations are all welcome. Our panel will address the problems or point you in the right direction. This group will be monitored by veterans, only.
Links to all the Veteran outreach groups (ie DAV, JWV, VFW, VA, UK Vet Org, Australia Vet Groups, etc.) will be permitted and posted.
VA hospitals that have meetings will be added as we find them.
VA hospitals that have treatment centers for veterans will be added as we find them.
Intolerance will not be tolerated.
Hope to see you there. Please be honest about your qualification to become a member since we won’t be asking for your DD-214.
Welcome home, brothers!
As an amateur / professional photographer, nothing makes me happier than to go out and take pictures on the weekend. This past weekend I was presented with the opportunity of chronicling the largest, most successful Recovery month event in South Florida. I was granted exclusive access to photograph the entire event (it helped that I knew the guys who put it on)!
Here are some of my favorite shots of the weekend:
Judge Jeffrey Rosinek (ret) is urging you to take a stand and send a letter to your state representatives about the need for continued Drug Treatment funding in Miami Dade county. Please read the letter below and send one of your own to the county commissioners.
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Dear Commissioner:
I am writing this letter to inform you about the need for a true champion for Drug Courts within the Miami Dade County.
Last year, after 22 and a half years on the bench I decided that it was time to hang up my gavel. Keeping retirement in mind, I still have a great concern for my state, my circuit, my county and of course, the Miami-Dade County Drug Court.
I left the bench with a great deal of sadness and an enormous amount of pride. I have served as a judge on both the County and Circuit Courts as a Judge for nearly 23 years. On the circuit bench I have handled civil, juvenile, family and drug court cases. My passion for the bench was evident and for the last 10 years of service I had been blessed to serve as the Miami Dade Adult Drug Court Judge.
For your edification in seeking your assistance to champion the drug court cause, I present the following information. In 1989, the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida became the first court in the nation to implement a Drug Court, a diversion and treatment program for drug offenders. Today, the court’s expanded main components are:
We know Drug Court works. It has demonstrated to be effective as a treatment court in assisting the addict to recover and become a functioning and successful member of our community. It is estimated that an addict will commit an average of 67 crimes per year. Treating these recovering addicts , ages 16 to 82, will minimize recidivism in our community, reduce emergency room visits and lessen the burden on the other Courts and on Miami Dade law enforcement.
This County had the vision and the privilege to create the first Drug Court in the country and has served as a model court for the past years. Unfortunately, the number of drug crimes coming into the system has more than doubled since the inception of Drug Court and the number of cases in our Drug Court has more than quadrupled since I became the Judge of the Miami Dade County Drug Court in 1999. The Program offered drug offenders the chance to avoid prosecution, discover sobriety and revamp their lives in a positive direction. Over 14,000 people have taken this opportunity to participate in the Miami-Dade County’s Drug Court and have succeeded by graduating.
Today, this effective alternative to prosecution has generated Drug Court activity in over 400 communities nationwide with the creation of over 2,100 drug courts.
Here, in Miami, we have a great court of “Second Chance.” At the time of my retirement last year, we carried over 2,000 cases and graduated between 70 and 100 people every month. To help us achieve even greater successes, we created, in July 2003, a 501© (3) not for profit Florida Corporation: Friends of Drug Court (FODC). Through FODC, we had received County and Federal Grants to provide case management for our most disadvantaged “at risk” clients. Presently there are five Case Managers for Drug Court clients who handle cases including, but not limited to, pregnant women, direct file juveniles, emotionally disadvantaged and chronic relapsers. An intake specialist helps evaluate all incoming defendants to determine what level of treatment is actually needed. For the past few years FODC has benefited our defendants and their families. FODC has expended nearly $500,000 in case management, $75,000 for temporary and permanent housing and $50,000 for educational and medical needs. Because of our state’s financial crisis, funds for drug courts are drying up and drug courts are closing within our state. What a tragedy. The most successful judicial intervention program ever created is in trouble. That is why I am asking you, as a Miami Dade County Commissioner, to help champion this cause and help maintain the financial support and continue the growth of the Miami Drug Court. This community can ill afford to lose our court ordered county treatment program which has been in existence for the past 20 years. We need to sustain the funding for OUTPATIENT drug and mental health treatment here in Miami Dade.
I have enjoyed my nearly 23 years on the bench, handling thousands of cases from traffic, small claims and DUI to Circuit Juvenile, Civil and Criminal Court. But for nearly ten years, sitting in Drug Court, I have discovered that a judge can use his/her abilities outside of the normal duties to affect positive changes on defendants and have a lasting influence in saving lives and protecting our community.
Pre trial motions were stimulating, jury trials were wonderful experiences and resolving crisis were rewarding, but nothing has compared to helping an individual come back to a clean, sober and drug free life and working with and watching him/her become an invigorated functioning part of society.
The mantra of our court is, “saving lives, one addict at a time.” Drug Court saves lives, thousands of them, while bringing families together. We’ve seen mothers giving birth to drug free babies, parents reunited with their children, children and adults going back to school and defendants working again to support themselves and their families.
I hope you understand why I am so passionate about Drug Court and I am asking you to champion the cause of Drug Courts to the public and to the your fellow commissioners so that we do not end the treatment aspect of our Drug Court, but expand it. If there is anything that I can do to help you with this cause, I am at your service. Working at “saving lives, one addict at a time,”
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Rosinek,
Circuit Court Judge (ret)
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Contact Your Commissioner
> District 1 - Barbara J. Jordan
> District 2 - Dorrin D. Rolle
> District 3 - Audrey Edmonson
> District 4 - Sally A. Heyman
> District 5 - Bruno A. Barreiro
> District 6 - Rebeca Sosa
> District 7 - Carlos A. Gimenez
> District 8 - Katy Sorenson
> District 9 - Dennis C. Moss
> District 10 - Senator Javier D. Souto
> District 11 - Joe A. Martinez
> District 12 - José “Pepe” Diaz
> District 13 - Natacha Seijas
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Board of County Commissioners
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Office of the ChairDennis C. Moss Chairman Website | Contact |
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Vice-Chairman José “Pepe” Diaz Website | Contact |
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District 1 Barbara Jordan Website | Contact |
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District 2 Dorrin D. Rolle Website | Contact |
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District 3 Audrey Edmonson Website | Contact |
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District 4 Sally A. Heyman Website | Contact |
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District 5 Bruno A. BarreiroWebsite | Contact |
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District 6 Rebeca Sosa Website | Contact |
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District 7 Carlos A. Gimenez Website | Contact |
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District 8 Katy Sorenson Website | Contact |
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District 9 Dennis C. Moss Chairman Website | Contact |
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District 10 Javier D. Souto Website | Contact |
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District 11 Joe A. Martinez Website | Contact |
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District 12 José “Pepe” Diaz Vice-Chairman Website | Contact |
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District 13 Natacha Seijas Website | Contact |
