Al-Anon is a 12-step fellowship for the family and friends of alcoholics. We have traveled that unhappy road too, and found the answer with serenity and peace of mind.

When you come into an Al-Anon meeting, you are no longer alone but among true friends who understand your problems as few others could. We will respect your confidence and anonymity as we know you will respect ours. We hope to give you the assurance that no situation is too difficult and no unhappiness is too great to be overcome.

Our program, which is not a religious one but a spiritual way of life, is based on the twelve suggested steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We have found that the working of these steps will bring solutions to practically any problem. We urge you to take this program and its twelve steps seriously. It has been as helpful to us as the Alcoholics Anonymous program has been to the alcoholic. We only ask for the wisdom and courage to see ourselves as we really are, to do something about ourselves with the help of a higher power as we understand him, and for the grace to release our alcoholics with love and cease trying to change them.

With the understanding that addiction is a disease, and the realization that we are powerless over it as well as over other people’s lives, we are ready to do something useful and constructive with our own. Then, and only then, can we be of any help to others.

We have learned that "If we willingly surrender ourselves to the spiritual discipline of The Twelve Steps and work the program, our lives will be transformed. Members work the program by being willing to attend meetings on a regular basis, reading Al-Anon literature, getting a sponsor and working toward applying the 12 Steps of recovery to their lives as they begin to recover.

We become mature, responsible individuals with a great capacity for joy, fulfillment, and wonder. Though we may never be perfect, continued spiritual progress will reveal to us our enormous potential.
We discover that we are both, worthy of love and loving; We learn to love others without losing ourselves, and to accept love in return; Our sight, once clouded and confused begins to clear and we are able to perceive reality and recognize truth; Courage and fellowship has replaced fear and we are able to risk failure to develop new hidden talents.

We have come to know the vastness of our emotions, but we will not be slaves to them; our secrets no longer bind us in shame. As we have gained the ability to forgive our families, the world and ourselves, we discover our choices have expanded. We are no longer terrified and have discovered that we are free to delight in life’s paradox, mystery, and awe. Fear has been replaced by faith, and gratitude now comes naturally as we have realized that our Higher Power is doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

In the beginning we wondered if we would ever arrive; Feel joyful all the time; Have no cruelty, tragedy, or injustice to face? By attending meetings and working the steps we began to acquire a growing acceptance of our human fallibility, as well as greater love and tolerance for each other. Self-pity, resentment, martyrdom, rage, and depression began to fade into memory. Community rather than loneliness now define our lives. We know that we belong, we are welcome, we have something to contribute, and that is enough."

Keep an open mind and attend as many meetings as possible. Feel free to ask questions and to enter into the discussions. You will soon make new friends and will feel very much a part of the group.

For more information contact:
Barbara Bowman 417-438-1142 mobirdie@gmail.com
Bill Bowman 417-291-2955 boabarb@yahoo.com