Program assists families to recover THE FIRST step was the hardest, but it eventually brought a new life to Kathy and many other people using the AI- Anon program to recover from the disruptive influences alcohol abuse has had on their lives. A wife of a businessman and mother of two, Kathy (not her real name) had reached a point in her life where her self-esteem had hit rockbottom, but she still did not know the source of her anxie- ty. May was lonely and frustrated. | felt very defeated,’’ she says, describing herself at that time as “ugly, unlovabie, sad.”’ When a friend suggested she at- tend an Al-Aaon meeting she was initially surprised because she had not thought of her husband as an alcoholic, but she also felt ready to go. “So i went. [ just listened. [ didn’t talk because | cried for the first six to cight weeks there,’’ Kathy says. Six weeks later her husband at- tended Alcoholics Anonymous, on the suggestion of the same friend. That was 44% years ago and the North Vancouver couple have been living with sobriety ever since. THE FOLLOWING is a selection of many volunteer opportunities available from North Shore Community Services (NSCS). A GARDEN contest assistant is needed to help in a variety of areas including fundraising and photography. Get involved this summer and assist with the annual garden contest. The hours are fiexibie. FINGERPRINTING volunteers are needed to help promote op- portunities for children to receive free identification tags. Work in conjunction with police depart- ments, hand out brochures, and help to register children during mall display on May 16, 17 and 18. By Elizabeth Collings News Reporter “We've been that long in re- covery. It doesn’t change over- night but the program helps me keep on track. It’s brought a lot more manageability to our lives,”’ she says. But Al-Anon is not just for spouses of recovering alcoholics. Friends, children, parents, and co-workers — many of whom are involved with alcoholics — attend Al-Anon. The program has been available on the North Shore for 35 years and currently offers !6 North Shore group meetings each week, including two Alateen meetings. According to Kathy, the pro- gram gave her a feeling of accep- tance that was missing from her life. Before Al-Anon, she says she was completely absorbed in her husband and was unable to see FOR VOLUNTEERS BE a Big Brother to a youth be- tween the ages of seven and 12. Help fill a need in a young boy’s life by sharing in mutual interest activities like biking, fishing and movies. The hours are flexible. A BUS wip facilitator with good organizational skills and who enjoys public speaking is wanted to go on monthly art and cultural bus tours that include day tips out of town as well as to art galleries. See interesting art and cultural events and have fun one day per month. Orientation will be provided. AN ORGANIZED office worker is needed to help with various duties in the office of a zoological society. The position involves basic computer work as she had her own choices. “It gave me back my self- esteem. | sealized | was a person who had a right to be happy.”* People who attend the meetings are free to share their experiences, simply listen or, in some cases, cry. “df you don’t want to talk, you just want to cry, it’s OK! We all want to be accepted,”’ she says. Depending on the group, each Al-Anon meeting takes its own form but all members must respect the anonymity of partici- pants. “And we do not talk about the alcoholic,’’ Kathy adds. ‘‘We've been so hung up on that person for so long.”” She is also quick to point out that Al-Anon does not offer ad- vice nor does it show how to stop an alcoholic from drinking. “It's about accepting what we can't change. It’s a program for healthy living. You begin to real- ize there is laughter. We laugh a lot in the group without being in- sensitive to anyone’s feelings."’ For information about Al- Anon, call Al-Anon Central Ser- vices at 688-1716. well as receptionist and photoco- pying duties. Orientation will be provided. A NEWSLETTER editor with a good command of the English language is needed to organize and edit a quarterly 12 page newsletier for a community arts council. Some interviewing and writing will also be necessary. The hours are flexible. A VISUAL arts chairman is needed twice monthly to coordi- nate and host exhibits and recep- tions for artists at a library. The hours are flexible and training will be provided. If you are interested in volun- teering call Dru at 985-7138. NSCS is a member agency of the United Way. Broil King WE BUILD IT BETTER °30°%.. REG. $479.00 OFF VALID TO MAY 18TH WHILE SUPPLY LASTS % 50,000 BTU's * Propane tank or natural gas hose * Cast iron cooking grids x Drop down side shelves x Comes with 4 wheels Open Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30 Saturday 9:30-4:00 NATURAL GAS + PROPANE Sunday, May 12, 1991 — North Shore News - 33 NEWS photo Terry Peters AL-ANON ACCEPTANCE: This program for people whose lives have been affected by another’s drinking offers acceptance and a way to make heaithier choices. L PVE My EW MINT BLINDS My dolls off sugg. retail Me micros, minis, roller blinds and verticals Sale ends May 31/94 A SHADE BETTER Specializing in Binds and Draperies for over 7 years 1877 Marine Drive, N.Van. 084-44 04 #4-38948 Progress Way, Squamish 892-5857 932-6617 Whistler ~~