Learn about online meetings at http://www.naranonepa.org/forum

A statement from WSO on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found on the WSO homepage..

The following changes that have been communicated by groups for schedule changes due to location, conflicts on and around major holidays, or weather.  However, the information may be incomplete or subject to change.  Please check back for updates. 

• Thurs 3/19 and 4/9/20 – Allentown family group meetings cancelled due to church activities.
• Effective immediately, the Thursday Bethlehem group (at Oasis Center) has disbanded.
• Starting Mar 3, Easton group has a new meeting location. Bethel Memorial Baptist Church  715 Chestnut Lane, Easton Pa 18045
• Starting Feb 4, a new Family group meeting has opened in Honey Brook, PA (Chester County). Meets 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays at 7 pm. Honey Brook Presbyterian Church, 4331 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, PA. Second floor in prayer chapel.
• Wallingford Friday Narateen has disbanded due to lack of attendance.
• Starting Wed, March 4, Doylestown will move to a new location: Peace Valley Recovery Center, 5230 York Rd., Doylestown, PA    Take stairs to 2nd floor entrance, back of building. No handicap access.  Overflow parking available next door.
• Tamaqua has a new time: 7-8:15 pm.
• Starting December 12, Jonestown start time moves 30 min earlier to 6:30 pm.
• Nazareth is temporarily on hold while looking for a new location.

---

 Anniversaries:  Go to SPECIAL EVENTS tab for details . . .

• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Tuesday, March 17 – Coopersburg FIRST anniversary – Food 6:30 pm; speaker meeting 7 pm
• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Saturday, March 28 – Havertown anniversary – Food 3 pm; speaker meeting 4 pm
• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Tuesday, March 31 – West Chester anniversary – food 6 pm; speaker meeting 7 pm TBA
• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Tues, April 21 – Torresdale anniversary – Save the date TBA
• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Tues, April 28 – Fleetwood anniversary – 6-9 pm - Details schedule can be found here.
• CANCELLED - Tuesday, May 12 – Lansdale 17th anniversary – 6:00 pm - Details schedule can be found here.
• CANCELLED - Tuesday, May 19 – Newtown Anniversary - Save the date.  Check back for details.
• Wednesday, June 17 – Doylestown anniversary – Food 6PM; speakers 6:30PM.  Reminder, Doylestown's new location effective March 4th is Peace Valley Recovery Center - (map).
• Wednesday, June 24 – Elkins Park anniversary - Save the date.
• POSTPONED - new date TBD - Thurs, June 25 – Phoenixville anniversary – Food 6PM; speakers 7PM

Key Events:

• East Coast Convention 7 – POSTPONED TO SEPT 25-27, 2020 - Wyndham Garden Hotel Philadelphia Airport - 45 Industrial Hwy, Essington, PA 19029 
• For the latest updates and links to register, hotel and volunteer signups, check out the ECC7 Convention page here.

New Nar-Anon meetings - All are welcome:

---

Service Meetings:

March 15th is the deadline to send CAR voting results to region secretary (Eileen F.).

• Area 3:   TBA
• Area 10: TBA
• Area 11: No information
• Area 22: 2/23, 5/17, 8/23, 11/15
• Area 25:  1/25
• Area 27: 1/6, 3/2, 5/4, 7/6, 9/14, 11/2

Quarterly WSO Outreach roundtable sessions. 12 NOON EST on SKYPE Fourth Sundays of January, April, July, October.

ECC7 planning meeting Jan 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM – on SKYPE

RSC Zoom meeting Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 8:30 AM. On Zoom.

October 3, 2020 – Tentative date for annual region assembly – all GSRs – on Zoom. 

Special Note to GSRs

SPECIAL NOTE TO:  GSRs and others in service in the Eastern PA Region of Nar-Anon

From: The Eastern PA Regional Service Committee

Re: Covid-19 Pandemic

Date:  4-6-20

 

Many facilities where Nar-Anon groups meet have closed their doors in efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in our communities.  Some groups are creating contingency/ alternate plans for the time period they will not be able to meet face to face. The Eastern PA regional service committee held an emergency Skype meeting on Saturday, April 4, 2020 to discuss ways to support our groups at this time.  The following suggestions are from the RSC.

 

1.     Digital/ phone/ online meetings are a wonderful option. Many options exist and tradition 6 states that we do not endorse any outside enterprise.  That being said—some examples are:  Facetime,  Skype,  www.freeconferencecall.com, www.zoom.com.   

 

2.     If your group is holding digital meetings, please continue to keep your meeting healthy by following the guidelines and traditions as you would in an in-person meeting.  Anonymity, no crosstalk, no outside literature, etc.  The Guide to Local Services 2018 is a valuable reference and includes a sample meeting format in chapter 3.  Obtain free pdf copy of the GLS and other useful service literature at this link.  https://www.nar-anon.org/service-literature

 

3.     The RSC  researched as much as possible and discussed at length the benefits and safety of digital meetings. Recently the FBI has issued warnings to the public about the risks posed by computer hackers/ outsiders gaining access to various online meetings where access links have been shared in public ways (social media posts, websites, etc.)  The RSC voted unanimously that at this time NO ACCESS LINKS OR PASSWORDS FOR DIGITAL MEETINGS WILL BE POSTED ON OUR REGION WEBSITE (www.naranonepa.org ). The information can be shared with trusted members via email, phone, and word of mouth.  But our website is public (available to the world.)  Therefore, the region will not be posting access links online.  If you are having digital meetings, please educate yourself on safety.  Here is an informative article on “Zoom Meeting Safety Tips.”

https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/20/keep-uninvited-guests-out-of-your-zoom-event/

 

4.     You may request for the EPA region to post on the website the news that your group is having digital meetings, but it is not required.  The best way to learn how to access any meeting is to use your GSR list and contact the meeting’s GSR and ask to be invited to the digital meeting.  Region service people receive the GSR list from the region secretary.  The GSR list is for exactly this type of service communication but the list is NOT TO BE POSTED ONLINE OR SHARED WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 

 

5.     Members and newcomers may use the Nar-Anon Family Groups Forum for support.  This online forum has been available to the world for many years and was created and supported by AREA 10.  There are many different topics that are discussed in detail. Plus, there are also online meetings.   After you Register – Login, you can participate in topic discussions and attend the online meetings.  http://www.naranon.com/forum/

NAR-ANON shares Experience, Strength & HOPE . . .

for FAMILY MEMBER's or FRIEND's of addicts.

Come, "Find a Meeting".  

In the NAR-ANON program, we learn that drug addiction is a disease that we are not responsible for.  The drug user needs help and so do we.  We discovered many of our efforts to control or change the situation were often actually enabling or encouraging this person to continue a self-destructive pattern.  It has been a great relief to learn more effective ways of coping with this situation, while at the same time gaining some peace of mind, hope, and help for a better way to live.

You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery.

NAR-ANON can bring new insight about our attitudes, behavior and emotions.  It can be the source for regaining our own sanity and well-being.  We learn that addiction is a family disease and we need recovery too.

There are no charges or obligations as NAR-ANON is a non-profit organization.  We are not affiliated with any treatment program or hospitals and do not discriminate about any persons race, creed, sexual orientation, religion or lack of religion.  The weekly meetings are held regularly throughout the year.  Your attendance is welcomed without prior arrangements.  You will not be urged to participate in the group discussions, but may join in if you wish or ask questions before and after the meeting.

We do UNDERSTAND how you feel. 

To locate a meeting in your area, go to our web page at . . .

"Find a Meeting" and bring a friend.