"INDEPENDENCE" DAY
We so often think of the price of freedom in terms of the costs incurred in the fight to achieve it: from the agony of debate in reaching the resolve to act to the suffering undergone in the fight to bring it to pass. And it is right and proper that we honor these extraordinary efforts. Sometimes, however, our focus upon these allow us to take our eyes away from the costs of sustaining our hard-won independence. These are times when such inattention harbors very real risks. We cannot but see this in the world of government as the principle of due process is eroded from so many fronts. And we cannot but see this in the mission of Road2RecoveryCNY.
Freedom from addiction is not an episode in one's life--like a battle "won and done". It is a new way of life--a way of life that can be both alien and frightening while, at the same time, hopelessly banal and uninspiring. Embracing a life of sobriety after an immersion in addiction can bring one to question one's very meaning. The challenge of sobriety is not only to be met in the jaws of detox or even the new-world of sober-living. The challenge of sobriety is to be met in each day's awakening, each night out on the town, each time the question arises anew and out of the blue. Most painfully of all, it lies in the awakening of relapse and the realization that it all has to start over again!
We of Road2RecoveryCNY must recommit ourselves to the understanding that treatment is but the beginning of sobriety while sobriety is forever. Like mourning, it's after the friends and family have all gone home, the casserole dishes washed and returned, that the real business sets in.
|
|
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDERS:
|
|
Closing the Gap
When we read about the opioid epidemic it is easy to feel that the problem is too big or too complicated for us to do anything about it. Maybe that’s because we are looking at it from too far away. When we step in and close the gap between us and “them” we start to see the problem from the perspective of the individual. Rather than trying to solve the whole problem we find ways to help that person recover. Maybe it’s just offering a ride to someone to get to their outpatient program or methadone clinic. Maybe it’s hiring someone in recovery who has a jail record. Or maybe it’s standing up to people who spread the stigma of hatred and judgment toward those with addiction. We can’t end the epidemic by ourselves but we can do something today to help someone struggling to get h/his life back.
What actions do you take to help? I’d love to hear from you!
Darlene
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS:
(
Check Your Calendars!)
|
|
- JULY VOLUNTEER MEETING
- JULY 9, 2019
- MILL RUN PARK, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., MANLIUS, NY
- 6:30pm
- SHOW MAP
- CONTACT COLLEEN
- R2RCNY'S FIRST ANNUAL SUMMER JAM
- SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2019
- 11:00am-2:00pm
- MAXWELL PARK, 6547 BADGLEY ROAD, EAST SYRACUSE, NY
- SHOW MAP
- CONTACT AMANDA
- ONONDAGA CYCLING CLUB CHARITY RIDE: R2RCNY will be the event's "Chosen Charity"
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2019.
- FROM CARPENTER'S BROOK (MARCELLUS) TO RUDY'S (OSWEGO) 50 MILE RIDE
- CONTACT DARLENE
- JULY BOARD MEETING
- JULY 16, 2019
- 5:00pm
- CNYFUND MARCELLUS ROOM
- R2RCNY'S FIRST ANNUAL GARAGE SALE
- AUGUST 24, 2019
- 7:30a.m.-1:00p.m.
- DETAILS FORTHCOMING
- CONTACT BARB
- R2RCNY'S THIRD FAMILY RECOVERY PROGRAM
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
- CENTER OF GRACE WELLNESS CENTER, 8219 MARKET PLACE (Building #10), MANLIUS, NY
- SHOW MAP
- TICKETS BY EVENTBRITE
- CONTACT DARLENE
- CELESTE WELLS MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2019
- STONE CREEK GOLD CLUB, 229 State Route 104A, Oswego, NY
- SHOW MAP
- SETTING THE STAGE
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2019, 6:30pm-10:00pm
- RED HOUSE ARTS CENTER, 400 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY
- SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
- CONTACT SUE
- R2RCNY'S SECOND ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT
- NOVEMBER 22, 2019
- MAY MEMORIAL UNITARIAN CHURCH, 3800 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY
- DETAILS FORTHCOMING
- CONTACT TERRY OR ROB
|
|
DON'T FORGET!!
OUR NEXT VOLUNTEER MEETING
JULY 9, 2019, 6:30pm
MILL RUN PARK
PLEASE COME!
Colleen has sent out her Volunteer Meeting Minutes for the month of June. In case you were unable to see her notes or would like to revisit them you can access this report
HERE
.
As she has spelled out in this report we have a handful of PRESSING VOLUNTEER NEEDS for our various events in the coming weeks. I reiterate these below and ask everyone to do what they can to support the cause:
- We still need volunteers to help out on our Summer Jam. More importantly, we need folks to come out, share in the enthusiasm of the event, and show our support!
- We need volunteers to staff "water stations" at the Onondaga Race for Charity and to help out on the BBQ that follows. It is such an honor to be chosen as the charity recipient and we are most grateful to Alex for spearheading this possibility. Is anyone interested in starting up our own "team entry"?
- People should be thinking about how they can support the garage sale! We will need contributions and folks to help set up and staff the event.
- One of our most pressing needs is to SELL TICKETS to our theater event at the Red House Art Center. This event is extremely important and the challenge to sell these tickets is very real. Please contact SUE to get your set!
- We will be hosting a table at the Community Education and Family Night in Baldwinsville at the Community Wesleyan Church on Down Street. The event begins at 6:30pm. Please contact COLLEEN if you can help!
- And remember, please! We ALWAYS need new volunteers. One of the ways people can support R2RCNY is to bring new people on board! Any friends or family you can think of??
|
|
NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
|
|
- Please consider contributing to our garage sale. It is a great way to cull your "stuff" and serve a wonderful cause--all in a stroke!
- We are pleased to report that our funding efforts through our Facebook page have been remarkably successful. People have used all sorts of reasons for setting up funding events on our page and we are most grateful! Perhaps you too might wish to set up a birthday celebration or some other event as a reason to fundraise on our behalf!
- Everyone is encouraged to sign on to their Amazon accounts using AMAZON SMILE. If you have not done so it is so easy to do so--and an easy way to support the cause!
- It is impossible to overstate the funding needs we face--both immediate and long-term. We are SORRY to be continually knocking on people's doors and appreciate that it is often the same folks who are always being asked. As you read through this newsletter PLEASE give a special thought to how you might be able to step up and help in our efforts. We are so grateful to so many for so much and yet the need grows with each moment of our success!
- Again, our most enthusiastic welcome to our interns--Montana and Mike! We are so very grateful for having them with us and look forward to their contributions to our work going forward.
|
|
- The meeting was held on June 19, 2019, in the Marcellus Room at CNYFund
- Minutes (submitted by Terry Flower) approved
- Financial Report (Karen Ayoub)
- Discussion of determining the balance between recipient readiness and financial means
- On the matter of expanding Board membership
- Status of Board Treasurer and Sectary
- Founding members
- New Members
- Nominating Committee formed: Alex, Barry, Darlene, Tim
- Discussion of strategic plan for nominating and selecting new members.
- Discussion of primary needs of CEO.
- Bylaws Moved and Passed
- Event Review
- Discussion of future of Jefferson Dinners
|
|
Entering treatment in Austin
|
|
Living in a sober home-Austin.
|
|
In an outpatient program in Syracuse
|
|
Working full-time --Austin
|
|
Starting to work at Infinite Recovery - Austin
|
|
Starting to work at Recovery Unplugged - Austin
|
|
In an outpatient program - Syracuse
|
|
Looking for work - Austin
|
|
Works for BRC and has started modeling - Austin
|
|
|
|
|
Just moved into sober living-- Austin
|
|
Working full-time - Austin
|
|
GoFundMe campaign (Don't forget!)
Now it's even easier to donate to help save lives. Just click on the Go Fund Me words below. Be sure to share the link with all your friends and contacts! Our goal is to raise $25,000, enough to pay for 90 days of
treatment, 90 days of sober living, and 90 days of sober coaching, plus airfare, prescriptions, etc. for one person. That's six months of care, after which recipients are working and self-supporting.
|
|
Donate Your Bottles & Cans
|
|
Be sure to remember to drop off your bags of deposit bottles/cans (with Road2RecoveryCNY written on the side) at:
F-M Returnables at 202 West Seneca Street in Manlius.
315-682-4830
or
Central City Bottle Redemption, 224 Chapel Drive, Syracuse (Fairmount), NY 13219
Every dollar helps us send people to lifesaving treatment!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
