📢 Organization Update – Please Read

🎯 Where we at?

Over the last 6 months, our Alumni group has gone through many changes. Some of you are already aware: we’ve transitioned from being part of Searidge/Heritage’s aftercare program to a stand-alone group.

While our meeting formats have stayed mostly the same, there’s been a lot happening behind the scenes—and more to come. 🌱 In the spirit of transparency, the facilitator management team would like to share where we are, where we’re going, and what’s next.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please write to this email address [email protected] or directly to a facilitator of your choosing.

🎤 Facilitators

• All current facilitators have completed SMART Recovery facilitator training.

• Any new facilitators joining the team will also need this training.

• This ensures our meetings remain safe, confidential, and recovery-focused, always centered around SMART tools.

👉 Current trained facilitators: Ev, Megs, Morgan, Eric, and Warren.
Other members are completing training and will be introduced as co-hosts or hosts (always shadowed by a trained facilitator).

🗓️ Meetings

• Our goal remains to provide as many meetings as possible.

• However, only meetings hosted by credentialed facilitators will be promoted and supported by the group.

• This doesn’t mean we don’t support other fellowship meetings—but we want to clearly distinguish Alumni Recovery meetings from outside or social meetings.

🏛️ Organization

• Over the past year, we’ve evolved into an independent recovery support group, bridging SMART and NA models, with the evidence-based framework of Substance Use Disorder.

• We do support All Recovery Programs, but our structure and material are evolving based on Addiction Science and aligned with our Community Guidelines, reflecting our format and vison.

• All addicts, either in recovery or contemplating recovery, are welcome in our open meetings, regardless of a respective program.

• Our membership has now expanded beyond Searidge and Heritage alumni, growing from our Public Support Groups.

✨ This is exciting! What we have built is unique and special. Our larger goal is to grow, improve, and become more organized—together.

We also feel it may be time to consider revisit the name “the Alumni,” As our identity continues to broaden and mature, we’ll be inviting input from everyone in the coming months about who we are, what we do, and where we’re headed.

🚀 What’s Next?

In the short term, here’s what you’ll notice:

• 📅 A new meeting schedule will be sent out, clearly identifying Alumni-facilitated meetings. —> 🔐PRIVATE  —> 🌍PUBLIC

• 🔗 New permanent meeting links will be created and emailed (Always up-to-date on the website and the emails when you need them)

• 💡 You may see occasional pop-up meetings from our volunteers.

• 📰 This email is our first Official Newsletter. More updates will follow.

• 🎥 Meetings & Using: Anyone who has used before a meeting is always welcome, but we ask that you keep camera and mic off, and just listen.

• 🤝 Fellowship: We believe strongly in fellowship—but fellowship in service of recovery. Friendships and personal relationships should be kept outside meeting rooms and chats.

💙 Final Thoughts

We hope this doesn’t cause stress or anxiety. Nothing drastic is changing—our focus is simply on strengthening who we are and why we do this.

At the heart of it all, our purpose remains simple:
We are here to talk about recovery. That’s it. That’s why we exist.

If you have concerns, please reach out to [email protected] or directly to a facilitator of your choosing.

 Facilitators will not be addressing this in meetings until the groundwork is complete.

Thank you for being part of this.

Together, we are truly:
Addicts Helping Addicts. 🙌

With care,
The Facilitator Team