With Eco-Recovery for Women I make every attempt to add new material,
encourage women to utilize critical thinking skills and to connect at
an intimate level when they feel safe in doing so.

If I was to place anything at the top of a personal gratitude list it
would be those who are open and free with what is available and
willing to offer me information. Thanks, Don, Sue, Jim Christopher,
Charlotte Kasl and those involved with the therapeutic community.

I am in disagreement with the moderator of WFS locally and need to
distance myself from this particular meeting and it's moderator.

This particular meeting does not have meeting guidelines, (which I
have suggested). The leader is a former school teacher, presents
material as if she is working from a syllabus, and advises women
throughout the meeting. I am vocal, (no surprise), and this does not
fit her style which is a, "need for classroom management," and
a, "cheerleader approach to sobriety."

In her absence I moderated the group three times. I asked the
group, "What would you like to discuss, topics, literature, etc.?

The group consensus was topics. This has not been done. There are
other disagreements I have, but I will leave these at a personal
level. Without my presence and unless the moderator changes both her
style, and add meeting guidelines the group will be challenged again.

I truly enjoyed reading that Charlotte Kasl confronted Jean
Kirkpatrick, and that I too have a voice and confront WFS. Mixed
messages are not healthy. Teaching women to be empowered, while
stating at the same time they must conform is not healthy.

I led an alanon meeting in my home several years ago, utilizing the
book, Paths to Recovery. We worked on one step per week. Six women
in the group, all felt the freedom in which to share and critique the
material. The consensus after 12 weeks was that it was, "poorly
written and of little value."

The Eco-Recovery meetings in my home have been small, but with the
exception of one meeting in which unsolicted advice was given, I am
told women enjoy themselves and the freedom of process.

Beth