VolunteerCONNECTION - November 2024

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Subject: VolunteerCONNECTION - November 2024

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As we approach the end of another remarkable year, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for all you do to make SMART Recovery a thriving, supportive community. Your dedication to empowering participants and fostering intentional spaces for recovery and personal growth is truly inspiring.

The holiday season can be a challenging time for many, and your unwavering commitment to hosting meetings, providing guidance, and supporting participants is a meaningful contribution to our shared mission. Thank you for sharing your time, energy, and compassion—you make an incredible difference every day.

With your passion and support, we’re ready to step into 2025, building on the successes of this past year.

With gratitude,

Director of Meetings and Volunteers

Reminders

Plan for Holiday Schedule Changes

The holiday season is a busy time for everyone, and it’s important to make sure participants have the most up-to-date information about your meetings. If your meeting schedule will be impacted—whether canceled or rescheduled—we kindly ask that you update your listing. This helps participants plan ahead and ensures no one is left without support during this season.

You don’t need to wait to add a cancellation note! Cancellation notices can be added at any time and will automatically appear on SMARTfinder for the week the meeting is canceled.

If you are changing the day or time of your meeting to accommodate holiday schedules, please reach out to VolunteerHQ@smartrecovery.org for guidance.

Updating your meeting is simple:

Find Your Meeting on SMARTfinder: Visit SMARTfinder and search for your meeting.
Access Meeting Details: Click on your meeting to view its full information.
Request Changes: Under the "Facilitators" section, click on "Request changes to your meeting."
Make Your Updates: Add any necessary changes, such as cancellation notices or rescheduled times.
Verify Changes: Check your email for a verification link to confirm the updates.

For more detailed guidance, check out our step-by-step instructions on the Register and Update Your SMART Recovery Meeting page.

Your help in keeping meeting information current makes a big difference to participants seeking support. Thank you for all you do to create a welcoming and reliable space for recovery—even during the holidays!

Announcements

Expanding SMART's Reach With The Phoenix App

We’re excited to share our growing partnership with The Phoenix—a collaboration designed to increase the visibility and accessibility of SMART Recovery meetings. By listing your in-person SMART Recovery meeting on The Phoenix App, you’ll connect with nearby community members actively seeking support.

Keep an eye on your inbox for an email with detailed instructions on how to get started. Together, we’re expanding access to recovery resources and building new connections within our communities.

If you have questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Melina at mgilbert@smartrecovery.org.

Join the SMART Recovery Book Club!

Dive into Undoing Drugs by Maia Szalavitz, a groundbreaking exploration of harm reduction and its role in transforming addiction recovery. Open to all facilitators and facilitators-in-training, this interactive book club will deepen your understanding of harm reduction principles, challenge biases, and inspire more inclusive meeting spaces.

🗓 Date: Monday, January 27, 2025, 8:30 PM ET

📍 Where: Zoom (Register here!)

🔍 Learn More: Click here!

Let’s connect, learn, and grow as a SMART Recovery community

Updated Handbooks and Resources Coming Soon!

Updated versions of the 4-Point and Family & Friends Participant Handbooks are nearly complete! These revisions make SMART Recovery more inclusive, featuring language that’s easier to understand and examples that reflect a broader range of experiences. The updated handbooks are designed to empower participants as they work toward their recovery goals, and we’re excited to share them with you.

If you are listed as a facilitator for a SMART Recovery meeting, keep an eye on your email for information about how to receive an advanced copy of the new handbook.

There will also be updates to the 4-Point and Family & Friends Facilitator Manuals, as well as new training to be rolled out on an improved platform in 2025. More details on these resources will be shared soon!

Holiday Changes to Volunteer Support Meetings

As we head into the holiday season, we want to let you know about some temporary changes to our daytime training and support meetings:

November 25–29: Daytime meetings will be paused during Thanksgiving week.
December 23–January 3: Daytime meetings will also be paused for the winter holidays.

This time of year offers a chance to pause, reflect, and recharge, and we hope you find moments to enjoy the season as we will.

Evening support meetings will continue as planned unless otherwise noted. Any cancellations for evening meetings will be posted, so we encourage you to access these meetings through the Facilitator Support Meetings page in VolunteerHQ to view the most up-to-date information.

If you have any questions or need assistance during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at volunteerhq@smartrecovery.org.

Events & Opportunities

New Year's Eve Around the World

Join us as we celebrate recovery and connection with our annual New Year’s Eve Around the World event! On December 31, SMART Recovery affiliates from across the globe will come together to host a series of online meetings and activities to welcome 2025.

Here’s what you can expect:

Global Connections: Participate in meetings and events hosted by SMART Recovery affiliates worldwide.
24 Hours of Celebration: Engage in recovery-focused activities and support as the New Year reaches different time zones.
Celebrate Together: Be part of a worldwide community celebrating growth, resilience, and recovery.

More details, including the schedule of events, will be shared soon. For now, mark your calendar for this exciting opportunity to kick off the New Year with SMART Recovery!

Learn and Connect

We’re sharing this event because we know that some of our volunteers are very passionate about supporting youth struggling with addictive behaviors.

The 2025 Joint Meeting on Youth Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery will take place March 18-20, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, MD.

This national conference focuses on substance use prevention, early intervention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery for youth and young adults. It’s a great opportunity to learn, connect, and explore ways to support young people.

Learn More and Register:
Visit youthrecoveryanswers.org/conference-registration-2025 for all the details, including how to register.

Submit Your Group Donations
to SMART Recovery

Your group donations to SMART Recovery help empower individuals nationwide with tools and communities to reduce or resolve any addictive behavior. After you've covered any local rent or supply expenses, please send the surplus to the National Office. These funds are important to our ongoing support of meetings and volunteers nationally.

Submit Your Group Donation

Final Thoughts

As we approach the end of the year, we want to take another moment to thank you for your incredible dedication and support. Your efforts make a profound impact on the lives of participants and the broader recovery community.

If you have any questions, ideas, or need assistance, please email us at volunteerHQ@smartrecovery.org. Together, we’re making recovery accessible, inclusive, and empowering for everyone.

SMART Recovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Subject: VolunteerCONNECTION - November 2024