Living Large Summer 2016

Living LargeJUNE/JULY 2016DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN RECOVERY
A PUBLICATION OF RECOVERY ALLIES OF WEST MICHIGAN
“The roads to recovery are many
and that the resolution of alcoholism by any method should be
a cause for celebration by A.A. members.” – Bill Wilson, 1944
Recovery Allies recognizes that there are many
pathways to recovery. Below are some that we
know of. One way to advocate is to start one in
your community!!
Some of the many pathways
n Alcoholics Anonymous – www.aa.org
n Narcotics Anonymous – www.NA.org
n Al-Anon – www.ola-is.org
n Other A’s
n Women in Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.org
n Men for Sobriety – www.womenforsobriety.org
n Rational Recovery – www.rational.org
n Moderation Management – www.moderation.org
n HAMS – Harm Reduction Abstinence and Moderation
Support – http://hamsnetwork.org
n White Bison – www.whitebison.org
n S.O.S Secular Organization for Sobriety –
www.sossobriety.org
n Life Ring – www.unhooked.com
n SMART Recovery: Self-Management and Recovery
Training-www.smartrecovery.org
n Celebrate Recovery – www.celebraterecovery.com
n HAHA – Health and Healing Advocate's
n Pagans for Sobriety
n All Recovery
n Refuge Recovery
Online Resources
n Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration
(SAMHSA) – www.samhsa.gov
n U.S. Department of Health and Human Services –
www.hhs.gov
n National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) –
www.drugabuse.gov
n 24/7 Help Yourself – www.24/7helpyourself.com
n Sober Recovery – www.soberrecovery.com
n Cyber Recovery – www.cyberrecovery.net
n Addiction Tribe – www.addictiontribe.net
If there are many pathways to addiction, there must be many
pathways to recovery. I started drinking for the same reasons
everyone else did, but it just didn’t work out for me. So wheth-
er or not you believed addiction is a disease- you knew it wasn’t
working out for you. What did you do about it? How did you
quit?
We are about to introduce an idea that requires a bit of a per-
spective change, a paradigm shift if you will. If I started drink-
ing for the same reasons everyone else drank and it didn’t work
out for me, does that mean I have the genetic predisposition for
addiction? Or does it mean it is likely I was abused, neglect-
ed or otherwise traumatized? Or does it simply mean that I
had some life stressors at that point which caused my drink-
ing to get “out of control”? So the answer is “maybe” to all of
that. Some of us identify with the group of people in recovery
that believe it’s a life long journey and that “I will always be an
alcoholic or addict”. Others do not. There is a group of people
in recovery that say that the very idea of saying “I’m an alco-
holic” is unnecessary and not helpful. This demonstrates that
there are many groups of people in recovery with like-minded
goals but with differing approaches. We hear of many different
recovery stories. All should be told and all should be heard.
Recovery Allies trains recovery coaches. One of the things in
particular that we focus on is being aware of and understanding
different pathways. On day three of the Recovery Coach Acad-
emy we spend three hours discussing this topic. After a few
trainings we realized something. We looked around and said
“where are they?” We realized we had an opportunity to help
grow this aspect of recovery supports.
This is not in response to AA being effective for only a certain
percentage of people. Lets just say the percentage is somewhere
near 30% (the % is not the important part here so bear with
me). No one pathway boasts much more- if any more. This is
in hopes of creating more mutual aid groups that have a similar
success rate. Imagine if we had five mutual aid groups that had
30%? Imagine how many people would be grateful for addi-
tional options in the quest to get well.
One more benefit of starting more mutual aid support groups
is on the advocacy front. When not bound by traditions that
keep us from talking about addiction recovery, we can create an
advocacy base that can dramatically influence things like poli-
cy, stigma, and marketing (we have a bit of a problem with the
million’s of dollars the beer industry spends on marketing their
product to the young and poor. Have you seen the advertise-
ment for Natural Lite that says “family pack”? ).
This issue is dedicated to pathways. You’ll find information
about a few of the pathways our readers have shared as well as
mutual aid groups from across the nation and cultures.
Recovery Allies is happy to report to our community that we
have received a grant from the State’s Office of Recovery Ori-
ented System of Care (OROSC) to start additional mutual aid
support groups. We have been tasked with starting meetings
“other than A’s” in a 15 county region from Coldwater, to Ben-
ton Harbor to Ludington. The goal is to start the meetings,
market the meetings to treatment centers, courts, the recovery
community and other places that want additional options to
recommend to someone seeking support in recovery. We have
until September 30th to help start them and hand them off to
the communities. If you are interested in helping with the proj-
ect please contact us. Without you this won’t happen!
Again, this is not about one pathway not working; it’s about
offering choices. Those that have great affection for Alcoholics
Anonymous will be happy to know that about 40% of those that
report using a different pathway, report also using AA. And to
address one more question I have been asked about LifeRing
specifically; LifeRing is not anti God, just like Weight Watchers
is not anti God. Again it’s about choices.
We think the time is right for this. The North Alano Club of Kent
County is demonstrating that. We have included the meeting
list for the club in this issue. Note the category “other”. The
fact that individuals in Grand Rapids that are very loyal and
passionate about the 12 steps, are embracing “other” pathways,
under the same roof, is incredible. We are very fortunate.
I might be overstepping here, but I think it is just the way Bill
Wilson (let’s not forget DrBob…) would want it!
CHOICES IN RECOVERY?
W H AT I S A R E C O V E RY C O M M U N I T Y O R G A N I Z AT I O N ?
Recovery Allies is a grass roots organization that is for the people, by the people. We are considered a “peer run organization” and have 501 c3 nonprofit status. We are
funded by individuals and families affected by addiction, by private philanthropy and grants issued by the state for peer run organizations as well as various other organi-
zations that want to see change. We are one of over 95 in the nation at this time and have taken many cues from those that have been doing it for a long time. We Advocate,
Celebrate and Educate (ACE). The national RCO Faces and Voices of Recovery have this on their web site: “Recovery community organizations (RCOs) are the heart and
soul of the recovery movement. In the last ten years, RCOs have proliferated throughout the US. They are demonstrating leadership in their towns, cities and states as well
as on the national landscape. They have become major hubs for recovery-focused policy advocacy activities, carrying out recovery-focused community education and
outreach programs, and becoming players in systems change initiatives. Many are also providing peer-based recovery support services. RCOs share a recovery vision,
authenticity of voice and are independent, serving as a bridge between diverse communities of recovery, the addiction treatment community, governmental agencies, the
criminal justice system, the larger network of health and human services providers and systems and the broader recovery support resources of the extended community.”
September 17th
Ah-Nab-Awen Park
~ Volunteer Now ~
SAVE THE DATE!
r p
10th
Annual Recovery Palo
oza!

JUNE/JULY 2016 n Living Large2
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY
HEALTH FIRST STEP HOUSE –
WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Rose Simmons
Phone: 616-452-3226 Ext. 3037
MailingAddress: 904 SheldonAve. SE
E-mail: rsimmons@umchousegr.org
Website: umchousegr.org
HomeAddress: 922 SheldonAve. SE
HOUSE OF BLESSINGS –
WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Shellie Cole-Mickens
Phone: 616-634-1972
Address: 938 Humbolt Street Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
918 Hall Street Southeast
NEXT PHASE – WOMAN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616-450-0686
Address: 368 SenoraAve Southeast
SACRED BEGINNINGS –
WOMAN’S HOMES
Contact: Leslie King
Phone: 616-890-8278
HomeAddress: 1165 Hermitage SE
1366 Elliott SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Website: www.sbtp.org
STEP FORWARD RECOVERY HOMES
Address: GrandvilleArea
Contact: Jo Ringnalda
Phone: 616-662-0881
THE COMFORT HOME
Address: South East Grand Rapids area
Contact: Ron and Laurie DeBose
Phone: 616-459-1930
MY SISTER’S HOUSE
(WOMEN IN RECOVERY)
Address:761 Bridge Street NW
Phone: 616-235-0223
RECOVERY ROAD LLC –
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S HOMES
ContactWomen: Brooke Bouman
Phone: 616-710-6956
ContactWomen: Scott Borough
Contact: 616-644-7956
MailingAddress: 961Alpine NW
E-mail: marvin@recoveryroadllc.com
Website: recoveryroadllc.com
HomeAddress: 961Alpine NW
3036 Perry SWWyoming MI 49519
NEXT PHASE RECOVERY –
MEN’S HOME
Contact: Freddy Martin
Phone: 616-450-0686
Address: 1145Alexander SE
FAITH CHARITY RECOVERY CENTER –
COUPLES HOME
Address: 2219 HortonAve SE
Contact: Dan or ZoeAnn
Phone: 616-247-4744 or 616-808-5106
BUILDING MEN FOR LIFE
Address: Ottawa County
Contact: JeffVantrees
Phone: 616-795-9969
TOUCHSTONE RECOVERY
Address: 1328 MaplerowAve NW
Contact: Kevin & Catherine O’Hare
Phone:616-250-8056 Cell:616-309-3091
PINE REST JELLEMA HOUSE
Contact: Derrick Jackson
Phone: 616-222-6861
MailingAddress: 523 Lyon Street
GRAND RECOVERY
Address: PO Box 1060, Grand Rapids, MI
Contact: Sanford Cummings
Phone: 616-516-6537
RECOVERY RESIDENCES
Women For Sobriety, Inc. is a non-profit
organization dedicated to helping women
overcome alcoholism and other addictions. It is,
in fact, the first national self-help program for
women alcoholics. Our “New Life” Program helps
achieve sobriety and sustain ongoing recovery.
WFS has been providing services to women
alcoholics since July, 1976. The WFS “New Life”
Program grew out of one woman’s search for
sobriety.
WFS self-help groups are found all across
this country and abroad. Based upon a Thirteen
Statement Program of positivity that encourages
emotional and spiritual growth, the “New Life”
Program has been extremely effective in helping
women overcome their addictions and embrace
a new positive lifestyle. For additional support,
subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Sobering
Thoughts, which is available free electronically
through our Email Updates Service.
Jean’s Bio
Dr. Jean Kirkpatrick couldn’t cope with
the fact that she was the first woman
to receive the Fels Fellowship award at
the University of Pennsylvania, so she
went out and got drunk. Fearing that a
mistake had been made and the funds
to write her doctoral dissertation would
be taken away, Dr. Kirkpatrick broke 3
years of sobriety with a drunk that lasted
13 years.
In Turnabout: New Help For The Woman Alcoholic, Jean
Kirkpatrick describes these years, the self-destruction and how
she finally was able to stop drinking.
With her own sobriety established by methods other than
the traditional AA Program, Dr. Kirkpatrick formed the
organization and Program, Women for Sobriety, Inc. in 1975
and has since devoted her life to helping women alcoholics.
WFS “New Life” Acceptance Program
1. I have a life-threatening problem that once had
me. I now take charge of my life and my disease.
I accept the responsibility.
2. Negative thoughts destroy only myself. My first
conscious sober act must be to remove
negativity from my life.
3. Happiness is a habit I will develop. Happiness is
created, not waited for.
4. Problems bother me only to the degree I permit
them to. I now better understand my problems
and do not permit problems to overwhelm me.
5. I am what I think. I am a capable, competent,
caring, compassionate woman.
6. Life can be ordinary or it can be great. Greatness
is mine by a conscious effort.
7. Love can change the course of my world. Caring
becomes all important.
8. The fundamental object of life is emotional
and spiritual growth. Daily I put my life into a
proper order, knowing which are the priorities.
9. The past is gone forever. No longer will I be
victimized by the past. I am a new person.
10. All love given returns. I will learn to know that
others love me.
11. Enthusiasm is my daily exercise. I treasure all
moments of my new life.
12. I am a competent woman and have much to
give life. This is what I am and I shall know it
always.
13. I am responsible for myself and for my actions.
I am in charge of my mind, my thoughts, and
my life.
To make the Program effective for you, arise each morning
fifteen minutes earlier than usual and go over the Thirteen
Affirmations. Then begin to think about each one by itself.
Take one Statement and use it consciously all day. At the end
of the day review the use of it and what effects it had that day
for you and your actions.
What is LifeRing?
LifeRing Secular Recovery is an absti-
nence-based, worldwide network of individu-
als seeking to live in recovery from addiction
to alcohol or to other non-medically indicated
drugs. In LifeRing, we offer each other peer-to-
peer support in ways that encourage personal
growth and continued learning through per-
sonal empowerment. Our approach is based
on developing, refining, and sharing our own
personal strategies for continued abstinence
and crafting a rewarding life in recovery. In
short, we are sober, secular, and self-directed.
Our Approach
• Teaches self-empowerment and self-reliance.
• Provides meetings that are educational, supportive and include open discussions.
• Encourages individuals to recover from addiction and alcohol abuse and live satisfying lives.
• Teaches techniques for self-directed change.
• Supports the scientifically informed use of psychological treatments and legally prescribed
psychiatric and addiction medication.
• Works on substance abuse, alcohol abuse, addiction and drug abuse as complex maladaptive
behaviors with possible physiological factors.
• Evolves as scientific knowledge in addiction recovery evolves.
• Differs from Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and other 12-step programs.
Self-Management for Addiction Recovery

Living Large n JUNE/JULY 2016 3
Every week I am contacted by people dealing with problems created by their gam-
bling. Most of them have lost everything and are trying to figure out what hap-
pened to their lives. All are in deep financial trouble and many are facing criminal
charges. Some are contemplating suicide. Compulsive gambling has the highest
suicide rate of all addictions. There are two reasons which allow the gambler to
get so lost in his addiction. First, compulsive gambling is known as the hidden
addiction. There are no outward manifestations. There is no odor, no staggering,
no slurred speech. People do not realize a problem is starting to consume a loved
one or a friend until it is too late. Second, as long as the gambler has a token, the
gambler has hope. The gambler will only seek help when all the money is gone.
A large number of gamblers have one other thing in common; they are in recovery
from substance use disorder. Many in this group have been sober and in a mutual
aid support group for many years. The last two people who contacted me both had
an active gambling addiction, one with eight and the other with fifteen years of re-
covery from a substance addiction.
Gambling is an insidious addiction. A person predisposed to develop a gambling
problem may spend years gambling socially and suffering minimal ill effects. But
that person will eventually cross the line into a full blown addiction. The chains of
addiction are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. The devas-
tation we gamblers leave in our wake can take a lifetime to recover from. Relation-
ships are often fatally destroyed because of the betrayal of trust by the compulsive
gambler.
Studies have shown that between 12% and 20% of substance users in inpatient re-
hab programs also have a co-occurring gambling problem. We should start treating
this group immediately. This can be accomplished by implementing an aftercare
program to specifically offer treatment for a gambling problem.
I conducted a survey of substance use patients at Brighton Hospital in Brighton,
Michigan. I screened 8,000 substance users, primarily person with alcohol addci-
tion, for a gambling problem. Sixteen percent of the patients screened identified as
having a problem. What was more interesting was that the majority of the remain-
ing eighty-four percent did not gamble at all. The reason for this turned out to be
quite simple. The addiction that brought them into the hospital was working just
fine. They did not need another addiction at that time. Unfortunately it is this group
that, after treatment for substance use, will trade their substance use addiction for
a gambling addiction. They leave their alcoholism or drug use at the hospital and
walk down the street and find a new addiction to replace it.
This is a large group of people who are predisposed to problem gambling and, at the
same time, the most economical and easy to treat. All we have to do is educate them
about the dangers of gambling, just as we currently educate person with addiction
about the dangers of other substances. The theme should be addiction is addiction
is addiction. Education should lead to well informed and appropriate choices for
the person in recovery.
Another area that holds great promise is educating people in recovery in the twelve
step programs and all other mutual aid groups. There is a need to start discussions
relating to gambling and other process addictions. Members need to be warned of
the devastation that gambling can cause a person in
recovery. I am deeply saddened by the hun-
dreds of gamblers coming out of twelve step
programs who have lost most of what they
had gained back while in that program be-
cause of a lack of knowledge about gambling
addiction. The message is simple. If you
are in recovery, do not gamble. If you need
help for a gambling problem, contact me at
burkemichaelj@yahoo.com.
Michael Burke
Michael Burke lives in Howell, Michigan
where he practiced law for 25 years.
Michaels’ book “Never Enough: One
Lawyer’s True Story of How He
Gambled His Career Away” has
been published by the American
Bar Association. Proceeds from the
book go to his victims. He travels
the country speaking to groups on
the topic of trading addictions and
compulsive gambling.
Story highlights
• Former Toronto mayor Rob Ford died of can-
cer after a widely publicized struggle with
drug and alcohol addiction
• Patrick Krill: Why do we empathize with the
sufferer of one disease, cancer, while people
mocked him for his addiction, which is an
other disease
“Patrick R. Krill is a licensed attorney, board
certified alcohol and drug counselor, author
and advocate. He is the director of the Legal
Professionals Program at the Hazelden Betty
Ford Foundation. The opinions expressed in
this commentary are his.”
(CNN)"Rob Ford fought cancer with courage
and determination. My condolences and best
wishes to the Ford family today". --Justin
Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, via Twit-
ter.
Patrick R. Krill
As is now customary with the passing of public
figures, social media exploded with condolenc-
es for the family of the late Mayor Rob Ford on
Tuesday, making it clear that a man once the
subject of merciless ridicule was now being
afforded a level of sympathy and kindness un-
fathomable just a few short years ago.
Across the Internet and media, punchlines
have largely been replaced by dignified trib-
utes, and crude caricatures by staid, objective
reporting. Why? Because Rob Ford, alive as
an alcoholic, was apparently less deserving of
compassion and understanding than Rob Ford,
now dead from cancer.
True, the fond remembrances and generous
consolations are heartening, refreshing expres-
sions of decency towards a family in grieving,
and yes, they should be acknowledged and
welcomed as such. To be clear, however, they
are also the indisputable byproduct of the type
of image makeover nobody wants — a cancer
diagnosis.
Fueling Ford's trajectory from viciously mocked
to politely mourned, his cancer demonstrated
how malleable our emotional responses are in
light of our moralizations. Rob Ford was, after
all, a man who suffered from two life-threat-
ening diseases but garnered sympathy for only
one. Perhaps that dichotomy is worth us, as a
society, examining.
When I first wrote about Ford for CNN in 2013,
I hoped to make the point that he wasn't that
different from many people all around you —
outwardly successful while secretly buckling
under the weight of alcohol or drugs — and
that addiction is a nondiscriminatory predator
that strikes everywhere. But despite addiction's
widespread presence and non-biased grasp, a
significant majority of society still doesn't view
it — or react to it — the way we do other, less
stigmatized diseases that makes us want to
reach out and support the sufferer.
In fact, it wasn't until Ford was diagnosed with
what is unequivocally accepted as a "real" dis-
ease that many were able to accept, forgive and
even admire him for his fight to survive. Sadly
for the hundreds of thousands of people who
die from the disease of addiction every year,
such acceptance and forgiveness never comes.
In a study published the year after Rob Ford
first made international headlines for his
struggles with drugs and alcohol, researchers
from Johns Hopkins found that 90% of peo-
ple would not want someone with addiction to
marry into their family, and 78% did not want
to work alongside addicted people.
Furthermore, survey respondents were more
willing to accept discriminatory practices
against persons with drug addiction, more
skeptical about the effectiveness of treatments,
and more likely to oppose policies aimed at
helping them. It is impossible to even con-
ceive of similar statistics for cancer, diabetes,
or heart disease, and you won't see "Saturday
Night Live" doing a sendup of a politician's
COPD or epilepsy symptoms anytime soon.
Why is it that we continue to deride sufferers
of one disease and openly project benevolence
and humanity towards victims of another? Is
emotional parity for diseases truly beyond our
capacity, even between two that are felling our-
selves and neighbors at a frequency and vol-
ume that leaves no life untouched?
Despite the fact that excessive drinking is re-
sponsible for one in 10 deaths among work-
ing-aged Americans, or that drug overdose is
the leading cause of accidental death in the
United States, we rarely see the type of outward
support for, and rallying around, people strug-
gling with addiction as we do other illnesses.
Families are often times left to shoulder their
emotional burden alone in shame and silence,
an injustice made final when underlying causes
of death are cloaked behind less scrutiny-invit-
ing terms like "liver failure," or "heart disease."
Although even many forms of cancer itself are
caused by heavy drinking, you're unlikely to see
blameworthy "alcoholism" listed in the obitu-
ary of a throat cancer victim. After all, few fam-
ilies left behind would choose to diminish sym-
pathy and invite judgment for their deceased
loved one. But is a forced choice between hon-
esty and sympathy really the best we can do?
In the absence of available proof to the con-
trary, I'll make the assumption that Rob Ford
would have been extended at least some level
of eulogistic courtesy had his other disease
taken his life. At least that's what I'll hope. But
what we can't overlook is how compassion and
empathy were scarce commodities during his
high-profile battle with addiction, and how
they shouldn't have been.
Addiction is a sadly pervasive struggle in our
world, present in your neighborhood and mine.
The Rob Fords of the world are all around us,
and they shouldn't have to die of cancer before
we can view them humanely, on social media
or otherwise.
Rob Ford died of his more
acceptable disease
By Patrick Krill
Remembering Rob Ford
DO NOT
GAMBLEWITH
YOUR RECOVERY

Advocacy T-Shirts!
They start some conversations,
that’s for sure!
Only $20
Proceeds benefit Recovery Allies.
Get yours today! Call 616-254-9988
We’d like to recognize
Susan Rook for her contribution...
it’s her quote!
866.852.4001
pinerest.org/addiction-services
Recovery is Possible
Pine Rest offers a full continuum of addiction services. With
one call, we can guide you through the process of inquiry,
assessment and admission to the most appropriate level of
care. We will assist you with understanding your insurance
benefit or what other sources of funding might be available,
and we’ll qualify you or your loved one for treatment.
Our commitment is to treat you and your family with a
welcoming heart, provide compassion and understanding in
time of need and offer hope for recovery through excellent
care.
• Individual Outpatient Therapy at 14 licensed locations
• Intensive Outpatient Therapy (IOP) in Grand Rapids and
Kalamazoo
• Outpatient Opioid Detoxification
• Residential Detoxification
• Residential Addiction Services
• Short-Term Residential Services
• Transitional Recovery Housing
• Integrated Substance Use/Psychiatric Inpatient Services
• Partial Hospitalization Program
• Relapse Prevention Groups
• Intervention and Family Services
Books:
Slaying the Dragon: Bill White
The Art of Happiness: Dali Lama
The Spirituality of Imperfection: Earnest Kurtz
The Book Of Alcoholics Anonymous
The Road Less Traveled: M. Scott Peck
My Stroke of Insight: Jill Bolt Taylor
Secret of the Ages: Robert Caulier
Think and Grow Rich: Napoleon Hill
Boundaries:Townsend and Cloud
The Brain Mechanic: Spencer Lord
The Success Principles: Chicken Soup Dude
Proof of Heaven: Eben Alexander
Brain Wars – Mario Beauregard
Adult Children of Alcoholics: Dr. Janet G.Woititz
Facing Codependence: Pia Melody
The Intimacy Factor: Pia Melody
Facing Love Addiction: Pia Melody
Getting the Love You Want: Harville Hendrix
And Anything Written By…
Anne Lamott, Martin Luther King Jr.,
Bill Wilson or Bill White
Movies & TV Shows:
The Anonymous People
Elementary on CBS
Saving Mr Banks
Running From Crazy
Lindsy
All About Ann
28 Days
Paying it Forward
My Name Is Bill W
The Days Of Wine And Roses
When A Man Loves A Woman
When Love Is Not Enough –The LoisWilson Story
The Basketball Diaries
Clean And Sober
The Lost Weekend
Sober Entertainment:
Books,Movies & TV Shows to Check Out
As the seasons change from winter to spring
here in west Michigan, I find myself having the
same conversation with the fellow recovering
people and individuals I work with. It always
ends with me saying, "There is a reason you
feel so good." Seasonal changes can affect us
in many ways: emotionally, physically, men-
tally and spiritually. Spring is a time for re-
newal, transformation, growth and the signs of
new life all around us. Spring is when nature
sheds the old and welcomes the new. Similarly,
seeking help for addiction, is a new beginning,
where we encourage our bodies to rejuvenate
and transform. Finding recovery has a way of
improving our health and vitality, cleaning our
bodies of impurities and making us feel brand
new.
SPRINGTIME AND RECOVERY
There are so many beautiful parallels between
springtime and recovery. Sobriety in the spring
tends to increase our awareness and apprecia-
tion for the things we used to take for granted.
Having a fresh outlook on the world gives a new
and improved perspective on life in recovery.
While those feelings are fresh, it is a good idea
to implement some practices that will through
spring, summer and beyond - living a happy,
healthy and transformative life in recovery.
SPRING CLEANING IDEAS FOR
ALL YOUR SPACES:
• Physical Space - Keep in mind that clut-
ter zaps emotional energy. Maintaining a space
that is clean and tidy helps to promote men-
tal and emotional clarity. Carve out a space
designated for downtime, where you can go
to unwind, pray, meditate, read inspiring
books, journal or just have some quiet time.
• Mental Space - You can de-clutter your
mind too. Make a list of all the things you want
to omit from your new life and begin to down-
size. Being chronically overcommitted or hav-
ing unhealthy relationships, for example, are
distractions to your recovery. This mental clut-
ter could potentially jeopardize your sobriety.
• Outdoors Space - As winter weather
comes to an end and spring brings warmth
and newfound beauty to your surroundings,
it's time to take a walk or spend time outdoors.
Get a dose of Vitamin D. Play the five senses
game: allow yourself to take in all five of your
senses mindfully. Smell, touch, taste, see and
listen - to all that surrounds you. This exercise
can change the way you perceive the world.
• Grateful Space - Remember to be grateful
every day (for some, it is the fact the ice has
melted...). Make a "Gratitude List" and focus
on it regularly. It doesn't matter if you practice
having an "attitude for gratitude" in the morn-
ing or at night. As Melody Beattie says, "Grati-
tude turns what we have into enough."
The dictionary defines "spring" as: the season
after winter and before summer; a move or
jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward;
originate or arise from; or a resilient device.
As a newly sober person goes forward into our
newfound recovery, all four definitions fit like
a glove.…..
Why Springtime
is a Great Time to
GET SOBER!By Kristin Rienink

SUNDAY
9:30AM Balcony Sunday Morning Group
9:30AM 1 ExpectA Miracle
9:30AM 2 Al-Anon SunA.M.
9:30AM 3 Breakfast Group - C
n No Noon Meeting On Sundays
2:00PM A Sunday Serenity Group
3:30PM A Sun Big Book Study
5:30PM Balcony Friendship Group - C
7:00PM 2 Al-Anon Book Study
7:00PM C ACOA
8:00PM Balcony Young People’sAA
8:00PM C Sun Night Beginners Group
8:00PM 5 12&12
MONDAY
9:00AM A Eyeopener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy
9:00AM 2 Al-Anon Steps to Serenity
11:00AM C DoubleTrouble (Mixed Recovery)
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group
Noon A AA Lunch Group - C
Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back
Noon 1 Surrender Group
Noon 3 No First Drink
Noon 4 Noon Promises Group
Noon 5 Women’s Stag -AA
5:30PM C Free Pizza Group
8:00PM A Monday NiteAA
8:00PM Balcony Life Club Group (Mens) - C
8:00PM 3 NA Open to Change
TUESDAY
Noon A AA Group Issues &Tuesday
Noon C AA Beginners Group - C
Noon 2 Al-Anon
4:00PM Balcony FoodAddicts
5:30PM 1 Friendship Group - C
6:00PM 3 Women’sWayThru Steps - C
8:00PM 2 Al-AnonTues Step Mtg
8:00PM 3 24 Hours Group
WEDNESDAY
9:00AM 2 CourageTo Change (Al-Anon)
Noon Balcony Noon Balcony Group t
Noon B NA- Keep Coming Back
Noon 2 Al-Anon
6:00PM 2 Al-Anon
6:30PM 4 Zen Recovery Meeting
6:30PM 5 ShopliftersAnonymous
7:00PM 3 Powerless Not Hopeless
8:00PM Library Women’s Big Book Study
8:00PM B Bond Street Group (Mens) - C
8:00PM 1 Men’s Stag-Honesty Group
8:00PM 2 Al-AnonWed Mens Stag
8:00PM C Barefoot Group-Open
THURSDAY
Noon 2 Al-Anon
5:30PM Balcony F riendship Group - C
n Club Closes At 7:00 pm
FRIDAY
9:00AM A Eye Opener Group
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy Group
9:00AM 2 Stepping Stones (Al-Anon)
Noon B NA-Keep Coming Back
Noon 2 Al-Anon
Noon 5 12 & 12 Study (open)
7:00PM Balcony KCCO Speaker Meeting
8:00PM A Friday NightAA (Mixed)
8:00PM 1 Mens Stag-Honesty Group
8:00PM 2 Fri Night OpenAl-Anon
SATURDAY
8:00AM Balcony FoodAddicts
9:00AM 1 Breathe Easy Group
9:00AM 3 JohnWayne - Men’s Stag - C
Noon A Smart Recovery
Noon Balcony Men’s Stag
Noon 2 Al-Anon Sat Sunshine
Noon 3 Sat Noon Men’s Stag
7:30PM 1 NarcoticsAnonymous
7:30PM Balcony Saturday Night Live Speaker
NORTH ALANO CLUB MEETINGS NON-SMOKING FACILITY. CLOSED MEETINGS – C. 1020 COLLEGE NE, GRAND RAPIDS – *
GR.ALANOCLUB.ORG
CHECK OUT OUR NEW MEETING OPTIONS • INCLUDING S.M.A.R.T. & DOUBLE TROUBLE
From introduction to the book-
Refuge Recovery is a practice, a process, a set of tools, a treatment, and a path
to healing addiction and the suffering caused by addiction. The main inspiration
and guiding philosophy for the Refuge Recovery program are the teachings of
Siddhartha (Sid) Gautama, a man who lived in India twenty-five hundred years ago.
Sid was a radical psychologist and a spiritual revolutionary. through his own efforts
and practices, he came to understand why human beings experience and cause so
much suffering. He referred to the root cause of suffering as “uncontrollable thirst
or repetitive craving.” This “thirst” tends to arise in relation to pleasure, but it may
also arise as a craving for unpleasant experiences to go away, or as an addiction to
people, places, things, or experiences. This is the same thirst of the alcoholic, the
same craving as the addict, and the same attachment as the codependent.
Eventually, Sid came to understand and experience a way of living that ended
all forms of suffering. He did this through a practice and process that includes
meditation, wise actions, and compassion. After freeing himself from the suffering
caused by craving, he spent the rest of his life teaching others how to live a life
of well-being and freedom, a life free from suffering. Sid became known as the
Buddha, and his teachings became known as Buddhism. the Refuge Recovery
program has adapted the core teachings of the Buddha as a treatment of addiction.
Buddhism recognizes a nontheistic approach to spiritual practice. The Refuge
Recovery program of recovery does not ask anyone to believe anything, only to
trust the process and do the hard work of recovery.
This book contains a systematic approach to treating
and recovering from all forms of addictions. Using
the traditional formulation, the program of recovery
consists of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold
Path. When sincerely practiced, the program will
ensure a full recovery from addiction, and a lifelong
sense of well-being and happiness.
Of course, like every path, you can only get to
your destination by moving forward, one foot in front
of the other. The path is gradual and comprehensive,
a map of the inner terrain that must be traversed
in the process of recovery. The path includes daily
meditation practices, written investigations of the
causes and conditions of your addictions, and how to
find or create the community you will need in order
to heal and awaken. We have also included stories
of people who have successfully recovered with the
help of Buddhist practices.

1,2, 3, 4 –A week of the month
B – Barefoot
C – Closed, addicts only
H – Handicap accessible
IP – IP discussion
Lit – Literature Study
O – Open - all are welcome
OP – Open podium
OT – Open topic
RR – Round Robin
S – Speaker meeting
St – Step Study
S/T – Step/Tradition Study
Ti –Ticket
Tr –Traditions
W – 2nd meeting for women
NA MEETING SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
7:00PM Principles B4 Personalities Location: St.Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1025 3 Mile Road NE, Grand Rapids
O,H, St(1st) Lit(2nd),T(3rd), Lit(4th & 5th)
7:00PM The Path BeginsThe Journey Location: 1440 FullerAve, SE, Grand Rapids
7:00PM Open-Minded Group Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church
725 FullerAve, Big Rapids
OT
MONDAY
8:00AM SunriseTo Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids
O, Lit, BasicText
11:00AM No Name Location: Grace Christian Reformed Church
100 Buckley SE, Grand Rapids
O, H, Lit
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club Room B
1020 CollegeAve NE, Grand Rapids
5:30PM Downtown Resting Place Location: Heartside Ministry
54 South Division, Grand Rapids
O
7:00PM KeepingThe DreamAlive Location: Bates Place (next to 1st Christian Ref
Church) 650 Bates St SE, Grand Rapids
O, OT
8:00PM OpenTo Change Location: NorthAlano Club Room #3
1020 CollegeAve. NE, Grand Rapids
TUESDAY
8:00AM Sunrise to Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
766 7th St. NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, OT
O, H,Ti
7:00PM Progress Not Perfection Location: St. Paul’s Campus Parish
1 Damascus Rd. Big Rapids (on the campus
of Ferris State University)
C, H, Lit
7:30PM Natural Life Location: New Community Church
2340 Dean Lake Drive NE, Grand Rapids
WEDNESDAY
O, Lit (ItWorks How/Why)
O,H,RR
Noon Just ForToday Location:Trinity United Methodist Church
1100 CollegeAve, NE, Grand Rapids
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club Room B
O, H, S/T
7:00PM We Qualify Location: HolyTrinity Episcopal Church
5333 Clyde ParkAve. SW,Wyoming
O (1,3), Lit (2,4), B (5)
7:00PM Open-Minded Group Location: Immanuel Lutheran Church
726 FullerAve, Big Rapids
O, OT
THURSDAY
8:00AM Sunrise to Sunset Location: Matthew’s House of Ministry
O,T
O, H, B
7:00PM Home Group Location: Lifequest
1050 Fisk St SE, Grand Rapids
O, H
8:00PM Young In Recovery Location: God’s Kitchen
O, Lit
FRIDAY
766 7th St NW, Grand Rapids (atAlpine)
O, OT, S(1st)
O, H, IP (1st & 3rd), S (2nd & 4th)
Noon Keep Coming Back Location: NorthAlano Club B
O, H, OP (1st)
7:00PM T.G.I.F. Location:Trinity Reformed Church
1224 DavisAve. NW, Grand Rapids
O, H, Candle Light
7:00PM Staying in the Solution Location: Church of the Holy Spirit
1200 Post Drive NE, Belmont
*the 4th Friday of the month is an Open Meeting
C, Spkr
SATURDAY
11:00AM Sisters of Sobriety Location: Matthews House of Ministry
O, Lit, S,W
11:00AM Men of Character Location: 1072 JeffersonAve SE, Grand Rapids
6:30PM Sat. Night Candle Light Location: Pine Rest Retreat Center Bldg
68th St. and S. Divison, Grand Rapids
Take the main entrance off 68th Street - just east of
S. DivisionThe meeting is in the first building on
the left in room 175.
O, H, S/T (2nd & 4th)
RECOVERY COACH ACADEMY
August 8th
- 12th
• 8:30am to 4:00pm
AboutThisTraining: RecoveryAlliesofWestMichiganishostingtheRCAfive-daytrainingopportunity.Thetrain-
ingisdesignedtoprepareparticipantsforemploymentasaRecoveryCoachaswellasinformthosethatwanttoattendthatmay
notbeseekingemploymentasone. Thetrainingwillprovideparticipantswithanin-depthandcomprehensivetrainingexperience
focusedonthedevelopmentoftheskillsrequiredforapersontoresponsiblyprovidetheservicesofaRecoveryCoach. Thetraining
willprovideparticipantstoolsandresourcesusefulinprovidingrecoverysupportservicesandwillemphasizeskillsneededtolink
peopleinrecoverytoneededsupportswithinthecommunity.Traininglocationwillbe935BaxterStSE,GrandRapids,MI49506.
Who Should Attend: TheRCAisopentoindividualswhohaveaninterestinprovidingsupport,mentorship,and
guidancetopersonswithsubstanceusedisordersandco-occurringmentalhealthdisorders. Individualswhoareinterestedinthe
RCAmustbeapprovedforparticipationbytheiremployer,acoordinatingagencyorendorsedbysomeoneinthecommunitythat
canspeakasareference. RCAparticipantsshouldthemselvesbeindividualsinstablerecovery,asitisimportanttothoseservedthat
theircoachhaveapersonalunderstandingofaddictionandrecovery.
Thecostofthistrainingis$400.00andworth32MCBAPhours.Lunchisincluded.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agency/PersonReferredby:______________________________________________________
Name:__________________________________________________________________
E-mail:_________________________________________________________________
Address:_________________________________________________________________
Phone:_________________________________________________________________
Sendregistrationandpaymentto1345MonroeNW,GrandRapids,Mi49505.Thecostis$400.00.Makechecksandmoneyorders
outtoRecoveryAlliesofWestMi.Youcanalsoemailregistrationtoinfo@recoveryallies.usandcall616-734-3173topaybyphone
withcreditcard.
• LearningObjectivesfortheRecoveryCoachAcademy:
• DescribetherolesandfunctionsofaRecoveryCoach
• Listthecomponents,corevaluesandguidingprinciplesofrecovery
• Buildskillstoenhancerelationships
• Discussco-occurringdisordersandmedicated-
assistedrecovery
• Describestagesofchangeandtheirapplications
• Addressethicalissues
• Experiencewellnessplanning
• Practicenewly-acquiredskills

EDITOR’S NOTE: The professionals who write this
monthly column encourage readers to submit ques-
tions about addiction and alcoholism. Send them to
pkeep@grpress.com
One of the most common questions when it comes to
addiction is: “Which drugs are dangerous (or “hard
drugs”) and which drugs are just recreational (or “soft
drugs”). However, the assumption behind the question
has a fundamental flaw when it comes to understanding
the causes of drug addiction. That assumption is that
the potency of the drug is the key variable in terms of
increasing the risk of addiction.
It is important to keep in mind that there are a number
of drugs which are capable of leading to addiction. In
order to do so, they have certain common properties.
They must be able to penetrate the blood-brain barri-
er, mimic the effects of normal neurotransmitters, and
exert an effect on the pleasure center of the brain. This
includes opiates such as heroin and cocaine, but it also
includes alcohol, marijuana, and a number of prescrip-
tion medications.
However, in order for addiction to take place, a second
factor needs to be in place: the vulnerability of the user.
It is known, for example, that some people are far more
likely to become addicted to alcohol and than others. It
is also becoming apparent that some people are more
susceptible to cannabis addiction than others. While
many question the role of genetically inherited vulnera-
bility, ask yourself why is it that most people who drink
alcohol do not become alcoholics. Similarly, why is it
that most of those who use marijuana do not become
addicted to it?
There is also a third factor which must be present to
cause addiction: exposure. Regardless of the vulnera-
bility of an individual, if he or she never uses alcohol or
drugs, addiction cannot occur. This is why we some-
times find families in which addiction seems to “leap
frog” over one generation. What often happens is that
the son or daughter of an alcoholic, while inheriting the
genetic vulnerability, avoids alcohol like the plague be-
cause of what they witnessed as children growing up in
an alcoholic home. Their own children, lacking those
negative experiences, might be inclined to start using al-
cohol like their peers, blissfully unaware of the risk they
are running.
There is one aspect of exposure which also needs to
be considered; that is, the age of first use of alcohol or
drugs. It is generally agreed that, the earlier the expo-
sure, the more the risk of addiction. While there are
some who argue that early use of alcohol or drugs is an
“effect” rather than a “cause” of addiction, there is no
serious debate about the more serious consequences as-
sociated with early exposure.
In the treatment of addictions and in recovery circles, a
common answer to the question about which drug is the
most dangerous is pretty simple: it’s the one that gets
you. When addiction takes over a person’s life, it be-
comes their primary relationship. When that happens,
all other relationships—with family, friends, God—take
a back seat. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s alcohol,
cocaine or weed. These are just different deck chairs on
the Titanic.
Mark Thomson is
Director of Special
Projects at D.A.
Blodgett-St. John’s
and serves on the
Kent County Pre-
vention Coalition,
The Turning Point
Advisory Council,
and Recovery Allies
of West Michigan,
an advocacy group
for those in recov-
ery.
Many of Prince’s friends and acquaintances have attested to the
physical pain and discomfort he suffered in his later years, owing
to decades of strenuous performing.
Bill Marino/Sygma via Getty Images
Although many of the facts surrounding the death of Prince re-
main to be established, one thing is clear: He had been treated
for an extended period of time with pain-relieving drugs. Reports
suggest that an overdose of one of those drugs led to the emer-
gency landing of his private plane early in the morning of April
15 in Moline, Illinois. It’s widely assumed that his death six days
later at his Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota, was
also drug-related. Many news outlets have frequently invoked
the word addiction, that much feared but poorly understood con-
dition. “Prince: Long-Standing Percocet Addiction,” said TMZ, the
outlet that broke the news of Prince’s passing. “Prince was in
rehab for his Percocet addiction and had multiple doctors writing
prescriptions,” read the Daily Mail headline. “Prince’s Death Put-
ting a Spotlight on Opioid Addiction,” said CBS Minnesota.
But a rational discussion of the death of Prince—and of so many
others—should not be guided by notions of “doctor-shopping,”
an opioid “epidemic,” or vague images of those in pain enslaved
by drugs. Instead, we should seek an understanding of the drugs
of concern: how they work to relieve pain, how they kill in over-
dose, how deaths might be prevented, and how we should re-
spond as a society both to their risks and to their benefits. Most
important is to draw a distinction between physical dependence,
which is a pharmacological phenomenon, and addiction, a term
with multiple definitions, none of which is entirely satisfactory.
Advertisement
Privacy Powered By Genesis
We could start with a simple question: How does a drug know
where to go? We know where we want them to go: aspirin to our
aching joint; antibiotics to the site of infection; alcohol, caffeine,
and THC to our brains. But the fact is that they don’t know where
to go—once in the blood stream, they bathe virtually every cell in
the body.A drug produces its effects by attaching itself to a struc-
ture of the cell called the receptor; receptors can be very selective,
responding only to certain drugs and ignoring all the rest. Opiates
reach receptors in the brain and spinal cord to dampen our ex-
perience of pain. But there are other opiate receptors. Some are
in the gut, which can cause constipation. More ominously, there
are opiate receptors in a primitive area of the brain, the medul-
la oblongata; when opiates suppress the activity of the medulla,
breathing is slowed and may stop entirely. Death is the endpoint.
Neuroscientists call addiction a brain disease. Others think it is
simply a choice or a moral failing.
It’s been widely reported that after Prince’s plane made an emer-
gency landing on April 15, he received a so-called “save shot”
of a drug called naloxone, best known today by the trade name
Narcan, which is administered in cases of opiate-induced respira-
tory depression. Naloxone works by displacing opiates from their
receptors; Narcan as a nasal spray is now routinely carried by
police and other first responders and, increasingly, is provided to
all those who take opiates, whether medically or illicitly. Unfor-
tunately, it is sometimes forgotten that naloxone is effective for
only 30 to 60 minutes after administration, while morphine and
similar drugs act for much longer—thus depression of breathing,
even to the point of death, may return if naloxone is not re-ad-
ministered.
The desire to reduce the number of opiate-related deaths by re-
stricting access to these drugs is understandable. But we should
be aware of possible unintended consequences. Writing in 1985,
the late physician and professor of pharmacology John Morgan
said that American physicians undertreat pain, based on an irra-
tional and undocumented fear that appropriate use of opiates
will lead patients to become addicts; Morgan called this fear
“opiophobia.” In the years that followed, the medical profession
came to recognize that many Americans were living and dying in
pain, with cancer of greatest concern. The remedy provided was
increased prescription of morphine and morphinelike drugs such
as oxycodone and hydrocodone, the active principles in Perco-
cet and Vicodin, respectively. There is no doubt that these pre-
scriptions reduced the overall burden of pain. But in 2014 alone,
prescription opiates and heroin were implicated in more than
28,000 deaths. In response to what has been called an epidemic,
groups such as the Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines
in March calling for stringent restrictions on access to opiates.
The death of Prince is likely to add force to these calls.
The rumors that Prince entered a rehabilitation program to
address a perceived painkiller addiction—whether or not the
rumors are true—illustrate a general confusion about the dif-
ference between physical dependence and addiction. Many of
Prince’s friends and acquaintances, including his longtime collab-
orator Sheila E., have attested to the physical pain and discom-
fort he suffered in his later years, owing to decades of strenuous
performing. In the face of such chronic pain, many patients can
be treated with an opiate to the point of physical dependence
for an extended period of time without adverse medical conse-
quences, resulting in a much higher quality of life. (It remains
to be established whether an absence of skilled medical care—
surely available to one of his status and means—contributed to
the death of Prince.) Indeed, each of us, without exception, will
become physically dependent on opiates if exposed to them in
sufficient doses for a sufficient period of time. In physical depen-
dence, adaptive changes take place in the brain; upon stopping
the drug, a constellation of signs and symptoms appears which is
called the opiate abstinence syndrome—the hallmark of physical
dependence.
In contrast with physical dependence, however, a definition of ad-
diction is harder to reach. Neuroscientists call it a brain disease.
Others think it is simply a choice or a moral failing. I prefer to say
that addiction is a behavioral state of compulsive and uncontrol-
lable drug craving and seeking. Many of those treated for chronic
pain will not become physically dependent. And even in those
who do develop dependence, only a small fraction will become
addicted, and even a smaller number will overdose. It would be
cavalier to suggest that physical dependence upon an opiate
is an entirely benign condition; we would best avoid it. But we
should also avoid the notion that treating chronic pain creates
“addicts.” Sufferers of chronic pain are not compulsively craving
and seeking drugs.They are looking for relief from their pain.
I feel very sorry for those people with chronic, untreatable un-
bearable pain who are being vilified for just wanting relief from
pain. Pain that prohibits them from enjoying life. Engaging in sim-
ple physical activities that others take for granted. More...
Partly owing to the stigma around painkillers, those who suffer
chronic pain that is effectively treated with opiates may be re-
duced to “doctor shopping” in an endless quest for adequate
treatment. They may find a skilled professional schooled in pain
management; more likely, they will find a “scrip doctor,” an un-
scrupulous physician who makes his living writing opiate pre-
scriptions. Even worse, they may be driven into the illicit market
where heroin and fentanyl, a particularly dangerous opiate, are
available, often for less than the cost of prescription drugs. The
roots of actual addiction are multiple and often intertwined: ado-
lescent risk-taking, poverty and homelessness, an absence of love
or hope or meaningful work. The potential remedies are equally
complex. But one thing is certain: No addict will be saved by rules
that inflict pain on others.
The reporting on Prince’s death reveals how much we don’t understand about chronic pain management.
By:Jerrod C.Winter
What “Addiction”
Really Means
Which Drugs
Are Dangerous?
Please note that Recovery Allies works very hard at not using the word “addict” or “alcoholic”. The Autism advocacy folks taught us
to “take the “ic” out of it. We use instead, use “person with addiction” or “person with alcoholism”. We love the article in spite of the
use of the word “addict” (only 3 times) and decided to run it with the hope of bringing awareness to the issue of the power of words.

LAUGHING Matters
FELONY-FRIENDLY EMPLOYERS
AAMCO
ACE HARDWARE
ALBERTSON’S
AMERICAN GREETINGS
APPLE INC.
APPLEBEE’S
ARAMARK
AVON PRODUCTS
BAHAMA BREEZE
BASKIN-ROBBINS
BED, BATH & BEYOND
BEST WESTERN
BLACK & DECKER
BRAUM’S INC.
BRIDGESTONE
BUFFALO WILD WINGS
CAMBELL’S SOUP
CARL’S JR.
CARRIER CORPORATION
CEFCO
CDW
CHICK-FIL-A
CHIPOTLE
CHRYSLER
CINTAS
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CENTERS
CONAGRA FOODS
COPART
COSTCO
DAIRY QUEEN
DART CONTAINERS
DEER PARK SPRING WATER
CO.
DELTA FAUCETS
DENNY’S
DOLE FOOD COMPANY
DOLLAR TREE
DIVIZIO INDUSTRIES
DR. PEPPER
DUNLOP TIRES
DUNKIN’ DONUTS
DUPONT
DURACELL
EDDIE V’S
EMBASSY SUITES
EPSON
ERMCO, INC.
FIRESTONE AUTO CARE
FLYING J
FOOD SERVICES OF AMERICA
FRITO-LAY
FRUIT OF THE LOOM
GENENTECH
GENERAL ELECTRIC
GENERAL MILLS
GEORGIA-PACIFIC
GOLDEN CORRAL
GOODMAN
GRAINGER
GREAT CLIPS
HANES
HH GREGG
HILTON HOTELS
HOLIDAY INN
IBM
IHOP
IKEA
IN-N-OUT BURGER
INTERNATIONAL PAPER
INTERSTATE BATTERIES
JACK IN THE BOX
JIFFY LUBE
JIMMY JOHNS
KELLY MOORE PAINTS
KFC
KOHL’S
KRAFT FOODS
LABATT FOOD SERVICES
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
MCDONALD’S
MEN’S WEARHOUSE
METALS USA
MILLER BREWING COMPANY
MOTOROLA
NFI
NORDSTROM
O’CHARLEYS
OLIVE GARDEN
PACTIV
PAPPADEAUX
PEPSICO
PETSMART
PFS
PHILLIP MORRIS INC.
PILGRIM’S
PRAXAIR
RADISSON
RALPH’S
RC WILLEY
RED LOBSTER
RED ROBIN
REI
REPUBLIC SERVICES
RESTAURANT DEPOT
REYES BEVERAGE GROUP
RUBBERMAID
RUBY TUESDAY
RUMPKE
SAFEWAY
SAFELITE
SALVATION ARMY
SARA LEE
SEASONS 52
SHELL OIL
SHOPRITE
SMASH BURGER
SONIC DRIVE-IN
SONY
SUBWAY
SYSCO
TESLA
TRADER JOES
TYSON FOODS
US FOODS
US STEEL CORPORATION
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
WASTE CONNECTIONS
WENDY’S
WHOLE FOODS
WINCO FOODS
WYNDHAM HOTELS
YARD HOUSE
For more employers visit exoffenders.net
If your company hires us folks... please let us know
and we will add you to the list!

Living Large Summer 2016

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (13)

Similar to Living Large Summer 2016

Similar to Living Large Summer 2016 (17)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Living Large Summer 2016