Better Life in Recovery Update July, 2012

This is like the State of the Union, except it is the state of Better Life in Recovery (BLiR). We have a lot of things going on, both my wife, son and I as a family and with the forming of the non-profit. I just want to start off by saying that I am very blessed and above all needs I have one that is of the upmost importance. Prayer, prayer and more prayer. I feel that it is more vital to BLiR than anything else for it to be able to do what it is supposed to do and help those it is meant to help.

If you don't know what Better Life in Recovery is please go to this link and it will explain the purpose: http://www.betterlifeinrecovery.com/page2.php

First I will talk about what has been accomplished to advance Better Life in Recovery so far. We have had two people that have agreed to sit on the board once we form BLiR. We have began drafting the paperwork that is required for a non-profit. We have purchased betterlifeinrecovery.com and betterlifeinrecovery.org (they need a lot of work, but I will get to that later). We have gotten our logo completed, and here it is.

Two people have agreed to be on the board once we form the non-profit. We felt that we needed to have a meeting to let everyone know what we are doing, how far we had gotten and what our needs are. Thus was born our first preliminary meeting. It was attended by 7 people. We found that we still had a lot of work to do, and scheduled to meet again at the end of summer.

We have managed to conduct 8 interviews for the documentary. They have gone really well. It is terrifying to hear how young use started and the damage that addiction did to their lives. On the flip side it is amazing to hear what they have been able to accomplish in recovery. A trailer for the first 5 people that we interviewed was put together and here it is.

We have some very specific needs to address:

1. Prayer. Our first and foremost need is prayer as I mentioned above. 
2. We need $1,000 to file for non-profit status so that we can start fundraising seriously. 
3. Web designer to help us set up our web site. I know exactly how I want it to look but no ability to build it. We also need a Facebook page set up. 
4. Attorney - We have a lot of paperwork to draft and papers to file
5. Board member - If our dream is your passion we have a board member application for you.
6. Grant Writer - Funding for this project will be needed
7. Accountant - We need to budget and track things financially 
8. Marketing, Public Relations and Advertising - We need to spread the word and get into communities to make an impact
9. We still need volunteers between the ages of 18-25 who have struggled with addictions (drugs, alcohol, cutting, eating disorder) that are willing to share their story. We have a real need for ethnicities in this area. 
10. Parents who have had children struggle with addictions and have either overcame their addiction, are still struggling or have passed away while in addiction who would be willing to share their knowledge and expertise are also needed. 
11. Everyone - Word of mouth and fundraising. Talk about us on and in Facebook, Twitter, your local newspaper, local radio/television, your blog, etc and at your school, your church, your social clubs, civic events, PTA meetings, conferences, etc. Read below and if you can help in any way please do! 

Contact us and invite us to come and speak. We love to share about the affects of addiction and the power in recovery. I have already done some speaking this year. I have led chapel at both Global University and AGTS (Assembly of God Theological School). I speak on occasion at Missouri State University and College of the Ozarks. I have spoken at several Celebrate Recovery groups. I have also spoken at conferences and seminars. Several pastors have approached me to speak at their churches this summer about addiction and recovery in the next two months. Finally, I have been given an opportunity to plan an all day event that will be aimed at sharing hope and recovery with several town's youths, many who are struggling with addiction and parents in addiction. I did say that there was a lot going on in my family. We will cover that really quick. My wife and I will be gaining a daughter in the next month. Julie is due 4 weeks from now, on the 7th of August. Our daughter's name will be Addison Grace, and I am not sure which of us is more excited: Julie, DJ or me! (I would say me, but don't tell my wife I said that). In closing, let me try to over-promote myself one last time. Consider this the spoiler alert, there will be bold letters and lots of exclamation points: If you would like to donate your services to help us with our above mentioned needs, please contact us. If you would like to donate anything else: works of art, restaurant and other business gift certificates, hotel/motel/resort rooms and gift certificates, one day and season passes to shows/concerts/museums/amusement parks/zoos, tickets/season passes to athletic games, movie passes/gift certificates, autographed memorabilia (pictures, bats, gloves, balls, books, Cds, etc), gift baskets, martial arts lessons, massages, hair cuts, tanning, dance lessons, you have dinner with the highest bidder (works if you are a celebrity), etc for silent auctions and door prizes please contact us. Original music and music that you give us permission to use for the documentary, in our presentations and possibly a fundraiser CD would be great. We will be doing fundraisers, so sites to use and bands to play would both be needed if you can volunteer them. Politicians, radio media, television media, pastors, youth pastors, teachers, principals, school counselors, substance abuse counselors, administrators, bloggers, authors, actors, musicians, parents, students, professors......EVERY BODY AND ANYBODY, WE NEED YOU!! We are here to help and educate you. Help us by fundraising to bring us to your community and by word of mouth. We need you to speak to churches, student bodies, viewers, listeners, readers, parents and constituents. Contact us and we will do interviews and speak at any organization, event, college, school, business, club, small group and church. PLEASE SHARE THIS ON FACEBOOK, BLOGS, TWITTER, ETC SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN MAKING A REAL IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTIONS SO THAT THEY CAN FIND A BETTER LIFE IN RECOVERY!!!