[Businessmtg] Agenda Item #2

[joanne.callahan at novartis.com]

Providing people with a welcome package is not enabling them, in my humble 
opinion. In the F2F meeting in my town, these are handed out to newcomers 
and there is no charge.  It is a way of welcoming people to the group and 
to also make them aware of the literature that is available.  I cannot 
begin to tell how many times I've re-read the pamphlets that were in my 
welcome package. As someone previously mentioned, they are in my 
nightstand and I read them often, especially as a newcomer. Helping people 
get started on the path to recovery is different than spoon feeding them. 
Keep in mind that people seek help because they are hurting very badly. 
Showing kindness and compassion by sending out a .10 pamphlet or two could 
do nothing but help that person, even if he/she drops out of the group 
after a short period of time.

Joanne