From Mark's Corner
It is exciting for me to be writing the first of many articles for our new newsletter which we have named "Wake Up". As former residents you all know what we mean by that. Having gone through most of our lives asleep - dreaming we are awake - our commitment to awareness and waking up is a fascinating and entertaining journey. We have now been open a little past two years and I am constantly amazed at the changes I see in the alumni who have left here and continued with the disciplines of steps ten and eleven and gotten involved in working with others. The other areas of their lives have been taken care of while they continued with the disciplines of ten and eleven. We love having alumni return for the Saturday night meeting, you are such an example to our current residents of what sobriety can look like once they leave here. Please plan on joining us for the first annual alumni reunion at MHR. God bless you all.
Mark
Thoughts from Don B.
As I approach my first year at MHR I find myself looking back at my experience here with past and current residents and staff. The resounding theme of what I see is a deep gratitude for the people that I have been blessed to have in my life. I have received many gifts from these individuals, the biggest of which is to see the lights come on as residents "wake up" to their purpose in life and realize that there truly is a Power working in their life that not only offers freedom from addictions but gives them the needed strength to face life and it’s challenges with an abounding sense of peace.
I love seeing alumni return with stories around the miracles they have experienced with legal, financial, and personal relationship issues and how their life has taken off as they continue to work the program of recovery outlined in the Big Book. I look forward to seeing you all again and hearing about the miracles. Peace.
Don B.
Featured Fall Speaker
About Chris Schroeder
Chris is the Director of Media for C4 Recovery Solutions. In his role with C4, he has been tasked with hosting and developing the webcast show, The Afflicted and Affected, interviewing leaders in the addictive illness field and other interesting personalities revolving around the recovery world. Chris comes into contact with those who research and apply the latest methods of treatment and those who are a force in positive change in outcomes and funding both politically and in the media.
He has been a host of various TV and radio shows. He has also been active lecturing at recovery centers, correctional facilities and graduate schools over the past 17 years promoting the abstinence/12 step processes. His dedication and passion for helping those afflicted with alcoholism and drug addiction has taken him around the world and back to offer guidance and knowledge to those in need. Chris has worked in management of educational facilities since 1991 and is also is a co-founder of the organization "A National Association of Recovered Alcoholics and Addicts". He currently lives with his wife Mary Beth in New Vernon, NJ.
Addiction and Alcoholism with Chris Schroeder
Chris's experience with addiction and alcoholism treatment centers goes back to 1991. He has been active in lecturing on recovery processes at many locations in the northeast. Currently he is a regular speaker at Little Hill/ Alina Lodge in Blairstown, NJ. Many of Chris’s talks have been available for download on sites like XA Tapes and Primary Purpose.Org. Few people are better at explaining the mechanics of the 12 step spiritual recovery process. Treatment so often consists of clinical processes that have developed over the years and there is not adequate presentation of the spiritual process that has been shown to offer lasting recovery. One issue is that many counselors are not truly experienced with the process themselves so have an ineffective way of presenting it. Chris talks at treatment centers, recovery centers, educational faculties and correctional facilities about the process in a way everyone can understand, and hopefully be motivated to get their own experience with it and then have that experience available when it would be appropriate to deliver it to those who need it.
From Up on the Hill
Wow!!! The first Alumni newsletter!!! A little over two years ago, I was asked to join this team as a Program Director. In this role I have seen many of you come through the program and go on to lead successful, clean and sober lives. I do not have the words to express what joy this has brought and continues to bring to my life. Shortly after the facility's first anniversary I was asked to take on the task of Resident Services Coordinator to contact you, the Alumni, and run MHR Aftercare.
I enjoyed seeing and talking to those of you that I was able to reach. I stepped back into the Program Director's job in May of this year and am getting to do that which I love, once again, which is to work with the residents. I am also lucky enough to be partnered with J.D. Darley. JD had extensive training and practice in the field of recovery before coming on board with MHR this past March. We have a great time, we work hard and we play harder. We, JD and I, look forward to the opportunity to write for the newsletter every once in awhile. Please remember that you are important, thought of fondly, and most especially, loved.
Your friend, your brother in recovery, your mentor, your PD,
Don
Last Words from the First Resort
Hello all. My name is Jason Chane and I am the newest Program Director at the First Resort. Along with Will Miley; I oversee and guide the day-to-day life on this side of Parson’s Road, and it is a joy. My experience here has been unlike any other place I have ever been, externally and internally. If you have completed the MHR Program, you have been given an amazing opportunity and the greatest base available for permanent sobriety. The honesty, open-mindedness and willingness of the staff make a huge impact on the residents and their families. The dedication to growth, professional and personal, taught here allows for miracles to manifest in all of our lives. Thank you for paving the way for MHR to need people like Will and me to carry the message.
We want you as alumni to know how vital you are to the growth and sense of community here at MHR. Your regular attendance at the Saturday Night Speaker Meetings has brightened our nights and reinforced our beliefs in what we do. You are the product of MHR. Will and I both hope that you will always stay connected to the Higher Power you discovered and built a relationship with here. We are with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit.
Jason
Greetings Alumni and Friends
Well it has been a blazing hot summer here at the farmhouse. We have finally had some rain to cool us off. It has been an exiting summer full of change. Early in the summer I was able to take some personal time and went on vacations to Orlando, Boston, and San Francisco. In June, I was promoted to Alumni Coordinator. It is a job that I am very happy doing as it is challenging and rewarding and I get to work with people which I love. Previously, I had been RCA for a year and a half.
We have had other staff changes as well. We have a new Executive Assistant, Tonja Orso. Marsha Meadows is now our healthcare coordinator. Patty Raymer is in Business Development. All have been fine additions to our company so kudos to them. Ashton Constantine is the new RCA Coordinator. Eric Button works full time at Addiction Directions which has also grown over the past year with the addition of a new house in North Austin.
Working with Mark has been a rewarding experience. His energy seems to know no bounds and he continually blesses us with his vision. With Mark’s input I have been building on our Alumni Department. Recently, I completed a list to contact all alumni. I did leave some voice messages- and some numbers have changed- so sorry if I missed you. If any alumni needs to update contact information, do so through our website or call me. It was wonderful to talk with many alumni from years past and to hear how good many people are doing. I look forward to seeing everyone at the MHR Alumni Reunion on November 15! Until then, remember God, work the steps, and help others!
Love,
Patrick
Patrick McNamee
Alumni Coordinator
Hi Alumni!
Never in a million years did I think I would be working at MHR doing business development … What a gift from God! I GET TO meet folks all over the State of Texas and talk about recovery and MHR – how cool is that?!!
One of the best parts of my job is to hear you (the alumni) tell me about what God is doing in your life today. The Big Book says "the most satisfactory years of your existence lie ahead. Thus we find the fellowship and so will you". (Page 152).
Having said all that ... COME to REUNION – have fun – participate in your life! Can’t wait to see everyone! Much love
Patty
Patty Raymer
Message from Greg Rolfe
Greetings everyone! I hope you are all doing well, living life again. We are looking forward to the fall here in Manor and some relief from the heat. We have really grown here at MHR and so have my responsibilities. I am learning to get away more and that has been good, but I really love the culture here and it is more of a lifestyle to me than a job. Lots of new faces around here and with a census that has recently been at 40! I continue to learn, and the staff here at Mark Houston Recovery is growing as a team.
We are in our third year of aftercare here at MHR and we have changed the group dynamic. We do steel on steel format that is a CIRCLE AND TRIANGLE accountability group. Currently we are helping find service commitments for the guys and they are really starting to have fun with it.
I hope to see all of you at the reunion in November. Remember – Unity, Service, and Recovery – have fun! May God bless you and keep you until then.
Greg
Greg Rolfe
Director of Operations MHR