Al-anon is a wonderful effort to help families and friends of alcoholics. It is not about the alcoholic at all. This is an often misunderstood or simply missed, aspect of Al-anon. If you come to this group looking for help for anyone else but yourself, you will be quickly disappointed and disillusioned. The material that people are exposed to in Al-anon is second to none. It is so good that anyone would be benefited by being exposed to it.
Unfortunately, like AA or NA, it is difficult for people to realize, acknowledge their need and then to do something about it. Coping seems to be enough for most. We learn survival mechanisms and accept a minimalist approach to life. Getting by becomes the highest aspiration.
After 4 years of trying to establish a presence on the island, we have come to the place where we simply have to surrender to the fact that people are not taking advantage of something that could help them greatly. Coping could become thriving but only if we come to a place of sufficient dissatisfaction. So we are calling it quits in terms of a weekly meeting. Carl Cheney and I have shown up weekly for years now. Only occasionally have we had interested people check us out. We are thankful for a few others who have been available to help here and there. We are not done with our efforts to raise awareness of need and to be available as needed. But the weekly meeting is now discontinued.
As a pastor I remember asking myself if it would be enough for people to come to Al-anon and find help. I settled that some time ago. This is not about getting people to come to my church. It is not about getting people to accept and live by my beliefs. It is about helping people find freedom from the impact of alcohol on their lives. That would be enough.
Going forward I plan to put additional effort into the website and sponsoring events that continue to speak to this need. For every alcoholic or addict on Grand Manan, there is a family suffering. This is my concern … a mission of sorts, if you will.
Help Me Grand Manan! 
I’m sorry to hear that it’s come to an end. It is a great service to the islands people in need. If Only They Were ready to admit that they needed help.
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That’s certainly the issue …
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I’m sorry to hear that too Karl, for the islanders sake. I am a child of an alcoholic and there are times that I think of Al-anon and how it might be helpful for issues I have that I haven’t even related to my Dad and his drinking. Both Mike and I want you to know that we appreciate you and Carl and your hearts to help and offer help to anyone.
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