Moms Off Meth Message Board

good morning everyone!

hey judy or anyone else who might know....i wanted to check on the national moms meeting in ottumwa.  like the date, time, where at in ottumwa.  also...whats all going on there..is it a time to get to meet other women, will there be speakers?

i am really excited to go....was just wanted to know how all the planning is going

jen

Hey Jen!

The National Conference is going to be on April 25th in Ottumwa at the Bridgeview Center.  You can get a registration from Kris......just send her an email or go to the Ottumwa Moms group meeting at 10:45 on Fridays at First Resources here in Ottumwa.  We are also having a get together on April 24th at the Hotel Ottumwa from 5-10 p.m. and all the groups from all over will have a chance to meet each other, talk about what is going on and just have some fun with each other. 

The speakers are AWESOME!  We have a guy from the Partnership for a drug Free America speaking, a guy speaking about parenting in recovery, women from the Rebecca Project for Human Rights in Washington DC, digital stories from a group in northwestern Iowa.....Raeann speaking about eating healthy in recovery........I will tell my story in the morning........someone from the original Community task force in Ottumwa which is where the idea for the group came from.......all in all, it will be an INCREDIBLE day!  So, get with Kris, sign up for the training and come to the event the night before Jen.  It will be an incredible evening and the next day will be ELECTRIC!!!!!!  Can you imagine all of us all together for the first time, and the speakers I can promise you are exciting and have great news to share.  

Talk to you soon!!!!!!  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Hey everyone! 

I just wanted to check in and say hey to you all and tell you that I was thinking of you.  Jen, are you coming to the conference?  I am excited about it and worn out about it too!  I can't wait to just sit and enjoy the conference and enjoy my time with everyone too. 
Jjust wanted to check in quick and say HEY!  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Hey everyone too,

I'm so excited about this conference too.  I am looking to seeing the ones I have already met and putting a face to the ones from this board that I haven't met yet. 

I've been really busy lately trying to type up a business plan for the group and get a non-profit statis filed. If anyone has any input on that let me know.

Hope the see everyone real soon.

Later

Kim

Hey Kim!!

I can't wait to see you and meet the women you are bringing!  I am still so excited about our conference and the night before especially as we will all have time to sit down and get to know each other and spend some time together too!

As for the non-profit stuff...........I would get on the next conference email that you get and reply to everyone as there are a lot of people there who can help you or point you in the right direction. 

Ok, just wanted to log on quick.........getting ready for a family dinner today so have to get to cooking! 

See ya!!!!!  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Judy,

I am so excited about the conference too!  One of the women I am bringing is my cousin she is not a group member but she was a great support when I needed her and I've been giving her alot of support in the last 1 1/2 she spent 10 months in prison, then 6 months at a halfway house and now at a sober house.  And her boyfriend died on Feb 29th, so its been rough for her lately.  Im trying to get her to move to my area so she can become a member too.  But I already feel she is because a talk to the women about her all the time.

As for the non profit stuff it is a lot of work, my boss has helped me with alot of it on our lunch breaks at work.  And I work for a non profit agency so I can ask other too, but I do think your right about the conference email group would be a good resource too.

Talk to you real soon

Kim

Hey Kim!

I can't wait to see you all and spend a little time with you all catching up and just relaxing with everyone.  There are a ton of women from the groups signed up and it is going to be such an awesome day!  Life is busy as all get out for me and I am looking forward to the weekend already!  I had to go to Des Moines yesterday and then on to Cedar Rapids for a short visit today.  Just wanted to check in and say hi.  I  have been logging on regularly but haven't seen much action........so decided to get the ball rolling today and post a few things!  I miss you all.  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Good morning all!

Just a short update on the conference.......I checked on the registrations yesterday and we have about 250 people signed up and over 150 of them are women from the groups!!!!!!!! WOW!  This is going to be a hell of a day ladies!  I am excited and cannot wait to see so many women from groups all over in one room!  Lots of things to do to finalize the conference but the days are counting down closer and will be here before we know it!   See you all later!  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Judy,

My question is would if we get any new members in the next 2 weeks, are they able to come too?  Or will it be to late? Or if someone changes there mind can someone else take there place?

Let me know

Kim

Hey Kim,

If you get new members and they can committ to this event and want to come........then by all means.......bring them!  If you find out that week or so before the conference......shoot me an email with their names so we can register them.  If someone finds out they cannot come after all.........let me know if no one is taking their place.  It is all getting nearer and nearer.................FINALLY!!!!!!!!  Two weeks from today.  YIPEEEEEE!  Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Judy,

Sounds good!  Can't hardly wait to see everyone and meet new people.

Kim

Hey Judy, and everyone out there getting excited for the conference.  This is almost surreal.  I cannot believe that we will be attending the very first Moms Off Meth National conference.  I am so excited that there are so many people coming and I'll have to admit that I'm a bit nervous.  I have so much to say and organizing it in my own mind is challenging.  I keep remembering the words you have said so many times, Judy, "speak from your heart not your head"  but my heart is as disorganized as my head is sometimes. HA

The words will come when I draw on my passion for the women in group, for recovery, and for the opportunity that you all have given me to share my experience and to hopefully inspire others to make themselves their #1 priority in life! 

Can't wait to see you Judy! and I'm so excited to meet women that I've met in trainings before, the women who I have spoken to on these boards, & those who we've never met but have impacted through sharing our support and belief in women everywhere!  I'm ready to be inspired again!

see you all soon

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RaeAnn

“If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't follow. I'd be at the bottom to catch them when they fall.”

Hey Judy, do you know if we have access to power point?  I don't know if any of the other presenters are using this or not?  If not, I won't, but would like to share some pics of possible?

 

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RaeAnn

“If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't follow. I'd be at the bottom to catch them when they fall.”

Good morning everyone!!!!!!

WOW, what a week!  First of all, I really want to thank everyone who came to the conference and tell those who didn't make it that we missed you!  It was an incredible few days.  The night before was awesome and inspiring and the next day was so deep and emotional for me that I still can't describe it.  I was overwhelmed, excited, uplifted.........you name it, I felt it! 

For all the travelers, I hope and have prayed that you all made it home ok, safe and sound.  Melony,  Kim, and your friends all came a VERY LONG WAY and I was thrilled to see you........as were the members here in Iowa.  WOW!  It was one of the most powerful events I have ever attended. 

All the speakers were dynamite and the digital stories were so moving and inspiring.  I felt sick that I forgot to bring Tammy's story DVD and will ensure that next year's conference will start out with her.  Raeann, you blew my mind...........this was the absolute BEST I have ever seen you do and EVERYONE is still talking about it.  Our speaker, Jim Ott, who spoke about poverty and substance abuse was a MAJOR HIT!!!!!!  The incredible women from the Rebecca Project for Human Rights were amazing, inspiring and were loved by all who met them and all who heard them.  Steve Cline from the Partnership for a Drug Free America did an impecible job as I knew he would and his charm and personality stole the show!  Judge William Owens and Cheryll Jones spoke about the Family Drug Court and the Community Partnership for Protecting Children and all the work they have done WITH the Moms Off Meth group and were amazing additions to the day too.  Carol Schroeder and Jean Dell and Sandy Lint........these three women were the heart and soul of the conference being held and being such a hit.......they were the silent ones behind the scenes who did the major work to make this happen. 

I had the honor of seeing all of  the incredible women who put thier lives out there day in and day out to do the work, the incredible women who support us as facilitators and the community members who touch our lives with the work they do in our audience too.  EVERYONE here is still talking about that day and I am sure they will for a long time to come. 

I just want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for making this world a better place.  Whether you are here only as a member and couldn't make it to the conference and are not a member any group, or you are just someone who stops in once in a while and reads posts.......or you are a member, either way, you make a difference.  I am a better person for having been a small part of this movement and I am in awe of this experience.  I hope to hear from you all soon, Love with all my heart, Judy

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Judy M

Review everything you've been taught. Discard anything that is an insult to your soul. And begin again. Walt Whitman

Judy,

Your welcome! Thank you too!  I also share your feeling of almost overwhelming but it was great. And I loved all the speakers too.  I can't wait until next year.

Gotta run I'm working playing catch up at work from being gone those three days.

Kim