Things are really starting to zoom :o :o :o

Guard,

I am so impressed with your ambition and motivation. If I only I acted on half my dreams with the zeal that you do, I may have accomplished much more.  HKB"H gave you a talent and you are using it properly.  I will act as the faithful follower.  Rav Noach z"tl would be proud. Please count me in on helping where ever I can help.

Rabosai,
I think we all have to start brainstorming how to make GYE a better place.  I have some ideas; I will briefly share below. I gotta get back.  But basically, we need ideas to take what we have and make it even better and more beneficial for people.

We also should start creating some statistical database. Like, how many people that come to GYE actually get help.  If we want real funding we need to  prove ourselves. Testimonials only go so far.  We need real facts.  This can all be done through our woh program.  But we can make it better and stronger.  I have ideas.  We need to know what resources and most beneficial and so that we can make those resources even better.    We have to find out who is leaving GYE and why.  We can't lose sight of the trees.

We should start some sort of couching program where the veterans on GYE (at least 9 months of sobriety) get trained by professionals, (we will phil and R' TWerski's help) and how to properly guide people. For many people, a formal therapy is overkill and all they need is some guidance.  But until now, each person offers his own chizuk as he sees fit and people are not getting a formal mehalech and guidance.  I have seen this idea on recovery nation.  Currently, DuvidChaim I think is the #1 man in this area, but he is only one person, and we may need more of him around.  Perhaps, we can use his useful material as a starting point.  

I think we need to embellish on the 90 day chart by making it more informative. Ideas include creating a checklist for recovery.  This will help the recovering addict keep track of his recovery and to ensure he is taking the proper measures.  This can be done in conjunction with the couching program where the couch will check up on the addict and make sure he is keeping up.  We can also add features like, "what did you learn from the fall?".  Whenever, someone experiences a fall, the program will ask the user to type in a lesson from his fall, this will encourage growth.  We can go on with the ideas.  But i would like to hear from the chevra.  None of this is not that complicated.  

Now, I really gotta go.

DITTO, to YS. 7up, wait for me, i wanna be part of this too, SLOW DOWN!

R' Yaakov, if you are in, so am I bli neder!

I fully agree with your accessment. If there is a training course for veterans, Im # 1 in! Please! If not for the hope that Hashem guides me in answering correctly, I would never be brazen enough to answer anything or share my puny opinion.

I think an opinion form should be created where members can anonymously express opinions and offer suggestions. This should be sent to past members who dissapeared from the forum.



Loi-misyaeish, welcome aboard the express train. Grab onto your hat, we're on the move!

Yakov, thanks!




The idea of the handbooks is exactly what you suggest. The current GYE handbook is a bit out-dated and I am working on a newer version which I hope will be ready within a few days. Also, I would like to develop a similar handbook, but this time it would be focused not on the person suffering, but on Rabbanim, Mashgichim, leaders, etc... on HOW to offer guidance... (it wouldn't have to be that much different than the handbook).

One member of the Mo'etzes Gedolai Hatorah already called and spoke with me for a half hour a few weeks ago, and he was very impressed with our work and was going to write us a letter of support. So if he's on board, then likely the rest of the Mo'etzes Gedolai Hatorah will be too. I would be honored and happy to assist the Agudah in developing a program like Phillip mentioned. We could develop a program that follows a similar approach to the handbook, i.e. practical advice to beating lust addiction based on progressively more intense solutions - for progressive levels of addiction. This is something Klal Yisrael desperately needs for every Mashgiach and Rabbi to know...

As the word spreads and we get better backing, we will be able to raise funds to open a center... And then maybe I can hire Dov, 7Up, Yakov and many of you guys to spread the revolution! (after all, we all need to eat  ) We'll have a web-development department, a PR department [for spreading the word and advertising and networking], a publishing department, a hotline department for all the phone groups, hotlines around the world, etc... etc...

Although Dov is right that we need to worry about ourselves first and take it in baby-steps, but... but... there's no time anymore. Thousands are being swallowed alive every day, and we need to work fast. Perhaps we need to all say - "the heck with me and my humility and my own sobriety... WHAT CAN I DO FOR HASHEM?"  

Ending with a teffilah, PLST and KKAT  :'(

If I get to pick a  job, I'll be the official shomer of the coffee machine and danish distributor.
([size=8pt]What can you expect from me on a fast day :-[/size])



Mi laHashem Eiley!

Too good to be true, r' guard!! 7up you're making me hungry!

UNBELIEVABLE!!! Its the only word that comes to mind right now. And YS and Guard i hope wish and daven that all your ideas come to fruition.
And im in for anything you may need me for. Im not sure ill be of much use, but you do need someone to take out the garbage, no?!?

imtrying25 wrote on 27 Dec 2009 12:48:


Don't we all?  :-[  ;)

guardureyes wrote on 27 Dec 2009 12:28:

Yes, I realize that. But what I mean is taking it the next level and having people like myself trained to help guide people.  Guard, you are the one who pointed out to me way back when that we can't trust most people to be so intense and do it alone.

guardureyes wrote on 27 Dec 2009 12:28:

That's great.  If we could get haskamas on the handbooks that would open up a greater ranger.  Perhaps speak to the R"Y that kedusha sent to you.

guardureyes wrote on 27 Dec 2009 12:28:

Let me say that louder:
but... but... there's no time anymore. Thousands are being swallowed alive every day, and we need to work fast. Perhaps we need to all say - "the heck with me and my humility and my own sobriety... WHAT CAN I DO FOR HASHEM?"

THERE IS A WAR OUT THERE. AND WE ARE THE TROOPS!!!!!!!!!!!

Rav Noach would always remind the people that Ester didn't feel ready either, but Mordachai told her that who knows if this is not the most opportune time.  And while Hashem can surely bring a yeshua in anyway he wants, right now he CHOSE YOU! So we must live up to the mission.  

Baruch Hashem, we have a great leader.


guardureyes wrote on 27 Dec 2009 12:28:


Ending with my own tefilla GHDSFLKCKSDIOFKJHSDPOLKDS (10 Million GYE points)

I agree. Let's add a new department to the plan: A training department. (Although in truth, anyone who is smart and reads the handbooks well a few times, and follows all the links therein, should be more-or-less trained to help anyone get started - I think).




Yes, I bless the day that Dov joined us here!!  :D




I'm not even gonna bother trying because I would NEVER know what to do with so many GYE points!  ;D

BTW. To decipher my Teffilah, you need only look back at Dov's beautiful post to me on this thread...

Am i being left out again?? I guess it always happens to the garbage man. But guard you know im willing and waiting....................

imtrying25 wrote on 27 Dec 2009 13:16:


We only hire people with 90 days  You'll be there in no time!  ;D

guardureyes wrote on 27 Dec 2009 13:18:
Yes i know.As i said im waiting. Btw i sent you the link that uri posted.

7up, i like your call of "mi lhashem alei" - because if you're by the coffee and dansishes today, people will be flocking to you!