Prepared by the
Midwest Region – 2019

If you have been attending Nar-Anon for a period of time and would like to start a new meeting, or if there aren’t any meetings close to you and you would like to start a new meeting, it is suggested that you review the following questions.  Doing so will serve as an indicator of your readiness to start a new meeting.  Each question has a link that will take you to another page that explains each subject in more detail.

Questions to ask yourself:  (Clicking on the underlined headings will take you to another page that explains this area better.)

• Support from Others – Do you have other individuals outside your immediate family that will work with and support you in starting this meeting?
• Commitment – Are you and your helpers willing to sit through 3-6 months of meetings with little or no participation from new members?
• Experience – Do you have experience in Nar-Anon or another 12-step program like Al-Anon?
• Facility – Do you have a facility that will allow you to hold meetings?
• Financial Considerations – Do you have financial resources to purchase needed literature and cover facility costs for 6 months
• Outreach for New Meetings – Are you willing to contact local newspapers, radio stations or willing to post informational bulletins that inform the public about your meeting?
• Connecting with the Nar-Anon Family – Are you willing to receive guidance from others that have traveled this road by participating in Conference Calls and personal phone calls?
• Healthy Meetings – Are you familiar with how to host a healthy meeting?

It would be great if you can answer all of these questions in the affirmative however, the Midwest Region recognizes that not all individuals will be able to do this. We also understand that there is a need for many more meetings in our geographic area.  We are committed to helping in any way we can to ensure your meeting is a success.  We will provide a Mentor for your group whom you can contact to discuss various challenges that arise. We hold monthly Conference Calls where you will be able to ask questions and have interactions with other group leaders.

It is also suggested that you review the Starting a Group page on the WSO website.