Residents starts AA meetings in town
Having a problem is easy — it's admitting you have a problem that takes courage.
A newly formed Alcoholics Anonymous group in Hillsboro hopes to aid those with drinking problems and provide information to concerned family members and friends.
The group is meeting Monday nights at 8 p.m. at Main Street Ministries. The meetings are open, meaning anyone can attend, not just group members.
Hillsboro resident Carrie Horn is leading the new group. She has attended AA meetings on a regular basis for 15 years and considers McPherson's firehouse group her "home group."
Although members' identities are protected at AA meetings, Horn doesn't mind speaking about her problems with alcohol. The power in the addiction is in its secrecy, and she wants to break that secrecy, she said.
Why start an AA group in Hillsboro? In the past one met here, but there hasn't been a local group in a while, Horn said.
Plus she doesn't want to make the drive to McPherson, she said, laughing.
Since anonymity is a part of the AA experience, members only go by their first names. They need to give their permission to talk about a fellow member.
Horn acknowledges that going to a meeting in a small-town environment could be intimidating, since it's harder to maintain that anonymity. For some, going to meetings in another town might be the right decision.
"It's a very individual thing," she said.
But Horn doesn't want the excuse of "it's a small town, people will see me" to prohibit somebody from attending a meeting.
So far Horn has held meetings for three weeks, and as far as numbers go, things have been "pretty quiet," she said.
At each meeting Horn follows the basic guidelines of AA, reading the 12 steps. Topics can change from meeting to meeting, especially according to the number of people there.
The group is a fellowship for those struggling to stay sober to talk about similar experiences, she said.
Horn stressed that she doesn't represent the Alcoholics Anonymous organization — they try to stay out of the media spotlight. She will try to run the meetings according to AA guidelines, but her ideas will be a part of that.
Right now, each week's meeting will be open so anyone can attend. Some people find it easier to go to their first meeting if they can bring a friend or family member alone, Horn said. But if the group were to want closed "members only" meetings she would do that also.
Horn encourages people to come who may not be sure they have a problem with alcohol or even just have a family member or friend they're concerned about. AA meetings are still appropriate for those who have been sober for many years.
For more information, contact Horn at 947-3161 or Main Street Ministries at 947-3393.
