VolunteerCONNECTION - March 2025

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Subject: VolunteerCONNECTION - March 2025

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Dear SMART Recovery Volunteers,

Spring is a time of growth and renewal, and we’re seeing that reflected in the SMART community—new resources, new opportunities to connect, and new ways to support each other. Whether you’ve been facilitating for years or just started your journey with SMART, we appreciate the time, energy, and passion you bring to creating communities of empowerment.

In this issue, we’re sharing important updates to help you stay informed and engaged, including:

✔️ A special Town Hall to guide you through the updates to the SMART Recovery Handbook

✔️ Key reminders to ensure your meeting listings and SMART Zoom accounts are up to date

✔️ Opportunities to get involved, whether by joining the Volunteer Support Committee or participating in a research study.

And as we look ahead to April’s Volunteer Month, we’ll be celebrating YOU—the facilitators, mentors, and supporters who make SMART Recovery possible. Stay tuned for ways to get involved, share your experiences, and be recognized.

Thank you for being a part of this community and for all that you do.

With appreciation,

Senior Director of Program Delivery

Announcements

Volunteer Month is Coming🎉

SMART Recovery volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. You’re not just facilitating meetings—you’re building communities of empowerment, support, and change. Your dedication makes a profound difference in the lives of those seeking recovery, and we want to take this month to celebrate all that you do!

To celebrate YOU, we have a month filled with appreciation, recognition, and opportunities to connect. Watch your email for more details!

💙 We’d love to hear from you! Fill out this form to share:
✔️ What inspires you in your volunteer work with SMART
✔️ How you see empowerment and community manifest in your meetings
✔️ A special volunteer who has supported you that you’d like to recognize

We can’t wait to celebrate you and the incredible impact you make. Keep an eye on your inbox for special announcements, ways to participate, and opportunities to connect and learn throughout the month!

Celebrate or Reflect

Handbook Update - Townhall & What's Next

We’re ready at last to unveil the updated SMART Recovery Participant Handbook—and we want you to be the first to explore what’s new! This updated edition features renamed tools, new additions like setting boundaries and mindfulness practices, and a more inclusive approach to recovery paths.

Many of you who requested an advance copy should have received it by now—thank you for taking the time to review the updates! If you did not request an early copy, don’t worry! The new handbook will be available for purchase in the SMART Recovery Shop by April 20, 2025. If you’re attending the SMART Recovery Conference, you’ll also have the opportunity to get a copy there.

To support facilitators in understanding and implementing these changes, we’re hosting a special Town Hall event where we’ll discuss:

✔️ Key updates to the handbook – What’s changed, including renamed tools and expanded content.

✔️ New additions – Topics like setting boundaries, self-compassion, and other valuable tools to enhance participant support.

✔️ A more inclusive approach – How the revised language and structure create a welcoming space for all recovery pathways.

✔️ A tentative timeline for additional resources – We’re working on updated training materials, facilitator guides, and supplemental resources to align with the new handbook. You’ll get an overview of what’s coming and when to expect these updates.

This volunteer-focused Town Hall is your chance to ask questions, get familiar with what’s changed, and feel confident bringing the updated handbook into your meetings. Whether you’ve already peeked at the new version or are just hearing about it now, this session is for you!

📅 Town Hall Date: April 21, 2025, at 8:30 PM ET

🔗 Register Here: SMART Recovery Town Hall Registration

We hope to see you there!

Conference Impact on Facilitator Training & Support Meetings

With the SMART Recovery National Conference just around the corner, we want to remind facilitators that some facilitator training and support meetings may be canceled or rescheduled due to conference-related commitments.

If you regularly attend a Facilitator Training or Support Meeting, please check the meeting schedule in advance to confirm whether your session is still taking place. We encourage you to plan ahead so you don’t miss the opportunity for connection and support.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing many of you at the conference!

Reminders

Is Your Meeting Listing Up to Date?

Keeping the SMART Recovery meeting list accurate and up to date is essential to ensuring participants can find and attend meetings that are actively running. To support this effort, we periodically review all listed meetings and reach out to facilitators when there have been no updates in the past 12 months.

If you facilitate a SMART Recovery meeting, we encourage you to confirm your meeting details using our Meeting Verification Form or by emailing VolunteerHQ@smartrecovery.org. This quick check helps us verify both public and private meetings and ensures participants are not encountering outdated or inactive listings.

🔹 Why is this important?

✔️ An up-to-date meeting list helps participants find the support they need without frustration.

✔️ It ensures that our directory accurately reflects active and available meetings.

✔️ It allows us to remove or update listings as needed, reducing confusion for those seeking help.

✔️ Still facilitating? Use the form to confirm your meeting details.

✔️ No longer facilitating? Let us know so we can update our records.

We appreciate your help in keeping SMART Recovery’s meeting list as accurate and accessible as possible!

Confirm Meeting Status

SMART Provided Zoom Accounts

SMART Recovery routinely audits the Zoom accounts we provide to facilitators to ensure they are being actively used. As part of our commitment to being good stewards of our financial resources, we aim to ensure that Zoom accounts are available for those who need them while avoiding unnecessary costs for unused accounts.

If you receive an email inquiring about your Zoom account usage, please respond by the deadline provided to ensure uninterrupted access.

✔️ Still using your SMART Zoom account? Confirm now to retain access.
✔️ No longer using your account? Let us know so we can reassign it to another facilitator who needs it.
✔️ Only using your SMART Zoom account a few times a year? Consider letting us know so we can recycle the account for more regular use.

To confirm your Zoom account, if you have questions, or if you’d like us to recycle your Zoom account, please reach out to Melina at mgilbert@smartrecovery.org.

Thank you for helping us ensure our Zoom resources are used efficiently and remain available for those who need them!

New Resources in VolunteerHQ

📢 Reminder: Key facilitator resources in VolunteerHQ have been updated to better support you in leading meetings!

Facilitators play a vital role in creating a welcoming and empowering space for participants. To ensure you have the most up-to-date tools and guidance, we’ve refreshed several key resources. These updates provide clearer expectations, reinforce SMART Recovery’s values, and offer additional support when challenges arise.

🆕 What’s New?

✔ Opening Statements for 4-Point and Family & Friends meetings – Refreshed language to better reflect SMART’s approach.

✔ Meeting Guidelines – Clear expectations to support effective, inclusive meetings.

✔ Volunteer Code of Conduct – Reinforcing SMART Recovery’s values of respect, empowerment, and accountability.

✔ Facilitator Support Policy: Navigating Personal and Health Challenges – Guidance on what to do if challenges arise while leading meetings.

📌 Where to Find These Updates
These resources are available in VolunteerHQ in the Meeting Resources section under Volunteer Resources.

We encourage all facilitators to review them and ensure they are aligned with the latest best practices.

Thank you for your commitment to making SMART Recovery meetings a supportive and engaging space for all!

Opportunities

Expanding Volunteer Support

SMART Recovery’s Volunteer Support Committee is looking for engaged volunteers to help mentor and support facilitators.

✔ Help new facilitators gain confidence in leading meetings

✔ Support volunteers through challenges like participant conflicts or engagement issues

✔ Create a welcoming, connected volunteer community

If you’re interested in supporting fellow volunteers as a Volunteer Support Coordinator (VSC), we’d love to hear from you!

Help us strengthen support for SMART Recovery facilitators—join us today!

I Want to be a VSC

Research Study

Albert Tran, a former SMART facilitator and clinical psychology graduate student, is conducting a 15-minute anonymous survey on experiences in substance use recovery and SMART Recovery. The goal is to increase knowledge that can inform mental health professionals, policymakers, SMART participants, and their families.

📢 How You Can Help:

✔️ Complete the survey to share your experiences

✔️ Share it with your meeting participants (virtual or in-person)

✔️ Help spread the word to others in the SMART community

Your participation will contribute to research that can shape the future of recovery support and treatment.

Thank you for helping advance recovery research and the SMART community!

Take Survey

Get the Flyer

Facilitator Training & Support

🗓️ Daily Sessions
We offer training sessions throughout the work week, accessible via Zoom and scheduled to fit your busy day. Dive into Motivational Interviewing practice, attend interactive Lunch & Learn discussions, and participate in our SMART Meeting Management (SMM) sessions. Get the latest insights and practical tips directly from SMART staff and experienced volunteers!

💬 Get Answers and Support
Have questions? This is your chance to ask SMART staff directly and get real-world advice from seasoned volunteers. Gain insights, refine your techniques, and build confidence in a supportive learning environment.

📅 Check Out the Schedule
Ready to join us? Visit VolunteerHQ to see the full schedule and add these events to your calendar. Don’t miss the chance to connect, learn, and grow with SMART Recovery!

Final Thoughts

As we move into a new season, we’re reminded of the power of growth, connection, and support. Every meeting you lead, every conversation you foster, and every moment you spend supporting others makes a lasting impact.

We hope this newsletter gives you the tools and inspiration to continue building stronger communities of empowerment within SMART Recovery.

Thank you for all that you do—you are truly the heart of this organization.

💙 We appreciate you!

Submit Your Group Donations
to SMART Recovery

Your group donations to SMART Recovery help empower individuals nationwide with tools and communities to reduce or resolve any addictive behavior. After you've covered any local rent or supply expenses, please send the surplus to the National Office. These funds are important to our ongoing support of meetings and volunteers nationally.

Submit Your Group Donation

SMART Recovery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Subject: VolunteerCONNECTION - March 2025