Starlite Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Alumni

March 2005 Newsletter

From the Director's Chair by Kirk Kureska

Howdy! All my collection of weird cousin's. Another year is on us. I hope this letter finds you all sober and in good health with many blessings to your families. The beginning of a new year is wrought with many hopes, and aspirations for the coming months. In the New Year at Starlite, we have set forth with many changes - I have moved to the Executive Directors position as Jeff Bishop has moved to a Corporate Position in Pennsylvania (2 feet of snow? I think the Texas boy is out of his element). In November, we brought on Brian Samford as the Clinical Director - a Wichita Falls man by way of Lubbock, and Mike Square, of San Antonio, as Controller. Both have fit to the team immediately and are doing a great job in their new roles. JP moved to a marketing position and is covering San Antonio and the southern Gulf Coastl Valley area. Tommie Barrett, who many of you remembered as the client rights advocate, is now Administrative Assistant; Elizabeth Calderon was hired to take on Human Resources. Bill Hasse took a little break this year "to go fishing" and has come back to work in the Intake department; yep that's what every drunk needs - to hear Bill when they call for help. Roland Rodriguez and Lorie Montez were both hired in December as clinical interns and immediately jumped into the clinical team and proved to be huge assets to the program. Jose Madrigal came on in January to take on the role of dietary manager. This man actually walks around during meal times to check on how the meal is. At the Summit House the staff continues to press forward - in the last 6 months we have brought on Darrell Brown and Ashleigh Reed who have just hit the ground running and proven to be committed to the young adults and opportunity for recovery. Mamie, Niki, John, Ben, and Felipe are expecting to see a great turnout for the reunion. We finally opened the new counseling building and remodeled the cafeteria, and you should see what we are doing to the gym! The facility will continue its metamorphosis to continue to be the best treatment facility period - but we have committed to not let it lose the home feeling that the staff works hard to maintain.

While sitting at my computer to write this, it dawned on me how long it has been since our last note. I have seen many of you through the last 6 months at your home groups, alumni parties, etc., but to those I have missed I do hope you're planning to come to the reunion this year. Since the last newsletter many of you have called with miracles and milestones some, with moments of struggles and some with notes of the battle lost. This disease is relentless and we must continue to maintain and sustain the work. Each day offers me new opportunities to know this fellowship, my God and me better, if I stay in the work. I have come to understand that my job is to do what I am asked to do and something more, rather than the least I have to do while trying to get the most out of it. I realize that I can't be too generous to the suffering alcoholic and addict, and that the gift that was so freely given to me doesn't belong solely to me that I must give it to others-any lengths means any lengths ... What if Michelangelo said I don't do ceilings, or David said I don't do Goliaths, or Bob S. said I don't do drunks to Bill W. Where would we be? - I think what if Sh***y Smitty from Gregory City said I don't do young people in AA where would I be? What we do today directly affects those around us and generations to come-yes we are that important. If you have sat in your home and thought I have nothing to give today so I'm not going to go a meeting - you just became the most selfish person on the planet. What about the man or woman who may come back today/tonight looking for you from last night when you were at that meeting and you're not there. Get up and go to your meeting! Give.

Addictions enslave and kill - spiritually, mentally and ultimately physically, but if we persist - fight the good fight - this fellowship offers a painful, difficult but awesome path to freedom (steps). Sometimes we must pass through hell (again) to get to heaven. As our lives evolve and it is revealed who it is our creator made us to be, we find our own effort and courage, the opportunity of a new freedom and new happiness (I read in a book somewhere) is laid before us. Understanding and taking action on this knowledge is power and provides the impetus and a foundation for that change. The promise and possibility remain before us. With growing self respect, we become like the child we once were: living in hope and not fear, clear mind, open emotions, vulnerable, and real. With the commitment to see and clear our obstacles and obstructions, we continue to take the critical steps, quantum leaps at times and become that person.with notes of This thing is a here and now issue - take the opportunity of the millions in this fellowship. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Make this day a day worth remembering and talking about. If no one has told you today they Love and are proud of you, I am-God Bless and Good Steps.

Finance Department - What Do They Do? by Mike Square

For those of you who don't know what we do in Finance, here is a brief list of some of our functions. In following issues, we will explore some of the areas that are outlined here, in some detail, and answer questions from you.

We are responsible for reviewing and submitting invoices for payment for all functions of the facility, including utilities, medicines, services and food. We track and report the financial health of the facility to the Corporate offices each month. We coordinate payroll information and send it to the payroll processing service.

We assist with the employment process from start to finish, and coordinate training and orientation for employees. We provide payment information and options to the clients upon admission, throughout their stay, and just before discharge. We act as client advocates, coordinating client complaints and concerns, and notifying the clients of the resolution of those concerns. We operate the client commissary. We assist local users with computer, printer, and software problems. In conjunction with other departments, we give Management daily, weekly, and monthly financial information that allows them to make informed decisions regarding the direction of the facility. We bill insurance companies and individuals for the services that Starlite provides. These are just a few of the more critical functions of the Finance Department.

Life Healing Center

CRC Health, our parent company, has a facility in New Mexico called Life Healing Center. The Life Healing Center of Santa Fe is a therapeutic residential facility specializing in the treatment of adults who have experienced severe emotional trauma. The specific trauma can range from a single catastrophic event to ongoing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, whether recent or in the past. The center also provides continuing care for chemical dependency, eating disorders, and relationship difficulties.

The facility offers intensive treatment to individuals who are ready to move to the next crucial stage in their healing process. The goal is to equip residents with the tools to understand and heal wounds of trauma assisting them in the development of the emotional skills that will help them face the challenges of daily life. The treatment program at The Life Healing Center combines the specificity and depth of intense individual therapy with the healing power of group work.

Who should be referred?

• Clients who need a safer, more intense and structured setting than outpatient therapy
• Clients completing in-patient treatment who need extended care
• Clients with addiction patterns influenced by unresolved trama issues
• Clients with disossociative conditions requiring self-management skills.

For futher information, call (866) 220-1626

Something New

This year we have made arrangements with Kato's to use their building as a "gathering place" for alumni to gather and meet and have a cup of coffee before and after the events here at Starlite for the reunion. This will give you an opportunity "gear up" and "wind down" with fellow alumni for the weekend. Local alumni will host the event. The schedule will be listed in the May newsletter.

Intimacy vs. Isolation by Brian Samford

A primary aspect of addiction is that of isolation. Isolation, as referred to here, is our inability to connect with others emotionally and spiritually. As our addiction worsens, our isolation increases to a point of feeling completely alone in the world. A paradox is that many people have offered to help, but as with a man holding a glass of water dying of thirst, we could not accept their help. A second paradox is that in efforts to relieve the pain of isolation, we used more alcohol and drugs, which further isolated us from the world.

The importance of intimacy, the opposite of isolation, is that those who can be intimate with others do not have to use substances to cope with everyday life. For example, when feeling overwhelmed by a situation, a person who posses intimate relationships opens up to friends and family to heed understanding, support, and solutions. Whereas, the practicing alcoholic or drug addict gives up and engages in a bender. A primary goal of recovery is the movement from isolation to intimacy.

The good news is that we no longer have to live alone. The movement from isolation to intimacy requires a few ingredients and steps. The ingredients are willingness and honesty. We have to become willing to let others in. We begin this process by asking and allowing others to help us. Next, we share with another human being all of our hopes, fears and secrets from the past. We do this no matter how uncomfortable this makes us. We also have to be honest with others as to or current thinking and behaviors. Willingness to do this on a daily basis prevents us from slipping back into the dark place of isolation. Lastly, these listed actions are achieved by working the 12-steps. The steps allow us to relearn how to have intimate relationships. The first word in the steps is "We." I cannot stay sober alone but "We" can.

Phases Initiated

As the capacity of Starlite has increased over the past year, so have the clientele. As a result, the large 9: 10 AM. and 1 :00 P.M. groups have been split into two groups - Phase I for those clients within the first 15 days of admission, and Phase II for those in the last half of their treatment. Each group has subjects that are appropriate for where they are in their recovery program. Clients are very pleased with the change and have commented that they feel more involved in their treatment. More involvement means stronger recovery. Starlite continues to offer one-on-one counseling with the addition of one new counselor and three new counselor interns.

What's New?

2004 was a year of expansion for Starlite. We added a new counseling building housing four counselors, the Family Weekend staff, and a large group room; 13 new beds to the men's wing, bath roo ms were added to roo ms 12 and 17 so a II rooms now have private baths, new carpeting, and a large kitchen/dining hall expansion was completed in March of this year. We anticipate starting construction in late summer/early fall on a new 16-bed fe ma Ie ado lesce nt unit to beg in 0 peration the 1 st of 2006. The improvements made are benefiting all those that enter our doors for recovery. Thank you for your patience.

Does Golf Fit You To A Tee?

The first annual Starlite Alumni Golf Outing will be held on Sunday, June 5, 2005 after the Alumni Reunion. Come enjoy a round of golf with the Starlite staff, no matter how high or low your handicap. Teams consisting of three Alumni and one staff member per team. Staff participants include:
Kirk Kureska, Administrator Arne Benson, Intake Director Joe Budell, Plant Operations Brian Samford, Clinical Director Mike Square, Controller John Lacy, Regional V.P.

Prizes for: Best Team Score, Best Single Score Duffer's Award Longest Drive, Hole in One (closest to the pin)
Place: Flying L Guest Ranch, Bandera, TX
Time: 1:00PM Shotgun Start
Cost: Green Fees - $35 + Tax (Includes Cart and Range Balls

For more details, call (866) 220-1626

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