Recreational Therapy At The Okefenokee Swamp

Last weekend, everybody packed up their gear, themselves, and enough food to feed 35 people to head to the Okefenokee Swamp for a camping trip. We take the guys on some kind of trip like this once every few months. Its an important part of their recovery; they learn teamwork and just as important, they learn how to have fun in sobriety. This was our largest group yet-4 staff members, 2 volunteers, several alumni, and the rest, clients.


Friday night was spent cooking out and setting up tents. Saturday, everyone ate breakfast and then headed for a canoe trip through the Okefenokee. The alligators were out, so thankfully, everyone returned intact. That night, we took everyone out to eat and then returned to camp for fellowship. We left Sunday morning after breakfast. All in all, it was a fun, successful trip!

Thought For The Day

Let no one be deluded that a knowledge of the path can substitute for putting one foot in front of the other.--M. C. Richards


Recovering men know this path is not always easy. We usually talk about the benefits of recovery and the many promises of the program. Today, in our fellowship, we talk of the challenges we must face in order to recover. Honesty may be the greatest challenge. It is frightening to be honest with ourselves about things we have never really admitted or faced before.


Sometimes we have new and confusing feelings and think something must be wrong with us. But we may be just experiencing the logical outcome of our earlier commitment to be honest. No one recovers by thinking about it. We must actively take each Step and meet the challenges presented. We are not alone with our difficulties. We are part of a large movement of men committed to recovery, and this quiet moment is one way in which we are simply putting one foot in front of the other.


Today, I pray for the courage to remain faithful when the fears and pains of my transformation are overwhelming.


From Touchstones: A Book of Daily Meditations for Men ©1986, 1991 by Hazelden Foundation.

Ashley Kilpatrick Joins Purple Inc.

We are pleased to announce our newest addition to the Purple staff...Ashley Kilpatrick. Ashley has been working in the field since 1985 and is a Certified Addiction Counselor. He has pursued undergraduate studies at Oglethorpe University and Kennesaw State.


Although he has been in the field for some time, recent advances in the science of addictive disorders has made this an especially wonderful time for Ashley in the treatment industry. He has a personal commitment to his work and consistently pledges to offer his clients the most effective tools for them to be able to make the changes they want to make.


Welcome to the family, Ashley!

Purple Inc. Begins Parent Alumni Program

A few weeks ago, Lynn Bosworth, the mother of one of our alumni, approached Brett and Joel about a parent alumni program. Her idea is to "create an environment in which Purple alumni, parents, and friends become and stay connected to Purple and support it with their work, wisdom, and capabilities".


What a wonderful idea! The clients who graduate have an alumni program that allows them to stay involved with the program and with each other, why shouldn't the parents? Alcohol and drug addiction affects the entire family unit and often the family members work just as hard as the clients.


So, of course, we were on board to help in any way we can. In the next couple of days, an email will be sent out to the families requesting their support and attendance at an organizational meeting to discuss the formation of the program. The meeting will be held at Purple at 7:00 pm on April 7, 2009.

Alumni Function

Purple is hosting a function for alumni this coming Sunday, March 8th. It was originally scheduled for today, but due to the inclement weather we decided to postpone. And since, in Georgia if you don't like the weather, all you need to do is wait ten minutes, one week seemed like ample time for the weather to turn warm again. The event will be a BBQ and a bonfire. Spouses, significant others, and children are welcome. We hope to have a large turn out and chances are, the event will be going on late into the night with plenty of food, fellowship, coffee, and guitar playing!