Normandy Park Perspective AFG began in March 2025 and meets at the Normandy Park United Church of Christ on Tuesdays from 7-8:00pm. My name is Leslie H., and I would like to share with you how Tahmina R. and I got it started.

We met at the Back to Basics Retreat in September 2024, discovering that we lived a few blocks from each other but had never met. We discussed how the number of in-person-only meetings appears to have decreased since the pandemic, especially on the south side.

There were only a few meetings in the immediate area and we identified a need for a face-to-face meeting that was easy for newcomers to dip their toes into Al Anon. Tahmina and I wished for a weekday evening, hour-long meeting starting at 7:00 pm. A later start time would allow folks to get home from work and enjoy dinner with their families. And the meeting wouldn’t end too late for members who need to be up early the next morning.

I had wanted to start a meeting in Normandy Park for a few years, but I knew I needed support. I am so grateful that Tahmina and I met and were on the same page - a HP gift, for sure. We began planning at the beginning of 2025 and were ready by March. We met a couple of times in person to discuss our vision and check out the venue, but otherwise, we just emailed, texted and chatted after meetings.

I reached out to the pastor of a beautiful church I regularly drove by that was set amongst the trees. it was a happy surprise that the pastor was familiar with the Al-Anon program. She offered to let us pay what we could from our donations (she even cited the Seventh Tradition!) and pay more as our meeting found its legs and grew.

We struck gold with this space! It’s so spacious with lots of light, large windows, and high ceilings. The building is perched on a hill, surrounded by old-growth Douglas firs, and we can hear the birds during the meeting - it almost feels like a treehouse.

The pastor connected us with an AA meeting that also meets in the church, so we could coordinate our storage space. They also helped spread the word about our new meeting. As our very first meeting approached, we shared an announcement flyer in several area Al-Anon meetings and posted it in The Bits. I created a simple flyer for our local libraries and rehab centers, borrowing verbiage from the Al-Anon WSO webpage. The pastor also hung a flyer on the church bulletin board.

I was always nervous about starting a meeting because I was afraid of bearing heavy service responsibilities without support until the meeting established its roots. But the power of the program came through. People showed up from the beginning and signed up for service. Within a month, we had nearly every position filled.

As our meeting began to take shape, our purpose became clear. We have created a space that has a lovely balance of members in long-term recovery and newcomers. No matter how long we have been in the program, our perspectives are a beautiful gift to share. So our name, Normandy Park Perspective, proves very fitting. We hope you can join us!

-Leslie H.