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A large crowd gathered this morning to formally dedicate the Talkington Foundation and Kelly Club’s building in Neosho. During the dedication ceremony, Talkington Foundation board member Dr. Rodney McFarland talked about the benefits of having the Kelly Club and its services in Neosho.
The Kelly Club offers support for those persons dealing with alcohol and drug addiction. Services like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, which is a family group, and Narcotics Anonymous are all offered under the Kelly Club umbrella.
The Neosho AA chapter was established in the 1940s. Until March 2009, there was no permanent location where the group could meet. Because of the Talkington Foundation, the Kelly Club now has a permanent facility at 209 N. Valley St., in Neosho.
The Talkington Foundation is named for “Uncle Bob Talkington,” who was active in recovery groups for many years in Kansas and Missouri.
The club is named after Kelly Larson, who died of acute alcoholism.
Because of having a permanent location in a visible area in Neosho, Alcoholics Anonymous’ nine group meetings have all seen growth in numbers.
As an example, the Sunday speaker meeting averaged 30 people before the move into the new facility, and in September 2009 it averaged 45.
“This building and these programs have to do with our community and a disease that affects so many families,” McFarland told the crowd. “This has nothing to do with Bob Talkington (founder of the Talkington Foundation). Bob would not want a to-do about him, but he would be very proud of what we are doing here today.
“Alcoholism and drug addiction is a disease just like Type 2 diabetes is a disease. Alcoholism is preventable and it is treatable.”
Also speaking during the event was Judge Tim Perigo, who heads up the Newton County Drug Court, which graduated six people during the ceremony this morning. The Newton County Drug Court is a court-supervised, comprehensive treatment program for non-violent defendants. The drug court is a voluntary program, which includes regular court appearances before the drug court judge. Treatment includes drug testing, individual and group counseling, and regular attendance at 12-step meetings in either Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.
“Through this process we are trying to modify behavior,” Perigo said. “We try to help them and get them to be accountable for their actions. In talking with them, they couldn’t stop talking about Kelly Club. The difference between the first day of drug court and the last day is night and day for those who graduate.
A large crowd gathered this morning to formally dedicate the Talkington Foundation and Kelly Club’s building in Neosho. During the dedication ceremony, Talkington Foundation board member Dr. Rodney McFarland talked about the benefits of having the Kelly Club and its services in Neosho.
The Kelly Club offers support for those persons dealing with alcohol and drug addiction. Services like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, which is a family group, and Narcotics Anonymous are all offered under the Kelly Club umbrella.
The Neosho AA chapter was established in the 1940s. Until March 2009, there was no permanent location where the group could meet. Because of the Talkington Foundation, the Kelly Club now has a permanent facility at 209 N. Valley St., in Neosho.
The Talkington Foundation is named for “Uncle Bob Talkington,” who was active in recovery groups for many years in Kansas and Missouri.
The club is named after Kelly Larson, who died of acute alcoholism.
Because of having a permanent location in a visible area in Neosho, Alcoholics Anonymous’ nine group meetings have all seen growth in numbers.
As an example, the Sunday speaker meeting averaged 30 people before the move into the new facility, and in September 2009 it averaged 45.
“This building and these programs have to do with our community and a disease that affects so many families,” McFarland told the crowd. “This has nothing to do with Bob Talkington (founder of the Talkington Foundation). Bob would not want a to-do about him, but he would be very proud of what we are doing here today.
“Alcoholism and drug addiction is a disease just like Type 2 diabetes is a disease. Alcoholism is preventable and it is treatable.”
Also speaking during the event was Judge Tim Perigo, who heads up the Newton County Drug Court, which graduated six people during the ceremony this morning. The Newton County Drug Court is a court-supervised, comprehensive treatment program for non-violent defendants. The drug court is a voluntary program, which includes regular court appearances before the drug court judge. Treatment includes drug testing, individual and group counseling, and regular attendance at 12-step meetings in either Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous.
“Through this process we are trying to modify behavior,” Perigo said. “We try to help them and get them to be accountable for their actions. In talking with them, they couldn’t stop talking about Kelly Club. The difference between the first day of drug court and the last day is night and day for those who graduate.
“The Kelly Club and the Talkington Foundation is making a difference in our community, and I appreciate the work that you do.”
Don Larson, president of the Talkington Foundation board, said he was “very grateful to everyone. If it weren’t for the drug court, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous these people would probably die — they would die. Alcoholism and drug abuse is a terminal illness”
Larson recognized the many members of the Talkington Foundation’s board of directors, and praised the work they do to “make this community a safer place to live.”
Larson said the Talkington Foundation and the Kelly Club is just getting started, and the support shown from the community this year is an example of “the need for this facility.”
“We are just people that want to help people that have an illness,” Larson said.
