How to start a Lamplighter chapter & locations of chapters

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Some of you are not able to start a Lamplighter Chapter, do not have one in your area or do not feel comfortable joining one. I understand. We are initiating an alternate Lamplighter program. It is called the Stand Alone and be a part of the Lamplighter Army. If you need support on your journey to heal contact me at Margie@thelamplighters.org. Let me know the town and state (or country) you are from. I will list that town on my website under the Individual Lamplighter Plan on this home page of my website and post a star on the map of that town. That way, if someone in your town needs support they will see that they are not alone. They will email me and with your permission I will give them your email address. That way, while still being anonymous, you can chat on the Internet through emails or chat rooms; you can speak with each other on the phone or you can meet for a cup of coffee. You will have someone to share your story with and would be a part of our Lamplighter Army, our own National Guard. This website is the hub, directing everyone to help. Imagine… a map with so many stars you can hardly see the map!

We now have eight Individual Lamplighters in Columbia, MO., Waco, TX., Ballston Lake, NY ,West Fork, AR, San Antonio, TX, Salt Lake City, UT, and Mt. Pleasant, MI. If you live in or near any of these cities and need help please contact Margie@theLamplighters.org.

While I highly recommend it as a successful model to help you through recovery, it is not necessary to own the book REPAIR or be working the program to start a Lamplighter Chapter of your own. This website is primarily to encourage the formation of Lamplighter Chapters.

No qualifications needed other than a sincere desire to be supportive of child sexual abuse victims who are trying to recover and a commitment to follow the code of The Lamplighters.

How to Start a Chapter of Your Own

Whenever one or more is gathered…

Locate a safe place to hold your meetings: hospital conference rooms, churches, recovery centers, etc.
Decide on the meeting format and the frequency that works best for your group
Spread the word in any way you can: Twelve Step meetings, flyers, ask local radio stations and newspapers to advertise
Ask counselors in your area to recommend The Lamplighters to their clients
Commit yourself to following the Code of The Lamplighters

It’s so easy! Even if it’s just you and a friend sitting in a coffee shop telling your stories and being supportive of each other, that constitutes a Lamplighter Chapter. The facilitator of a meeting is responsible for finding a place to hold the meetings, deciding on the time, frequency of meetings, etc. and then getting the word out. Once you make a decision to start a chapter, you will also be included in the regular group email that goes to all the facilitators and an announcement will appear on a group email as well as on the website. That way you can email each other with ideas and support. AND your STARBURST will appear on our map for everyone to see!

Download the Lamplighter Facilitator Guide (.pdf 580K)

All of the Lamplighter facilitators and potential facilitators are in touch with each other by email to give encouragement, support and ideas. Feeling that a movement of one voice would give more power to these survivors, we hope one day to have Lamplighters all around the world. Are you in a position to start a Chapter or do you know anyone who could? We need an army.

Please let me know if you decide to form one, so that we can maintain a national directory on our web site and pass the torch to new groups. I will be happy to help you start one in any way I can.

You don’t have to be a survivor to start a Lamplighter Chapter although most of our facilitators are. We welcome advocates, therapists and counseling centers!

Email Marjorie McKinnon for further information and for how to contact a Chapter near you at margie@thelamplighters.org