·       A group of individuals concerned about the voice of recovery in the Bangor area began meeting at the Bagel Central;

·       The group began to recruit additional individuals to join the discussion;

·       A decision was made to convene a summit on addiction recovery in September to coincide with National Recovery Month;

·       The group convened a planning retreat that established the Bangor Area Recovering Community Coalition (BARCC);

·       While maintaining its own purpose and mission, for administrative purposes, BARCC became a Health Action Team for the Bangor Region Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB);

·       With BARCC as a Health Action Team for the PHAB, a strong partnership was formed between BARCC and the City of Bangor’s Department of Health and Community Services;

·       BARCC planned and implemented a very successful Summit on Addiction Recovery entitled “Broadening the Base for Recovery: Promoting Pathways to Recovery in the 21^st Century.”

o       The Summit’s keynote speaker was Steven Rowe, Attorney General for the State of Maine;

o       The Summit was attended by over 175 individuals, with a minimum estimate of 60% of those individuals as being in recovery;

o       The Summit received excellent media coverage, including 2 editorials in the Bangor Daily News, 2 press releases, and a news story. In addition, the Summit was covered by all three major television stations, as well as a feature on Maine Public Broadcasting Network radio.

·       BARCC utilized feedback gathered at the Summit to develop an action plan for recovery advocacy. 

·       BARCC established a governance structure for implementing the action plan.  In addition to the overall coalition governance, two standing committees on Advocacy and Education were established.  BARCC core membership has grown to 27 members, with active recruitment of additional members.

·       The governance structure was fully formed with meeting times and places established, with co-chairs identified for each committee.

·       By year’s end, the Advocacy and Education Committees had begun their work and were moving toward initial implementation of the 2009 goals.

·       BARCC’s website has been developed, featuring a comprehensive array of recovery-related information, support, and links. The website address is http://sites.google.com/site/bangorrecovery/.

·       BARCC is providing technical assistance in establishing a peer recovery support group for individuals who are in recovery and receiving medication-assisted treatment.

·       BARCC is providing technical assistance to a local planning group who wishes to establish the Bangor Area Recovery Network (B.A.R.N.), a local recovery center and sobriety club.  A site has been located, incorporation is pending, and start-up support pledged.