The core unit of LifeRing is the recovery meeting. Meetings are autonomous except in matters affecting other meetings and the organization as a whole. Click to see the current worldwide schedule of face-to-face (F2F) meetings and online resources including meetings.  For organizational details, download a PDF copy of the 2012 Bylaws.

The LifeRing Service Center in Oakland, CA performs worldwide information & referral and other services for the meetings. LifeRing Press publishes books, brochures, and other media.

LifeRing Inc., a California nonprofit corporation with 501(c)(3) charitable tax-exempt status, owns the LifeRing service marks and is responsible for finances. See legal documents, below. A nine-member Board of Directors, composed of alcoholics/addicts with a minimum of two years clean and sober, oversees the corporation and provides worldwide coordination where needed.

LifeRing is a free-standing organization. LifeRing is not affiliated with any other organization, and is independent financially, legally, organizationally and in every other way. LifeRing is supported by meetings that forward proceeds from passing the basket,  by literature sales, and by individual donations.  All LifeRing officer, directors, and convenors are unpaid volunteers.

Members of the LifeRing Inc. Board of Directors are:

• Dru Boyd, San Leandro CA.  Dru convenes in Union City and Fremont. California. Re-elected in 2012, term ends in 2015.
• Kathleen Gargan, Denver CO.  Kathleen is the founding convenor of LifeRing in Colorado.  She served as LifeRing’s Executive Director during 2011-12. Re-elected to the board in 2010, term ends 2013.
• Troy Spears, Modesto, CA.  Troy is founding member of LifeRing Modesto. Elected in 2012, term ends 2014.
• Joe Mott, San Francisco CA.  More than four years clean and sober, Joe is both an M.D. and a J.D. Elected in 2010, term ends 2013
• Tim Reith, Tucson, AZ.  Was convenor in Lafayette CO, and continues to remain in contact there.  Now co-convenes with Chet Gardiner in Tucson.  Elected in 2011, term ends in 2013  He serves as Secretary of the Board.
• Steve Snyder, Odessa, TX. Involved with LifeRing’s online venues for a decade, Steve currently serves as Online Coordinator. Elected to the Board in 2011, term ends in 2014.
• Njon Weinroth, Currently convenes 2 San Francisco meetings and is the founder of 4 meetings, Njon serves as the Bay Area Outreach Coordinator.  Available for Bay Area speaking engagements. Elected to the Board in 2011, term ends 2014.
• Craig Whalley, Port Angeles WA.  A long-time online member, listmeister, and earlier Board Member, Craig was selected as Executive Director of the 2010 Congress where he was also elected to the board, reelected 2012, term ends 2015. Currently serves as board chair.
• Carola Ziermann, Walnut Creek CA. Carola is an active convenor, speaker, and fundraiser. Reelected 2012, term ends in 2015. She serves as Treasurer

Current officers of LifeRing Inc. are:

• Robert Stump, Executive Director
• Craig Whalley, Board Chair
• Tim Reith Secretary
• Carola Ziermann Treasurer

Current Regional Representatives of LifeRing Inc. are:

• Mona H., Outreach Coordinator
• Steve S., Online Region Representative
• Mona H., Northeast US Region Representative
• Njon W., San Francisco Bay Area Region Representative

Founder and CEO 1997-2010:  

• Marty Nicolaus

 

The LifeRing Bylaws require a minimum of two years clean and sober to serve on the Board of Directors and a minimum of one year clean and sober to serve as an officer.  Directors and officers must be people in recovery from a substance addiction.

The board meets face-to-face at the annual LifeRing Congress and it meets between Congresses in an online chat room or via telephone conference call.  Except during discussion of personnel matters, LifeRing board meetings are open to all LifeRing members.  Notices of upcoming board meetings are posted on the liferingconvenors mailing list.

Who Leads LifeRing Meetings?

LifeRing meetings are started and led by peer volunteers called “convenors.”  Convenors are ordinary people in recovery who take turns performing the tasks necessary to keep the LifeRing meeting network going and growing.  There are convenor workshops where convenors meet, exchange experiences, and help new convenors learn the ropes, but no formal training or certificate is required to be a convenor. To learn more, go to the Convenor page.

Start a New Meeting

If you have substantial time clean and sober and would like to make the LifeRing approach available as a choice to other people in recovery, starting a meeting may be a helpful element in your personal recovery plan.  First check out the Meeting Schedule and the Chat Schedule to see if there is already a meeting in the place and/or time that interests you.  Then check out the Meeting Starter Kit Page for the range of available resources for LifeRing convenors.

History of LifeRing

LifeRing began as a publishing house, LifeRing Press, founded in April 1997.  On May 23, 1999, a group of meeting representatives convened in Albany CA and voted to adopt the name LifeRing Secular Recovery. LifeRing became a national organization at its constitutional Congress in Brooksville FL in February 2001.

LifeRing Documents

• 2012 Bylaws of LifeRing.
• LifeRing’s 501(c)(3) determination letter and renewal letter
• The corporate charter of LifeRing Inc.

Legal Notice

LifeRing Press, LifeRing Recovery, LifeRing Secular Recovery and the lifering graphic design are registered trademarks/servicemarks of LifeRing Inc.  This website is Copyright © 1996-2012 LifeRing Inc. as to original material, and Copyright © 1996-2012 as a compilation of materials to which copyright is held by individual authors.  All rights reserved.  The LifeRing meeting charter and Bylaws are official publications of LifeRing Inc., approved by the LifeRing Congress.  All other publications, including without limitation the content of posts, blog items, comments, books, brochures, flyers, other publications, and linked sites on this website, represent the opinions of their authors.