Jean Grow, assistant professor of advertising and public relations, said there was an expressed interest in the immediate area which created the need for a new meeting group. The number of group members is difficult to pinpoint now because it depends on the dynamics of the community, Grow said. Each Al-Anon group grows and develops at its own pace.

She said it is “very helpful” for the community to have such a resource.

Al-Anon is a non-profit organization and membership is free and offered to anyone who has a family member or friend affected by alcoholism. Al-Anon of Southeastern Wisconsin operates over 100 meetings each week, said Linda Doran, director of Al-Anon of Southeastern Wisconsin. One such meeting is being held every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union, room 374.

Al-Anon has been in the area for about 25 years.

The meetings are structured the same throughout the world, Grow said. They begin with introductions. If there are any new comers to the group, they will receive specific suggestions and information.

She also said each meeting includes a moment of silence, followed by a serenity prayer and the reading of the philosophy of the group. The group reads between 10 and 25 pieces of literature on the topic of the meeting. Each member then shares his or her response to the readings, which come from books put out by the Al-Anon group, Grow said.

“It’s nice to be able to offer students,” said Mike Zebrowski, associate director and psychologist of the Counseling Center. “Many students look for convenient groups such as this one.”

The group is not affiliated with any specific religious organization, but is a spiritual group, Grow said. It “is open to all people,” regardless of denomination.

Doran described the organization as one in which group members focus on sharing their experience, strength and hope to solve common problems brought on by another’s use of alcohol.

Grow said the group uses the same 12-step program as the Alcoholics Anonymous faction.

“There has been little formal research about Al-Anon,” said Stephen Saunders, associate professor of psychology. “But just to share experiences and talk with others is extremely helpful.”

It can be very difficult for anyone who has been affected by alcoholism and has alcoholic issues within the family, he said.

Even if the person is just able to discuss the problem, not necessarily solving anything can ease tension, Saunders said. Talking about the situation with others can make the victim’s circumstances seem “not abnormal and even understandable.”