Support Quality Sober Living
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Hello everyone!
My name is Tom Gilbert, I’m an alcoholic in long-term active recovery, and I’d like to tell you my story.
Now, the general public doesn’t know what long-term recovery means. To me, it means that I haven’t had a drink or drug in over thirteen years, that I actively practice a program of recovery, and that by all measures, my life hasn’t been better. I think that our community would be well-served if we had an honest, public discussion about recovery and addiction remedy, which is why I tell my story.
I was a District Court Judge for two years when I attended a Rolling Stones concert in Detroit and smoked marijuana. A few days later, I discovered that someone saw me at the concert, recognized who I was and reported it to the court where I worked. I had broken my oath of office and violated the public trust.
When word got around, my name and face were in the paper, on the evening news. I eventually ended up being the object of a joke during the monologue of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Even today, if you Google the phrase “pot smoking judge” my story will be your first result. My life was on full display, and I was publicly shamed for my actions.
I was fortunate enough to attend a thirty-day program at a treatment center, and I have not had a relapse experience in the past thirteen years. But I think that’s mostly because I actively practice a program of recovery. I attend meetings and practice the Twelve-Step program every single day.
As I continued this practice of recovery over these past few years, I felt a calling to help build a culture of recovery into our community. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed, but it felt right to take time and learn as much as I possibly could about recovery. I decided to enroll in a graduate program at the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies, where I received a Masters in Addiction Counseling. I continued to learn even more about addiction and recovery as I began a new career as a professional Interventionist. In 2009, I became the CEO of Tallgrass Recovery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and became even more familiar with the “sober living residence” model of recovery, and I saw first hand how well it works and how many lives it saved.
That brings us to November of 2013 when TC Retreat first began. I gathered together a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, and passionate volunteers who believe in long-term recovery solutions. We purchased a house in late 2015, and our doors officially opened in December when we moved in our first two residents of our Men’s sober living home. We’ve had five men live at the house so far, and two that have successfully moved out and continued down their path of recovery.
I started TC Retreat because I believe that it can save lives. Research clearly shows us that the longer somebody is engaged in recovery, the more likely they are to stay clean and sober. The men who live at the house right now are a clear example of that. They are engaged in recovery, practicing it on a daily basis, and are living their best lives right now.
We’ve fought a few battles along the way, most notably the process to appeal the zoning director’s original declaration that TC Retreat was operating as a treatment center, which we successfully appealed on May 10th. We are also having some financial struggles as we work towards paying the house off in full.
Which is why we’re asking for your help today to continue saving the lives of those actively working towards their recovery. We need financial support to continue paying off the house, and we need community support to show support for this community benefit.
With your generous help, we will be able to continue running our men’s sober living residence, and begin to make steps to open other community resources like this for the Traverse City area. Please consider lending your support to TC Retreat through a donation to our cause, and feel free to tell all your friends about us by sharing this page on Facebook.
Help us save lives today.
Thank you,
Tom Gilbert.
Support Quality Sober Living in Traverse City, Michigan with TC Retreat: A self-governing, mutually managed sober living home.
We believe that if we provide a dignified, safe and supportive environment, accurate information about the problem and the solution, and a solid bridge to the 12-step community, you will have a life beyond your wildest dreams.
Please join the conversation on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/TCRetreat.
If you or someone you know has achieved 30 days of sobriety, has a willingness to work a 12-step program and would like to commit to living in a safe, supportive environment for a minimum of 6 months, you may qualify to be our next resident. For more information and an application, please connect with Jenny at (231) [phone redacted].
My name is Tom Gilbert, I’m an alcoholic in long-term active recovery, and I’d like to tell you my story.
Now, the general public doesn’t know what long-term recovery means. To me, it means that I haven’t had a drink or drug in over thirteen years, that I actively practice a program of recovery, and that by all measures, my life hasn’t been better. I think that our community would be well-served if we had an honest, public discussion about recovery and addiction remedy, which is why I tell my story.
I was a District Court Judge for two years when I attended a Rolling Stones concert in Detroit and smoked marijuana. A few days later, I discovered that someone saw me at the concert, recognized who I was and reported it to the court where I worked. I had broken my oath of office and violated the public trust.
When word got around, my name and face were in the paper, on the evening news. I eventually ended up being the object of a joke during the monologue of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Even today, if you Google the phrase “pot smoking judge” my story will be your first result. My life was on full display, and I was publicly shamed for my actions.
I was fortunate enough to attend a thirty-day program at a treatment center, and I have not had a relapse experience in the past thirteen years. But I think that’s mostly because I actively practice a program of recovery. I attend meetings and practice the Twelve-Step program every single day.
As I continued this practice of recovery over these past few years, I felt a calling to help build a culture of recovery into our community. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed, but it felt right to take time and learn as much as I possibly could about recovery. I decided to enroll in a graduate program at the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies, where I received a Masters in Addiction Counseling. I continued to learn even more about addiction and recovery as I began a new career as a professional Interventionist. In 2009, I became the CEO of Tallgrass Recovery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and became even more familiar with the “sober living residence” model of recovery, and I saw first hand how well it works and how many lives it saved.
That brings us to November of 2013 when TC Retreat first began. I gathered together a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, and passionate volunteers who believe in long-term recovery solutions. We purchased a house in late 2015, and our doors officially opened in December when we moved in our first two residents of our Men’s sober living home. We’ve had five men live at the house so far, and two that have successfully moved out and continued down their path of recovery.
I started TC Retreat because I believe that it can save lives. Research clearly shows us that the longer somebody is engaged in recovery, the more likely they are to stay clean and sober. The men who live at the house right now are a clear example of that. They are engaged in recovery, practicing it on a daily basis, and are living their best lives right now.
We’ve fought a few battles along the way, most notably the process to appeal the zoning director’s original declaration that TC Retreat was operating as a treatment center, which we successfully appealed on May 10th. We are also having some financial struggles as we work towards paying the house off in full.
Which is why we’re asking for your help today to continue saving the lives of those actively working towards their recovery. We need financial support to continue paying off the house, and we need community support to show support for this community benefit.
With your generous help, we will be able to continue running our men’s sober living residence, and begin to make steps to open other community resources like this for the Traverse City area. Please consider lending your support to TC Retreat through a donation to our cause, and feel free to tell all your friends about us by sharing this page on Facebook.
Help us save lives today.
Thank you,
Tom Gilbert.
Support Quality Sober Living in Traverse City, Michigan with TC Retreat: A self-governing, mutually managed sober living home.
We believe that if we provide a dignified, safe and supportive environment, accurate information about the problem and the solution, and a solid bridge to the 12-step community, you will have a life beyond your wildest dreams.
Please join the conversation on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/TCRetreat.
If you or someone you know has achieved 30 days of sobriety, has a willingness to work a 12-step program and would like to commit to living in a safe, supportive environment for a minimum of 6 months, you may qualify to be our next resident. For more information and an application, please connect with Jenny at (231) [phone redacted].
Organizer
Tom Gilbert
Organizer
Traverse City, MI