www.gallupindependent.com/1999-2001/4-04-00.html -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 4/4/2000
Last Visited: 8/31/2009
Raymond Daw, the center's executive director, said the wheels were set in motion after he struck up a conversation with a player at a softball game.
While watching from the sidelines, Daw and Gordon Nez, who today is the center's assistant director of support services, discussed the vocational needs of NCI clients.
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They spoke of obstacles within the work force for those who lack skills or education, Daw said, as well as the need for recovering alcoholics to keep busy and avoid too much idle time.
Daw said feelings of boredom lead to substance abuse.
So, too, does a belief that one is incapable of providing for his or her family.
Despite NCI being plagued by limited personnel, resources and space, he said, the two decided it was time to develop a vocational program at the facility.
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Daw said he advocates the idea of volunteerism because of the harsh economic situation within the region.
Consequently, he said, it is unrealistic for clients to expect a paying job immediately.
Volunteering helps recovering alcoholics deal with being a sober person, he said.
By and large, sober alcoholics are good people.
It is when they become intoxicated, he said, that they experience personality changes and behave in socially unacceptable ways.