Shirley Johnson Retires from CFR-AZ

Since 2001, Shirley Johnson has served as a key volunteer with the Casting for Recovery program in Arizona. Not only was she instrumental in bringing the CFR program to the state, she has worked hard to build a base of support in the community and build a strong team of volunteers. The result: a program that, in this past month, has successfully conducted its seventh retreat for the women of Arizona. After this season’s retreat, Shirley has decided that it is time to retire from the role of Program Coordinator of the Arizona CFR program.

The Arizona program is one of the most financially responsible programs in the country. Plans are afoot for launching a second retreat in Arizona in the coming year, and the fundraising team has several events planned for the coming months. There’s a lot to do, but with a strong team in place it will get done!

It has been my privilege to work with Shirley and her shoes will be hard to fill. Her letter of retirement outlined many of the efforts that she’s undertaken over the past nine years and her love for the CFR mission makes this a particularly hard decision for her to make.

Moving forward, Kitty Wiemelt and I will work together with the national office as “co-coordinators”, but a plan for succession to appoint a new Program Coordinator is in process. There are many models for a successful CFR Program Coordinator, and Kate Fox at CFR will be happy to answer any questions about this role, or about other opportunities to work to sustain—and build—the Arizona CFR program. Please go to castingforrecovery.org to contact Kate.

Thank you Shirley for all that you have done and continue to do for Casting for Recovery...there are no words that can express all that you have accomplished.

Thank you!