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Here's an idea - until you get your project off the ground. You already have access to the internet - use it. Reach out to the people online, have htem pass the information along to others - either here or other sites - you can reach a TON of people this way, and build a "following". 

Also, if you choose to have informal gatherings in your area, why not utilize a church basement, school room, or if necessary a church hall? I know a lot of support groups do this and it is minimal in cost.

 One last thing, I can understand getting people of like minds and situations together to share ideas, but where do you plan to go from there?  Some alcoholics and addicts can pose a problem and at times be volatile - /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->, are you ready to handle something like that? Plus if they are using, they could be self-medicating for another problem, such as mental illness. Disruptions are common in support groups - not everyone agrees all the time. Is this a religious based group? These are all questions that popped into my head while reading your post. 

Hello. I read your article and it is refreshing to know others also see gaps in support that is offered today. I love that there are so many support mediums for mothers. Unfortunately, there are not many, if any, for Fathers. This saddens me, and I've brought this to the attention of others. For some reason, women aren't so interested in filling this need. Many women have the idea that fathers don't care about their kids, and nothing could be further from the truth. My husband is a great father, and so is my brother. I feel that because women have been hurt by a man in the past, they carry that pain and see all men as having issues. However, this does nothing to further the progression of the father's role...it makes things go backward. Fathers feel that women don't care if they are in their children's life, and sometimes fathers feel that they are not necessary, which means they are not wanted or needed in their children's life. This is NOT TRUE. Fathers are necessary. Fathers are wanted and needed by their children. If women can express to the men in their life (whether brother, uncle, son, friend, partner, boyfriend, husband) that they are needed and make a positive contribution to the life of thei children, I feel it will lift men's spirits. Right now, they don't get as great of a welcome in the parenting world as they deserve. And if one feels they are not invited, why would they want to come to the party? Perhaps we, as women, should look to *our* own attitudes toward fathers and parenting, and see if we are not contributing to the fact that men feel they are not needed in parenting.  

I love my husband, he is the best father, and my kids are blessed to have a dad as open hearted as he is. I hope that other kids are not kept from the awesome experience of having a dad. They have doubts just like we do, fathers have doubts and a need to 'bond' in their own way, just like mothers do. Opening up more doors for them and pushing the message that we want them to get involved, and that we are excited about them getting involved is needed.

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