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Heard at a meeting
Sometimes you have to step out and build your wings on the way down.
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I don't want to be comfortable, I want to be comfort-able.
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The safest place a person can go when living with an alcoholic if to a meeting.
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I need to act my way into right thinking.because I can't think myself into right acting..
A young man said he chose Frogs as his HP because, when he went to his Grandfather's farm, sat by the pond , frogs would be making noise. He would start talking, telling them his troubles they would listen. When he was done they would start again. He chose Frogs because they listened to him.
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I came to a meeting because I live with ME!
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There's a saying that for every year you are in Al-Anon, you get one second of delay before you respond to anything. Use that time to your advantage.
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Once is confrontation, twice is nagging.
How can you tell by just listening to a couple affected by alcoholism whether they are in recovery or not. When they're NOT in recovery, the AA is talking about himself and the Al-Anon is asking him questions about his life. When they ARE in recovery, the Al-Anon is talking about herself and the AA is asking her about her life.
* * * I don't have to impale myself on the sword of despair.
* * * W hat did one Al-Anon say to the other Al-Anon after they got done having sex? It was good for you, was it good for me? |
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Dear Al-Anon or Alateen Member,
Welcome to the District 14 Al-Anon/Alateen Monthly Newsletter. This newsletter is created and distributed by Al-Anon members. Any member of Al-Anon or Alateen is welcome to contribute to this newsletter. |
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Recovery In Our Own Words
 A Share from Kimberly:
I came to my first Al-Anon meeting in 2000 at the suggestion of my "couples" counselor who was working to encourage my husband of 17 years to examine whether his drinking was a problem. This resulted in my husband coming to admit that he was an alcoholic and had been drinking since age eleven.
This was his big "ah ha" that forever changed my life and the lives of our family members. I felt stupid and ashamed that I didn't know he was an alcoholic or that his drinking had had such a profound effect on me and my children.
My years in program have helped me to understand that I had no reason to be ashamed. I just didn't understand the family disease of alcoholism. Becoming "aware" opened to door to learning about the 3 A's--awareness, acceptance, and action. Awareness enabled me to deal with my first challenge--to be able to detach from my husband. I began to understand that I had needs and that they weren't being met. Detachment has given me the opportunity to focus on me and to learn what I need in life to create serenity. My journey has been filled with many blessings. I know the blessings will continue.
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District 14 and Beyond News
 The District 14 Monthly Meeting is held the 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:30 -9:00 in the Lesher Auditorium at the John Muir Medical Center, Concord Campus, 2540 East Street, Concord. Preceded by Concept discussion at 7:00 pm. ALL are welcome. 
Items of Interest from March 7, 2012 District 14 Meeting - Love gifts for WSO. Thanks to Wes for creating the delightful Al-Anon Survival Kits (ASK) to be sent for the World Service Conference which our Delegate Patrick will attend. They will be distributed to all the delegates and in return Patrick will bring back their love gifts to our district.
- Volunteers Needed for One Day Assembly which will be held on May 5th at our very own Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord. We need a Volunteer Chair and additional volunteers to handle registration, a hospitality room, a host coordinator position, and voting coordination. This is a wonderful opportunity for service at the area level without having to travel! Please contact Carla G. at 925-586-8021.
- NCWSA has new P.O. Box for donations. The new address is: NCWSA Treasurer, P.O. Box 728, Vacaville, CA 95696-0728. Donation form A-25 is available on the NCWSA website.
- Consider attending 2012 NCWSA Al-Anon/Alateen Convention on April 20-22 at Squaw Valley. Detail in Event Section below. Condos are available to share.
- Newsletter: Submit new email addresses to: distict14newsletter@yahoo.com
 District Coordinator Positions: Only 2 positions left. - Spanish Liaison OPEN
- Alateen Coordinator - OPEN Please note that our prior Alateen Coordinator is serving as Alternate Coordinator and can lend support to whoever fills this very important position.
 Hotline Needs Volunteers. Al-Anon Hotline still has gaps in the schedule that need to be filled. You can volunteer for any day, any period of time. Call Paula M. at 925-513-1770.
- Northern CA Council of AA Annual Spring Conference with Al-Anon participation. Openings for service at the Al-Anon literature to be available at this conference. It will take place March 16-18, 2012 at the San Ramon Marriott. Volunteers still needed. Contact DR Carla G. Flyer.
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Service Corner
Check District 14 News section for positions that are still open. Please consider service to the district. Three-year positions went into effect January 1st.
There is one form of service in Al-Anon that everyone can participate in. It doesn't require speaking or writing or sitting in business meetings. It only requires a generous heart. That service is contributing, through cash or gifts, to the raffles and auctions that are part of Speaker Meetings and our Days and Half-Days in Al-Anon. Here is a message from Jules, the recipient of the gift from the Half-Day in Al-Anon this year:
 Dearest Alanons,
Thank you for the wonderful gift. What gift you ask? Well, there have
been many that you have given me, but this time I'm speaking of the
gift of attending Serenity in Yosemite. I was the very lucky recipient
of the 1/2 Day In Alanon raffle. My sweetheart and I were able to go
and we enjoyed every morsel. Of course the setting was gorgeous, but the program was amazing. The speakers all had great messages and the fellowship was palpable. Thank you again for this great gift. It couldn't have come at a better time.
Jules
PS I got two of the speaker CDs and donated them to our lending
library. Please check them out.
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Bienvenidos a Al-Anon y Alateen
SEGUNDO PASO
Llegamos a creer que un Poder Superior a nosotros podría devolvernos el sano juicio
Me daba la esperanza de poder vivir una vida sana y equilibrada. En mi familia nunca exis-tió la noción de equilibrio, solo los extremos pobreza y abundancia, poder y desamparo, violencia y calma engañadora. Ansiaba el equilibrio, un sentimiento de normalidad que me ayudara a sentir segura y a relacionarme con los demás. Cuando vine por primera vez a una reunión de Al-Anon para hijos adultos de los alcohólicos, varias personas me asegu-raron que la esperanza que promete el SE-GUNDO PASO es real Mientras escuchaba, empecé a ver los milagros obrados en los miembros en sus vidas. Al ser testigo de es-tos milagros, llegue a creer que Dios podría guiarme hacia una forma de vida mas sana. Me deje guiar, solicite ayuda y confié en ni Poder superior para recobrar el sano juicio. --Senderos de recuperación. pag 20
Boletin Informativo, Oficina Intergrupal Hispana Del Sur De Calfornia
 Bienvenido al sitio web de Al-anon Familia Grupos para el Distrito 14 del norte de California del Servicio Mundial de la zona. Este sitio es creado y operado por el Distrito 14 miembros de Al-anon. Distrito 14 de límites se puede definir mejor el lugar de las reuniones que figuran en nuestra Reuniones Lista, y por lo general abarca las comunidades del condado de oriental y central Contra Costa. El sitio web está organizado en torno a los Tres Legados de Al-Anon
Al-Anon se enfrenta al alcoholismo 2011 |
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Institutions Corner
 Our new Institutions Coodinator has oodles of experience in providing Al-Anon service in this important area. We look forward to her leadership. The 41st Annual Hospitals and Institutions Conference of AA with Al-Anon and Spanish speaking participating will be held May 18-20, 2012 in Redding CA. Flyer |
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Alateen Corner
Alateen Sponsors needed for our youngest children:
There is no longer an Alateen meeting for our youngest family members (children ten and under) because of the lack of sponsors. Please consider serving our children as an Alateen Sponsor. Sponsors are also needed for the groups serving older children. For Questions: Contact Alt. Alateen Coordinator Marilyn G at 925-759-1452. Applications are available to become an Alateen Sponsor through Kristine P, District 14 Alateen Safety Coordinator at 925-407-6053.
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Upcoming Events
 NCWSA One Day Assembly:
When: Saturday, May 5th, 2012
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel 45 John Glenn Drive Concord, CA 94521 Registration: Opens at 8:30 a.m. Assembly: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m Suggestion Donation: $5.00 (does not include lunch) Lunch: At local restaurants Contact: Carla G. at 925-586-8021.
District 14 Speaker Meeting - March 24, 2012 ~ 6:30 p.m.  Guest Speakers: Stewart S. (AA) from Walnut Creek and Mara G. (Al-Anon) from Walnut Creek Topic: Speaker What: Refreshments, Birthday Chips, Donation Drawing, Literature, Tape Library, Meeting recorded. Hosted By: Tuesday 7:30 Lafayette Where: Walnut Creek Kaiser 1515 Newell Ave. Medical Office Bldg., Oak Room, 3rd Floor Directions and Flyer 
NCWSA Al-Anon/Alateen Convention with Spanish and AA Participation:
Steps Up Slippery Slopes (Pasos Hacia Arriba Laderas Resbalosas)
When: April 20-22, 2012 Where: The Village at Squaw Valley 1750 Village East Road Olympic Village, CA 96146 Reserve Rooms: By March 21, 2012 1-888-767-1907, Mention Group Code 40A9P3 for our discount. Accommodations are condos which can be shared with full kitchens. Registration: $20 in advance, $30 at the door, Opens 3:00 p.m. Friday Contact: convention@ncwsa.orgDirections and Flyer For Complete Listing of Events and Flyers: NCWSA Events
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Reflections from the Forum
Past Reflections
Try making a molehill out of a mountain. March 1984, Norma F., MI
Al-Anon's monthly magazine, The Forum, contains many personal stories of inspiration. Click on this link to subscribe to receive your own monthly "Meeting in Your Pocket." Only $11.00 a year.
Current Forum articles:
I was afraid to share my deepest shame...
Even though I had been in Al-Anon for a few years, I still could not control my anger. After a while, I realized I was angry whenever the alcoholic was drunk-which was much of the time. One night my daughter and I had a violent argument. There was name-calling, shoving, and hitting. She locked herself in the bathroom and took enough pain medication to do herself serious harm. She admitted that she took the pills and we were able to get her to the emergency room in time.
Accepting a lifetime of her husband's drinking...
I came to Al-Anon because I was sick and tired of being the only one awake at 7 p.m. The bottle washed away all our plans for travel after the kids were grown. My husband just wanted to work, drink, and sleep. I wanted more out of life. I came to Al-Anon to see if there was still life in this marriage. I wanted to see if I could live with what had begun 38 years ago as a great journey together. Sure, we drank in those days. Those were the days of parties, of strolls through Germany to stop at the various outdoor restaurants to have wine and cheese. I became too busy with career and kids to notice that the drinking had changed for him.
My serenity...and my sister's relapse
The day I had not worried about came today-the day she decided to drink again. I have no idea how the pain of drinking brought her to sobriety, and how the pain of living brought her back to drinking. I just know my beautiful sister is suffering and our family is grieving the loss of the brightness that came with her sobriety. My heart is full of compassion, sadness, and love.
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Contribute to this Newsletter
A few words from your share at a recent meeting, a thought you had while reading conference approved literature, your take on one of the Steps or Traditions. Any tidbit is welcome as long as you remember that we speak Al-Anon here, leaving other therapies and programs outside. Send your contribution to the Newsletter by email with "Contribution" in the subject line.
Submissions may be edited for length and grammar and will published at the discretion of the editors when space permits. Authors will be notified of changes to their submissions.
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Archives of Past Newsletters
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Sincerely,
Co-Editors: Karen, District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
Linda W, Alternate District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
Contact the Editors: district14newsletter@yahoo.com |
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