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Heard at a meeting
It's not this or that that I need to turn over to my HP but MY BEHAVIOR around this or that.
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My highest point of joy is not dependent on my circumstances.
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Get busy and you get better.
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I learned at my first meeting that I didn't have to have the answers and I wasn't supposed to be giving advice. What a relief!
If I'm talking about someone and my name is not the first word in the sentence, then I'm minding someone else's business.
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The beauty of the program is that we get to accept ourselves just where we are.
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I focused so much on my character defects that I didn't get to the assets.
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Working Step Five enabled me to move beyond blaming others and making excuses.
Al-Anon's don't have relationships, they take hostages.
* * * NEW SERVICE! Rent-a-Sponsor Standard features include: 1. Listening to your sniveling without constant reference to the Steps. 2. Co-signing your rationalizations and excuses. 3. Work only the Steps you want. 4. Learn the secret of giving it away before you've even got it. 5. Fourth Step writing service now available. Yes! We will write your inventory for you. 6. Yes! At Rent-a-Sponsor, we know how unique you are and we do understand. |
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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
Podcasts available from Al-Anon's World Service Office
Welcome to First Steps to Al-Anon Recovery. This is a series of podcasts to discuss some common concerns for people who have been affected by someone else's drinking.
Today Hannah, Catherine, Jerry, and Veronica will tell us how someone's drinking affected their ability to trust people.
Podcast: Is It Hard To Trust People?
Editor's Note: We would prefer to have submissions for this recovery section from our own District 14 members. Since none were received for this month, we are including a Podcast from Al-Anon's World Service Office. Please send us brief submissions, 2-3 paragraphs, about your recovery experience or comments on the Step or Tradition of the Month for June's newsletter.
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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 May 2, 2012 District 14 Meeting -
- Continuing Need for Groups to Host Monthly Speaker Meeting. Remember if you have a small group, you can consider hosting with another group. Written guidelines are available with exact instructions of how to be a host group. Please contact Sandy H. at 925-642-9909 to volunteer your group or get more information.
- New Reimbursement Form for District Expenses now available on the website or here.
- Literature Depot Reminder for LIterature Orders: Please pick up orders from the Literature Depot within a couple of days of the order being ready.
- 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.
 Hotline 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.
 Day In Al-Anon 2013 - Call for Coordinators/Trusted Servants to create next year's DIA. Preliminary Meeting May 20, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc., 4005 Port Chicago Hwy (2nd Floor), Concord CA 94520. Coordinators needed: Co-Chair (learn the ropes to become the Chair for 2014), See Flyer for other positions. - Contact DIA Coordinator John H. 505-259-1232
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Service Corner
Check District 14 News section. The Alateen Coordinator position is still open. Please consider this vital service to the district. Three-year positions went into effect January 1st.
Please Note: We now have email links to District 14 Officers and Coordinators in the Quick Links column on the far left. Please send any corrections to the Newsletter Coordinator.
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Bienvenidos a Al-Anon y Alateen
Quinto Paso
"Admitimos ante Dios, ante nosotros mismos y ante otro ser humano, la naturaleza exacta de nuestras faltas."
Bienvenidos al blog: "Cómo utilizar los Pasos de Al-Anon en nuestro diario vivir". Muchas personas saben sobre los Doce Pasos de Alcohólicos Anónimos y entienden la forma en que ellos se relacionan con la meta de la persona alcohólica de encontrar la sobriedad, pero pocas saben que Grupos de Familia Al-Anon adaptó estos Pasos en 1951 como programa de progreso personal y recuperación para la familia.
Cómo localizar una reunión
Esta serie de podcasts comenta la forma en que los Doce Pasos de Al-Anon les han ayudado a las personas a enfrentar exitosamente una variedad de retos asociados con la enfermedad familiar del alcoholismo.
El tema del podcast de hoy es: el Quinto Paso.
Podcast: Activarlo en nueva ventana
Para la compra de Literatura Aprobada por la Conferencia (LAC) y materiales de servicio autorizados por la Oficina de Servicio Mundial
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., World Service Office for Al-Anon and Alateen
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 2012 |
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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
To become a sponsor: Contact Alt. Alateen Coordinator Marilyn G. at 925-759-1452. Applications are also available to become an Alateen Sponsor through Kristine B., District 14 Alateen Safety Coordinator at 925-407-6053.
30th Annual Growing Together Weekend: May 18 - 20, 21012 Where: Westminster Woods Registration: $149 by April 16th, $159 after April 16th, ends May 7th Scholarships: Will be available (Contact Marilyn G.) Flyer
NoCAC's First Bash: Come Camping with the Cool Kids! When: June 22-24, 2012 Where: Del Valle Campgrounds, Livermore, CA Registration: $20 per person for the weekend Contact: Jeff G., NoCAC Sponsor at 925-922-8750 or Cat B. NoCAC Chair Flyer
Save the Date: 6th Annual NCSWA Sponsors WeekendWhen: September 14-16, 2012 Where: Westminster Woods |
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Upcoming Events
District 14 Speaker Meeting - May 26, 2012 ~ 6:30 p.m.  Guest Speakers: Katie G. (AA) from Pleasanton, Maureen B., (Al-Anon) from Oakland Topic: Speaker What: Refreshments, Birthday Chips, Donation Drawing, Literature, Tape Library, Meeting recorded. Hosted By: 8 a.m. Saturday Sunrise AFG, Concord Where: Walnut Creek Kaiser 1515 Newell Ave. Medical Office Bldg., Oak Room, 3rd Floor Directions and Flyer For Complete Listing of Events and Flyers: NCWSA Events
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Reflections from the Forum
Past Reflections
You do not have to be in Who's Who to know what's what in Al-Anon. May 1983, M.N., New York
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:
Getting out of my daughter's life and focusing on my own
Three and a half years ago, I found myself in a high school guidance counselor's office, crying about the latest crisis with my daughter. She had totaled my van on prom night, driving drunk. Through the grace of God, no one was killed or seriously injured, but it was my wakeup call. Through the grace of this gentle counselor, I was advised to go to Al-Anon.
I have heard people share that it took them several meetings to decide if Al-Anon was right for them, but I knew that I belonged from that very first meeting.
There was room for me at Al-Anon's table
Today, I spent the day reminiscing about my very first Al-Anon home group. I came to them totally battered inside and out. For three months, I sat alone away from the table not speaking a word, week after week. I was the only minority there. I lived in a city where race relations were deplorable, the absolute worst in this country. I didn't speak because I feared I would not be accepted and, worse yet, they would not be interested in my pain. So I became a human sponge, soaking up everything I was hearing, and running out after the meeting. Moving past childhood lies
I came to Al-Anon after my husband suggested it. I had a nagging feeling that my life was somewhat chaotic and perhaps even unmanageable, but I didn't really think it had anything to do with alcoholism. After all, I had done quite well for myself, and the fact that my mother and brother were alcoholics didn't have much to do with me anymore. I had recently married an alcoholic who had 15 years of sobriety and was dedicated to A.A., so I thought I was "home free."
My former husband drank too much. I had been frightened, resentful, and angry at him, but I was rid of him. Everything should be just perfect now; unfortunately, it wasn't. I still tried to solve all the problems around me. One of my three daughters had a severe problem with anxiety; another one moved out and kept partying way too much; and my youngest one decided to live with her father, despite the drinking and the chaos in his new family life.
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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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