W.A. World Service Organization Newsletter
W.A. E-NewsetterJanuary 2016
In This Issue
Send Your Meditations for the Newsletter
W.A. Meditation Book needs member meditations.
2016 W.A. World Conference!
Quick Links
Greetings!
 
Hope you have had a great start to 2016!

W.A. World Conference

We hope you will be able to join us for the  W.A. 2016 World Conference in the UK in June!

Meditation of the Month

Please send your meditations if you would like to share them with other members via newsletter.


Be Well & Be Happy!
Michele S., Outreach Coordinator
Workaholics Anonymous 
W.A. 2016 World Conference
will be held in the United Kingdom!

Our conference will be held from June 9-12 at The Friars.
More information coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to email: 
January Quote   

"
We have realized that our work obsession is only the outward manifestation of our inner emotional turmoil
and our essential spiritual disconnection."
 
Workaholics Anonymous - The Book of Recovery - page 16
 
Monthly Meditation
 - Progress -  
 Morrie H. 


We are gentle with our efforts, knowing that our new way of living requires much practice. Book of recovery p 12. Tool of Accepting
 
Sometimes, we can be really enjoying the fruits of our recovery from workaholism - feeling present in the moment, able to approach life with grace and humility, feeling warmly connected to our higher power and others - only to find, a few days or weeks later that we feel rushed, insecure and overwhelmed again.

We might wonder if we had made any progress at all!

If we go to the sea to watch the tide come in, we see the waves surging in to fill the beach, only to retreat again, back out to sea. It is only by being patient and staying a while that we might see that, during the rhythmic ebb and flow, the tide has been imperceptibly but surely moving in toward the shore.
 
Higher power, help me to have faith that, if my focus is recovery, I will be drawing closer to serenity even in the midst of the ebb and flow of life.
 
W. A. Literature in Spanish!
 
Check out the new Spanish translation for some of our literature!

A very special thank you to our special friends Alfredo & Jorge for their service!

WSR Announcement!
 
Hi WSRs!

I'm one of your fellow World Service Representatives for Workaholics Anonymous, and also a workaholic, named Cari D. from Los Angeles, California, USA, representing the Sunday 4pm (PST) phone meeting. 

Earlier this month at the WA conference we made some exciting strides forward in our fellowship, involving us, the World Service Representatives. The representatives who were able to attend had an informal meeting and agreed that we should continue having a yearly in-person meeting at the conference, and also have two other meetings during the year by telephone.  The goal of this is to represent the members of our WA groups more effectively and to channel group conscience of our fellowship. 

Our first telephone meeting is planned for Saturday, February 6, 2016, at 9 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time). We don't know what telephone number we will be using yet, but it will be through one of the WA telephone call-in numbers and will work for international and United States callers. Once the details are figured out, someone will be back in touch with the information.

We tried to pick a time that would allow as many members as possible to be awake and attend.  Because we're dealing with international time zones, that means it is very early for some and very late for others. Unfortunately, it's impossible to have a time that's perfectly convenient for everyone, so apologies for that.  At the first meeting we can always discuss switching times or having a rotating time of day in the future.  

The purpose of the meeting in February is to start to figure out what we as World Service Representatives actually do, how we do it, and how we can be of service to our fellowship and our groups, as WSRs. We can also check in about ideas or concerns of the members we represent, and get to know each other a little.  Basically, we are making this up as we go along, so if anyone has something they would like to talk about in February then we can do it. 

We also discussed trying to make the conference, or at least the business meeting, available to our WSRs through video conferencing in the future. That way anyone who cannot be there physically would still be able to participate in group conscience conversations and decisions.
 
A lot of other exciting stuff happened at the conference, but I'm going to try to keep this email shorter by not going into it right now.

Thanks to all of you for your amazing service!

Gratefully, 
Cari D.
323-578-4373

New Check In Phone Meeting!
 Every Wednesday 
 
7:00-7:30 am PST
8:00-8:30 am MST 
9:00-9:30 am CST 
10:00-10:30 am EST
 
Call: 712-432-0363 Access code 118778#
 
The call is brief for check-ins and fellowship.
 
Contact email:
The W. A. Meditation Committee is writing a 
W.A. Meditation Book.

 

We welcome all members to write and submit meditations for this publication. Consider having a writing play day for your meeting group. Not only would this activity provide opportunities for reflection and meditation, but it would also allow group members to make contributions to a book that will serve the needs of the whole fellowship.

 

A suggested meeting format for writing meditations is available at the WA website. For more details about submitting meditations, please visit the W.A. website.  


On this web page you will see a link for submittal form. You'll need to fill this form out, whether in a group meeting or individually, to write your meditations. There is also an AWR (Assignment, Warranty & Release) included in this PDF. This will be needed for each meditation submission.

 

 We look forward to receiving your meditations!! 

Have fun with us!!

  

Your trusted servants,

W.A.W.S.O. Literature Committee

 

Please contribute what you can for your meetings. :)

W.A operates on contributions from it's members and literature sales. Please don't forget to go online and make a contribution to W.A. if you only go to phone meetings. You can click here donate.
 Your W.A. World Service Board Engaged 
 
Outreach
In each e-newsletter I include a monthly inspirational quote and a monthly meditation. If you have any favorite quotes or a meditation you have written and you want to share it with other members, please send it to my email below.
 
Interested in being a part of W.A. Outreach? I would love to grow our W.A. Outreach Committee. One of the things I would like to get help with is contacting websites that are online that are discussing workaholism in hopes in helping others and let them know about W.A.. Please contact [email protected] if you want to come on board!
Michele S.

Literature
It has been an exciting year for W.A. literature.  Nearly a decade's worth of suggestions by members finally manifested as the 20 Questions and all of our pamphlets were revised and approved by both the Board and the Conference.  Further, the Second Edition of our Book of Recovery was revised and approved by the Board - subject to approval by the Conference next year.  The new books are now available for purchase on the website and Amazon.  A copy of the edited book will soon be sent to WSRs so that groups will have the opportunity to review it and offer comments.  Please take a group conscience as needed to determine whether your meeting will begin to use this pending literature during the interim period.  
 
Substantial effort went into this round of edits, and we hope to continue to make progress on our core literature in future printings - patiently accepting the lingering imperfections and the impossibility of simultaneously entertaining the preferences of each and every member.  In addition to the ongoing process of developing our W.A. Meditation Book and a new pamphlet on the topic of work anorexia/avoidance (which will ideally help members to overcome procrastination, perfectionism, and related fears), the Literature Committee will continue to modify existing material pursuant to feedback received from the fellowship.  Among other things, facelifts have already been proposed for the New Meeting Starter Kit and Book of Discovery.  As always, if you are interested in joining the Literature Committee - or would like to otherwise consult on any ongoing projects - the support is very welcome.  If we were to receive as many offers to help as we receive ideas for improvement, the personal recovery of those of us doing service would surely be enhanced (hint, hint)! Please email literature@workaholics-anonymous.org for details.
 
Love and service,
Amber, W.A.W.S.O. Literature Chair
 
Communications 
The W.A. Communications Department is adding to our sponsors list for new members. We are particularly getting a lot of requests from women. Want to sponsor? Please contact [email protected]

We are currently seeking a professional representative to speak on behalf of the fellowship and respond to public press releases that may misconstrue the reality of being a workaholic. See more information below.  
 
TO CONTACT THOSE IN WAWSO SERVICE BY EMAIL:

For general information: [email protected]

Bob for meeting and WSR assistance: [email protected] 

Amber for WA Literature volunteers or corrections:
[email protected]

Michele for eNewsletter and media: [email protected]

Sandi for literature ordering and questions:
[email protected]

Mike for Meeting and Member registration:
[email protected]

Ken for technology questions:
[email protected]

Shelley for STORYLINE: [email protected]

For Meditation Book: [email protected]

General mailbox: [email protected]

For any Program issue, concern, initiative, suggestion, etc...
Bruce A. at [email protected]
Lia F. at [email protected]
Drew D. at [email protected]  
 
Conference Call Line for ALL Phone Meetings
 
(712) 432-0363 

Group Support Section on Website  

 

There are helpful tools and materials available here that you can download for your group; meeting formats, types of meetings, tips on outreach, W.A. Public Awareness Guidelines, archives to news letters and much more!

 

Request For Sponsors

W.A. receives requests regularly for sponsorship from people seeking recovery from workaholism. We do receive more requests for female sponsors. We need to add to this list so we can help the new members in our fellowship. We keep a confidential list of volunteers who are willing to take this on.  If you are willing, please send us an email with your contact information (or any other information you feel a sponsee should know) to:

Our Communications Coordinator at W.A.W.S.O. receives requests from Members asking for help finding a W.A. Sponsor.  Sometimes we know of a Sponsor who might be available to contact.  Because that list is short, if no potential Sponsor responds, we encourage Members to participate in co-sponsoring and to seek a Sponsor at their local or phone meetings.  If you are a Member who is or may at some times be available to speak with a Member who has asked for help, please send an email to  
[email protected]

Your information is kept confidential to assure your anonymity.  We may contact you directly at a time when we are asked, to see if you are available to speak with the Member asking for help.  This kind of service can be of great value to your own recovery as well as a meaningful contribution to the recovery of those who you might contact.
Interested in Becoming a Meeting Group Mentor?

Among the many support opportunities offered by WA, perhaps the richest are those created through relationships with fellow members. Across the globe people are forming meeting groups and sharing the message of recovery. We are excited by the growth of the fellowship, particularly in the number of people expressing interest in organizing meeting groups.

Because starting a meeting group can be an intimidating process, we would
like for beginners to receive a mentor during their initial stages of meeting development. Mentors offer service through answering questions and providing suggestions as needed for members beginning their meeting groups. Currently, we are in need of more mentors and would like to extend this service opportunity to members of the fellowship.


If you are interested in serving as a mentor for those starting meeting groups, please contact me at [email protected] More information will be provided upon receiving your expressed interested.

With gratitude,
Bruce A.
 W.A. Seeks Professional Representative for Our Fellowship

As workaholism has become a widespread concept in public media, the ways it is communicated about can often create more misconceptions than understandings. In this regard, members of Workaholics Anonymous are currently seeking a professional representative to speak on behalf of the fellowship and respond to public press releases that may misconstrue the reality of being a workaholic. If you know of someone or have suggestions for who might serve as a reputable spokesperson for WA (who is not affiliated with the fellowship), please send your recommendations to Bruce A. at
[email protected].
Supporting W.A. Seventh Tradition Contributions

Our Seventh Tradition provides that W.A. is fully self-supporting; declining outside contributions. WAWSO welcomes contributions from W.A. groups and members. One hundred percent of all contributions directly support recovery from workaholism. Carrying the message of recovery to workaholics who still suffer includes email and phone services, a quarterly newsletter, media and community outreach, literature development and distribution, this website, an annual conference, meeting information and support, and other outreach services. Please print out and send this Seventh Tradition form 
to support W.A.'s Outreach.

NOTE:
by Credit card or Paypal. Thank you for your generous support. 

Purchase Our Books Online!

 

The Book Of Discovery

Book of Discovery, W.A. WorkbookA guide to the 12 Steps  


The Workaholics Anonymous Book of Discovery is a
guide that provides step instruction, questions, activities, and stories-all with room to write and reflect as necessary, in a large spiral-bound, three-hole punch volume. The book is designed to lay completely flat so as to be easily used for writing as well as for protective storing in a three-ring notebook of your choice with other loose or extra pages if desired.  This workbook can be used alone, with a sponsor  or used with a group in a meeting format. 

Click here for online purchase    You can also purchase through the mail.  Price: $25. Plus $4.95 shipping and handling anywhere in the US. Send your check to WSO Web Payment Center, PO Box 56416, Portland, OR, 97238.

 

 
 
The Book of Recovery

W.A.'s first publication, The Book of Recovery is our main text. It has valuable information for all recovering workaholics; history, stories, guidance in working the steps and tools to help you with your recovery program! Click here for online purchase   

 

 


 

WA World Service Organization | PO Box 289 | Menlo Park | CA | 94026