W.A. World Service Organization Newsletter
W.A. E-NewsetterFebruary 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! See more info below about the conference and registration.

Meditation of the Month

Please send your meditations and favorite quotes from our W.A. literature if you would like to share them with other members via newsletter.


Be Well & Be Happy!
Michele S., Outreach Coordinator
Workaholics Anonymous 

2016 World Conference in June in the United Kingdom

We are so thankful to our UK based WA Groups who have offered to host the 2016 World Conference.  The setting is a 13th Century Priory, the home of the Order of Carmelites, where the beauty of its 42 acres has the perfect surroundings for celebrating the theme of "Taking our Steps Together".  The location at The Friars, Aylesford,Kent, United Kingdom is approximately one hour south of London with accessibility by public and hired transportation.  Because of the venue, the committee has expanded the Conference to four days with registration starting Thursday afternoon until our closing on Sunday afternoon, June 9 through June 12. Register now!


We are looking for ways to podcast parts of the Conference to have participation by worldwide groups; and particularly the 2016 General Assembly.  It is an important Conference Assembly in that 2016 is both an election year for the WAWSO Board of Trustees and the Resolution for the approval of the Second Edition of our Book of Recovery will be presented.  Your WSRs will have received a form for you to use for your own self-nomination for Board service, and also a copy of the Second Edition of the Book of Recovery, so that the ballots which will be sent later in the Spring can be completed and mailed if your Group cannot be represented in person at the General Assembly.  Self-nomination forms are also available from [email protected].

We are hoping that as many Groups around the world as possible can have representation at this Conference, and encourage local Meeting Groups to support the expenses of their own Members through 7th Tradition contributions made within their Groups.  The Program is still being developed and the recording expert is still being sought; but we will have a recording available with submitted pictures and maybe video shots after the Conference.

Information about the Conference is available at our website. Registration is open until April 27th and can be made through the shopping cart or by mail.  Any questions can be sent to [email protected].

February Quote   

"
The healing in Step Seven is the release from the imprisoning isolation of workholism's island of self-centered fear and illusion of control."
 
Workaholics Anonymous - The Book of Recovery - page 139
 
Monthly Meditation
 - The Journey Inward -  
Michele S.

Meditation had always been an elusive practice for me because of my obsessive thinking and compulsive doing. I never made space and time for just being. I was so uncomfortable being still, I had little patience to learn what I now know as a life changing skill. I was a human doing, not a human being.
 
Being a product of my upbringing and culture I used to believe my self worth was dependent on what I accomplished. The more I achieved, the more I was valued and worth loving. I just kept doing and doing. I was a successful entrepreneur, but the cost was big. I lived with anxiety for years and my body was starting to break down. I had foot, shoulder and back surgery all within three years and had chronic pain in my neck. It was difficult doing simple tasks and my pain was constant.
 
I had many signs and messages about how meditation could and would help me relax, live in the now and be happier, but I ignored them all. I was just too darn busy to make regular time for it. I was never consistent with it. In truth, I think I was threatened by what I would find if I quieted my mind and went inside.

The time finally came where I had to make a decision of how I was going to deal with managing the escalating chronic physical pain I was experiencing from pushing myself both physically and emotionally for years. The way I saw it, I had three options; develop a regular meditation practice to manage pain, start using prescription medicine to mask the pain or continue to suffer with this pain that was making living intolerable. I chose meditation.
 
I changed my priorities and made the commitment to learn how to incorporate this new habit into my life. I researched, read, took classes and workshops and practiced and practiced. I was shocked to see how fast I started to see results! Almost immediately my pain began to decrease and as I practiced more, the benefits grew exponentially!
 
By turning inward and quieting my mind, I acquired a deeper level of self-acceptance than I had ever known. I finally gave myself permission to be more nurturing to my mind, soul and body. I moved away from fear and anxiety and towards acceptance that everything will always get done in its time. I truly believe that my happiness depends on the level of self-acceptance I have.
 
I still own and run several businesses but my mode of operation has changed dramatically. As a result of my daily journey inward, my concentration and energy level have both improved. I am calmer, happier, and have much more compassion and patience for myself than ever before. Time is no longer my enemy and it's becoming a friend.
 
I have worked on having a positive mental attitude, eating healthy, getting regular exercise and sleep my entire adult life and I still struggled. Mediation has turned out to be the missing link for me to have a fulfilling life. Namaste! 

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!

 

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