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Heard at a meeting
Instead of counting your blessings, try making your blessings count.
* * * Serenity is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it.
* * * WAIT: Why Am I Talking?
Jumping to conclusions is an exercise in futility.
* * * We would worry less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.
* * * We get a "daily" reprieve based on what we do "today" for our recovery.
I was pole vaulting over mouse turds.
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I've been driven to a good attitude by being hit over the head by self-will.
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GOSSIP: A person who will never tell a lie if the truth will do more damage
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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
Let the hand of Al-Anon and Alateen always be there and let it begin with me.
I can't tell you how many times in my life I've gotten on the wrong bus, one with an alcoholic at the wheel. I've allowed myself to be taken on his route, making his stops, been told to sit at the back and shut up, been summarily kicked off in the middle of nowhere, told my friends and family were not welcome to join me. Oh, occasionally he'd give me a charming smile over his shoulder but no true love or consideration. And even after a long rough ride to nowhere, I've clambered back on, almost getting my rear caught in the door as it slammed shut on more misery.
What would happen if I had the patience to wait for the next right bus, the one driven by my Higher Power? I'd find that my HP would pick me up not matter how many times I got off and forgive me to boot. I'd be welcomed by all my Al-Anon friends already riding the bus and they'd give me a front seat and lots of encouragement. The driver, my HP, would still pick the destinations but I would know that he had MY best interests in mind. In fact, he would see to it that I was delivered to destinations like Serenity Place and Wisdom Road, filled with a kind of happiness that I had never imagined. And all I need is an Al-Anon meeting list to find the nearest bus stop! And if I'm already aboard, I can be the person extending my hand to that next person racing desperately to get on board.
Please consider being a blessing to your fellow Al-Anon members and submit your own story of recovery.
Please send your submission to: Linda W district14newsletter@yahoo.com
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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 1st, 2013 District 14 Meeting -
 Planning Meeting - DAY IN AL-ANON 2014
The next coordinator meeting will be on Sunday, May 26th at 2:00 pm at Rick P.'s home, 545 Van Buren Place, San Ramon, Ca 94583. For more information please contact Rick @ (925) 577-9902. Here is current information on the planning for the 2014 DIA. Most coordinator positions are open. Seeking more planning committee members so that in Al-Anon tradition, plans for the DIA will have a broader base: Flyer for DIA 2014 Planning
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 We have two important District level service positions open: Institutions and Archives. Please contact Carla G. at 925-586-8021 if you are interested or know someone who might be interested. Full descriptions of all service positions are on our District 14 Website. -
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 Annual District Budget was adopted. Our treasurer announced that we have well over $10,000 in unallocated reserves. This money can be used for bolstering up our Al-Anon program in District 14. Groups and members are encouraged to think up new ideas about how we might use this money to spread the word. We can also support Al-Anon in its Institutions and/or Public Outreach domains. Please submit your ideas through your group GR.
- Monthly Speaker Meetings. For openings for host groups. please contact Sandy H. at 925-642-9909 to volunteer your group. Remember, smaller groups can join forces to host a meeting together, and there are very detailed guidelines with timelines included to guide you through the process if this is new to your group. All dates in 2013 have been filled (thank you!) but we are looking for host groups for 2014.
- Reimbursement Form for District Expenses now available on the website or here.
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 Literature Depot Reminders: - PRICE INCREASES effective May 1st for all Conference Approved Literature (CAL). The new price list is available here for viewing and download: CAL Price List Effective May 1st, 2013. Contact the Depot if you have questions. All orders filled May 1st or after will reflect the new prices.
- 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.
- International Assembly, The final four chosen by lottery to attend the International at Vancouver next summer will now include Bob, who replaces Dina (who withdrew for health reasons--please join us in wishing her a speedy recovery).
 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.
 Men's Day In Al-Anon Planning The committee is proud to announce the first Men's DIA will take place October 19, 2013 at the Hillcrest Congregational Church in Pleasant Hill. All men are invited to join in on the planning. Contact Men's DIA Coordinator John G. at 925-478-7848.
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Service Corner
 FALL 3-DAY AREA ASSEMBLY TO BE HELD IN CONCORD ~ Thank you to Tracy and Viola for stepping up and filling two key positions of Event Treasurer and Pre-Reg Coordinator.
District 14 will host the 3-Day Assembly on October 25th, 26th and 27th. We will need a number of volunteers for help with registration, managing voter cards, coordinating with the facility. Decisions need to be made about love gifts and whether a hospitality room can be arranged. Most volunteers will need to commit to 2-4 hours during the 3-day event. Please call the Chairperson, Sue S. at (925) 997-3340 or email her at sasmith_15@hotmail.com if you want to volunteer or join in on the planning. REQUEST from Al-Anon NEIGHBORS to the north to establish ALATEEN MEETINGS at: New Foundations at Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility in Fairfield Dear District 14 Members, Perhaps there is an AMIAS (Al-Anon Member in Service to Alateen), or someone who is interested in becoming an AMIAS, in your district, who resides close enough to Fairfield and will help us get this Alateen group started. Joy in Service,
Teresa Tercero
707-428-6731 hicks.s5@comcast.net Alternate DAPP
District 6 Public Outreach Coordinator
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Bienvenidos a Al-Anon y Alateen
Como localizar una reunion
 Congreso Internacional de Al-Anon del 5 al 7 de julio de 2013
¡Imaginese en Vancouver!
Los Congresos Internacionales de Al-Anon son una grandiosa manera de celebrar la recuperación, encontrarse con viejos amigos y hacer nuevas amistades. Un Congreso Internacional es donde los miembros del Canadá, de los EE.UU. y de muchos otros países se reúnen para hablar el mismo idioma -el idioma del corazón-.
- ¿Se puede imaginar lo que es escuchar a más de 4.500 asistentes
-de Al-Anon, de Alateen y de A.A. e invitados- rezar la Oración de la Serenidad? - ¿Alguna vez ha visto el desfile de los países en que existen Grupos de Familia Al-Anon?
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
, y por lo general abarca las comunidades del condado de oriental y central Contra Costa.
El sitio web esta¡ organizado en torno a los Tres Legados de Al-Anon
Al-Anon se enfrenta al alcoholismo 2013 |
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Institutions & Public Outreach Corner
 Sign up to be a speaker for Al-Anon in the community...
Claudette, our Public Outreach Coordinator, is asking for volunteers who would be available to speak to members of the community (for example, at Kaiser, at health fairs, at schools) about Al-Anon. Contact Claudette N. at 925-470-8939 with questions or to volunteer to be on a speaker's list for Public Outreach. We are also considering holding a workshop to teach members how to do public outreach speaking.
She also announced that a new meeting will be started at Los Medanos Community College, reaching out to students of college age.
INSTITUTIONS:
Please replace the cover on the PINK Al-Anon Institutions Donation Can for your group. The new cover has the correct information for donations. Obtain the new cover at the next District Meeting.
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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.  New District 14 Alateen Meeting Now Available When: Monday night Time: 7:30 pm Where: St. Bonadventure's Church 5562 Clayton Rd. Concord, CA 94521 District 16 Alateen Meetings
When: Mondays
Time: 7:30pm- 8:45pm
What: Furious Teenagers (Ages 12-20) 7:30 pm Young Alateens (Ages 6 - 12) 7:45 pmWhere: John Knox Presbyterian Church -
7421 Amarillo Road
Pleasanton, CA Description: Alateens meet in Library, room H. Al-Anon meeting at the same location.
ALATEEN EVENT
Marilyn reports that 12 of our Al-Anon children will be attending on scholarships and that more can be accommodated. DEADLINE is May 10th to apply. Please contact Marilyn (see below).
WHEN: May 17, 18, and 19, 2013
WHERE: Westminster Woods, 6510 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental, CA COST: $149 postmarked by April 26th ($159 after April 26th, registration ends May 10th) FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Marilyn G. at 925-759-1452
 THE ALATEEN EXPRESS - Newsletter for Alateens in Northern CAThe ALATEEN EXPRESS is the official newsletter for Alateen groups of the Northern California World Service Area of AFG, Inc, and is distributed periodically to Alateen groups. It contains information about Alateen that may be helpful to Al-Anon and Alateen groups. All members of Alateen and their sponsors are urged to contribute information about group news, fund-raisers and other special events. Selected articles are presented on this web site and sorted by topic. Articles from members present their personal views and experiences. Opinions expressed are not to be attributed to Al-Anon or Alateen as a whole. |
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Upcoming Events
 District 14 Monthly Speaker Meeting Saturday, May 25, 2013 ~ 6:30 pm
Speakers: Jules (Al-Anon), Milo (Al-Anon) What: Refreshments, Birthday Chips, Donation Drawing, Literature, Tape Library, Meeting recorded. Hosted By: Tuesday 7:30 Lafayette AFG Where: Walnut Creek Kaiser, 1515 Newell Ave., Medical Office Bldg., Oak Room, 3rd Floor. Exit 680 S. Main St. or Olympic Blvd. FLYER  Al-Anon's International Convention July 5-7, 2013
Picture yourself in Vancouver!
Al-Anon International Conventions are a great way to celebrate recovery, meet old friends, and make new ones. An International Convention is where members from Canada, the U.S., and many other countries gather together to speak the same language-the language of the heart.
- Can you imagine what it sounds like to hear more than 4,500 attendees-
Al-Anon, Alateen, A.A., and guests-say the Serenity Prayer?
- Have you ever seen the parade of countries that have Al-Anon Family Groups?
For Complete Listing of Area Events and Flyers: NCWSA Events
OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS:
Al-Anon Family Group District 16 (to the south, Dublin-Pleaston-Livermore) is having its open Speaker Meetings on the 2nd Saturday of every month. District 6 (to the north, Solano and beyond) has its Birthday-Speaker Meeting on Last Friday each month 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. at Kaiser Hospital (3rd floor Rooms C & D), Vaca-Valley Parkway Vacaville Ca. 95678 (Leisure Town road exit off of Highway 80 Vacaville) District 26 (to the west, Berkeley-Richmond) has its Monthly Speaker Meeting on the first Saturday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m., at Kaiser Permanente Richmond Medical Center Building C, 3rd floor, Conference Room F
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Reflections from the Forum
Past Reflections
We suffer more from apprehension than reality. February 1981, Lydia H., Hawthorne, N.Y.
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:
What brought me to Al-Anon
Last evening, I attended an Al-Anon speaker meeting. The speaker was a longtime member. She spoke for about twenty minutes, and then asked if people would like to share or ask her questions. One of those questions was, "What brought you to Al-Anon?"
This morning when I woke up and began my daily reading and meditation...
Facing my fear
I attended my first Al-Anon meeting during a time of separation from my spouse. I was anxious and fearful, wanting out of the marriage, yet desperately afraid my husband would find a new woman and abandon me. I knew I was ruining the lives of three wonderful children, and I hated myself for this. My life felt like a repetition of what had happened to me as a child growing up in an alcoholic home...
When I first came to Al-Anon, I felt as though I had finally found a group of people who really understood my struggle. It was such a relief to know they understood my emotional language, not just intellectually, but experientially as well. I felt heard, and never judged. I was encouraged to begin working the Steps and find a Sponsor. It was a great place to start. I felt I had a strong relationship with my Higher Power, and as I began working Step One, that miracle of getting the guidance I needed came to me one day. My daughter, who desperately wanted to come home to live with me after treatment, simply did not understand why my answer was "no."
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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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First release of an Al-Anon eBook, Having Had a Spiritual Awakening, resulted in 100 copies sold in first week. This eBook is available under Amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook), and will be available on iTunes. 
