Heard at a meeting
The same way the name of our program is abbreviated AFG, our program can be abbreviated with AFG: Accept, Forgive, Gratitude.
* * * 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.
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."
--Will Rogers
* * *
"I've got two ears and one mouth, so that means I should listen more and talk less."
* * *
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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Important Announcement about Newsletter
From your Newsletter Coordinator:
With very mixed feelings, I am announcing that this 26th edition will be the last edition of the District 14 Newsletter under my helm. It has been a privilege to serve in this capacity but too difficult to continue due to the lack of contributions from district members. I do thank the handful of faithful members who have made contributions to the newsletter over the past two plus years. But this is YOUR newsletter and without your contributions it is not a viable representation of YOUR views. Over 500 Al-Anon members receive this newsletter and I'm trusting that one among you might feel the call to take over the helm.
In Service, Karen, Newsletter Coordinator
If you have an interest in becoming the new Newsletter Coordinator for District 14, please write us. I will be more than happy to work with a new Newsletter Coordination to show them the ropes if they choose to continue with the Constant Contact online format. [email protected]
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Recovery In Our Own Words
I sometimes find it difficult to practice the principles of the Al-Anon program in all my affairs, especially when it comes to the workplace.
I was traveling down to a business meeting on an early morning flight. Business had been off of late and I had to give a report. I was going to be judged. Wanting to be fully prepared for my meeting I used the time to re-read my material and make some last minute notes. I needed to prepare for any questions. I searched for a pen in my pockets, jacket and briefcase, no luck. Dressing in the early morning hours, I had neglected to pack a pen. I would need to memorize my talking points. As I read, I became increasingly anxious. Would I forget something important? I decided to search again for a pen, including those tucked away corners of the briefcase. I did not find a pen. Instead, I found my seven year Al-Anon coin. I laughed out loud. My Higher Power was reminding me to calm down and recite the Serenity Prayer on the back of the coin. He would be there with me, this day as He is always. I just needed to ask for help. I thought for a moment and what came to me was "Easy Does It". I put down my papers and gazed out the plane's window admiring my Higher Power's handiwork. I was in good hands.
My presentation went fine. Later I checked into my hotel for the night. The hotel had upgraded my room and left milk and cookies for me. I called my wife to tell her of my day and said, "you will never guess what happened on the way to work today". As I recounted my search she finished my sentence saying "then you found your seven year chip". She had hit the mark dead center! So have I. This program is like winning the spiritual lottery. You can't win if you don't play. I'll keep coming back and hope you will too. Submitted by a grateful member of Al-Anon.
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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. - 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. We are looking for host groups for 2014.
- Reimbursement Form for District Expenses now available on the website or here.
- Literature Depot Reminders:
- The new workbook on the three Legacies was released at the International Convention in July. The book is titled Reaching for Personal Freedom and is priced at $15.00.
- 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.
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Contact Wynne for Literature Depot Questions.
- Group Donations to the District. Please send group donations to: District 14 AFG, P.O. Box 416, Concord, CA 94522-0416. DO NOT FORGET to label your donation with you Group Name, Meeting Day and Time, and AFG number.
- 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.
- Newsletter: New member information will be saved and passed on to next Newsletter Coordinator but at present will not be added to the database since the account will be suspended until a new Newsletter Coordinator takes over. Attention GRs: Submit new email addresses to: [email protected]
- 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.
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- Brothers Helping Brothers on the Road to Health and Serenity
- Information and flyers in English and Spanish is now published on the District 14 website. Please go there for more details or 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 ~
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.
We are preparing a Hospitality Room for all of the attendees. It will be a separate room for people to come to have a cup of coffee, a snack and relax. We are dependent on donations from our groups and individuals. We've provided some items and costs below so you can take this to your group. Perhaps your group would like to provide a 48 oz. can of Coffee, or provide the money for us to buy it. Either way, your donations will make our Hospitality Room a success for the GR's. (As you consider your donation, also remember that your GR will not have overnight costs for this Assembly.) A donation of $10-$20 will go a long way. We also look forward to people bringing items that morning to share, such as muffins or bananas... We are expecting between 320-340 attendees. Donations can be given to your GR to give to our Host Committee at the District Meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Sue at (925) 997-3340. Thank you for supporting our GR's! Coffee 48oz. 380 Cups $13.78 Decaf 33oz. 270 Cups $13.25 Cups 8oz. 1000 $20.88 6-3/4" Plates 300 $10.88 Spoons 600 $ 8.94 Creamer 8 Canisters $ 9.62 Sweet & Low 400 $ 6.88 Other items will be lemonade, sugar, stirrers, granola bars, cookies, etc. 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:
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Bienvenidos a Al-Anon y Alateen |
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.
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. |
Upcoming Events
District 14 Monthly Speaker Meetings Fourth Saturday of each month Speakers and Topics VaryWhat: Refreshments, Birthday Chips, Donation Drawing, Literature, Tape Library, Meeting recorded. Hosted By: District 14 groups. Where: Walnut Creek Kaiser, 1515 Newell Ave., Medical Office Bldg., Oak Room, 3rd Floor. Exit 680 S. Main St. or Olympic Blvd.
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:
Al-Anon is for everyone...
As one of the 16% male Al-Anon members, I am inspired and moved by the initiative taken by the World Service Office to address diversity. Having recently attended our Area Assembly, where there was also a workshop on diversity, I am deeply committed to sharing the message that Al-Anon is for everyone.
At the beginning of my Al-Anon experience some years ago, I was at times intimidated by being the only male at a meeting in a group of 20 or more. Today, I am at peace at all meetings, those I have attended in Canada and in England. The sense of belonging for me needed to come from within.
I stopped blaming myself for my son's drinking...
I started going to Al-Anon in August of 2012. By then, my son had been drinking for nine years. At my second meeting, I heard, "I didn't cause it, I can't control it, and I can't cure it," and it changed my life. "How profound," I thought, "I'm not responsible for my son's drinking." I had been blaming myself for nine years, wondering where I had gone wrong, and thinking I should have done this or that differently when he was growing up. Easing my pile of hurt--on shovelful at a time...I came to Al-Anon in a state of deep despair. As I began working the program, my husband, who is one of several alcoholics in my life, became angry. He thought I was, once again, trying to change him. As he realized that I was putting no pressure on him to change, he gradually became supportive of my meeting nights. It is because of Al-Anon that I am still married, although I have a long way to go as far as being happy about it. I am a work in progress.
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Contribute to this Newsletter
Feel free to submit contributions and I will see to it that they are saved and passed on to the next Newsletter Coordinator. 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: [email protected] |
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