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I am a child of my Higher Power.
And that, in itself, makes me enough.
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My side of the street
is the only side
I can clean up.
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I have to feel it
to heal it.
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District Representative
707-643-4451
Alternate DR
925-683-8979
Secretary
925-609-9365
Treasurer
925-470-6524
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D14 Coordinators
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Alateen
Alateen Safety (DAPP)
Archives
2016 Day in Al-Anon
Institutions
Lending Library
Literature Depot
Meeting List
Newsletter
Public Outreach
Spanish Intergroup Liaison
Spanish Liaison
Speaker Meeting
Telephone Hotline
Website
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Donate to District 14:
Send to District AFG
PO Box 416, Concord CA 94522-0416
Please DO NOT FORGET to label your donation with your Group Name, Meeting Day & Time, and AFG number. Thank you for all your support!
Or send to NCWSA Treasurer PO Box 728, Vacaville CA 95696-0728
Donation form A-25 is available on the NCWSA website Forms page.
Birthday Donations:
 Some members choose to send WSO Donations on their Al-Anon birthday. Birthday Donation envelopes can be ordered from WSO. Just click here! |
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Welcome to the District 14 Newsletter, created & distributed by Al-Anon members.
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 As with many Octobers past, last month marked the occurrence of our NCWSA (Northern California World Service Area) Fall Assembly. This assembly is a three-day event that brings together the many Northern California district panels and our NCWSA panel for a weekend of business, workshops, games, and fellowship.
The theme of this year's Fall Assembly was "Living our Spiritual Principles, Expanding our Vision." This topic was presented in a workshop given by Vali F., Delegate, Arizona. Vali was this Fall Assembly's invited speaker, giving a compelling share that echoed the power of service present throughout the weekend.
It was a full weekend, indeed, with an agenda that included the GR (Group Representative) Orientation; the DR (District Representative) Meeting; and reports by our Delegate, Officers, Coordinators, Chairpersons, Alternates, Alateen Liaisons, DRs, Intergroups, and more!
District 14 was well represented by our own officers, coordinators, and GRs. One GR commented on the amazing learning experience that the assembly provided in showing how the Al-Anon program works at a whole other level. She stated, "I learned so much from that and am really glad to have been given that opportunity." Another GR was excited to report on the wonderful fellowship that develops out of this event: "I had the best time sharing a room with three people who were strangers to me a month ago!"
 Another one of our District 14 attendees reflected on the insight he was given by asking, "Who brings The 12 Stepper to their meetings?" The 12 Stepper is the official newsletter of NCWSA. It is distributed three times each year to all the Al-Anon and Alateen groups via the GRs and contains information from our Delegate, Officers, Coordinators, and Committee Chairpersons about Al-Anon & Alateen. There are also articles from members presenting their personal views and experiences. In fact, all members of Al-Anon and Alateen are urged to contribute information about district and group news, fundraisers, and other special events.  "I am going to be bringing [The 12 Stepper] to the meetings because that has all the information there on what's going on in Northern California," the assembly attendee said. "Most Al-Anon members don't even know that it exists." All members can access this NCWSA publication on the NCWSA website by going to NCWSA.org > Literature > Newsletters. Or click here to see The 12 Stepper now!
The NCWSA 2015 Fall Assembly was held the weekend of Friday, October 9th thru Sunday, October 11th at DoubleTree Hilton in Modesto, CA. Did you miss out and/or want to ensure that you can make it to the next assemblies? Future assembly dates are listed below:
- 2016 Spring Assembly - Saturday, May 14th
- 2016 Fall Assembly - Friday, October 14th thru Sunday, October 16th
- 2017 Spring Assembly - Saturday, May 13th
- 2017 Fall Assembly - Friday, October 20th thru Sunday, October 22nd
Save the dates on your calendar if you do not want to miss out on the next ones! By Michelle, Your District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
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NEWS: District 14 & Beyond |
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District 14 Monthly Business Meeting
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When: Every 1st Wednesday, 7 - 7:25 pm Concept Study, 7:30 pm Business Meeting.
Where: Lesher Auditorium at John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, 2540 East St.
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News from the Business Meeting
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Last meeting held on November 4, 2015 ~ Next on December 2, 2015
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District 14 Coordinator Elections:
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 Hooray! Our last open District 14 Coordinator position has been filled! It has been almost four years since our district last had active Public Outreach... Now, we rejoice with a newly elected PO Coordinator, a newly elected Alternate PO Coordinator, and a recently formed PO Committee! Congratulations and thank you to those who stepped up for this service to our fellowship and those in need.
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 Save the date! The Northern California Council of Alcoholics Anonymous will be having the NCCAA 69th Annual Spring Conference with Al-Anon Participation on Friday, March 19th thru Sunday, March 20th at San Ramon Marriot. More info will be coming out soon as plans are developed for Al-Anon Participation. Go to norcalaa.org for more info!
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 Our Anniversary Speaker Meeting was a huge success last month! It was a treat to have our wonderful guest speaker, Fernando, from Southern California. There was also an abundance of food, donation drawing items, and attendees!
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If you would like to order a copy of the speaker CD for this meeting, please contact Eugene @ 925-934-6883.
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We have the rest of the year booked...but 2016 will be shortly upon us! Contact Diane W. @ 925-234-0606 or Eileen M. @ 925-250-1090sign up your group to host a District 14 Speaker Meeting in the new year!
- MDIA 2015 Recap: The theme this year was, "Experiencing the Love of God in Our Al-Anon Recovery." This year's attendance was not as high as anticipated, but allowed for more indepth & intimate group sharing. There were for four workshops that were rotated for attendees to attend during the day.
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 Immense gratitude goes out to all of you in our fellowship who donated to our district Alateen fund! This year we will be sending 15 members to NoCAC -- this is possible only due to your generous donations for our Alateens!
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Speaker Visitor: Thank you to John M., SF for coming to speak at our District 14 Business Meeting this month as our NCWSA Alternate Alateen Coordinator!
We are in continual need of more AMIAS (Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service) certified volunteers and his story was an inspiration and testament to service as an AMIAS.
- If you are interested, think you may be interested, or are not interested but are willing to see if it's right for you... Please contact Frannie @ 925-787-3127 or Paula @ 925-435-2859 for more info. AMIAS service can include:
 - Sponsoring an Alateen meeting
- Providing transportation for Alateens to/from events
- Sponsoring at Alateen events (such as NoCAC and GTW)
- Sponsoring at special events with Alateen participation
(e.g. conventions, conferences)
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District 14 Service Positions
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Contact Marilyn H. for more information on serving for District 14!
Open District Coordinator positions are shown on the D14 Coordinators list in the sidebar. The following are the current Alternate District Coordinator positions open:
- Newsletter - Computer literacy and experience with HTML coding & CSS style sheets is helpful...but not necessary! No experience required! If you are able to give service help in publishing the newsletter, gathering publication content, and/or attending the monthly district business meeting to report or simply provide edition hard copies... Please contact Michelle Z. @ 707-315-4114 if you are able to assist in any capacity.
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 Telephone Hotline - Our hotline is running well, but our coordinator has a schedule conflict with the monthly district business meeting. If you are able to give service by simply attending the D14 Business Meeting to give the Telephone Hotline Coordinator report, please contact Mary T. @ 925-876-4298 for more info.
- Website - If you are interested in providing assistance to the District 14 Website Coordinator and/or attending the monthly district business meeting to present the Website Coordinator report as needed, please contact Bob B. @ 925-451-1533.
Alternate District Coordinators essentially assist the Coordinator and represent that position at District 14 Business Meetings when needed. It is a great way to serve and learn a new position. If you are interested in giving service for your recovery by standing for a position, review the Guidelines to see what is right for you. Then attend a business meeting to stand for the position.
If you feel you are not ready or cannot commit but would still like to help in some way, you can contact any District or Alternate Coordinator to see how else you can give service!
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Other Service Opportunities
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 Day in Al-Anon 2016We Came to Believe
Saturday, February 20th, 2016 @ 8am to 4pm
St. Andrew's Celebration Center in Pleasant hill
In February 2016, we will celebrate our 10th Annual DIA. In the 2nd month, in honor of our 2nd Step, the theme is "We Came to Believe."
Are you in need of ways to give service or just want more info? No experience is necessary. We are still in need of a Co-Chair, Childcare Coordinator, and Treasurer. Help is also needed & can be used with every aspect of the event for which you are willing! Contact 2016 DIA Chair, Michelle, at 707-315-4114. Planning meetings dates & times are announced monthly.
Come to believe. Come to give service. Come to get recovery.
Come join us in creating another memorable event of shared hope, fun, & recovery!
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2016 NCWSA Convention Committee Meeting
Tree of Life ~ Roots of Recovery
2nd Sunday of each month @ 1pm - 3pm
Come join us in the planning of YOUR 2016 NCWSA Convention! This year's theme is "Tree of Life ~ Roots of Recovery." We still have the following open positions:
- Convention Co-Chair (must be from Central Districts 11-17, 25, or 26)
- Entertainment Chair & Co-Chair
- Speaker Chair & Co-Chair
- Alathon Chair & Co-Chair
If you are not sure you want to stand for a position but are willing to help, come join us. Every position will need people to help! Please be sure to bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch.
If you have questions about the convention and/or a position, contact the NCWSA Convention Chair, Patty B. at 707-372-3241.
POTLUCK: Please be sure to bring a dish to share for lunch that does not need to be heated.
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Institutions & Public Outreach Corner |
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Institutions
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Contact Linda G. @ 925-556-6124 or Jen W. @ 925-383-6723 to get more information. Any Al-Anon or Alateen member can volunteer!
Institutions Service brings the Al-Anon presence to the institutions in our community while separating the Al-Anon philosophy from that of the treatment centers. Our Al-Anon/Alateen members reach out to families of alcoholics who are residents/outpatients of hospitals or treatment centers or are inmates of correctional & other residential facilities.
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Public Outreach
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 Volunteers speak on Al-Anon to members of the community (at medical facilities, health fairs, schools, etc.). Welcome to our newly elected Public Outreach Coordinator - Linda B. and Alternate Public Outreach Coordinator - Ravi for taking on the big and wonderful task of getting the Al-Anon message out into our community. "Al-Anon is the best kept secret...and we can change that!" Contact Linda B. @ 925-917-0781 or Ravi @ 925-686-3658 to join the Public Outreach Committee or to get more information! |
4th Saturday of Each Month @ 6:30 - 9pm
Kaiser Walnut Creek, 1515 Newell Ave, 3rd Floor, Oak Rm
(Medical Office Building parking at Newell)
Fellowship, Refreshments, Birthday chips, Donation drawing, Literature, Tape Library. Meeting recorded. 
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XXXVI Hispanic Convention with
AA and Al-Anon (English) participation
Friday, Nov 6th thru Sunday, Nov 8th
Hilton Concord, 1970 Diamond Blvd
"Reaching for Personal Freedom"
Suggested donation: $20 Al-Anon, Al-Anon (English), Adult Children, AA. $10 Alateen. Banquest is $45. Hotel reservations with Group Code $99 per night + tax. See flyers for contacts or more information.
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D9 & D10 Fall Workshop
Saturday, Nov 14th @ 11am to 2:30pm
Light of the Hills Church - 3100 Rodeo Rd, Cameron Park (new building in rear)
"Let It Begin with Me" Interactive/discussion workshop with NCWSA Area Public Information Coordinator - Veronica (SF). "Loving Relationships" speaker panel. Al-Anon and Alateen speakers TBA. Q&A. Brunch served, childcare provided. See Event Flyer | |
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Yosemite Summit Conference
with Al-Anon and Alateen Participation
November 20th thru November 22nd, 2015
Visit www.serenityyosemite.com or call (209) 966-8300 for more information. Blocks of rooms become available through the year, so don't give up on getting a room!
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NCWSA 2016 Convention
Friday, Apr 15th thru Sunday, Apr 17th
Crowne Plaza Sacramento Northeast
5321 Date Ave, Sacramento
"Tree of Life - Roots of Recovery"
Save the dates! More info coming soon. Hosted by Districts 1 thru 10. NCWSA 2016 Convention planning meetings held on every 2nd Sunday of the month (see Service Corner). Plenty of help needed with Chair & Co-Chair positions still open!
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2016 AA H&I Conference
Friday, Apr 29th thru Sunday, May 1st
Santa Rosa Veterans Building
1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa
Save the dates! 2016 Hospitals & Institutions Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous with Al-Anon Participation. Al-Anon keynote speaker TBA. Three days of panels, speakers, fellowship, dance, & more. "Sharing Our Service" Institutions Service Workshop on Sunday morning.
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Neighboring District Speaker Mtgs
See each district website for detailsDistrict 6 - Solano & Beyond: On last Friday of month @ 7pm, Vacaville.
District 16 - Tri-Valley area: 2nd Saturday of month, Pleasanton. * Next on Nov 7th*
District 26 - 1st Saturday @ 6:30pm, Richmond. 3rd Friday @ 7pm, Berkeley.
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NCWSA Events Calendar
The NCWSA calendar lists Al-Anon and Alateen events occurring throughout Northern California, including AA events with Al-Anon participation. National and international events are also listed. Go to Calendar |
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Alateen Corner |
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  Become an Alateen Sponsor For more info, contact Alateen Coordinator, Frannie D., at 925-787-3127. |
Pre-Alateen & Alateen Meetings
There are programs of help for young people who believe their lives have been influenced by someone else's drinking. Different meetings are available for different age groups:
Pre-alateen for children ages 6 - 13 and Alateen for ages 12 - 20. See the District 14
Meeting List to see Pre-Alateen & Alateen Meetings currently available in our area.
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37th Annual Northern California Alateen Conference
Friday, November 6th thru Sunday, November 8th Crowne Plaza, 5321 Date Ave., Sacramento CA 95841
Here at NoCAC, we can let our feelings flow: maybe you'll give a cheer, a laugh, or even a warm hug. We wish to present you with a beautiful and loving weekend. Show care for one another and the weekend will be the best. See Registration Packet
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Alateen Talk
Alateen Talk is WSO's Alateen quarterly publication. Alateen members around the world share their experience, strength, and hope. Shares relate to their personal lives, how their Alateen group is functioning, and ways in which they carry the Alateen message to young people who are still suffering from someone else's drinking.
Go to Alateen Talk page
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Alateen Express
Alateen Express is the official newsletter for Alateen groups of NCWSA. It contains info about Alateen that may be helpful to Al-Anon and Alateen groups. All Alateen members & their sponsors are urged to contribute info on group news, fundraisers and other special events. Articles present members' personal views & experiences.Read More
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Reflections from The Forum
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Al-Anon's Monthly Magazine
 Subscribe to The Forum and receive your own monthly
"Meeting in Your Pocket" for only $11 per year.
The Forum contains many personal stories of inspiration, some of which are made available each month online by authorization of Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Click here to see current month's featured shares in full.
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The turkey on the floor
When I came to Al-Anon, I started reading everything about the program I could find. The greatest insight came to me from a story on page 111 of From Survival to Recovery (B-21)-what I call "the turkey on the floor story."
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What I found behind that closed door
There it was again. I'd seen that door at least four times before, without ever stepping through it. I had driven by when meetings were about to start, hoping to get a glimpse of the type of people who went to Al-Anon. This time my son volunteered to go with me, so I couldn't turn back now. It was time to actually walk through the door.
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What a difference a year makes...
I am forever changed by the spiritual gifts of our Al-Anon program--its profound literature, tools, and teachings--and most especially by the warmth, compassion, and mutuality I've discovered in our fellowship. This incredible feeling of truly belonging, perhaps for the very first time in my life, is one of the most precious gifts I've ever received. I'm so thankful for the blessing of finally "coming home" to a Higher Power of my own understanding, and to all of you, the family I've always been looking for.
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Used with permission from The Forum, November 2015.
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Bienvenidos a Al-Anon y Alateen |
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Recuperación. Unidad. Servicio.
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Los amigos y familiares de los bebedores problema encuentran comprensión y apoyo en las reuniones de Al-Anon.
- El sitio web para el Distrito 14
- Fortaleza y esperanza para los amigos y familiares de bebedores problema... Aquí
- Cómo localizar una reunion: Si la bebida de otra persona le preocupa, el asistir a las reuniones de los Grupos de Familia Al-Anon o Alateen le puede ayudar.
¿Cómo puedo ayudarle a mi bebedor problema a que deje de beber?
 No existe fórmula mágica que le permita a usted ayudarle a alguien a que deje--ni a que disminuya--la bebida. El alcoholismo es un problema complejo en el que existen muchos asuntos que se relacionan. Sin embargo, Al-Anon le puede ayudar a que aprenda la forma de enfrentar las dificultades de la bebida de otra persona . . .
Cómo me ayuda Al-Anon.
 En Al-Anon, los miembros no orientan ni les dan consejos a otros miembros. En su lugar, comparten sus experiencias e historias personales, e invitan a otros miembros a "quedarse con lo que les agrada y desechar el resto"--es decir, a determinar por sí mismos qué experiencias podrían aplicar a sus propias vidas . . .
Convención Hispana
XXXVI Convención Hispana Al-Anon/Alateen Estado de California
En Busca De la Liberdad Personal
Folleto/Flyer - Español ( pdf) & English ( pdf) Con participación de AA y Al-Anon Inglesa
With AA and English-speaking Al-Anon participation
Registros Donación/Registration Donation
Al-Anon/AA: $20
Alateen: $10
Banquete/Banquet Ticket: $45
Ver folleto para información de reserva de hotel./See flyer for hotel reservation info.
Para Mas Información/For More Information
Maria S., Coordinatora de Banquete/Banquet Coordinator: 925-848-5761
Martha S., Coordinatora de Registros/Registrations Coordinator: 925-325-4189
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Contribute to this Newsletter
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Send your contribution* by email with "Contribution" in the subject line.
 All Al-Anon & Alateen members are encouraged to contribute their shares to our district newsletter: something heard at a meeting, work on one of the Steps or Traditions, a thought while reading CAL (Conference Approved Literature), a share or short story about your experience, strength, and hope. *Submissions may be edited for length/grammar & in keeping with the 12 Traditions. Authors will be notified of any changes. Publications will be made at the discretion of the editor as space permits.
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Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2015
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 No matter what relationship you have with an alcoholic, whether they are still drinking or not, all who have been affected by someone else's drinking can find solutions that lead to serenity in the Al-Anon/Alateen fellowship. For more...
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Closing Reflection
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Making a decision can be difficult because
of all the "what ifs" in my mind. But I realize
all those "what ifs" are fears, not facts.
And the things I fear are all that I cannot control--
all the things I must turn over
to the care of my Higher Power.
Wishing you all a
Happy Thanksgiving
holiday this month!
With love in service,
Michelle - District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
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