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I have never felt more me than I do today because of program.
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Recovery is like a dance:
Two steps forward...
Big steps back...
But, hopefully, always moving forward.
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional." ...
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Boundaries are
for me,
not for the
other person.
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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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We are in need of newsletter shares for our District 14 fellowship!
However minute it may seem, even the simplest words can aide a struggling member.
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Dear District 14 Fellowship: We are in need of shares for our newsletter. Whether a one-liner or whole narrative, your words on recovery help carry the message to others!
Cannot seem to find the time to sit down in front of a computer to write out an email?
Call 707-315-4114 to tell your share directly or by voicemail! A draft
of your share will be compiled for your review before publication.
Heard something at a meeting but forgot about submitting it before getting to a computer?
Text it before you forget it! Just type "Newsletter: " in your text message
followed by your share content. You can text anytime, day or night!
Something occurred but it did not occur to you that you could submit it to the newsletter?
You can call, text, or email with any questions and reflections!
We can work together to compile your thoughts for sharing.
Thoughts & stories. Words heard at a meeting. Your experience, strength, and hope... Whether it is a catchphrase quip, a lightbulb moment, a moment of serenity, a sliver of clarity, or a share in despair...sending your shares is giving service to our entire fellowship.
"Even if only one person reads exactly what he or she needs,
that is one person for whom I have done service."
In Service,
Michelle - District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
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Prelude & DR Assembly Report
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Business is Service is Recovery
A Prelude: Presenting Our District Representative's Three-Day Assembly Report
 My very first Al-Anon meeting happened to be one that held business as a part of the meeting, prior to the closing. While the meeting itself was a great release for me, I found the business meeting aspect to be a bit dysfunctional: there just happened to be a heated topic that night with raised voices, arguing, people interrupting each other and talking over one another. I left with no desire to return to that particular meeting. I did, however, attend another meeting the next evening...and another the night after that...and another that weekend...and another and another and another. I had heard that each meeting was different, so I kept coming back. I knew that Al-Anon, regardless of what meeting came to be my home, was where I needed to be.
Thinking back on my first few months in Al-Anon, there were several things that jump-started my journey to recovery: Finding a sponsor, working the steps, attending many meetings...and, among it all, service. Service has given me and continues to give me so much: I get to learn more about the Traditions and the Concepts and how they apply to my life, I get to be continually involved and engaged with the fellowship, I have the opportunity to see & appreciate the program beyond the meeting rooms--taking my recovery to a level it could not reach otherwise.
 Service also means another thing for me: attending business meetings. From the group level to the district level to committees in between, I get to "practice practicing program." I have been a part of business meetings and discussions that were heated & opinionated; I have been a part of business meetings blanketed in serenity. Yet with more time in program now, I recognize that all of it is a part of the process--a part of the way we function as Al-Anons by going through struggles to get where we need to be right when we need to get there. It is part of the learning, a part of recognizing that our business functions as life does: sometimes blanketed in serenity and other times--well, not so much. In all of it, others have their part and we have ours.
I do know that we can have better business within the program by practicing the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts and using the tools (such as the Service Manual) that we have at hand. But I look back now on that business experience at my first Al-Anon meeting and realize that everyone in that room was just as human as I am. I recognize that we were all there for the same reasons. I look back on that business and think, Wow, those were all people in program doing service to the best of their ability to support their group in recovery. That meeting over two years ago has given me another learning experience today: Today, I am able to see that business is service is recovery. Today, I can look back fondly on that meeting and have the desire to attend it again.
Last month's District 14 Newsletter issue featured the Fall Assembly Recap, which covered the NCWSA's annual three-day October assembly. As part of that assembly, each DR from across the NCWSA gave reports on behalf of their respective districts. Our D14 DR, Marilyn H., submitted a healthy report on behalf of all the AFGs in our district. Reading through the report, I was reminded of just how important service is to recovery. This report--filled with business--reflects a thriving fellowship. A thriving fellowship can only be achieved with dedicated service. And in service work, as reflected in Step 12, we practice recovery.
I am proud to be in Al-Anon, to be a part of the program, and to be of service to our fellowship. And I am proud of the business we accomplish in & for our recovery--business that enables us to carry the message to others in need. So here is to the business in our program, as I present:
Note: NCWSA DR Reports will be published in the next edition of The 12 Stepper.
In gratitude & service... 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 December 2, 2015 ~ Next on January 6, 2015
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 AA Conference with Al-Anon Participation: NCCAA's 69th Annual Spring Conference with Al-Anon Participation will be held on Friday, Mar 18th thru Sunday, Mar 20th at the San Ramon Marriot. Districts 14 & 16 will have a Literature Table throughout the weekend. 20 volunteers (10 from each District) will be needed for 2-hr time slots. Al-Anon is encouraged to volunteer for the tables & register for the conference at norcalaa.org. Some info on the event: -
Friday: Al-Anon meeting at 6:30pm. Literature Table open from 2pm to 8pm.
AA Speaker at 8 or 8:30pm.
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Saturday: Lois' DVD and Al-Anon Speaker Meeting at 3 or 4pm. Literature Table open from 9:30am to 8pm.
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Sunday: Literature Table open from 10am to 2pm.
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 150 orders were processed by our Literature Depot this year! Our Coordinators Kathy & Viola expect to make the projected contribution to the district by year's end. Reminder to all Group Literature persons: Please speak slowly when leaving your message and give your number at the beginning and end of the message!
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 We now have a tri-board of Archives in progress! A questionnaire and group history list for Al-Anons with 25+ years was given to all GRs at assembly. Please complete & return to our Archives Coordinator, Michelle W., to put in the archives on the NCWSA website.
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...and Beyond
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 Attending other District Business Meetings in the area is a great way to see how things are done in the program beyond our District 14 boundaries. Are you going out of town or maybe thinking about planning a trip? Many will attend Al-Anon Family Group meetings out of the area when on vacation or traveling for work, but not many think to attend district business meetings outside of our own. You can easily find out when/where these are happening by using the NCWSA website calendar: Just click here!  |
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District 14 Service Positions
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Contact Marilyn H. for more information on serving for District 14!
Alternate District Coordinator positions open! The Alternate provides assistance and represents the 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, review the Guidelines to see what's right for you then attend a business meeting to stand for the position. All Coordinator positions are listed in the sidebar. The open Alternate District Coordinator positions are:
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Alateen - Whether you are an AMIAS or not, you can help! Assistance is primarily needed with paperwork. Contact Frannie @ 925-787-3127 if you are interested!
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 Newsletter - Computer literacy and experience with HTML coding & CSS style sheets is helpful...but not necessary! No experience required! Help is also needed gathering publication content and attending the monthly district business meeting to report or simply distribute hard copies. Contact Michelle @ 707-315-4114 if you are able to assist in any capacity. -
 Telephone Hotline - Our hotline is running well, but our coordinator has a schedule conflict with the monthly district business meeting so is unable to attend. If you are able to give service by simply attending the D14 Business Meeting to give the Telephone Hotline Coordinator report, contact Mary T. @ 925-876-4298 for more info.
- Website - If you are interested in providing assistance to our 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.
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!
District 14 Treasurer: It will be necessary for Nancy to step down from Treasurer relatively soon. The budgeting Excel worksheet can be maintained on either a PC or MAC. A head for numbers is not imperative--merely a level of trustworthiness and ability to pay bills & maintain a prudent reserve. Contact Marilyn H. @ 707-643-4451 if you are interested!
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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. You can also volunteer to chair or speak for one of the many wonderful workshops we will be having!
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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 Public Outreach informs the general public about who we are, what we do, and how to get in touch with Al-Anon and Alateen. The goal is to attract all families and friends of alcoholics to Al-Anon Family Groups, so that everyone who needs our program can find help and hope in every community. The attraction we provide is accomplished through the media, in cooperation with professionals, through institutions, and with organizations in the general public. "Al-Anon is the best kept secret...and we can change that!" Contact Linda B. @ 925-917-0781 or Ravi @ 925-686-3658 for more info! |
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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Friday night 6:30pm Women's Meeting
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
in Pacheco Room (thru Cafeteria)
This meeting will be OPEN TO ALL
on Christmas and New Year's Eve.
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District 14 presents
Our 10th Annual Day in Al-Anon
"We Came to Believe"
Saturday, February 20th @ 8am to 4pm
St. Andrew's Celebration Center, 1601 Mary Drive, Pleasant Hill CA
Come to Believe. Come for Experience, Strength, and Hope. Come to Recover.
Believe... In the Program. In a Higher Power. In Yourself.
Come for breakfast, workshops, speakers, activities, potluck lunch by last name initial, donation drawing, silent auction. Suggested donation $15 at door, $10 with pre-registration. Free for Pre-Alateens (age 6-11) & Alateens (age 12 to 20) - with their own room & agenda! Childcare will also be provided - Please pre-register to aide coordination.
Much help is needed and positions still need to be filled! (see Service Corner). |
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NCCAA 69th Annual Spring Conference
with Al-Anon Participation
Friday, Mar 19th thru Sunday, Mar 20th
at the San Ramon Marriot
Save the dates! "Conferences are held for one purpose: TO CARRY THE MESSAGE." Northern California Council of Alcoholics Anonymous presents its 2016 Annual Spring Conference: Fellowship, workshops, speakers, free drawing, dance. For more event information, go to norcalaa.org.
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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 w/Al-Anon Participation. Al-Anon keynote speaker TBA. Panels, speakers, fellowship, dance, & more. "Sharing Our Service" Institutions Service Workshop on Sun morning. See Flyer
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"Tree of Life - Roots of Recovery"
Northern California World Service Area 2016 Convention
Friday, April 15th thru Sunday, April 17th
Crowne Plaza, 5321 Date Ave., Sacramento CA 95841
Save the dates! More info coming soon. Hosted by Districts 1 thru 10.
NCWSA 2016 Convention Planning Meetings held every 2nd Sunday (see Service Corner). Plenty of help needed with Chair & Co-Chair positions still open!
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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 - 12 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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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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I learned to leave my fears behind
After my mother assaulted me because I would not allow her to drive while she was intoxicated, I lived in fear. Until that moment, my mother had never laid a hand on me or my siblings. I feared that she would assault me again, and therefore I did not want to be around her. I changed my life around so that I would be around my mom as little as possible, especially when I knew she would be drunk. I also feared that what my mother did to me was my own fault, and that I deserved it.
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In Al-Anon, I am not different
My persistent feelings of loneliness and dependency brought me to Al-Anon. Depending on others to make me feel adequate was a never-ending job and one that left me feeling shortchanged. One day, in the midst of another period of feeling desperately lonely, I got good and angry and called out to myself "enough is enough!" I was tired of living with an aching heart and I wanted to get better. Soon after, I found my way into Al-Anon.
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Today, silence is golden for me
I cringed when I first came to Al-Anon and heard the words "silence is golden when you listen to your Higher Power."
When I was growing up, my mother fell a lot. The truth was my father was a very abusive alcoholic. He would physically and verbally abuse my mother. Other times, he was funny, often joking and giving everyone and anyone anything they wanted.
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Used with permission from The Forum, December 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 . . .
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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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Here is a closing to reflect upon.
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What comes to YOUR mind?
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
With love in service,
Michelle - District 14 Newsletter Coordinator
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