January 2016 Volume16, Issue 1 AFG District 19 Newsletter Bam! Boom! Kazam! Coming August 20, 2016 A DAY IN AL-ANON At the Dec 12th District 19 business meeting Mary O. from Visalia conducted a workshop on “What would A DAY IN AL-ANON look like?” She had been talking to people at Santa Teresita Youth Conference Center in Three Rivers and knew that this would be an ideal place to hold such an event. She wanted us to THINK big! She revved us up to the excitement of having A DAY IN AL-ANON right in our own district, and not just for 2016, but yearly. Some of us have been to other district’s A DAY IN AL-ANON, but Mary O. wanted to know what A DAY IN AL-ANON would look like to us. She divided us into three groups, and each group delved into what we pictured this day to be like. THINK BIG! THINK outside the box! What workshops would be of interest to us? How would we incorporate diversity? What committees and service chairs would we need? What service can the groups provide?...At the end of the discussion period we reviewed all the suggestions each group came up with. It was exciting to see everyone pumped up about our very own A DAY IN AL-ANON. But It takes a lot of planning and volunteers to have a successful event, and many more questions will be popping up as the preparation for this event takes shape. This is an opportunity for all Al-Anons and Alateens to be involved. There will be big jobs and little jobs, and ones in between. We ask you and your group to volunteer to be part of the planning and celebration. Call District 19 at 559-444-0224 to volunteer. Thank you for your support in this exciting adventure. - - - - - -Alateen Express - - - - - The Alateen Express is the official newsletter for Alateen groups of the Northern California World Service Area (NCWSA) 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. You can review current and past copies of the Alateen Express at ncwsa.org. Alateens and Alateen sponors: you are encouraged to share your experience, strength, and hope too. Go to ncwsa.org. Click on “Alateen” and “Newsletter” and open a copy of Alateen Express to find information on how to submit your story for publication. - - - - Alateen is Now on Facebook! - - - - The “Alateen WSO” outreach Facebook page is now a reality. Search “Alateen WSO: to find it. Also, like the Al-Anon WSO Facebook page, Alateen WSO is intended to deliver an Alateen message to the many young people on Facebook. It is NOT a place to share. This would violate our Tradition of anonymity. For Alateen meetings online visit: al-anon.org/try-an-alateen-chat-meeting Upcoming Special Events: 2016 Jan 9-10: 15th Annual Al-Anon Men’s Serenity Weekend Sausalito, CA, Hosted by Men At Work (D16, Pleasanton) Info: MensSerenityWeekend@gmail.com Apr 15-17: NCWSA Convention-Tree of LifeRoots of Recovery, Crowne Plaza, Sacramento. Info: ncwsa.org Apr 29,30 May 1: AA H&I Conference with Al -Anon participation, Santa Rosa, CA info: ncwsa.org May 14: NCWSA One-Day Assembly. info: ncwsa.org May 20-22: 34th Annual Growing Together Weekend, Occidental, CA. Aug 20: A Day In Al-Anon-Three Rivers , CA Contact: District 19 559-444-0224 Oct 14-16: NCWSA Assembly, info: ncwsa.org Nov 18-20: Yosemite Summit Conference, info: ncwsa.org or yosemitepark.com NoCAC 2015 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! The first weekend of November 2015 was an amazing and important one for several of our Alateens and AMIAS (Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service). It was NoCAC (Northern California Alateen Conference) time! NoCAC was held in Sacramento at the Crowne Plaza November 6-8, 2015. Many Alateens from Northern California attended including several of our district Alateens from Visalia and Fresno. NoCAC is a unique conference because it is entirely organized and put on by Alateens. They have workshops, games, talent shows, speakers, meetings, etc just like an Al-Anon conference, but entirely for Alateens. If you have ever attended an Al-Anon conference you will remember the peace, joy, fun, serenity, and fellowship you enjoyed there. This is the same feeling Alateens get when they attend NoCAC. Here is the response one of our Alateens gave when asked about her experience at NoCAC: “This was my second NoCAC. And I can honestly say it was just as amazing and fun as the first time. We had a talent show the first night where talent was not required to participate. Anyone could simply go up and perform and everyone cheered for you. The workshops were also very eye opening. We got to hear so many Alateen’s stories and could relate to every one. I was very sad when Sunday rolled around but I was able to learn so much and even got elected to be of service for our own district and other districts. Thank You to all the AAs, Al-Anons and Alateens that helped fun raise for our scholarships and trip. And a big thank you to Sheri, Bill, Mary and Katie for putting up with us, all the way there and back. We hope to take many more teens next year as well as AAs and Al-Anons. Thank you for your continued support.” Aurora from the Visalia Alateen Groupies You and your group can make it possible for more District 19 Alateens to go to NoCAC 2016. At each of your meetings pass around an envelop designated just for the Alateens. Have your treasurer send this designated money to our District Treasurer Karen N. She will make sure it goes into the Alateen account. Your support will make a big difference when NoCAC 2016 comes around, and we’ll be able to send more of our Alateens to this special event. NoCAC 2016 here we come!!!!! Detaching with Love: Procrastination: Alcoholism is a family disease. Living with the effects of someone else’s drinking is too devastating for most people to bear without help. In Al-Anon we learn individuals are not responsible for another person’s disease or recovery from it. We let go of our obsession with another’s behavior and begin to lead happier and more manageable lives, lives with dignity and rights; lives guided by a Power greater than ourselves. A painfully shy man fell in love with a young woman. He sensed that she felt the same way, but he couldn’t find the courage to ask her out. Finally he decided he would mail her a love letter every day for one year, and then ask her for a date. Faithfully, he followed his plan, and at year’s end he was courageous enough to call her—only to discover she’d married the letter carrier. In Al-Anon We Learn: Not to suffer because of the actions or reactions of other people; Not to allow ourselves to be used or abused by others in the interest of another’s recovery; Not to do for others what they could do for themselves; Not to manipulate situations so others will eat, go to bed, get up, pay bills, not drink; Not to cover up for anyone’s mistakes or misdeeds; Not to create a crisis; Not to prevent a crisis if it is in the natural course of events. Detachment is neither kind nor unkind. It does not imply judgment or condemnation of the person or situation from which we are detaching. It is simply a means that allows us to separate ourselves from the adverse effects that another person’s alcoholism can have upon our lives. Detachment helps families look at their situations realistically and objectively, thereby making intelligent decisions possible. (from ncwsa.org website) Emotional Strength: You have the capacity to choose what you think about. If you choose to think about past hurts, you will continue to feel bad. While it’s true you can’t change the effect past influences had on you once, you can change the effect they have on you now. WHY THE NAME AL-ANON? Where did the name Al-Anon come from and why the dash (-)? This question has been asked many times. I’ve often asked this myself and I bet there are some of you who asked it too. Here is the answer from The World Service Office I found on the ncwsa.org’s website: In May 1951 Lois W., Chairman, and Anne B., Secretary, sent the first letter from the Clearing House polling the 87 family groups that had previously written to the AA general Service Office. One question asked was, “Do you approve of the name AA Family Group? If not, what do you suggest?” Approximately 57 responses were received. Some groups suggested names they were already calling themselves such as, AA Associates, AA Auxiliary, Non-AA, Triple A, Women’s Auxiliary of AA, Friendship, AA Helpmates, Twelfth Step Auxiliary. The majority, however, favored the AA Family Group name, which Lois and the Committee changed to “Al-Anon” which is a contraction of the two words: Alcoholics Anonymous. The decision came about when AA objected to the use of the letters “AA” in the name of the national association of non-alcoholics since their Sixth Tradition stated that an AA group ought never lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise. The hyphen was included because there are, in many locations in the US and Canada, AA Clubhouses that call themselves Alanon or Alano. The hyphen also identifies Al-Anon as a distinct organization. (Info from Inside Al-Anon Extra: a publication for groups of the Al-Anon Family Groups, Inc. Printed in the 1980s.) WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT, THIS PROGRAM JUST TAKES OVER!!! Many years ago a remarkable thing happened to me one day at work. I had constantly been in conflict with the Sales Manager (I’m the Customer Service Mgr.)-always thinking he was stupid, didn’t know how to do his job, constantly taking advantage of company policy. I always felt I could do his job (and mine of course) better than he could. Needless to say I resented this, and I butted “heads” with him oftenshowing my superior knowledge, forcing my will and procedures on his department, (of course all the time keeping my department running smoothly) so I thought. One day something miraculous happened. I was on my way to his office, papers in hand (no doubt proof of some thing he should or should not have done). I was standing outside his office door ready to barge in and say “Ahah!”-you did it again (What, I’ll never remember) when suddenly, without warning, my whole body became quite hot-my heart beat fast, my hands trembled and sweated. Without knowing exactly what I was doing, I walked up to him, and out of my mouth poured out months, no years of apologetic statements. I couldn’t stop apologizing. I apologized for all my “know-it-alls”, for all the times I tried to do his job. I couldn’t stop myself from saying those very unnatural statements-I was crying-I was nervous. I also had the most fantastic amount of peace come over me that you couldn’t believe-the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I never knew why I was going to barge in on him, all I know is that my last statement was “Can I have a hug?” Then I left his office. He didn’t know what hit him, and at first I didn’t know what hit me. As I went back to my office I realized that this was what Step 12 meant in having a “spiritual awakening”. It felt good, very good. Since then I have had other “spiritual awakenings”. Some strong like this one, some not so vivid, but in all they have enriched my Al-Anon experience. I hope some day you recognize your own “spiritual awakenings”, and use them to shape your own Al-Anon journey. LW What If? Did you ever think where you would be if you’re current “Home” Al-Anon meeting didn’t exist? Years ago I went to my meeting and a concert was going on at the same time. I was a few minutes late, but I knew that would be ok. The meeting would be there. But when I looked into the room, no one was in it! Right away I thought the meeting was canceled and no one told me. But then people started to show up and our meeting proceeded as usual. What if you showed up for your meeting and no one else did? Right under your feet the meeting that you looked forward to all week, the meeting where you regained your sanity; the meeting where you got your support from, just disappeared. I know for me panic and tears would set in. What all this is leading to is the need for people to be active in meetings. Al-Anon meetings need secretaries, treasurers, group representatives, literature coordinators, newcomer greeters, setup people etc. Did you enter Al-Anon from years of being “put down?” “Oh, you can’t do this, your no good at that?” Volunteer to be a trusted servant. You will quickly see how very capable you are. The experience will fill you with volumes of recovery and extreme gratitude. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose. (Except, of course, the surprise of going to your next meeting to find it closed due to lack of trusted servants!) DISTRICT 19 TRUSTED SERVANTS (2015‐2017 panel) Officers Trusted Servant Email Address District Rep Sheri W. rep@southvalleyalanon.org District Secretary Kathy B. secretary@southvalleyalanon.org District Treasurer Karen N. treasurer@southvalleyalanon.org Alternate Officer Helen OPEN Joni Coordinators Alternate Coordinator AlaNews Linda W. alanews@southvalleyalanon.org OPEN Alateen Mary O. OPEN Archives Jody D. archives@southvalleyalanon.org Elaine H. Diversity Beatriz Irma Group Records Ken S. group.records@southvalleyalanon.org OPEN Hotline Tamara S. hotline@southvalleyalanon.org Merrily L. Institutions OPEN OPEN Literature Sue OPEN Meeting List Sharon meeting.list@southvalleyalanon.org OPEN Public Outreach (PI) Mary M. outreach@southvalleyalanon.org Monique OPEN Speaker Meeting Debbie K. Special Events Ellen K. Special.events@southvalleyalanon.org Dorothy Website Christopher H. web@southvalleyalanon.org OPEN To contact a District Trusted Servant call District 19’s Hotline number 559‐444‐0224, and leave a message with a volunteer for a return call. *Donations from D19 Groups made in Sep/Oct 2015 that go towards D19 General fund and D19 Alateens: General fund Alateens $25.00 $34.00 $94.20 $18.50 $18.00 $20.00 $14.00 $22.00 $60.00 $106.00 $5.00 $55.38 * $305.38 Totals: $166.70 Group Donating Day/Time: Location: Start Your Wk with a Step Changing What I Can Sat Morning Women’s Straight Talk Book Study Thurs Noon 1-2-3 Steps Tues New Lifers Tues Courage to Change Wed Noon 11th Step Steps/Action/Serenity Monday Step Study D19 Business Mtg Mon/noon Mon/7pm Sat/10am Sun/7pm Thu/noon Tue/7pm Tue/7pm Wed/noon Wed/5:30pm Mon/7:30pm Sat/1:00pm Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Fresno Hanford Fresno (information provided by D19’s treasurer) World Service Office (WSO) Mail Donations to: 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway Virginia Beach, VA 23454 Phone: 757‐563‐1600 Fax: 757‐563‐1655 Meeting Info: 800‐344‐2666 Web: al‐anon.alateen.org NCWSA (Northern California World Service Area) (make checks payable to NCWSA) Web: ncwsa.org Mail Donations to: NCWSA Treasurer P.O. Box 728 Vacaville, CA 95696‐0728 District 19 Information (Fresno, Madera, Kings & Tulare Counties) Web: southvalleyalanon.org Hotline/Information: Phone # 559‐444‐0224 Leave a message with a volunteer for a return call! Mailing Address: 4974 N. Fresno St., PMB 353 Fresno, CA 93726 Donations to District: Mail to above address. Make checks payable to AFG , and in‐ clude your group name and group WSO number D19 Calendar District Speaker Meetings (1st Monday of month) 2016: Feb 1, Mar 7, Apr 4, May 2 Time for all meetings: 7:00-8:30pmEast Princeton Baptist Church, Fresno District Business Meetings (2nd Saturday of month) 2016: Jan 9, Feb 13, Mar 12, Apr 9 Time for all meetings: 1:00-3:00pm Kingsburg Community Church 1590 Smith St. Kingsburg Literature: Sales are by appointment only: Call D19 559‐444‐0224 AlaNews: For submissions or to subscribe to the AlaNews email distribu‐ tion, please email: alanews@southvalleyalanon.org District Meetings: District 19 Business Meetings are held the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Kingsburg Commu‐ nity Church, 1590 Smith Street, Kingsburg. All Al‐Anon/Alateen members are welcome! 1:00pm‐3:00pm
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