My next creative adventure this time has been to put the CAL Chat podcast on YouTube & it’s now officially ready to launch! I’ve learned a ton (aka: made a lot of mistakes 😜), but I’ve also been having a lot of fun with it. Here are some highlights of the channel: Full Anonymity ~ No…
Tag: AA
CAL – One Day At A Time (Item # B-6) – NEW INTRO!
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I was just poking around the al-anon.org website today & found the brand new introduction created for the daily reader: “One Day At A Time In Al-Anon” (also known as: “ODAT”). For a little background on why this new intro came about, check out pages 38-39 of the “2021 World Service…
PODCAST – How Al-Anon Works / Newcomer Packet (Item #’s B-32, B-22, eA-22, & eB-22 / K-10)
Way back on July 1st, 2016, I posted the very first episode of my “CAL Chat” podcast, but I never did an official blog post about it…. until now! EPISODE 1: How many different types of Newcomer Packets are available? Which one pamphlet does Michael find helpful to read before his second Al-Anon meeting? How…
PODCAST – From Survival To Recovery / How Al-Anon Works (Item #’s B-21 / B-32, B-22, & eA-22)
EPISODE 13 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How is a pandemic similar to recovery? What Al-Anon audiobooks are available? Can a book also be a picture frame? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever you…
CAL – How Al-Anon Works – Audiobook (Item # eA-22)
My next “CAL Chat” podcast guest mentioned that “How Al-Anon Works” (item # B-32) was her favorite piece to use for outreach purposes that she wanted to discuss on the new upcoming Episode #13. To prepare, I was going to re-read it but then I thought, “How could I do it differently this time?” So…
MTG – Orlando – “You’re Not Alone AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: “Later… [Bill W.] expanded the number to Twelve Steps so as to be sure there were no loopholes through which a drunk could escape.” – quote from softcover version of “How Al-Anon Works” (item # B-32), page 153.
MTG – Orlando – “Friday Morning Lights AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: To me, Tradition 6 seems to be Al-Anon’s declaration that it is a program that is not codependent. Everything could fall away… money, property, prestige, even AA, & Al-Anon would still be ok. It would survive. …just like me.
PODCAST – Reaching For Personal Freedom / Best of Public Outreach (Item #’s P-92 / P-90)
EPISODE 7 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! What do I want to be free of? What exactly are character defects? Can Alateen outreach be done to AA members? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever…
CAL – Parents of Alcoholics (Item # R-18)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The item # for this short 12-page piece begins with an “R” because this is a reprint of various articles from The Forum magazine. It came out in 2012 & reprints are typically only printed for a 2-year period. However, demand for this piece must be high because it’s now 4 years later…
PODCAST – From Survival To Recovery / Did You Grow Up With A Problem Drinker? (Item #’s B-21 / S-25)
EPISODE 4 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! How is alcoholism a disease of extremes? What does the term “Adult Child” mean? Am I trapped in a compulsive need? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever…
CAL – Forum Favorites, Vol. 2 (Item # B-9B)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Since I’m reading the entire discontinued “Forum Favorites” series from most recent to oldest (see my previous entries for Volume 3 (item # B-9C) & Volume 4 (item # B-9D)), this Volume 2 (item # B-9B) came as a shock because it was immediately apparent that every story was in the…
CAL – Alateen Safety Guidelines (Item # G-34)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. According to this Alateen guideline, any reporting of child abuse is done on a personal basis, not as an Alateen Sponsor or an AMIAS (an Al-Anon Member Involved in Alateen Service). This is done with Tradition 10 in mind to keep the fellowship out of public controversy! 2. Even though I’m not a certified…
CAL – Al-Anon’s 12 Steps & 12 Traditions – Original (Item # B-8)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. If you’re following along with each post chronologically, then you’ve come to this entry to find out what is different in this original (now discontinued) version from 1981 compared to the revised 2005 version. If the program hasn’t changed, why did the book change & what am I missing that was…
CAL – Al-Anon Speaks For Itself (Item # AV-10)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In 1986, Al-Anon’s first outreach film “Al-Anon Speaks For Itself” (item # AV-10) helped carry the message to teachers, the clergy, the media, social workers, counselors, & other professionals. The 15-minute program featured stories from members from all walks of life & was broken into 5 sections: 1) The Way It…
CAL – Area Conventions (Item # G-20)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. As current Co-Chair for the 2015 North Florida Area Convention, it was helpful to re-read this guideline because it reminds me that, just like in the program, many have come before me & many will come after me & it will all be ok. 2. My favorite line is: “Understand that…
CAL – Forum Favorites, Vol. 4 (Item # B-9D)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. To see the early beginnings of this multi-volume book, we have to go back to an AA event, specifically the International Convention in 1970 where it made its debut as a hardcover book: “Al-Anon’s Favorite Forum Editorials” (item # B-2). (Side note: Al-Anon didn’t start having its own International Conventions until…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 