WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Inmates sharing a Fifth Step with an Al-Anon member is not considered “privileged,” however it is “protected communication” if done with a person of the clergy. …It makes me think of all the privileges I take advantage of in the program. 2. Come to think of it, couldn’t the term “inmate” be relative? I…
Tag: Al-Anon Literature
CAL – Living With Sobriety (Item # P-49)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The subtitle of this booklet is “Another Beginning” not, as I had hoped, “My Happy Ending!” At only 52 pages, it’s a quick read & covers topics such as: Accepting Changes, Courage, Resentments, Disappointments, Communication, & Happiness. (I especially like that the topics of Love & Sex are under the Communication…
CAL – Suggested Programs for Meeting (Item # G-13)
WHAT I LEARNED: I’ll never be without a meeting topic again now that I’ve seen the second page of this guideline with 23 options to choose from! ━━━━━▼━━━━━ **UPDATE (5/5/17): This guideline was revised in 2013. The title has changed slightly because an “s” has been added to the word “Meeting” to make it plural. …
CAL – From Survival to Recovery (Item # B-21)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. For the fellowship, “From Survival to Recovery: Growing Up in an Alcoholic Home” (item # B-21) marked a major turning point in fully welcoming adult children of alcoholics in the mid 90’s. At 300 pages, it’s probably only a few pounds, but it felt so much heavier than that because of all…
CAL – Starting an Al-Anon Group (Item # G-12)
WHAT I LEARNED: According to this guideline every new group is sent 3 packets of literature from the World Service Office (WSO), however it’s spread out over one year – not given all at once upon startup like I thought. What pieces are they given? To find out, you could start your own group –…
CAL – Group Representative (Item # G-11)
WHAT I LEARNED: Back in the day when I was a GR (Group Representative), I was given this guideline as a hardcopy but I must have only read the front side. Now that I’m reading it electronically, I finally see the second page with the Sample Agenda for a Group Business Meeting & the GR…
CAL – As We Understood… (Item # B-11)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Based on its size, this book looks like it might be a daily reader, but it’s not designed that way. The purpose of the book was to share members’ sense of the spiritual (not religious) nature of the program. It doesn’t focus on any one particular Step & I’m glad for…
CAL – Outreach to the Public/Media (Item # G-10)
WHAT I LEARNED: The last revision to this guideline was in 2004 & I think it’s due for an update because when I read the title regarding “media,” I thought there might be info in this that includes social media as well, but there wasn’t. …Maybe a whole new separate guideline needs to be created…
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 – Outreach to Institutions (Item # G-9)
WHAT I LEARNED: Question #1: What type of Al-Anon/Alateen meeting is NOT allowed to have a Group Representative? Answer #1: An Institutions Group Meeting! Question #2: Want to know why? Answer #2: You’ll have to read this guideline… I’m not going to just give everything away on this blog! Ha ha 😜 ━━━━━▼━━━━━ **UPDATE (5/5/17): This…
CAL – Opening Our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses (Item # B-29)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I won this book in a raffle basket many moons ago but I was afraid to read it because it was about grief & loss. I thought if I did, something bad would happen – which makes about as much sense as not making a last will & testament means I…
CAL – Taking a Group Inventory (Item # G-8)
2011 Version WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In 2011, this guideline was expanded to be more inclusive of Alateen meetings & even though it is technically still 1 guideline (item # G-8), it was divided into 2 sections: G-8a which includes several lists of questions, & G-8b “Methods & Reflections” – which offer “how-to” suggestions on…
CAL – Al-Anon/Alateen Participation in an AA Area Convention (Item # G-7)
WHAT I LEARNED: Because Al-Anon is self-supporting, contributions from AA are considered “outside” & are therefore declined (see Tradition 7). In the case of AA Conventions where there is Al-Anon participation, AA is entitled to keep all monies from Al-Anon registrations, meals, & workshops. However, there is a little note in this guideline that Al-Anon…
CAL – Area Literature Coordinators (Item # G-6)
WHAT I LEARNED: Much like any of the guidelines that are job descriptions, I always learn that the position entails a lot more than I thought! Area Literature Coordinators interact not just with World Service Office & LDC’s (Literature Distribution Centers – like yours truly!), but also Website Coordinators, Information Service or Intergroups, Newsletter Editors,…
CAL – The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage (Item # B-4)
In 1965, this book originally had the proposed title “Alcoholism & Sex.” Two years later it came out with the current title to appeal to a wider audience. As I write this in 2014, the book hasn’t been revised for 42 years & it shows. With terms like: temptress, fellows, bulwark (I had to look…
CAL – Alateen Meetings in Schools (Item # G-5)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I thought there were only 2 general meeting types, open or closed. However, there is a third: limited access meetings, which is what Alateen meetings often are when they’re held in a school. 2. Schools are required by law to report certain types of abuse, so I’ve often wondered how a meeting can…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 