Alcoholism – Page 23 – "CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~

CAL – Alateen Do’s & Don’ts (Item # M-9)

WHAT I LEARNED: This is the third item in the Alateen Newcomer Packet (item # K-18) & is a great wallet-size reminder of do’s & don’ts that can apply to anyone – not just Alateen members.

CAL – Youth & the Alcoholic Parent (Item # P-21)

Last week I finished the Professional Packet (item # K-30). (What I learned about all the other items in that packet can be found in previous entries for the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (K-10).) …This week, I’m starting the very last packet, whew! WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the second pamphlet in the Alateen Newcomer Packet…

MTG – Apopka – “Apopka AFG”

WHAT I LEARNED: I may not have the “-ism”, but I definitely have the “-ependency”!

WORKSHOP – Ocala – Day of Service Workshops

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Today I got my learnin’ on by attending several workshops given by North Florida Area officers. I now have a better idea of the service work they do for us & that they’re involved in a lot of conference calls! Ha ha 😆 2. Usually at Area Assemblies, I listen to…

CAL – Facts about Alateen (Item # P-41)

WHAT I LEARNED: This is the sixth item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is very cut & dry info about Alateen – no extra frills or sharings in this pamphlet, just the facts ma’am! I did find it interesting that while the Alateen 12 Steps are exactly the same as Al-Anon’s, some of their…

CAL – Are You Troubled by Someone’s Drinking? (Item # S-17)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the fourth item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is one of my top selling outreach items – now I can see why. This questionnaire is written very broadly so it can apply to anyone affected by alcoholism – including adult children of alcoholics & kids that…

MTG – Orlando – “Today’s Hope AFG”

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I was a speaker again tonight & now I know the term I was looking for the other day that describes the feeling at the end of my story – when people come up to me with tears in their eyes – & the person I thought I was not reaching,…

MTG – Deland – “Deland AFG”

WHAT I LEARNED: To me, there is almost no better feeling in this program than when I’m a speaker at a group & after the meeting is over, someone comes up to me & says “You told my story!” I can’t even think of a word to properly describe how amazing that feeling is, but I…

DISTRICT MTG – July 2013

WHAT I LEARNED: With so many first-time attendees at today’s District Meeting, I didn’t get to say a proper hello to you because it was so hectic, so consider this your IOU for 1 hug!

CAL – Courage to Be Me – Living with Alcoholism (Item # B-23)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the first Alateen book I’ve ever read & I was not prepared! I should’ve had a box of tissues along with it – especially for the “Happy/Sad” section that begins on page 300. The simplicity & direct honesty felt like I was reading a bunch of diary entries from…

CAL – Has Your Life Been Affected by Someone Else’s Drinking? (Item # S-20)

WHAT I LEARNED: This is the third item in the Professional Packet (item # K-30) & is a leaflet of 20 questions that I’m presuming the professional would give to a kid to see if Alateen is for them. …If only the counselor I was forced to see back in my high school days would have given…

CAL – Fact Sheet for Professionals (Item # S-37ES)

Last week I finished the Men’s Newcomer Packet (item # K-23) since all the other items in the packet are ones I’ve already commented on. Time to move onto the next packet… WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the first pamphlet in the Professional Packet (K-30) & the Al-Anon program is not described as a…

CAL – Does She Drink Too Much? (Item # P-62)

This is the third pamphlet in the Men’s Newcomer Packet (item # K-23) & it’s the first one I’ve come across that has photos in it – which seems to be a rare thing in our CAL, but I digress… WHAT I LEARNED: 1. More importantly, I found out the answer to this pamphlet’s title is…

CAL – Al-Anon is for Men (Item # P-1)

Last week I finished the Parents’ Newcomer Packet (item # K-24). This week I’m reading the Men’s Newcomer Packet (K-23). WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I expected this to be full of sharings from men &, as a non-man myself, I thought: “Here’s one pamphlet I know I don’t need to read because I won’t be able…

MTG – Ocoee – “Monday Miracles”

WHAT I LEARNED: Nowhere in Tradition 7 is the word “money” or “financial.” Another way to look at it is I, & the groups I attend, can be “self-supporting” emotionally, spiritually & through participating in service work.