WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This book almost didn’t happen. Originally, it was only supposed to be a revision to “The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage” (item # B-4), but the revisions were becoming too extensive & the focus on just marital relationships was too narrow. So in 2001, concept approval was given to create this…
Tag: Literature
CAL – Moving On! From Alateen to Al-Anon (Item # P-59)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is my lowest selling pamphlet. Since December 2011, I’ve only sold a grand total of 1 — & that was at a Gratitude Dinner. So here again I thought “Why do I need to read this? …No one else is!” And once again, now after having read it, I feel…
CAL – The Concepts-Al-Anon’s Best Kept Secret? (Item # P-57)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Whereas the Steps are about recovery, & the Traditions about unity, what the Concepts are about is in their full title: the 12 Concepts of Service. Q: What is service? A: Gratitude in action! Per “Many Voices, One Journey” (item # B-31) page 154, Lois W. presented the Concepts in 1970…
CAL – Sponsorship, What It’s All About (Item # P-31)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This pamphlet isn’t just for members looking for Sponsors, but members looking to become Sponsors as well. It’s very comprehensive & touches on the principles of humility, readiness, acceptance, honesty, trust, service, responsibility, & love. My favorite section is the list of 16 items under: “What is the role of a Sponsor?”…
CAL – Detachment (Item # S-19)
WHAT I LEARNED: This leaflet started out in a World Service Office newsletter for professionals to educate them on how Al-Anon uses the word “detachment” but this outreach piece soon became a runaway hit with members for their own personal recovery. At a meeting last year, I heard this leaflet read aloud & the first…
CAL – Alateen Program Wallet Card (Item # M-18)
WHAT I LEARNED: Somehow, when I was reviewing the Alateen Newcomer Packet (item # K-18), I must not have seen this small wallet card. But since I’m now going through the literature chronologically, I saw this item mentioned as an “Alateen 12 x 12 Wallet Card with Preamble” on page 13 in the “1978 World…
CAL – The Al-Anon Focus (Item # P-45)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Originally, in 1978, this pamphlet was called “Double Winners” but was given its current title 4 years later (with the added subtitle: “For Al-Anon/Alateen Members Who Are Also Recovering Alcoholics”) to avoid giving the impression that one member was more important than another. Although I sometimes still hear the term “Double…
CAL – Blueprint for Progress Original Version (Item # P-5)
This “Blueprint for Progress” (item # P-5) booklet (or more specifically a tool) for doing a 4th Step inventory came out in 1976. Gradually, as time went on, it was felt that this original version didn’t go deep enough & I can see why – many of the questions can be answered with simple “yes”…
CAL – Many Voices, One Journey (Item # B-31)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Initially, I was dreading reading this book. I thought it was just going to be a boring history book with a litany of dates & facts that were as dry as sandpaper. Turns out, this has been one of the best well-written books I’ve come across so far!! It was designed…
CAL – 12 Steps & 12 Traditions for Alateen (Item # P-18)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. At 48 pages, this is the longest pamphlet in the CAL catalog because it’s filled with a little info about each Step & Tradition followed by several related questions & personal stories from Alateen members. The reflections share quite a bit about when good Traditions go bad, so for someone like…
CAL – Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism (Item # B-1)
To me, there’s something intriguing about reading discontinued books. I feel like I’m uncovering something they no longer want me to know. This is how I felt reading Al-Anon’s second book, “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism” (item # B-1) that I got from our District Archives chairperson. 1. The first edition originally came out in 1965 at…
CAL – How Can I Help My Children? (Item # P-9)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1.“Helping” is a tricky word in this program. This pamphlet basically boils down to setting a good example & “Secure your own mask first” before assisting children (or anyone else for that matter). It’s full of tips, personal stories, a checklist for parents, Steps, Traditions, slogans, & an excerpt from the pamphlet “Dear…
CAL – Alateen-a day at a time (Item # B-10)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. As of this year, 2013, this book has been around for 30 years! It’s Alateen’s first daily reader & is very different than Alateen’s second daily reader “Living Today in Alateen” (item # B-26). It seems it is for older teens because there are no pictures, drawings, or even quotes from…
CAL – In All Our Affairs: Making Crises Work For You (Item # B-15)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Right away I liked that this book is broken up into 4 parts: Awareness, Acceptance, Action, & Moving On. And for me, reading this couldn’t have come at a better time, because I was going through what I considered a crisis this past month. But after so many stories about violence,…
CAL – Just For Today Alateen Wallet Card (Item # M-11)
WHAT I LEARNED: This wallet card came out 15 years after Alateen was started – when they hit the 1,000 groups milestone. It’s similar to the “Just for Today” Alateen bookmark version (item # M-13), with the exception of one word at the end of the “Thank You God” prayer: Amen. I rarely ever hear this…
CAL – Why Conference Approved Literature? (Item # P-35)
Before I read this pamphlet, I thought I would open it up & see the answer: “Because we said so!” Ha ha! 😄 WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Any Al-Anon/Alateen member can contribute to Conference Approved Literature (“CAL”), but it has to be something that hasn’t been published elsewhere. 2. Not all of our literature bears…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 