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…
Tag: Pamphlet
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…
CAL – To Parents of Alcoholics (Item # P-16)
Yesterday I finished the Adult Children of Alcoholics Newcomer Packet (item # K-21). This week there’s only this one pamphlet to read from the Parents’ Newcomer Packet (K-24). –What I learned about all the other items in this packet can be found in previous entries for the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (K-10). 1. This pamphlet is a…
CAL – Al-Anon Family Groups Welcomes Adult Children of Alcoholics (Item # S-69)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In the Adult Children of Alcoholics Newcomer Packet (item # K-21), this is the third pamphlet & it features 10 mini sharings interspersed with other Al-Anon info. 2. This is the first pamphlet I’ve seen that shows separate info for a 2nd headquarters – in Canada! (Which looks like it just had an…
CAL – Al-Anon Sharings from Adult Children (Item # P-47)
Last week I finished reading the entire general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10), so now I’m starting on the next one that fits me best: the Adult Children of Alcoholics Packet (K-21). WHAT I LEARNED: In this pamphlet, I’m glad to see that a couple of the sharings were from Alateen members, but the…
CAL – The Al-Anon Family Groups (Classic Edition) (Item # B-5)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I knew this was Al-Anon’s first book that was printed in 1955 & that Lois Wilson intended this to be our “Big Book.” What I didn’t know is that the first draft was just going to be a pamphlet & now this re-issue from 2000 is actually several versions of this…
CAL – This is Al-Anon (Item # P-32)
At a recent Gratitude Dinner, the emcee quickly came up to me & asked for something that she could have at the podium that included the Serenity Prayer, Steps, Traditions, Concepts, Warranties & Al-Anon Declaration. I said I had just the perfect thing! Rather than give her a book, I gave her this pamphlet. And…
CAL – Getting Started (Item # S-15R)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the tenth & last item in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10) & it has a very special distinction that I just found out. As far as my research can tell, this item # S-15R is the only piece of active literature that is not listed on any…
CAL – Al-Anon Spoken Here (Item # P-53)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is the seventh pamphlet in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10) & is the only one marked “Service” on the front (instead of “Recovery”). I imagine that’s because this pamphlet is also used as outreach literature. 2. This pamphlet addresses 15 common Frequently Asked Questions – especially regarding…
CAL – A Guide for the Family of the Alcoholic (Item # P-7)
This is the sixth pamphlet in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10) & is one of the few examples of early “outside literature” being grandfathered into the CAL catalog. It was issued in 1962 & is primarily based on an article by a non-member: the former director of the Charlotte Council on Alcoholism. This pamphlet…
CAL – Dear Mom & Dad (Item # P-67)
WHAT I LEARNED: This is the fifth pamphlet in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10). It mostly features testimonials from Alateen members, but what I really found interesting is this was the first time I’ve read the Alateen preamble. I thought only a few words would be changed compared to the one I’m used to…
CAL – So You Love an Alcoholic (Item # P-14)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. So you love an alcoholic? Well join the club! This is the fourth pamphlet in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10). I like that it lists several “Do’s” & “Don’ts.” I’ve seen a great list like this for Alateen (item # M-9), but this is the first one I’ve…
CAL – Understanding Ourselves & Alcoholism (Item # P-48)
WHAT I LEARNED: This is the third pamphlet in the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10) & I think it could’ve easily been named “Been There, Done That!” It lays out the predictable patterns of both the alcoholic & the non-alcoholic with such precision it seems it could be a science. This pamphlet doesn’t sugar-coat…
CAL – Information for the Newcomer (Item # S-4)
WHAT I LEARNED: In my view, this pamphlet is a short breakdown of each part of the preamble read at the beginning of meetings. I can see why, of the 6 different types of Packets available, this is the first pamphlet of the most popular one: the general Al-Anon Newcomer Packet (item # K-10). It answers 11 frequently asked…
CAL – Purpose & Suggestions (Item # P-13)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Lois W. & Anne B. wrote this as Al-Anon’s very first pamphlet in 1951. Interestingly, its title used to be “Purposes & Suggestions.” According to “The Al-Anon Family Groups (Classic Edition)” (item # B-5), the title was changed in 1976 affirming only one purpose (see Tradition 5). …Makes me curious what…
CAL – Al-Anon: Then and Now (Item # AR-2)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Regional Service Seminars (RSS’s) were established in 1979 but I have never heard of these. 2. Apparently between the US & Canada there are 9 regions total & 3 RSS’s per year. I’m on the hunt to find out more about these & when the next one will be. 🕵️♀️ If…
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 