WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Ever since this pamphlet first came out in 1970, its original subtitle was: “from the Other Side of the Family” but around 2010, it was updated to be: “Alcoholics Speak to the Family.” The image of this “white-circle” design pamphlet with this new subtitle is one of the rarest & hardest…
Tag: Steps
CAL – Al-Anon Basic Program Wallet Card (Item # M-7)
WHAT I LEARNED: This wallet card has been around for many moons & it can’t get more “basic” than this. It’s got a Al-Anon’s preamble, all the Steps, Traditions, Concepts, & Warranties you could want, with a little bit of Serenity Prayer mixed in there as well. Typically it’s the Newcomer groups that buy these…
CAL – Having Had a Spiritual Awakening… (Item # B-25, eB-25)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This is Al-Anon’s first e-book (item # eB-25) that came out recently, but I don’t own an e-reader, so I had to check-out the discontinued hardcover book from our District’s Archivist. We have so few books with pictures & this one does – but they’re all in black & white. The e-reader…
CAL – Alateen–Hope for Children of Alcoholics (Item # B-3)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Alateen began in 1957, but they didn’t have their first hardcover book until this one came out in 1973. Its origins were a pamphlet (which has been discontinued) & it was expanded to now have sections for Steps, Traditions, Slogans, Personal Stories, & an Alateen Timeline. 2. At 120 pages, it’s…
CAL – The Twelve Steps & Traditions (Item # P-17)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Continuing on with my historical jaunt through the pamphlets… 1961 was a major year for Al-Anon. After being around for 10 years, they finally had their first trial Conference that year & the concept of having Conference Approved material was adopted — yet, at that time, groups were still allowed to…
CAL – Alcoholism, the Family Disease (Item # P-4)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This pamphlet is another example of outside literature being “grandfathered” in. A big “Thanks!” goes out to a non-member, Harold Black, & the initial Kentucky & Arizona groups for their contribution to this one. Per “Many Voices, One Journey” (item # B-31) (pages 58 & 104), an early booklet version was…
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 – 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 – 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…
MTG – Winter Park – “Friday Shepherd of Serenity AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: To work my program & the 12 Steps, I need to be willing to accept risk in my life.
"CAL Chat" Blog ~My journey in Al-Anon~ 