WHAT I LEARNED: 1. In keeping with the same printing schedule as the first “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2007” that came out in September 2006, the subsequent annual edition, “Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2008,” debuted in the fall of 2007. (From 2007 to 2019, the outreach magazine had only 2 print runs each year, so Al-Anon members could…
Tag: Tools
PODCAST – When I Got Busy, I Got Better / From Survival To Recovery (Item #’s P-78 / B-21)
EPISODE 11 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! Am I the right kind of busy? Where does self-worth come from? Helping versus enabling? Being a victim versus a participant? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever you…
CAL – My Journey in Service (Item # M-57)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. While perusing through some Al-Anon service tools in the Area Archives, I came across “My Journey in Service” (item # M-57). At roughly 60 pages, the booklet is designed as a journal so it has lots of lined paper & blank spaces for writing, plus it includes a CAL service-oriented quote…
PODCAST – Reaching For Personal Freedom / Best of Public Outreach (Item #’s P-92 / P-90)
EPISODE 7 of my “CAL Chat” podcast is now available to listen to! What do I want to be free of? What exactly are character defects? Can Alateen outreach be done to AA members? (To hear this episode, please visit the show’s website at: calchatpodcast.com – or you can subscribe to it for free wherever…
CAL – The Best of Public Outreach (Item # P-90)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The guest for my next “CAL Chat” podcast show (Episode #7) chose this booklet, “The Best of Public Outreach” (item # P-90), as his favorite outreach piece. I’ll be posting that episode soon at calchatpodcast.com, but wanted to get my review in this blog first. This hardcopy booklet was originally printed…
CAL – Al-Anon & Alateen Groups at Work 2014-2017 (Item # P-24)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Recently on this blog, I did an in-depth review of the “Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017” (item # P-24/27). If you read that review, then this entry will seem pretty similar for “Al-Anon & Alateen Groups at Work 2014-2017” (item # P-24). …I used to think this item was a digest (or…
WORKSHOP – Jacksonville – “Weeds to Seeds” Service Workshop
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I have to keep my tools spiritually sharp. 2. How Al-Anon grew: a coffee pot & a resentment.
CAL – District Representative (Item # G-37)
WHAT I LEARNED: There’s also info in this guideline about the Alternate District Rep &, if needed, they can serve as several other positions as well such as Secretary, Treasurer, or Public Outreach contact. Whew – hopefully not all once! 😄 ━━━━━▼━━━━━ **UPDATE (5/5/17): This guideline was revised in 2014 & the changes are somewhat substantial. …
MTG – Maitland – “Carrying the Message AFG”
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I can be a carpenter for 25 years, but my hand won’t turn into a hammer. I still need to keep my tools close by! 2. What new happiness can I experience today?
CAL – A Guide to Alateen Sponsorship – An Unforgettable Adventure (Item # P-86)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Here’s another instance of me sitting down to read a piece of literature & thinking “I won’t relate to anything in it” & then finding it so interesting! Topics are covered that I never even considered, such as: how to handle members with Attention Deficit Disorder, intrusive parents, reporting abuse, kids…
CAL – Alateen Tells It Like It Is / Walk This Path of Hope (Item # AV-16 / AV-19)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. “Alateen Tells It Like It Is” (item # AV-16) came out in 1987 & according to past Conference Summaries, it’s a 16-minute video illustrated by a teenager that provides a glimpse into the lives of Alateen members. It deals with denial, anonymity, detachment, acceptance, & love. “Walk This Path of Hope”…
N. FL Spring Assembly 2014 – Day 2 of 3
WHAT I LEARNED: Breaking news! There is a brand new booklet coming out very soon: “Talk to Each Other – Resolving Conflicts Within Al-Anon” (item # S-73). This is a service tool that will also be sold as a combo set as item # K-70 that will include 2012’s “Conflict Resolution – Wallet Card” (item…
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 – 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 – Blueprint for Progress Original Version (Item # P-5)
WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This booklet (or more specifically a tool) for doing a 4th Step inventory came out in 1976 & wasn’t re-released as the larger revised version (item # P-91) until 2004. It was felt that this original version didn’t go deep enough & I can see why – many of the questions…
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~ 