CAL – Al-Anon Faces Alcoholism 2008 (Item # N/A)

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…

CAL – Reaching For Personal Freedom (Item # P-92)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. The guest for my next “CAL Chat” podcast show (Episode #7) chose this workbook, “Reaching for Personal Freedom” (item # P-92), as his favorite literature piece.  I’ll be posting that episode soon at calchatpodcast.com, but wanted to get my review in this blog first…  This workbook has the rare distinction of…

CAL – Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual 2014-2017 (Item # P-24/27)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. Originally, I only read the “Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual” on an as-needed basis, but when my next podcast guest said that this was her favorite book that she wanted to talk about on my “CAL Chat” show, I had to dust off my manual & put on my scuba reading mask to…

CAL – Forum Favorites, Vol. 3 (Item # B-9C)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. After I became the North Florida Area Literature Coordinator in 2015, I was “bequeathed” a lot of CAL & some were discontinued pieces.  Whoo-hoo!  So I’m slowly making my way through them & decided to start by reading the entire “Forum Favorites” series from most recent to oldest.  (See my previous…

MTG – Ocoee – “Monday Miracles”

WHAT I LEARNED: In studying Concept 6, is it a coincidence that the word trust is in trustee?  Hmm…  Good thing they’re not called untrustees! 😉

CAL – Alateen Talks Back on: Higher Power (Item # P-72)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. It’s a shame this item was discontinued in 2000 because it’s my favorite of all the booklets in the “Alateen Talks Back On…” series.  Many of the sharings liken a Higher Power to a friend that’s always there.  Where there was once isolation, loneliness, & fear, there’s now constant comfort, confidence, & peace….

CAL – Starting an Alateen Group (Item # G-19)

WHAT I LEARNED: There are only 2 types of Alateen meetings: Closed & Limited Access.  Even I, as Literature Chairperson at the District Level, cannot attend an Alateen meeting.  Only Al‑Anon members involved in Alateen Service (AMIAS’s) & designated Area trusted servants can go & even then, it’s only on an occasional basis.  The only non-certified attendees allowed are the kids…

CAL – Al-Anon Information Services (AIS) (Item # G-4)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. For quite some time there was confusion in the fellowship about the responsibilities, boundaries, & differences between information services, Literature Distribution Centers (LDCs), intergroups, & information service liaisons.  The World Service Office responded by creating this particular guideline & a separate one titled “Literature Distribution Centers” (item # G-18). 2. Any…

CAL – Anonymity (Item # P-65)

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. This pamphlet came out in 1991 & was included in a media kit for outreach purposes. It mentions confidentiality & I started thinking of how that was different than anonymity.  Confidentiality implies trust (confidence) & indicates intimacy.  It’s how we relate to one another on a personal, private level.  It’s our…

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?”…

N. FL Fall Assembly 2013 – Day 2 of 3

WHAT I LEARNED: 1. I don’t have to trust others… I just have to trust my Higher Power. 2. Our wonderful District 6 will be hosting the 2015 North Florida Convention!!!!!!  You heard it here first! 📢