Serenity Sentinel. AWSC Meetings and Assembly Location Directions. Volume: Panel 55 Spring 2017 Issue: #9

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Serenity Sentinel. AWSC Meetings and Assembly Location Directions. Volume: Panel 55 Spring 2017 Issue: #9"

Amy Williamson
5 years ago
Views:

1 Serenity Sentinel Volume: Panel 55 Spring 2017 Issue: #9 DONATION ADDRESS ALL Seventh Tradition donations, meaning all contributions from individual members, groups, districts, and AIS offices should now be sent to: MICHIGAN AFG INC. P O BOX LANSING, MI or PayPal Option at MIAFG.org Please share this information with your group treasurer and your district and groups. The Serenity Sentinel, a quarterly publication, is the voice of the Michigan Area Assembly. A complimentary subscription is issued to all AFG groups registered with the Michigan Assembly, District Representatives, Assembly Officers, and Coordinators. Please direct any comments or questions regarding the Serenity Sentinel to the Editor. Please send all group information changes to our MIAFG Area Group Records Coordinator. Is this issue your personal copy? Renewal date is found on address label, so verify when it will expire. Be sure your group is receiving their free copy of the Serenity Sentinel. AWSC Meetings and Assembly Location Directions *St. Louis is nicknamed the Middle of the Mitten St Louis Church of Christ 1075 West Monroe Road St. Louis, MI * From US 127 take the M-46 exit (Saginaw/Edmore) Turn east onto M-46 (aka West Monroe Road) This large church is less than a mile from the exit, on the south side of the road 9AM-Registration Opens * 9:40AM-New Rep Orientation 10AM Assembly Begins ASSEMBLY-park in FRONT lot Don t Forget to purchase CAL from the hosting LDC Serenity Sentinel Subscriptions Individual subscriptions are available for just $4.00 per year. To receive this Michigan AFG quarterly publication, please complete the form below: Include it with your check or money order ($4.00 per each subscription) made payable to Michigan AFG, Inc. and send it to the address listed below: Serenity Sentinel c/o Michigan AFG Inc. PO Box Lansing, MI Name Address Apt # City State Zip Code You are welcome to also order GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS for your sponsor, those people whom you sponsor, or any other program friends! Please list additional subscription information on a separate page. A Note from the MI Thumb Area AFG (AIS/LDC) Spring IS coming hopefully by the time Spring Assembly arrives on June 17, 2017! We will be hosting the literature sale table for the first time. We promise to have a good variety and want to offer you the opportunity to fill your literature needs while you are there. If you know that you will be needing larger quantities of materials, please contact us well in advance to get those extra quantities shipped from WSO. You can call or us by May 1 st if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to fill your group or District s larger literature orders and save some money on shipping charges. Looking forward to seeing you at Spring Assembly, Trusted Servants from MITA AFG MIThumbAreaAFG@yahoo.com HAPPY 60 TH BIRTHDAY, ALATEEN Alateen WSO announcement: The WSO has further expanded its Social Media outreach by creating an Alateen_WSO Instagram account. Please help us with our Public Outreach efforts by following and liking Alateen_WSO posts on Instagram. You can help spread the word of the Al-Anon/Alateen message of hope to teenagers affected by someone else s drinking who may not have heard about the support that Alateen offers. Find us on Instagram by searching for Alateen_WSO or by clicking on the Alateen_WSO Instagram icon located on the WSO Public Outreach website. Remember to protect your anonymity on social media by not making comments or using screen names that reveal Al-Anon membership. This is an informational announcement, not endorsing any specific social media provider, per Traditions.

PLEASE SUBMIT SHARINGS FOR YOUR Serenity Sentinel Deadline Schedule for submissions: March 15 June 15 September 15 December 15 Send your shares to the Serenity Sentinel Editor: Maggie S E-mail:

com May 19-21, 2017 June 17, 2017 July 28-30 Aug 12, 2017 Oct 14, 2017 Nov 11, 2017 May, 2018 July 6-8, 2018 July, 2020 Calendar of Events 45 th MI AFG Convention-Kalamazoo Radisson, Host District 2,

AWSC: back parking lot, Host District 4 Fall Assembly, Host Dist. 11; Elections AWSC: back parking lot, Host Dist.

Feel free to send your gratitudes to the Serenity Sentinel.

2 PLEASE SUBMIT SHARINGS FOR YOUR Serenity Sentinel Deadline Schedule for submissions: March 15 June 15 September 15 December 15 Send your shares to the Serenity Sentinel Editor: Maggie S miafg-newsletter@hotmail.com May 19-21, 2017 June 17, 2017 July Aug 12, 2017 Oct 14, 2017 Nov 11, 2017 May, 2018 July 6-8, 2018 July, 2020 Calendar of Events 45 th MI AFG Convention-Kalamazoo Radisson, Host District 2, Sharon G, Kim M Spring Assembly, use front parking lot KOMIAC, Terre Haute, IN AA(w/Al-Anon) State Convention, Mt Pleasant MI, liaison: Beth B. AWSC: back parking lot, Host District 4 Fall Assembly, Host Dist. 11; Elections AWSC: back parking lot, Host Dist th Michigan AFG Convention, Shanty Creek Resort; Host Needed Al-Anon Int l Convention, Baltimore MD AA International Convention with Al-Anon participation, Detroit MI Gratitudes & Greetings Feel free to send your gratitudes to the Serenity Sentinel. Please put AFG or Serenity Sentinel in the subject line & send to: miafg-newsletter@hotmail.com Use additional pages if necessary Name: Phone: City/State: Please indicate your permission on your share as follows: If published, you have my permission to use this article on the Internet and share it with the Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. Please use my first name & last initial, city-state-provincecountry for credit. Condolences to our all AWSC and Al-Anon/Alateen members who have experienced loss of family or friends, including past Delegate, Connie C, and Steffi K, on their recent losses. CAL Corner: How Al-Anon Works, page 132 Concept Four-Participation is the key to harmony in an alcoholic home, involving ourselves in actions or discussions usually leads to conflict and discord. As a result, some of us learn to pick fights, while others isolate and stuff our feelings. Through Al-Anon, however, we discover new ways to participate and be a part of the world around us, rather than be apart from it Concept 4 concerns mutual respect without this respect, participation can be the key to chaos. Please sign me Anonymous. I am an Al-Anon member I am an Alateen member All sharings become the property of MI AFG and/or Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc. and may be used in whole or in part to develop Al-Anon / Alateen material. (Electronic submission constitutes your agreement). Please send a card to Mike Drumheller, in support of his work on our behalf as Delegate. His report lists address and particulars for sending a card to him at Conference, April 23 rd 29 th in Virginia Beach, VA!!! Don t forget to use his home address for the return address on envelope (in case delivery is delayed).

3 Convention registration begins on Friday at 3:00 Radisson Plaza Hotel W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI Hotel reservations must be made prior to April 27, 2017-Book hotel early to ensure room availability-- Friday: AI-Anon/AA Speakers - Cory W. & Kelly W. - Michigan Saturday: AI-Anon Speaker - Corrie L. - Alabama Saturday AA Speaker: Kenny K. - Michigan Saturday: Alateen Speaker - Julie E. - Michigan Sunday: AI-Anon Spiritual Speaker - Michele B. - Pennsylvania Make checks for convention registration payable to: Michigan AFG Inc. Mail convention registration to: PO Box 51538, Kalamazoo, MI _--..._ _--_..._ _ _----_.._-..._..._ ọ. BEFORE E ~ Name (s) c o 0... tv ~... VI 060 Address (U a:: c.... o City State Zip C (U Phone > C o U AFTER TOTAL AL-ANON $ 20x $ 25 x $ ALATEEN $ 5x $ 5 x $ AA $20x $ 25 x $ GUESTS $20x $ 25 x $ REGISTRATION FEE(S) SUBTOTAL $ No meal package - ample restaurants within walking distance SATURDAY BANQUET $ 35 per person x... (Complimentary Saturday pizza party for registered Alateens) SPECIAL DIETARY NEED TOTAL AMOUNT $ No Refunds after April 27, 2017

4 Location: Radisson Plaza Hotel 100 W. Michigan Ave., Kalal!lazoo, MI GPS Coordinates: LAT: LONG: DIRECTIONS: FROM EAST 1-94 Take the 1 94 Bus exit, EXIT 81, toward Downtown/Kalamazoo. Stay straight to go onto 1-94 Bus W. Turn left onto King Hwyll-94 Bus W/MI-96. Turn left onto E Kalamazoo Ave/l-94 Bus W/MI-43. Turn left onto N Rose S1. Hotel is on left. FROM WEST 1-94 take Exit 74 TO US-131 N US-131 EXIT 38A toward Kalamazoo/M-43 EastIW. Main St.. Follow W. Main S1. toward downtown where it merges with and tums into W. Michigan Ave. Hotel is on left. To Book a Room CALL RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL PHONE # M-F 8AM-6PM A credit card must be given with phone reservation Please indicate that you are part of the AI-Anon Group Hotel reservations must be made prior to April 27, 2017 FROM NORTH I SOUTH US 131 EXIT 38A toward Kalamazoo/M-43 EastIW. Main S1.. Follow W. Main St. toward downtown where it merges with and turns into W. Michigan Ave. Hotel is on left. Radisson Plaza Hotel Parking Use N. Rose S1. to access the parking ramp. Check-in is 4 PM I Check-out is noon A credit card is required at check-in Standard $30/night credit card authorization. RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL GUEST ROOM $ 125 per night (Subject to Availability) plus 6% sales tax If more than one room is requested, please give a list of names and addresses, indicating which guests share rooms. The Radisson will confirmation number to each attendee. Let them know: Number of people in your room Standard Room 2 beds Standard Room - King bed Overnight Guests: will be charged $5lvehicle/night for self-parking in the attached parking garage (charges will be added to guest room bill). Day Attendees: will be offered discounted $10lvehicle parking passes for self-parking in the attached garage. Call to book a room: Radisson Plaza Hotel 100 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI PHONE # M-F 8AM-6PM Michigan AI-Anon I Alateen Family Groups 45 th Annual Convention ~ Friday May 19 to Sunday May 21, 2017 A _..._

5 Delegate s Report, Mike D. The World Service Office is gearing up for the World Service Conference. Trustee calls, AFC Connects Conference communiques, WSO Staff and Conference Leadership Team asking for input; it s all building up and coming together. The quarterly COB (Chairman of the Board of Trustees) letter is out. I am impressed with a lot of the things that are being done. They are acting to save money and to be more efficient with membership needs. District Reps. can go to their AFG Connects account and read it there. The membership can go to the Members AFG website and read it also. I had my Trustee call just last Saturday (3/4/17); it seems that Delegates across the country are using them less and less. I find this disturbing! The Trustees (elected WSO volunteers) are our best link to the Conference between Conferences. Scheduled Trustee calls may become a thing of the past if they are not used more. The literature staff is asking for help at the Conference about a couple of things but primarily the Prayer for Today and how it was presented to the membership; that we need to be prepared because of the 2 minutes at the mic Conference Rule. I have received many responses about the prayer but few responses on the open or closed meetings questionnaire. I turned in my Chosen Agenda Item to the Conference Leadership Team; What can we do to Hear the Silent Voices of the Membership? It will not be used this year because the background materials with it, used the Prayer for Today as an example and that is already on the agenda. Conference is April 23 rd through April 29 th, at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 5700 Atlantic Ave. Virginia Beach, VA As you have for the last two Conferences; I would greatly appreciate your support while at Conference. Please send cards, using my home address in return address, as it means a lot! The theme is Our Members: Our Hope for the Future. I have not seen any burning bushes about what to take as LOVE gifts. I could use your help. Spirituality in Area Money Discussions Task Force that I have been Chairing for the WSC has been accepted by the Executive Committee and is ready for presentation. Members can now go to the WSO Members web site and subscribe to AFG Announcements. This is news about upcoming events like the Group E-News. Twice a year WSO requests an update of the Area World Service Members. I have sent in four updates last year. New DRs please get me your info so I may update your info to WSO. Then you can be hooked up to AFG Connect and communicate with all the other DRs across the country. Membership Outreach on the Road Events has been going on for a couple of panels now and continues to serve the Members, Groups, District and AISs of MI AFG. Your Officers and Coordinators are here to help you and your Groups succeed. We are willing and eager to come to your events when we are invited to help in any means possible; service positions/structure, Traditions, Concepts, anonymity, autonomy, affiliations, etc. Renee, Matt and I were invited to District 18 to help them get their District active again. Karen and all the other members were very enthusiastic about getting the Links of Service active again. We as members need to reach out to those groups who are not connected with a GR or DR and ask what we can do to help them be part of the whole. I have been in communications with your Officers and many of your Coordinators. The Team you have serving you is learning and growing very well; they are doing a great job for Michigan AFG!! Even though we live One Day at a Time, we need to plan for the future. October isn t that far away (Fall Assembly Elections). I hope everyone is thinking about what service roll they are planning on for Panel 58. Now is the time to find out about your next rotation in service. You will not be alone, we are here to mentor and help you in your new journey. You don t have to re-invent the wheel or be out in the cold all alone. Cultivate an existing or new relationship; expand your support group. We learn from those who have gone before us! Thank you for this opportunity to serve Learning and growing through service. Archives Report-Hugh W. Had a successful showing of Archives at March Roundup in Dearborn, with a fine turnout. Archives display is planned at Spring Assembly and I ll be available to answer questions. This year at fall assembly elections will be held for a new panel and World Service Delegate. I have decided to step down as Archives Coordinator, which is as it should be in the spirit of rotation. It is important work, which guards our program s history. So, please think about volunteering. New additions to our Archives include pictures from 1979, 1980, and 1981 World Service Conference in New York taken by panel 19 s, World Service Delegate Mary Jane R, along with photos of Lois W. I have added more Group Histories recently. I hope to see all of you at our Al-Anon state convention in Kalamazoo Mi. this May.

6 Alternate Delegate Report, Ann M Were any of you without power during the recent March windstorm? I was, too. What a great reminder that we are powerless. I saw it as an opportunity to be resourceful. I could charge my cell phone in the car. Using a match, I could use the stove top to cook. To all the new District Representatives, welcome. If you need any support, let me know. This level of service is an awesome way to grow in your own recovery. In August, I will be presenting the sites for your vote on the location of the 2019 Al-Anon and Alateen State Convention. Be sure to come, and vote! Spring Assembly is just around the corner, well, in June. The Action Committees that will be highlighted are Group Records and Alateen. The coordinators involved will have games for you to enjoy. Come for the fun of it. All District Reps, please fill your cars with Group Reps and other members, and bring them to Spring Assembly. Expect fun. Expect to laugh. Group Records Coordinator Report, Renee F. Remember to keep sending any group changes to your district rep or directly to me. At this time, Area 27 Michigan has 397 meetings. 15 of those meetings are in a No Mail status which means that the meeting is not receiving any communications from the state or WSO. There are also 3 meetings in a Reported Not Meeting status. These meetings are not listed on the website. If your group has recently changed contacts for the meeting, please send me an at miafgrecords@yahoo.com. Is your group represented by a district rep? Currently we have 14 districts in the state that do not have representation out of 42 districts. The district rep is your group s voice at AWSC and a critical link of communication. Check out the guidelines on the WSO members website The password is your meeting name + AFG. We now have a Task Force to look at the redistricting of our area. Our goal is to have our final recommendation at Fall Assembly. If you have any thoughts or questions related to your group s current district, please contact me. Yours in Service. miafgrecords@yahoo.com MI AFG AAPP (Area Alateen Process Person) Report Marti W. Hi Everyone, we now have 26 active Alateen meetings in our Area. New meetings include; Jenison Alateen, Kalkaska Courage To Be Me, Kingsley Middle School Alateen, Ludington Alateen and Irish Hills Alateen. Welcome to the fourteen new AMIAS certified already this year! If you are a current AMIAS and have not returned your Michigan AFG Alateen Sponsor Form for updating for this year, please do so as soon as possible. If you have questions about the information on the form, please contact me for assistance. Alateen Group Forms should be updated and returned by each Group Sponsor (CMA) also. Thank you to all AMIAS who have completed your part in the updating process at this time. Please remember that if you are planning to attend KOMIAC 2017 I need to complete, yet, an additional background check and will need to have your name by June 1st, You can text, phone or me as soon as you know your intentions. We already have a growing list of AMIAS who are planning to attend. The Alateen Policy committee presented the new and improved policy and safety guidelines for Alateen for our Area at AWSC this March. This policy will be reported and voted on at the Spring Assembly. All are invited to attend! Thank you to all of you who are serving our Alateens! You do make a difference! Yours in Service! Treasurer s Report: Yours in service, Jodi B. Financial Summary Cash Balances as of General Checking $15,657 Prudent Reserve $ 6,585 MIAFG Convention $ 4,085 Total Cash $26,327 Group donations totaled $20,040. Thank you to all members and groups who contributed in Net Income was $4,661. Donations to MIAFG can be made securely and easily through PayPal - check it out! MIAFG strives for financial transparency, so if you would like to receive detailed financial statements, please request via at MIAFGTreasurer@gmail.com Web Coordinator Report from Jamie H. I m still getting a few s inquiring about the correct address for contributions. I continue to give them the correct address as well as letting them know where the address is located for their future use. I am averaging about one a week looking for meetings in their areas. I also continue to look up the information for them, plus letting them know where and how to look up that information on the web site. I have yet to receive any information for the Alateen group to put on their web page. If you have any information to share with the Alateens, just contact Andy so that I can get it out there. As a reminder, there is a page for Al-Anon groups to share information and or events that are happening in their areas. Just the information to me using the Contact Us link through the web site. Lots taking place around the state, so let s publicize it for increased attendance!

7 Social Media Thought Force Update Jamie H: There has been some progress with the group. The group is going to concentrate their efforts on Facebook as well as Twitter. The goal of the group is to have a recommendation AWSC by the end of this Panel. Newsletter Coordinator Report-Maggie S. It s an exciting start to 2017, and I hope it will inspire your creative writing side! Sharings of your experience, strength and hope are always needed, especially small shares on how you work your Al-Anon Recovery. Please consider submitting puzzles, sharings or literature reflections. Solve this issue s word search and receive a prize. MI AFG Literature/Forum Coordinator Report-Ross I like structure and uniformity. I believe most people do. One of the things AWSC has decided to do is add uniformity to Conference Approved Literature (C.A.L.) sales at our State Conventions and the Spring and Fall Assemblies. Beginning with the upcoming Annual MIAFG Convention (May 91-21, 2017!) all the Conference Approved Literature from the World Service Office (W.S.O.) will be available for sale at every Convention and Assembly by the host L.D.C. (Literature Distribution Center). As I ve stated in previous articles, I don t think we at the local AFG level are exposed to all the tools Al-Anon offers. Looking at a Literature catalog (S-15) or price list from the W.S.O. or L.D.C., doesn t allow you a complete picture of a book, booklet or pamphlet. By having the literature at our Assemblies and AWSC meetings, you can see and know what you are buying. Keep in mind the pricing will be different than the price listed in the W.S.O. (S-15 form). W.S.O. adds a handling charge at the end of the form, so the L.D.C. item price includes that handling charge. Don t forget the sales tax! The other part of this is getting the word out to the membership that this will be the new normal. So, there will be a notice in each issue of the Serenity Sentinel and in the Assembly reminder notice the Area Secretary sends out prior to each Assembly. Yours in Service, To order the Forum, send a check payable to AFG, Inc., for $11 to start or renew a Forum Magazine subscription Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA On-line sign-up at al-anon.org or, via fax ( ) and pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express credit cards Share: Sue L., Sears, MI Serenity: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. I often wondered why the word serenity was used instead of the word power or grace or ability. Reading page 35 in Hope for Today on serenity reminded me of my personal eureka moment when I came to see how serenity(peace)comes to me. I have come to understand that serenity is something I choose. For me, it is exercising my will (or even having the willingness) to accept the things I cannot change. When I accept that which I do not have control of and realize that my Higher Power is allowing this situation to be in my life (somehow, for my good), that s when I experience serenity. This situation can be the occasion of my growing to be more fully the person I was created to be. I may not ever know the reason WHY, but my trust in His love for me as His child grants me the grace of serenity. Serenity is the gift, I get when I trust in His will for me. Just for Tonight excerpt by Robin T, published in Aug 2016 Forum I have used the Just for Today Bookmark (M-12) for many years to orient my thoughts in the right spiritual direction, and keep me busy through difficult daytime hours. In a recent crisis, it occurred to me I also needed something to help me rest at night when I was feeling troubled. I started cataloging and examining the thoughts and feelings that were interfering with my sleep, and pairing them with spiritual principles for the program. Just for tonight, I will be grateful. As I prepare for sleep, I will give thanks for the passing day-its failures as well as its successes, its sadness as well as its joys, and its pain as well as its pleasure. I will take comfort in the knowledge that no event occurred, or circumstance arose today, that God could not use for my good and the good of others. From pages 26 and 27 of January 2017 Forum: Now Available from WSO: Booklet-assembled Newcomer Packet (K-10). Same great price and content, available in English, French, and Spanish. NEW DAILY READER shares are still needed, from the many faces of Al-Anon today! Tom C, Associate Director- Literature explains what makes a good Forum share, and the Purpose, Focus and Length for daily reader sharing.

MOTION TO ACCEPT/FILE THE TREASURER S REPORT made by Ross Second by Sherry. Approved by consensus.

MOTION TO ACCEPT/FILE THE TREASURER S REPORT made by Ross Second by Sherry. Approved by consensus. AWSC ---Minutes of March 11, 2017, St Louis, MI Start Time: 10:02AM Matt opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer Hosted by District 20 Denise read Tradition 1, Melanie read Concept 1, Erika read the