ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

ISSUE ENTION 2010 EVIEJA CONV TORR n the sun Recovery i S FELIZ 24 HORA

September 3-5th 2010

www.aawww.aa----costablanca.orgcostablanca.org Refuelling in aa rooms RIGINALLY suggested my own journey in recovery Now, a few years down the Convention Issue Sept 2010 from the illness that brings us line, I have the fuel that I need O by a Scandinavian It’s All In The Journey 2 member, the Torre- together. My early sobriety to keep my own sobriety Al-Anon Weekend Programme vieja Convention will, in this was like a beacon, strong candle alight — regular AA 2 its third year, once again have and bright, fuelled by what I meetings; a sponsor and Keept It Brief! 2 a sobriety candle burning had learned in the clinic to others in whom I can confide; AA’s Revolving Doors 3 throughout the meetings. which I had confined myself a few good recovery books on ’s Where-To-Find 3 when alcohol had taken its the shelf and my Higher In 2008, the candle burned CBIC Is Also Suffering A Crisis! back brightly on the first evening toll on my health. Power to guide me through but strangely and progres- But I did not continue with each day and to remind me of CBIC (Intergroup) Vacancies back sively dimmed through day my AA meetings when I left the good things I have been ’s October Convention back two and we were unable to the UK shortly afterwards, I given in life. A bit of service maintain its flame on the last busied myself with other along the way has not done day — not very inspiring. things and clung to the me any harm either. That candle reminds me of flimsy, but well intended, So, when the same candle support of friends outside the that was used for our first fellowship. convention is lit again, with Slowly the flame of sobriety confidence that it will burn on that had been lit with such throughout this weekend, I passion began to fade and, will take a moment to reflect eventually, expired. It would that all we ever need is the only be relit when I found right fuel to keep us going. the courage to return to AA. AA Member,

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TORREVIEJA CONVENTION 2010 3-DAY PROGRAMME — COSTA BLANCA, , The I-Helpline FRIDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 12.30-15.30 Sala Ejecutiva --- Costa Blanca International Ccmmittee—CBICCBICCBIC—Intergroup Noon-21:00 Registration desk is open (Closed) Torrevieja’s AA 14:00 ‐18:00 Salon Social --- Come & Go 18:00 ‐19:30 Sala Ejecutiva --- Spanish-speaking Convention News Meeting (Closed) Meeting (Closed) 21:00 ‐22:30 Torrevieja B --- Welcome 20:00 ‐21:30 - Torrevieja B --- Meeting (Open) Meeting (Open) 22:00 ‐01:00 - Torrevieja B --- *Disco & Raffle* 23:30 ‐01:00 Torrevieja B --- Candlelit Meeting (Closed) SUNDAY 5th SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 4th SEPTEMBER 07:00 ‐09:00 Torrevieja B --- Early Bird Meeting (Closed) 07:00 ‐Midnight Salon Social --- Marathon 10:00 ‐Noon Torrevieja B --- Closing Meeting Meeting (Closed) (Open) 9:00 ‐20:00 Registration desk is open Noon Torrevieja B --- Sobriety Countdown. Hotel Cabo Cervera, 10:00 ‐12:00 Torrevieja B --- Meeting Convention Ends Torrevieja, Alicante, Spain (Closed) *for AlAl----AnonAnon meetings see page 2 September 33----5th5th 2010 P A G E 2 R ECOVERY I N T H E S U N

It is all in the journey Keep It Brief!

ACK IN THE UK some years ago, room when I passed a small man, in an www.aa-costablanca.org early in my second period of open-necked check shirt and jeans, who B COSTA BLANCA’S DEDICATED website sobriety – which I am still enjoying nodded and said: “Good Morning”, in an has been up and – my sponsor one day mumbled American accent. I returned the greeting running since July something about getting ready for step and on sitting at the front, met a 2008. It fulfills all four, and thrust a grubby little cassette member of my home group. your needs for news (remember those?) into my hand, and “Did you see Charlie?” he asked. I related to Alcoholics told me to listen to it. suddenly realized that I had just passed Anonymous on the In my business life I travelled a lot, so Costa Blanca. the next day on the motorway I pushed it into the player, but was totally New Meeting In Benidorm unprepared for what came out. IN JULY 2010, a “Newcomers” meeting I was suddenly transported to an opened in American treatment centre, or Benidorm. It is held convention of some sort where those every Sunday stalwarts of AA, Joe and Charlie were evening from running a workshop on step four, with 6.00—7.30pm at humour, but with gritty explanations of Calle Jardines 2, the effects of alcohol on lives. A new (corner Calle Goya word came up. Up to that point I had not and next to church, Iglesia de La really come across ’resentments’, and if I Almudena), Benidorm. The same venue had would have naturally assumed they the time of day with the man on the as Thursday’s 5pm meeting. The didn’t apply to me. Resentful? Who, me? cassette, and half an hour later was Benidorm meetings are very popular and At what? watching him in action on the stage. We well attended, catering for locals, nearby

As the tape wore on, resentments were don’t put people on pedestals in AA, but residents and holidaymakers. explained fully – what they were, and this man proceeded to take the more importantly, what they do to me. I convention (all on his own as Joe was ill Spain Takes National To Benidorm realized with horror that I was riddled and couldn’t travel), through a Big Book THE 9th AA Spanish National Convention with them, and so the seeds of step four Study, including that vital step four and will be in Benidorm from 9-12 October were sown deeply into me. I was able to much more over the next couple of days. 2010, celebrating the 75th anniversary of really examine my life up to that point, I cannot tell you the effect those AA and themed: Our Hope in Action. and the damage I had done, to myself wonderful sessions had on my life, to Alicante’s Area 21 hosts the event. There and others, and I was able to progress somehow complete my education and will be plenty of English-speaking significantly along the route I am still hear the whole story from The Big Book, meetings throughout the following today. to see, hear and feel the power in the weekend — all are Having made a dangerous transfer to room as we discussed it. welcome and everybody Spain after only a couple of years of The experience still puts the hairs up will be looked after and sobriety, I gratefully attended the much on my neck when I think of it. catered for. Rooms are thinner meetings in our Costa Blanca Conventions are very special places to available in the 4-star region, and having learnt the hard way me, and I will enjoy this Costa Blanca one Hotel Bali and the stuck to them like glue. very much. This time though for different nearby 3-star Hotel Torre In 2005, at the last minute I travelled reasons, as for the first time I’m serving Dorada, both excellent north and attended the on the organising committee, and am hotels in the south of Benidorm. For Convention at Tossa del Mar. After proud of helping and being able timetable see back page and for breakfast on the first morning, I was somehow to put a little back to repay my reservations call: (00 34) 98 596 3253 or determined to get a good seat and was gratitude to AA. email: [email protected] making my way through the convention AA Member, Costa Blanca Words of aa wisdom

Al-anon meetings agenda • Alcoholic drinking in three stages: impulsive, compulsive, repulsive. FRIDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER • We have good news and bad news. The good news is you never have to drink again even if you want to. Noon-21:00 Registration desk is open The bad news is that we are your new friends. • We can no longer be content with just getting by. SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER • Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open. 10:00 ‐12:00 Sala Ejecutiva - Meeting All Al-Anon and family members • l'd rather be better than bitter. are welcome to attend 16:00 ‐18:00 Sala Ejecutiva - Meeting • Remember: Don't run so fast that your guardian angel open meetings of can't keep up! Alcoholics Anonymous 22:00 ‐01:00 Torrevieja B *Disco & Raffle* • I am the black sheep of the family. I came to Alcoholics Anonymous and found the rest of the herd. TORREVIEJA CONVENTION 2010 ISSUE P A G E 3

AA’s revolving doorS HE AA DOOR swings both hospital ward were other men and women ways.’ How many times have I with the same problem. As the weeks heard someone say that in a became months and then years I returned ‘T meeting? Usually when we as a hospital sponsor myself, and hear that a member has relapsed, or even, sometimes I saw the same faces come back, horror, died. again and again. Then they stopped And alcoholics do have a habit of dying coming. in the most horrid ways. People come into About 6 months sober, I went to a the rooms, we do not take them prisoner, different meeting one Saturday afternoon. they are free to leave, come again, leave A little into the meeting a young man again if they choose. staggered in, he was very drunk. I was 12-stepped in a hospital ward, the He shouted and swore and offered to local groups supplied volunteers who came take everyone outside (to fight?). He was a along to tell us about AA. During the tall, very handsome chap, probably about second meeting I attended there one of 35 or 40 years old. the alcoholic sponsors talked about the One of the members calmed him down way drinkers can die. He spoke of alcohol and he started to cry, sitting on a seat next as the ‘great remover’. He said it removes to a lady who was wearing a black satin stains from clothes, varnish from finger skirt – you can imagine what a mess his nails, homes, families, jobs, driving licences, tears and snot made as he buried his face again, too many people I know have self respect, freedom. He may also have in her lap! tried it to their peril, tried to go mentioned other things, these are just the Then he fell asleep on the floor. I had socialising with drinking buddies, ones I remember. never come across anything like this before and eventually discovered that they Before that chap left the ward that day in the meetings and was rather weren’t missing anything after all. he cornered me and asked if I had been to apprehensive. “Don’t worry about him,” I The lucky ones come back. I don’t a meeting outside the hospital. “No?” I was told, “he’s better off in here than out want to die choking on my own replied that I had children and would have there” vomit, or staggering in front of a to get a baby- But he went out there again. Sometimes vehicle, or falling down a flight of sitter, could not he came back to meetings, always life had stairs. afford one. Being got worse. Then he stopped coming and I’ve seen it happen, heard about a little shorter we heard he’d died. people who have done these things. than I, he looked For six long years, I had watched him I listen and hopefully learn. up straight into come in and out of the doors. They say if you keep doing what my eyes and said We are always happy to welcome a you’re doing you’ll keep getting “if you wanted a newcomer, we are delighted when what you’re getting. drink you’d get someone comes back, but all too often the Right now I am getting a life one”. So that door in the shape of a coffin lid has beyond any of the wild dreams I had night I was at my slammed shut, and one more alcoholic has when drinking, so I’ll keep inside the first AA meeting needlessly come to the end of their life, too doors, and keep getting what I am outside the soon. Too often leaving confused and sad getting. That’ll do nicely. hospital. I joined, families and young childen. Every alcoholic stops drinking, and I stayed. A day at a time, I have stayed inside the eventually. Some live. In that same doors. I have no wish to go out there AA Member, Costa Blanca Torrevieja’s essential where-to-find

FOR VISITORS STAYING in the area Tuesday --- 1930 ––– 2030 Thursday ––– 19:30 ––– 21:00 after the convention, below is the local Avenida Jaca nº31, Urb. San Luis, Torrevieja Salon “Studio 6”, Montebello. where-to-find. If venturing further - 13:00 – 14:30 afield, call helplines for details (see front Wednesday --- 13:00 ––– 14:30 Friday -- 13:00 –– 14:30 page). Centro Parroquial Ikomar, (Next to Fiat International Christian Assembly, Calle garage), Avenida Los Villenos, Pilar de la nº2, (on junction Monday --- 1930 ––– 2100 Horadada with Calle Santomera), Torrevieja SCANDIA Building , (adjacent to The Saturday ––– 11:00 ––– 12:30 Coopers Arms), Urb . Doña Pepe, Wednesday --- 19:30 ––– 20:45 Big Book Study, Rocajuna Function Room, Cuidad Quesada, International Christian Assembly, Calle San Los Altos, Punta Prima, Torrevieja Miguel de Salinas nº2, (on junction with - 11:00 – 12:00 Tuesday --- 1245 ––– 1345 Calle Santomera), Torrevieja Sunday -- 11:00 –– 12:00 (Women’s Meeting - non restrictive ) Rocajuna Runction Room, Los Altos, Thursday ––– 18:00 ––– 19:00 Rocajuna, Los Altos, Punta Prima, Punta Prima, Torrevieja Step Meeting—Rocajuna Function Room, Torrevieja Ask local members for directions to these Los Altos, Punta Prima, Torrevieja meetings or call CB South helpline: 625 912 078. P A G E 4 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Don’t Forget Your Badge! Please send meeting news and changes, comments, views, articles, suggestions, personal stories, or anything else you would like to see published in Recovery In The Sun to: [email protected] Mobile: (+34) 679 18 26 22. Tel: (+34) 96 648 1150.

Disclaimer: Articles in this publication represent the views of the authors which are not necessarily shared by other AA members or by the AA Fellowship as a whole.

WELCOME TO TORREVIEJA! AA CONVENTIONCONVENTION----GOERSGOERS Are you affected THEME: OUR HOPE IN ACTION by cbic’s crisis? 9th Spanish National Convention — Benidorm, 9-12 October 2010 SATURDAY 9th OCTOBER MONDAY 11th OCTOBER 16:00 Registration desk opens Reminder : The next CBIC (Costa Blanca International 07:45-09:30 Breakfast Committee) intergroup meeting is in Sala Ejecutiva, Hotel Cabo 19:30-21:30 Dinner 10:30-12:30 Meetings Cervera, Torrevieja on Saturday, 4 September 2010 23:00 Closed Meeting 13:00-14:30 Lunch 16:30-18:30 from12.30pm ——— 3.30pm. All AA members are welcome. SUNDAY 10th OCTOBER Meetings 19:30-21:30 Dinner 07:45-09:30 Breakfast SINCE SEPTEMBER 2009, CCCosta C BBBlanca B IIInternational I 23:00 Dance 11:00 Inaugural Ceremony of the 23:00 Meetings CCCommitteeC (CBICCBIC - the Costa Blanca's intergroup) has had a 9th Spanish National Convention vacancy for a Public Information Liaison Officer. Other TUESDAY 12th OCTOBER 13:00-14:30 Lunch offices have also become vacant and as of September 2010 16:30-18:30 Meetings 07:45-09:30 Breakfast there will be no Secretary, nor Chairman, leaving only the 11:00 Close of 9th Spanish National Area 21 Representative, Treasurer, Electronic 19:30-21:30 Dinner Convention Communications Officer and Telephone Liaison Officer 23:00 Meetings 13:00 Lunch & Homeward Bound North. These are preliminary details. For future information of meeting topics, please contact a This surely must be considered a crisis for AA’s Costa CBIC member or email the address at the top of this page. Blanca. It was therefore decided at the March 2010 CBIC meeting We were able to attend meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous that we hold a CBIC Conscience Inventory Meeting to try because someone opened those meetings and serviced them to and address the problem of not having any GSRs attending enable us (the then suffering alcoholic) to join a fellowship of hope the quarterly CBIC meetings. Thereby making it impossible and be given the opportunity to regain our dignity and become a to fill current vacancies plus those arising in the near future. sober functioning member of society. From the inventory meeting a letter was produced asking Now imagine if no one had answered that desperate call! the question: "Do you, as a member of AA Costa Blanca, Chairman CBIC, Costa Blanca wish CBIC to continue?". Additionally, from the conscience meeting a leaflet was CBIC SERVICE POSITIONS AVAILABLE published explaining how CBIC works. (A copy of both can PI Liaison Officer: Carry the message of recovery to the still suffering be obtained at any AA meeting on the Costa Blanca). alcoholic by informing professionals & the general public about AA. The response to the letter and the leaflet has on the whole been positive, in that you (members of AA) have Chairman: Responsible for convening and conducting the CBIC expressed that you want CBIC to continue. And this is great. meetings, and approving the agenda and minutes before they are There is only one problem, we have no volunteers to published. serve! So unless some volunteers come to the September Secretary: Responsible with the Chair for preparing the agenda and CBIC meeting (see above), it is quite possible that CBIC will minutes of meetings and for distributing these documents to the be unable to continue. groups before meetings so there is ample time to discuss the I would like you to recall the day that you picked up the contents. The Secretary also deals with all correspondence and is telephone, having seen the AA phone number published responsible for circulating relevant information to — and liaising with (newspaper, hospital, public noticeboard etc.), or having — all intergroup officers and GSRs whilst keeping them informed of been advised by a doctor, and asked for help. Someone any matters relating to CBIC. was at the other end of that phone, spoke to you in a language you understood about alcoholism and help The above positions have a mínimum 2 years sobriety requirement and available and guided you to your nearest meeting where previous experience as GSR at intergroup level. Anyone interested will be fully you were made welcome. And, as they say, the rest is supported over several months by the rotating-out officer and/or others. history.