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 Torrevieja’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 Benidorm’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, Costa Blanca ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS TORREVIEJA CONVENTION 2010 3-DAY PROGRAMME — COSTA BLANCA, ALICANTE, SPAIN 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 Costa Brava 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.