New LifeRing in
Winston-Salem NC

Another new LifeRing will start on January 7 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  The Wednesday 6:00 PM meeting will be held at The Bridge at Brookstown at 235 S. Cherry St.  

The convenor, Craig A. is a counselor: "I've been trying to sell AA to my clients for 25 years without much success.  I finally decided to start listening to them to find out why.  I found you on the Internet.  I'm going to make this available to my clients."  For more information, contact Craig by phone at 336-725-8567 or via e-mail.  [1/4/09]

Sobriety,
Without the Sermon

Last month, RedwoodAge.com, a news and commentary website, talked with Craig W., LifeRing's on-line coordinator for the LSRsafe, LifeRing E-pals, and LifeRing SoberLiving online groups.  The article begins

Perhaps no one in Craig’s rural community suspected he struggled with a drinking problem. 

The 61-year-old book store owner would quit drinking from time to time, but soon enough wade back in, feeling calm and in control. “I would forget and say, ‘No problem,‘” he said. “Especially at Christmas.”

Craig thought more than once about joining Alcoholics Anonymous, but the faith piece of the 12-step program alienated him. “AA people think it’s resistance to quitting,“ said Craig. “It’s not. It’s resistance to the program.”

Surfing the Internet, he struck the magic combination of words that brought up a secular recovery program. At Unhooked.com, he found LifeRing, which began in the San Francisco Bay Area and has spread since its inception in 1997 to communities around the nation, including the Pacific Northwest where Craig lives. 

Check out the rest here.  [1/4/09]

New San Bruno CA
LifeRing Coming Jan. 8

The latest addition to the LifeRing meeting roster will be a Thursday evening meeting in San Bruno, CA, from 7-8 PM.  The meeting will be at the Kaiser Permanente Chemical Dependency Services (CDS), 1001 Sneath Lane, upstairs in suite 204.  The room is wheelchair accessible.   [12/25/08]

Dec. 27 San Francisco
One-Time Meeting Change

The meeting in San Francisco on Saturday mornings from 10 am - 11:15 has a change of venue for Dec 27 ONLY. The LGBT Center is closed that day.  The meeting will be at the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, in the Stong Conference Room on the First Floor.  Time will be 10:15 - 11:30 am.  Enter on Grove Street (between Larkin and Hyde).  Civic Center BART is 1/2 block away. Parking on Fulton or Larkin.  Enter the Library, going in to the main atrium. Turn left at the Information Desk.  The Stong Conference Room is just around the corner.  Questions?  Call co-convenor Mark Hotsenpiller at (415) 806-7001 or contact him via email.  [12/19/08]

Meeting Changes in
Sacramento CA

The meeting at Strategies For Change in Sacramento is, well, changing.  The meeting will now be on Monday evenings from 6-7 pm, starting on November 24.   There's a new location too: 4441 Auburn Blvd. Suite E Sacramento.  For more information contact convenor Jo by email.  [11/20/08]

New Time and Day for
Petaluma CA LifeRing

 The LifeRing meeting at the Mary Isaak Center in Petaluma originally scheduled for Wednesdays at 6:45 am is now on Sundays at 6 pm.  The other LifeRing meeting remains on Fridays at 6:00 pm.  The Mary Isaak Center is at 900 Hopper Street, Petaluma, CA.  For more information, contact convenor Richard H. via e-mail or call (707) 322-4112.  [10/31/08]

Looking for a
San Diego Convenor

We have a offer for a room to host a LifeRing meeting in San Diego, CA.  But we need a convenor.  If you are interested, please take a look at the Convenors page and drop an email to the Service Center or call us at 1-800-811-4142.   [10/9/08]

LifeRing Partners
Launches in Victoria BC

LifeRing Partners, a group for friends, family, and loved ones of those in recovery, has launched!  Convenor Bill and co-convenor Barbara lead a meeting at the Burnside Gorge Community Centre at 7:00 PM Mondays in Victoria, British Columbia at 471 Cecelia Rd.   Bill reports the meetings – not yet widely advertised – have been small but lively with lots of productive discussion.  The group has adopted the "How Was Your Week" format and has tried as much as possible to stick to the principles laid out in the LifeRing convenor's handbook.  For more information on the Victoria group contact Bill or Barbara via e-mail or call 250-818-1652.

LifeRing has had many inquires over the years about a group for friends and family and supports the LSR-LO (Loved Ones) e-mail group.  As mentioned here, the latest effort to kick off a face-to-face group came with the 2008 LifeRing Congress.  A steering committee made up of folks who attended that Congress session that took it from there.  The result is LifeRing Partners, an association of clean and sober people who are affected by someone else's use.  We hope other meetings will follow in other areas.  If you are interested – especially if you are interested in convening such a group – please contact the Service Center via e-mail or via phone at 1-800-811-4142 or 510-763-0779.  [9/28/08]

LifeRing comes
to Sweden

LifeRing adds its first European face-to-face meeting in Stockholm on 7 October.  The early evening meeting is from 17-18 on Tuesdays at Drakenbergsgatan 16, code1689.  For more information, contact convenor Lars B. via email (or alternately, here) or via telephone.  Within Sweden, telephone 087291737.  From abroad, +4687291739. And check out the LifeRing Europe website in Swedish or English. [9/25/08]