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U.S. Supreme Court

Lets Stand AA Decision

 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 15 let stand N.Y. decision that prisoner cannot be compelled to attend AA because of program's religious nature.  AP News Story.  Read full text of decisions.  Discuss in public Forum.

LSR Convenor's Workshop Held

in Oakland Saturday Nov. 6

A three-hour Lifering Secular Recovery convenor's workshop was held Saturday morning Nov. 6 in downtown Oakland in a room of the Kaiser Chemical Dependency Recovery Program facility at 969 Broadway.  We spent about the first hour discussing what "convenor" means and what the convenor's role is.  The convenor is a peer, not an authority over the members.  The convenor's job is to develop the leadership abilities of the other members so that they can become convenors in their turn.   

During the second hour we discussed how the LSR process works.  We looked at where the desire to become sober comes from.  We looked at the conflict in the recovering person between the addicted and the sober poles.  We studied the dynamics that happen when recovering people get together in self-help groups.  We saw how the sober selves in a properly run support group strengthen one another and how this leads to empowerment of the sober self within each person.  At the same time, the addict self within the person becomes weakened through abstinence and deprivation of social support.  Eventually the sober self within the individual becomes dominant and the individual is transformed.  

In the third hour, we discussed the meeting process in detail.  We discussed opening statements.  We discussed the role of sharing and crosstalk, and the pros and cons of various meeting formats: short check-ins, long check-ins, and topics.  We talked about how to handle difficult people, such as religious proselytizers and chronic whiners.  We closed promptly at noon by talking about closings.   We only got through about half the agenda, and could have easily gone on for another three hours.   We laughed a lot and there was a good spirit to the discussion.  

Some people suggested that we ought to have this kind of workshop about every three months, like an inservice.  Other people suggested we ought to have a shortened version of this for the general public, not just for convenors.  In attendance were Dan D., Chet G., David B., Gillian E., Andre A., Robbin L., Marjorie J., Bill S., Larry S., Dianna S. and Marty N.  The event was organized by the LSR Service Center.  About half of us went for lunch together afterward. -- Marty N.  11/6/99

Convention Photos Published

Five pages of photographs of the Secular Recovery Convention, by Bill C., photographer, have been posted on this website.  Click to view.   Click for a message of thanks to convention participants.

Secular Recovery Convention OC

Publishes Full Convention Program

The '99 Secular Recovery Organizing Committee has posted the complete convention program for the event.  

The meeting begins with an informal reception Friday evening Sept. 10 at the Durant Hotel, Berkeley, CA.  

Saturday Sept. 11 is a full day of workshops, featuring author Charlotte Kasl, author and treatment director Doug Althauser, actress Veronica Redd, SOS founder James Christopher, and others.  The workshops will take place at the Sheldon Conference Center, Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Hospital, 2001 Dwight Way (at Shattuck), Berkeley.  

Saturday evening will feature a banquet in honor of SOS founder Christopher, commencing 7 pm, in the Terrace Room of the Durant Hotel.  

Sunday morning will feature a business meeting for members, and alternatively recovery meetings open to the public.  

A no-host farewell luncheon at the Mandarin Garden restaurant, 2025 Shattuck, will conclude the event.  LifeRing Press is the host organization.  For complete convention information, click here.  

LifeRing Press Publishes

Keepers Anthology

A collection of more than 100 posts from the sosmail email list, featured in the Keepers section of unhooked.com, will be published Sept. 10, 1999, by LifeRing Press.  The new 224-page paperback is titled Keepers: Voices of Secular Recovery.  For details, browse to www.lifering.com.  

Looking for Interested Persons

To Start First Meeting in Louisiana

 

Larry P. writes: I live in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, about an hour south of New Orleans. I have been involved with LifeRing online for awhile, and am interested in finding interested persons in my area who would like to establish a new meeting. I got sober with the help of Rational Recovery. I disagree with RR on one point. I believe that it is beneficial for people formerly addicted to alcohol to have the ongoing, helpful support of others. I like LifeRing because the emphasis is on behavior rather than disease, and it is a terrific alternative for people who are not able to accept and put into practice many of the tenets of Steppist philosophy, especially those of powerlessness and religiosity. I am a religious man myself, and I lean on God for support, but that is not the sole focus of my recovery, and I like to keep religion separate and private. I have downloaded the online handbook. Keep up the great work!! Here is my contact information:

(A good name for our group might be: LifeRing South Lafourche).  Larry P., Phone: (504)  632-8910, email:  lpptjh@cajunnet.com.  

New Salem OR SOS Meeting

Gets Boost From News Article 

The new Salem OR SOS meeting "is going well," writes Bruce S.  "We do not use a topic but ask people to share from within and talk about what is currently going on in the present with regards to their sobriety."  Bruce says that a recent article in the Statesman Journal "has brought a lot of people to the meeting."  Click for a scan of the article.  

Report from Paris: 

A STAR IS BORN 

By Ann C., Meeting Secretary

On Saturday July 3rd we had our first official meeting, in a room we rented 13 Place Etienne Pernet Paris 15è in a Salle Paroissiale.  Up until now we have had meetings at one another’s houses or even a memorable one in a café.

There were seven people present, which seemed pretty good to us for a first meeting. We decided that we would introduce ourselves at this meeting, and say what we hoped for in SOS Sobriété (France). I chaired and was very nervous beforehand, but everything was cool and relaxed. One person was a fervent AAer, who came to see what it was like and to find an answer for people who wouldn’t go to AA because of « God » and the « Higher Power ». All of us without exception found it was a good meeting and came out feeling exhilarated.

 

The meeting was in French, and non-smoking.

 

Our next meeting is at the same address the first Saturday of September at 5 p.m. Any of you out there in cyber space who will be in Paris at that time will be welcome. I think we will talk about the beginnings of sobriety, how we handled it, and how to welcome newcomers. Any ideas would be welcome.

 

For us it is the realization  of a dream, which we sometimes thought would get drowned in French red-tape!

 

Compte-rendu de Paris:

NAISSANCE D’UNE ETOILE

 

Samedi 3 juillet eut lieu la première réunion officielle de SOS Sobriété (France) au 13 Place Etienne Pernet, Paris 15è dans la Salle Paroissiale.  Jusqu’à là nos réunions étaient chez les uns et les autres, sans oublier une réunion memorable dans un café.

Sept personnes étaient présentes, ce qui nous a semblé merveilleux pour une première réunion. Nous avons choisi de nous présenter à cette réunion et dire ce que chacun attendait de SOS Sobriété. J’ai mené la discussion, j’étais très nerveuse avant, mais tout s’est déroulé de manière relaxe.  Une personne est une fidèle de AA qui est venu pour s’informer et savoir si elle pouvait y diriger les personnes qui refusaient de venir en AA à cause de « Dieu » et la « Puissance Supérieure ». Tous sans exception ont aimé la réunion, nous sommes sortis très encouragés.

La réunion était en français et non-fumeur.

La prochaine réunion sera le premier samedi de septembre à la même adresse à 17 heures. Tout le monde sera le bienvenu. Nous pensons parler entre autre des débuts de sobriété et de l’accueil des nouveaux. Nous apprécierions toutes les autres idées que vous pouvez nous donner.

Pour nous c’est un rêve qu’on réalise, qu’on a parfois pensé ne verrait pas jour avec toutes les formalités administratives.

Ann C (nanne@club-internet.fr) (7/99)

LifeRing Secular Recovery

Publishes "Secular" Brochure

LifeRing Secular Recovery in Oakland CA has published its first topical brochure entitled Secular Is Our Middle Name.  The trifold brochure is an effort to explain the meaning of the word "secular" in the context of recovery from substance abuse.  Text and graphics of the main part of the brochure are available online.  Printed copies are available from LifeRing Secular Recovery Service Center.  (6/16/99)

Unhooked Web Site

Begins Fourth Year

This web site marked its third anniversary on June 9, 1999.  Originally conceived as the web site of the San Francisco Bay Area SOS meetings, the site rapidly evolved into the unofficial U.S. web presence of Secular Organizations for Sobriety.  With the recent name change in Northern California, unhooked.com begins a new life as the web voice of LifeRing Secular Recovery.   Read webmaster's reflections.  (6/99)

San Francisco Bay Area SOS Chapter

Becomes LifeRing Secular Recovery

By Marty N.

Under the gun of a court order, the San Francisco Bay Area SOS chapter at an intergroup meeting on May 23, 1999, officially changed its name to LifeRing Secular Recovery (LSR).

The change was made under legal duress.  A federal district court in San Francisco ordered SOS founder Jim Christopher's SOS International Clearinghouse and the Northern California meetings that identify with Christopher and the Clearinghouse to cease to use the names "Secular Organizations for Sobriety" or "SOS" or anything confusingly similar in Northern California.  Christopher and area convenors in April 1999 received letters from the Howard Rice law firm in San Francisco threatening them with prosecution for contempt of court if they continued to use the names here. 

The court order, according to the law firm, also restricts use of the names "Secular Organizations for Sobriety" and "SOS" on the unhooked.com web site, and imposes restrictions on distribution of the LifeRing Press publication "Sobriety Handbook: The SOS Way, an Introduction to Secular Organizations for Sobriety," among other limitations.  

SOS meetings in Southern California and in other areas of the country were not immediately affected by the order. 

The court order creates an unusual situation where the member groups of the international SOS network are known by two different names, LifeRing Secular Recovery in Northern California and SOS in the rest of the world.   The Northern California chapter -- consisting at this time entirely of the San Francisco Bay Area groups -- contains the largest cluster of groups in the international network; it is the only area at this time where meetings are held seven days a week.  Both LifeRing Press and the unhooked.com web site are based in this region.

The LifeRing Secular Recovery meetings will operate under the legal umbrella of LifeRing Inc., which also operates LifeRing Press.  LifeRing Inc. is a California nonprofit corporation with a board of directors and an advisory board composed of members of SOS / LSR groups from around the country.   The lifering logo and the words LifeRing Press are registered trademarks of LifeRing Inc.  LifeRing Inc. has already applied to register the trademark LifeRing Secular Recovery. 

The May 23 intergroup meeting also established an LSR Service Center (SC) to create and distribute meeting schedules, brochures and other literature for the use of LifeRing Secular Recovery meetings.   The SC will share office space with LifeRing Press for the time being.  The member groups will also commence regular intergroup business meetings on dates to be announced.  [5/23/99]

New  Meeting in Oakland, CA

An additional recovery meeting will open up March 27 in Oakland, CA, Bill S., its convenor, has announced.  The new meeting will gather every Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Kaiser Permanente Chemical Dependency Recovery Program facility at 969 Broadway in downtown Oakland (above Smart & Final between 9th and 8th Streets).  For further information, please contact Bill S. at bstobor@aol.com.  (3/99)

San Rafael CA Meeting

Moves to Friday Nights

The new San Rafael CA LSR meeting, which began in October on Thursday nights, has moved to Friday nights.  The time is 7:30 - 8:30.  The meeting place is the Kaiser facility in Terra Linda: 99 Montecillo, Medical Office Building One, Conference Room E.  For detailed directions, see the meeting's web page.  For further information, contact LSR Service Center, 510-763-0779.  

Mid-Atlantic SOS/LSR Celebration

Set for Morgantown WV Feb. 18-19

The new Morgantown WV LSR/SOS chapter, led by Robert B., is inviting all members, friends, and others in the region, and from elsewhere, to attend the first ever Mid-Atlantic Regional Celebration on the Feb. 18-19 weekend.  For details as they develop, see the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Celebration (MARC) page here on unhooked.com.  (12/6/99)

New Meeting Starting Up

In Santa Fe, New Mexico

New Southern Cal Meeting

In Sepulveda on Wednesdays

Ron C. of Los Angeles writes that there is a new meeting on Wednesday nights in the Los Angeles Area.  It convenes at the Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society in Sepulveda.  The address is 9550 Haskell in the North Hills area, across from the VA (click for map).  For details contact Dale or Jim, 818-894-9251.  (12/5/99)

Missoula Secular Sobriety Society Adds Second Meeting

The Missoula MT Secular Sobriety Society has added a second meeting.  The new meeting convenes on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Missoula Public Library, 301 East Main, downstairs meeting room.   Note: no meeting on the third Thursday of each month.  For further information contact Ken D., ken_i_m@hotmail.com, Secretary of the MSSS.   (3/99)

Chattanooga Meeting

Moves to Wednesday

Dee K. writes that the Chattanooga meeting has moved from Friday nights at 6:30 to Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m., at the same location.  She says the move was made "after being told by about 10,000 people that Friday is the worst day for a meeting."  The location remains the same: Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga, 3224 Navajo Drive, Chattanooga.  Contact Dee K. at 423-886-1910, beesnees@prodigy.net.  [11/21/99]

New Meeting Starts Up

in Helena, MT Library 

A new LSR meeting began October 17, 1999, in the meeting room of the Lewis & Clark Library in Helena, MT.  The time is Sundays between 1 and 2 pm.  The library is located at 120 South Last Chance Gulch.  Contact Biff K for further information, email bkarlyn@mt.net. 

New Meeting Starts in Los Angeles

Focusing on Relapse Prevention

A new SOS meeting, the fourth in the Los Angeles area, will convene on Wednesday nights 8:00 - 9:30 p.m., in Marina Del Rey, 5521 Grosvenor, near Jefferson and Centinela at the SHARE building. The focus is on relapse prevention.  Ken Campbell, who led a workshop on this topic at the '99 Secular Recovery Convention, will be the convenor.  Contact Ken, Actor@we.mediaone.net. 

LSR Convenors' Workshop

In Oakland CA Sat. Nov. 6

 

The LSR Service Center will host a Convenors' Workshop in Oakland Saturday Nov. 6 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, in Group Room 1 of the Kaiser CDRP (Chemical Dependency Recovery Program) at 969 Broadway, downtown.  The event is a get-together for new convenors and old hands.  Among the discussion topics: How does LSR work?  What is our basic philosophy?  What is the convenors' job?  What is our history?  How to handle difficult situations.  Relating to other recovery groups.  How is LSR organized?  There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.  The workshop is open to anyone who has been or is considering maybe becoming a group secretary or treasurer or doing some other LSR service work.  Admission is free.  Questions or suggestions, please contact Marty N., 510-763-0779.  There is parking at meters on street or in a pay lot across Broadway.  The location is one block from the Oakland City Center BART station, go upstairs at the 11th St. stairs.  The facility is above the Smart&Final store.  

New SOS/LSR Meeting  

In Morgantown, WV

Bob Bradley writes:  "I have gained approval to hold our meetings at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Morgantown.  To wit:  SOS/LSR meeting -- every Wednesday, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 429 Warrick St. at the intersection of University Avenue (above Sunnyside) in Morgantown, WV 26505."  Contact Robert at (304) 291-8033 or via email at itchyb@prodigy.net.  (10/20/99)

New LifeRing Recovery Meeting 

Starts in San Rafael CA Oct. 7

A new LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting will open its doors Thursday evening Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Terra Linda (San Rafael), in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The new LSR meeting is the first in Marin County, north of the City.  The meeting place is Conference Room E of Medical Office Building 1 in the Kaiser Permanente complex at 99 Montecillo, San Rafael.  

San Bernardino CA Meeting

Starting up September 26

The San Bernardino CA meeting has upgraded from "under construction" status to "new," reports Dave B., the convenor.  After being listed on this web site as "under construction" for several months, the meeting now has a first core group and will convene officially for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999, at 7:00 p.m.  Please contact Dave at (909) 886-2034 or arfarf54@webtv.net for the location.  

New Meeting Set to Start

In Wichita, KS, October 6

Mary and Jer F. of Bentley, Kansas, write that they will be starting "SOS of Wichita" on October 6, 1999, on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at 310 South Ida in Wichita.  Contact them at sage1am@aol.com 

Marty N. to Present at Conference

In St. Louis, MO, Saturday October 23 

Marty N., webmaster of www.unhooked.com and editor of Keepers: Voices of Secular Recovery, will give a presentation on Saturday morning, October 23, at the annual Conference of Constructivist Educators in St. Louis, MO.  The event takes place at the St. Louis Hilton Frontenac.  Marty's presentation is titled "A constructivist approach to working with adult substance abusers."  For more information, contact webmaster@unhooked.com. 

Las Vegas NV Informational Meeting

With Marty N., Unhooked Webmaster Oct. 21

There will be an informational meeting for persons interested in starting a secular recovery alternative in the Las Vegas NV area on Thursday evening, Oct. 21.  Marty N., unhooked.com webmaster and editor of Keepers: Voices of Secular Recovery, will be the guest speaker.  Persons interested please contact keishadog@msn.com.  

Let's Start a Meeting

in Newbury, Berks., UK

Ray B writes: "I want to start a new meeting in Newbury, Berks, UK.  Any SOSers around there who can help me out with getting a room to meet in, local contacts etc. ? Contact: kotegaish@yahoo.com"

Calling Las Vegas NV:

Let's Start a Meeting

Jim H. is interested in starting a secular recovery meeting in Las Vegas, NV. Anyone interested in helping, please contact him at jhannon99@yahoo.com.  

Wants to Start Meeting 

In Cape May NJ Area 

Kathleen O. is interested in starting a new secular recovery meeting in the Cape May area of New Jersey, and asks likeminded persons in the area to get in touch with her.  Contact Kathleen please at lilly@avaloninternet.net  (7/99)

New Meeting in Washington DC Area

Opens Its Doors July 1 in Bethesda

A new LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting, the first in the Washington DC area, will have its inaugural session in Bethesda MD on July 1.  The time is from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The location is BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE SERVICES CENTER at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in downtown Bethesda.  The meeting room is Room B upstairs.   Click for directions.  Click for online map.  For further information contact David H., dhughes@navdoscen.med.navy.mil  (6/99)

New Meeting Starting Up 

In Ocean City MD Area 

Shirley B asks anyone interested in starting a meeting in the Ocean City MD / Fenwick Island DE area to contact her via email at SBarber@prodigy.net  (6/99)

Washington DC Email Friends

To Meet in Bethesda June 23 

Members of the email list in the Washington DC - Northern Virginia area will meet for dinner Wednesday evening June 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Lewie's, 6845 Reed St. in Bethesda.  Click for map.  The location is four blocks south of  the Bethesda metro station.  The get-together is a prelude to forming a meeting. There's a concert of Celtic music by Ceili Rain following dinner.  RSVP Lisa P., lovelisa@compuserve.com.  (6/99)

First Meeting at Fort Meade

Starts June 29 at Lunchtime

A new SOS/LifeRing meeting will start at noon on Tuesday, June 29 on post at Fort Meade, MD.  The location is the SARC Building near the intersection of 85th Med. Bn. Rd. and Wilson Street.  Click for map. This building is between the dental clinic and the optometry clinic.  The meeting room is on the second floor.  The meeting is non-smoking and will last one hour.  You are invited to bring lunch and refreshments.  Contact malina19@gateway.net for further information.  (6/99)

Houston TX SOS/LifeRing Meetings

Will Restart at Downtown UU Church

A new SOS/LifeRing Recovery meeting will start in Houston TX on Friday, June 25, at the downtown Universalist-Unitarian Church, 5200 Fannin, Room 207, convenor Scott N. has announced.  Starting time is 6:30.  The meeting may shift to 7:00 if people prefer that.  The meeting will replace the suspended effort at Rice University. Contact: Scott N., newsom@hypercon.com, (281) 485-0547 for details. (6/16/99)

New SOS/LifeRing Meeting

For Chattanooga TN in July

Chattanooga TN will have its first SOS/LifeRing meeting starting July 1, 1999.  It will meet every Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 3224 Navajo Drive, Chattanooga.  The meeting is non-smoking.  For further information please contact Dee K. at 423-886-1910, quirkily1@prodigy.net [5/99]

New SOS Meeting Formed in Salem OR

Following a successful informational meeting April 7, the Salem OR SOS meeting now has a regular meeting place and time, beginning May 10, 1999.   The meeting will convene every Monday (except the first Monday of each month) at the Unitarian Church, corner of Center St. and Cordon Rd., at 7:00 p.m.  Please contact Bruce at 371-6109 or Donna at 371-6116 for further information.  (4/99)

SOS Meeting Forming in San Bernardino CA

David B. of San Bernardino CA is looking for others to help start an SOS meeting in that area.  Please contact David at arfarf54@webtv.net.   (4/99)

SOS Informational Meeting in Salem OR

There will be an informational meeting about SOS in Salem, Oregon, on Wednesday, April 7, 1999.  The event will take place in the Anderson room of the Salem Public Library at 7:30 p.m.  Please telephone 371-6109 in Salem for more information.  (3/99)

New SOS Meeting Going Up in Bakersfield, CA

Mary B. in Bakersfield CA invites anyone in the area who wants an abstinence support group and is looking for an alternative to the 12-Step approach to contact her via email: Maryblades@aol.com.   (5/99)

New SOS Meeting "Under Construction" in Cleveland OH

A new SOS meeting is being formed in Cleveland OH.   People interested in helping organize the meeting or just being part of it, please email Peter V., peter@glasscity.com (5/99)

New SOS Meeting Forming in Washington DC Area

Lisa P. of Washington DC is starting an SOS meeting to serve the capitol district and the northern Virginia area, and invites people interested in participating to contact her by email, lovelisa@compuserve.com  (4/99)

New SOS Meeting in Providence RI

A new SOS meeting opens up Thursday March 4, 1999, in Providence RI.  The new meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Providence Center, 520 Hope Street, in Providence.  The room number is 230 on the 2nd floor.  For further information, please contact the convenor, Annette G., (401)724-7798, adgri401@aol.com.  (2/99)

SOS Web Site Debuts in Germany

A new SOS website is under construction in Germany.  The German-language site is a project of Stefan Stobke, a long-time member of the independent sobriety self-help movement there.  The site's web address is http://www.stobke.de    The rapidly growing site features articles that explain addiction in cognitive behavioral and neurochemical terms.  It also presents life stories about the ravages of alcoholism in the careers of noted individuals, such as Jack London.   There is a discussion section, links, and other features.  The motto of the site is "Mit Wucht Aus Der Sucht" which roughly translates as "with conviction we escape addiction."  A poem by Friedrich von Bodelschwingh, a 19th century German social reformer who worked with the homeless, declares that sober alcoholics are first-class citizens -- no better people are made than this.  [See translation, Poetry Page].  When Stefan is not working on his website, he drives an 18-wheeler on the Autobahn.  (2/99)