tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84261709880945959072024-03-12T19:11:23.687-07:00Bay Area Clutterers AnonymousThis blog exists to serve the Bay Area Intergroup Fellowship of CLA and does not represent Clutterers Anonymous World Service organization.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-84710513192212478542010-05-27T21:11:00.000-07:002010-05-27T21:11:33.540-07:00Telephone Workshop: Traditions Part 3 June 19, 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHRz8cLebEPLCFE2aBEndI0eypxY8oxI8pf4q6dHcAytgnPF_MDw_QhH6CmlmJbyDyVSNDWYGQLHiZjFIJlK_pR1H-XmMUjn5aglIq7jTlV8LreC35Ip3hKKE5u1F0vbW6MaFpKt3wTK1/s1600/Tradition+Flyer+-+3rd+Sessionpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHRz8cLebEPLCFE2aBEndI0eypxY8oxI8pf4q6dHcAytgnPF_MDw_QhH6CmlmJbyDyVSNDWYGQLHiZjFIJlK_pR1H-XmMUjn5aglIq7jTlV8LreC35Ip3hKKE5u1F0vbW6MaFpKt3wTK1/s400/Tradition+Flyer+-+3rd+Sessionpic.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Dear CLA Member,</span><br />
<div><br />
As you may know, our third telephone seminar on the CLA Traditions—which covered Traditions 7, 8, and 9—will be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010 at 2:00 PM. These seminars are being held to educate our Fellowship about the Traditions and to have a discussion on how Traditions are applied.</div><div><br />
The seminar runs for two hours and will consist of a presentation on each Tradition, followed by a period for sharing on the Tradition covered and for questions and answers. </div><div><br />
To access the seminar, call (712) 775-7000, and use the access code of 335269. I am also attaching a flyer which will give these details.</div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-36779638091884041482010-02-24T15:51:00.000-08:002010-02-24T15:51:41.641-08:00Traditions Workshop: March 6, 2010 at 2:00 PM PHONE CONFERENCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Re_rQh9c01u7VtbJLNk2szjgYmoNlRDjEEXk6SLGjQJeaIgvakPFpkDf_6lw4Y0FALWQ2EdLORmNHm9iloCKsewoVcJi_ORz83XxKjCCbnZdAMD1Ijiu-e7-desHcedd1HHqN8CY4tb/s1600-h/Traditions+Flyer+-+Part+two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Re_rQh9c01u7VtbJLNk2szjgYmoNlRDjEEXk6SLGjQJeaIgvakPFpkDf_6lw4Y0FALWQ2EdLORmNHm9iloCKsewoVcJi_ORz83XxKjCCbnZdAMD1Ijiu-e7-desHcedd1HHqN8CY4tb/s320/Traditions+Flyer+-+Part+two.jpg" /></a></div>Dear CLA Member,<br />
<div><br />
As you may know, our first telephone seminar on the CLA Traditions—which covered Traditions 1, 2, and 3—was held on November 27, 2009. These seminars are being held to educate our Fellowship about the Traditions and to have a discussion on how Traditions are applied.</div><div><br />
The second of these seminars will be on <strong>Saturday, March 6, 2010, at 2 p.m. Pacific Time (5 p.m. Eastern Time).</strong> These seminars run for two hours and consist of a presentation on each Tradition, followed by a period for sharing on the Tradition covered and for questions and answers. Part Two will focus on Traditions 4, 5, and 6.</div><div><br />
To access the seminar, call (712) 775-7000, and use the access code of 335269. I am also attaching a flyer which will give these details.</div><div><br />
I hope to see you all at this next seminar.</div><div><br />
Yours in recovery,</div><div><br />
Kathy H.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-32779829131012571292009-11-15T12:33:00.000-08:002009-11-15T12:41:20.681-08:00Clutter Free Day Report<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The first Berkeley, California Clutter Free Day was held on Saturday, November 7 from 10 AM until 5 PM at the Lutheran Church of the Cross on University Ave, right down the street from UC Berkeley. The event marked the 3rd anniversary of the Berkeley Tuesday morning CLA meeting and was a resounding success on all accounts, from number of attendees, to information shared, to fellowship extended. There are currently 7 San Francisco Bay Area meetings within a 140 mile range. Around 60 people attended arriving from near and far including Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Concord, Costa Mesa, Danville, Davis, El Cerrito, Fremont, Long Beach, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Martinez, Menlo Park, Moraga, Oakland, Palo Alto, Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.<br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">The theme for the day was using the Tools of Recovery in CLA. All attendees were treated to presentations by the CLA WSO chair, Kathy, speaking about What CLA Offers and Susie, from CLA phone meetings, talking about taking action to use the CLA tools. Berkeley CLA members presented individual sessions that attendees could choose, including a newcomer's meeting and daily action with Cindy; <span style="color: black;">Clutter, kids, and parenting with Ingrid: Where did all this stuff come from, with Joan; Working steps 1 through 3 with Wendy; and Forgiving Yourself with Uzuri. Highlights of the day were Uzuri's welcome singing, as well as her rendition of Q's lyrics from the 2008 LA CFD. People were still laughing all day after attending Joan's session, where she shared things from her home as examples of her creativity and rational for keeping things too valuable to let go of.</span><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: black;">The day culminated with an open microphone where people could share with everyone. Some things shared were: </span><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">“I’m a s</span>ingle mom who uses the tool of a sense of humor and laughter. I am with my people at a CLA meeting. I know I am not judged or criticized. Thank you all. I urge you to attend meetings.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“My favorite session was on forgiveness. I liked looking around that circle of people and seeing myself a bit in everyone.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I am so grateful to the people I heard from today. Even though we have unique stories there are always similarities. I learned how to really connect via the phone meetings that I didn’t fully understand before. Celebrate! I learned to let go and trust. Good connections with people here today.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I didn’t expect to laugh so much today. Joan’s workshop was freeing by the laughter of identification. I was able to relax & let things make connections in my mind that I hadn’t notice before in my idiosyncrasies. Maybe Joan would take that on the stage! Her workshop really lifted me after challenges trying to get here.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“When I found the Berkeley group, I really thought I was at the end of my rope. Oh, I can’t do that. My friend went with me to my first meeting. I found people like me who understood! Like oh the closet, the office, filled from the floor to the ceiling. I had to move out of my home of 17 years. Those CLA women helped me clean and sort through my stuff. I was frightened to let them in. But it was such a wonderful, beautiful thing that they did. To help me clean and sort and box. They asked me, “Do you want to keep this or do you think you can let it go?” Every time I let it go, they cheered. And I got hooked on the cheers. CLA is a wonderful place of love & caring. Each of you understand what this is about. We are all working together to get to that other place. I thank CLA, the fellowship, the members that allowed me to do my work today. For letting me be myself today. This is wonderful! Thank you.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The day ended with a discussion of forming a Bay Area CLA intergroup, doing another Clutter Free Day, and Sharon agreeing to be the service person for an intergroup conference call.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before they left, people passed in the plastic name tag holders and evaluations. Across the board, every single person said that the day “exceeded their expectations” with some sessions being “exceptional”. Written comments included <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Today was fabulous – I’m no longer alone with my shame, guilt and paralysis. I understand what "together we can" means now.” <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I came here today for motivation and inspiration – important enough to clear my cluttered calendar. I found what I’ve been looking for and plan to be a participant in this group and hope to help and be helped.”<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Everyone was moved when they joined hands to recite the closing prayer, (which had not been used previously at Berkeley CLA meetings)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">God, grant me the Serenity of an organized life with leisure time,<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Courage to change my habits to ensure these joys, and<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Wisdom to be flexible.<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And God grant me <i><b>patience</b></i> for the changes that take time,<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Appreciation</i></b> for all that I have,<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Tolerance </i></b>for those with different struggles,<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the <b><i>Strength</i></b> to get up and try again,<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One moment, one hour, one day at a time.<br />
<br />
The Berkeley CLA wishes to thank everyone who attended, especially those that came up from LA to support the event, share their experience, strength and hope, and everyone who did service, including support from previous CFDs.<br />
</span></span><br />
</div><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-43837903294328616462009-11-13T22:36:00.000-08:002009-11-13T22:36:13.058-08:00Closing Prayer from Clutter Free Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Closing Prayer</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">— </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">God, grant me the Serenity of an organized life with leisure time,</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Courage to change my habits to ensure these joys, and</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Wisdom to be flexible.</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">And God grant me <em><strong>patience</strong></em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for the changes that take time,</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"><strong><em>Appreciation</em></strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for all that I have,</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"><strong><em>Tolerance<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></em></strong>for those with different struggles,</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">And the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><strong><em>Strength</em></strong><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to get up and try again,</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 8px; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">One moment, one hour, one day at a time.</span><br />
</div></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-91827005063853709752009-11-08T21:03:00.000-08:002009-11-08T21:14:31.230-08:00Clutter Free Day, Berkeley - A Clutter Free Zone of Success!!!Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Clutter Free Day an amazing success!<br />
Thank you to all the CLA members who contributed time before and after, resources, energy, suggestions, love and recovery:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Wendy<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Joan<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ingrid<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kathleen<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Carol<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gen<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Gordon<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scott<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Uzuri<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Marie<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Jane<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cindy<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you Kathy for coming up from Long Beach and speaking!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you for Susie for coming west to speak!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you to our presenters for preparing valuable, insightful workshops:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Joan, Wendy, Uzuri, Ingrid<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you to everyone who contributed materials, food, copying, distributing flyers, doing out reach!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">More than 55 people attended our first Berkeley Clutter Free Day. They arrived from near and far:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Concord, Costa Mesa, Danville, Davis, El Cerrito, Fremont, Long Beach, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Martinez, Menlo Park, Moraga, Oakland, Palo Alto, Rancho Cordova, Richmond, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, San Ramon, Walnut Creek.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B1DtWSvd98M3N2U3NzQ3OGItZmZiMi00NzAwLWFjMDEtY2ZiOGI0ZTFlOTg0&hl=en">Clutter Free Day Schedule</a><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-79518945963129862272009-09-12T13:48:00.000-07:002009-09-29T15:03:10.617-07:00Clutter Free Day Registration Information<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://baclafd.eventbrite.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrL6fhijj67E74Md2BjMw9xTNTb_BCKe-ACIBji4FWmRmoCbLng7X3aMuW9gc_vbYVV_PdjzN7thOLirBQb7wnsE8xDavxoqYlDeKHjjQBz2bBXhQNdufVXOz1hGMor9GUffJS-RyXtKl/s320/sign.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
Click Here to Register Online <br />
<a href="http://baclafd.eventbrite.com/?ref=ebtn" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.eventbrite.com/registerbutton?eid=429814587" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARvafwLoPI-Z05IfKijDurvADVya3Gm_76VwhC9PPrNuTmzUiumX8aRPDuGSryRLCpcAIgn2We4Q9-hDZ9DTbV3XJXfeoYYYBqCoUFbPwPjhbBhTx5iOZEWcvII6VS1kUIf4l_9Jkjn3X/s1600-h/clfdregistration.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARvafwLoPI-Z05IfKijDurvADVya3Gm_76VwhC9PPrNuTmzUiumX8aRPDuGSryRLCpcAIgn2We4Q9-hDZ9DTbV3XJXfeoYYYBqCoUFbPwPjhbBhTx5iOZEWcvII6VS1kUIf4l_9Jkjn3X/s320/clfdregistration.png" /></a>Click to Print Out<br />
<a href="http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0ByuHGBY6Dt3dMjY5MTQ2NzgtYjQyMC00NzNiLTk3OWEtZDlhNzY4ZjA0ZTAy&hl=en">Registration Form, then fill out and mail in </a><br />
<br />
Email for more information:<br />
<br />
<a href="mailto:berkcla@gmail.com">berkcla@gmail.com</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Travel Directions </b></span><b>to </b><br />
<b>Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703</b><br />
</div><br />
By Public Transportation:<br />
<br />
BART & Walk<br />
Take BART to Downtown Berkeley Stop<br />
Walk to Center St & Shattuck Sq, Berkeley<br />
Walk North toward University<br />
Take Left onto University<br />
Walk 11 minutes West on University (towards water and SF)<br />
<br />
BART & BUS<br />
From Downtown Berkeley Stop<br />
Board AC Transit - 51 - towards University Ave & 3rd<br />
at NE Corner of Shattuck Sq & Center St<br />
Fare $ 2.00<br />
Get Off at NE Corner of University Ave & Grant St (2 min ride)<br />
<br />
<div class="ii gt" id=":4o"><wbr></wbr>------------------------------<wbr></wbr>------------------------------<wbr></wbr>--------<br />
CAR<br />
<br />
From South (Los Angeles)<br />
Take I-5 North to I-580-W<br />
Exit onto University Ave (after Ashby Exit in Berkeley)<br />
Church is on Right<br />
<br />
From North (Sacramento)<br />
I-80-W<br />
Exit 11 to merge onto University Ave (after Gilman Exit in Berkeley)<br />
Church is on Right<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>LODGING NEAR EVENT </b></span>(Suggestion:<span> </span>Book rooms asap.<span> </span>If there is a sports event at Berkeley University, all rooms will be taken.<span> </span>Prices range from under $100/night up.)<br />
Berkeley Travelodge, 1820 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(</span>510)843-4262<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><a href="http://www.travelodge.com/Travelodge/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=07017">http://www.travelodge.com/Travelodge/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=07017</a></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Vista Inn, </span>1761 University Avenue - Berkeley, CA, United States 94703<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> (510) 841-4242 <a href="http://www.vistainnberkeley.com/">http://www.vistainnberkeley.com</a></span><br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">Super 8 Berkeley, 1619 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703 (510) 841-3844<br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=33177&cid=carat_search-Super_8">http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=33177&cid=carat_search-Super_8</a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Rodeway Inn, 1461 University Ave - Berkeley, CA, United States 94702 (510) 848-3840 <a href="http://www.berkeleyri.com/">http://www.berkeleyri.com</a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Holiday Inn Express, 1175 University Ave - Berkeley, CA, United States 94702 (<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">510) 548-1700</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><a href="http://hiexberkeley.com/">http://hiexberkeley.com/</a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
La Quinta Inn, 920 University Ave, Berkeley, CA (510) 849-1121 <a href="http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ6238&propId=6238">http://www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ6238&propId=6238</a><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-75128781590423523212009-08-18T16:33:00.001-07:002009-09-12T13:45:50.465-07:00Bay Area Clutter Free Day Registration Open!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0OjgmfFwt66yq0aj3RONgrLzGB-uSUGALT-vDIH0N_II-cMwOF5GjAHOH4df0zxanyJjMcU35FKtCo7m_OkSLo7K36KotZ0us4RYWZbj8xUpp178_dsYCqzJGj7oEFOpmSo7sHH5LokSR/s1600-h/mentalhealth.jpg"></a><br />
<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1TxxBjxkOuQy8vLXhBcXEgQLPiuWU6F59MYQtJeNOYroneKKBOBEMb7jytyO42Irj2JgjZO-V27iR8JR5HhgcxngoMFvoy5PUtLrT75t9kZjJ4DwiW_CmxsZCBS7foutWW3UO4bAdL4g/s1600-h/clutter-free-guy.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371453362768699298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1TxxBjxkOuQy8vLXhBcXEgQLPiuWU6F59MYQtJeNOYroneKKBOBEMb7jytyO42Irj2JgjZO-V27iR8JR5HhgcxngoMFvoy5PUtLrT75t9kZjJ4DwiW_CmxsZCBS7foutWW3UO4bAdL4g/s320/clutter-free-guy.jpg" style="float: left; height: 192px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 133px;" /></a><br />
<div><span style="font-size: 180%;">Berkeley Clutter Free Day</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;">Saturday, November 7, 2009</span></div><div>Location: Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1744 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703<br />
</div>For your convenience, you can register before the event online and save money. Or show up day of event with cash or check at door. <div style="display: inline;"><iframe src="http://www.eventbrite.com/tickets-external?eid=429814587&ref=etckt" frameborder="0" marginwidth="5" marginheight="5" vspace="0" hspace="0" width="100%" height="385" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="auto"></iframe><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/r/etckt"><img src="http://www.eventbrite.com/s.gif" alt="Events" border="0"/></a></div><div>Want to help? <a href="mailto:solofreesail@gmail.com">Click here to email </a>your contact information to be invited to planning meetings.<br />
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<div>Theme: Putting the Tools of Recovery to work for you</div><br />
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<div>Remember, we can't do this alone, but together we can!</div><br />
<div>Put the word out to get involved to make this happen, HERE!</div><br />
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<div>The timing of the first annual Bay Area Clutter Free Day is coincidentally the Saturday following the <a href="http://mha-sf.org/programs/hcconfdetails.cfm">Mental Health Institute of San Francisco's 2009 Conference on Hoarding and Cluttering!</a> </div><a href="http://mha-sf.org/programs/hcconfdetails.cfm"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371454020818299618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX7Y5oQPcMqpg-qUGNoMPVFlXgDe50km2ZSEwGgW32HNX4yvTgAk8vT2qlbH2YMesyc6QETKrvTAWvmWaplrnLCxOow6J6mZnXNCfMFpbkhEb_WZE9jZT3HgjKvvJVSJCOWz-1BGLpbQB/s320/mentalhealth.jpg" style="float: left; height: 178px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 196px;" /></a><br />
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<div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-85672010237498233432009-06-14T16:54:00.000-07:002009-07-29T14:20:26.131-07:0014th Clutter Free Day, CLA East<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZR5XbuxqWJ7WHcTBS_JchZcKC9F7hSCZRW4lj6auhHmMVIxb-jsZ-MvSMqT5t2n_TlHSRnaPcLy2ZTgKpM-b8rgJ_zS7hshgAYLp2dbzVNwRQNJvxbMilB6PJcpvC4NI0daXYSXebkoY/s1600-h/CFD+schedule+001.jpg"></a> I attended the Clutter Free Day in Brooklyn, New York on May 17, 2009 and was priviledged to be the keynote speaker. You can listen to my qualification by downloading mp3 files. They are broken down into 7 different files so they are small enough to upload. In order to listen, you have to save them one at a time to your computer, download them, and watch what file they're put into. Then you have to click on them and open an audio program on your computer to listen. They are titled as follows:<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/1.+Keynote+intro+CFD+East+-+Cindy+track01.mp3?gda=lQv1DV8AAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4JYSNc-GG8kZjbI5Hw1GSBcUa_PUyjyISo3Fda1wSnwPYtSoV81jXKe6ji7hJvZ-mcvvAnIlxX_D4XgYRr4HttaJxzIUqf6s0oL53Wkz8h1XQ" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1. Keynote intro CFD East - Cindy track01.mp3</a> 7.0 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/2.+Keynote+CFD+East+-+Cindy+track02.mp3?gda=kDGtHlkAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4JtQxtyzYEfO19UUmqZSL9NWCf1gDOCsYQk6x1kbKWLKC0qa-e7jDvpOSRZzsTf1mk-hJhGwR9IC8FDobKilRKWIQIqBBuatoZ3GVm6VpieyE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">2. Keynote CFD East - Cindy track02.mp3</a> 7.0 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/3.+Keynote+CFD+East+-+Cindy+track03.mp3?gda=6OX92FkAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4J0B2frVVuMGUyF2K063hkyGCf1gDOCsYQk6x1kbKWLKC0qa-e7jDvpOSRZzsTf1mkWXZiQ7QGpqu2OUW5G851DYQIqBBuatoZ3GVm6VpieyE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">3. Keynote CFD East - Cindy track03.mp3</a> 6.9 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/4.+Keynote+CFD+East+-+Cindy+track04.mp3?gda=tPUIL1kAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4Jqxmnv029cRdMOoZ2BPJHAGCf1gDOCsYQk6x1kbKWLKC0qa-e7jDvpOSRZzsTf1mkmKIPBjb-X1ceSXu_jmnyY4QIqBBuatoZ3GVm6VpieyE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">4. Keynote CFD East - Cindy track04.mp3</a> 7.0 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/5.+Keynote+CFD+East+-+Cindy+track05.mp3?gda=rLXlKFkAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4Jnpu9sa5YaTQv5zKc6G1nPmCf1gDOCsYQk6x1kbKWLKC0qa-e7jDvpOSRZzsTf1mkmnNaFp1Ww5uh4Wsy1wRBWYQIqBBuatoZ3GVm6VpieyE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">5. Keynote CFD East - Cindy track05.mp3</a> 6.9 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/6.+Keynote+CFD+EAst+-+Cindy+track06.mp3?gda=GBqlpFkAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4JV_5EBDeXXRUOMhz27jFdsq1HRJXjjZYwIMivDMnwAzC0qa-e7jDvpOSRZzsTf1mkUi8QOzlgd7we7iByZipd1IQIqBBuatoZ3GVm6VpieyE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">6. Keynote CFD EAst - Cindy track06.mp3</a> 7.0 MB<br /><a href="http://berkeley-clutterers-anonymous.googlegroups.com/web/7.+Keynote+CFD+East+-+Cindytrack07.mp3?gda=MgsmQ1gAAAARNatBJRl2eUPz9hxUXf4JJHEae8eNYkD0LhnVQRfY9mCf1gDOCsYQk6x1kbKWLKBrYxUkSbJ0OuEO2NI06zi4EvyfaHvyCyzHYxeZNTjX-Ro1YHcDYvgcK1MwRk9oTs4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">7. Keynote CFD East - Cindytrack07.mp3</a> 4.8 MB<br /><br />The Schedule:<br />Spiritual Timing: Fredrick W, NY<br />Notes from Spiritual Timing<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvWPhNXgioZxhKvd_7ZnQENqiKO_hv0ZvcnzzmxBPXoIxyZeXvMzinUVABy6To6VHu7VPw4Dz4L_V5Cir8ui1eXqoo2Ij9Zof2CxCKraGAfYVAN4kSmb4JdaxeJ8hBWIsVN40Sp5jbicP/s1600-h/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes1+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347781909160972162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvWPhNXgioZxhKvd_7ZnQENqiKO_hv0ZvcnzzmxBPXoIxyZeXvMzinUVABy6To6VHu7VPw4Dz4L_V5Cir8ui1eXqoo2Ij9Zof2CxCKraGAfYVAN4kSmb4JdaxeJ8hBWIsVN40Sp5jbicP/s320/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes1+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0AIoQmcoakuK_wKMus0hNL2rapjjmMK-Bu9C1wHHVpXF79F-7J14XpQOwpwRXHtdDPYEj2_tFMssnnzfcUMRpZ9DgnHZjlwcXAgqdQKsgIJgKYBv6Y9i5FBaBWpRvDGSbTWmjf8oCMEN/s1600-h/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes3+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347781918587406130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0AIoQmcoakuK_wKMus0hNL2rapjjmMK-Bu9C1wHHVpXF79F-7J14XpQOwpwRXHtdDPYEj2_tFMssnnzfcUMRpZ9DgnHZjlwcXAgqdQKsgIJgKYBv6Y9i5FBaBWpRvDGSbTWmjf8oCMEN/s320/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes3+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVqtpn3mpM_ZfqJm8oIiGkcYWWEjSqwmSWwl51laKEG57PMfWDeQhUCm4W8bn_cUDnkvCU84Cm1Mrdti0EYlQCzqaKWfw8yxjn7j3_A-XUsLnOk6oPafl3DvbJ8HJshgIbTuAqAd6CMJ/s1600-h/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes2+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347781915298114114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 233px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVqtpn3mpM_ZfqJm8oIiGkcYWWEjSqwmSWwl51laKEG57PMfWDeQhUCm4W8bn_cUDnkvCU84Cm1Mrdti0EYlQCzqaKWfw8yxjn7j3_A-XUsLnOk6oPafl3DvbJ8HJshgIbTuAqAd6CMJ/s320/CFD+Spiritual+Timing+Notes2+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Steps 1-3: Questions to Ask Yourself: Peter L, NJ<br />Getting Motivated to Declutter: Beryl, NY<br />Nonphysical Decluttering: Ruthe S, PA<br />Powerless Over Paper: Mary P, NY<br />Using the Tools of CLA: Tova B, NY<br /><strong>Keynote Speaker: Cindy S, CA </strong><br />Steps Linked To Strategies: Naomi L, NY<br />Clutter & Relationships: Andrew S, MD<br />Book Hoarding: Mary Agnes, MA<br /></div><div><br /><br />In recovery,<br />Cindy<br /><br />P.S.<br />FYI: <span style="font-size:85%;">You can purchase physical CDs to listen on your CD player or in your car from Glenn K Audio Tapes at <a href="http://glennkaudiotapes.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=296&cat=CLA+CD+Singles">http://glennkaudiotapes.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=296&cat=CLA+CD+Singles</a> There is a choice to purchase the complete set of 10 CDs or individual ones from the most recent 14th Clutter Free Day, Brooklyn, NY, 5/17/2009. Audio from previous Clutter Free Days are also available in the same location. (NOTE: This information is for your information and recovery only, CLA does not endorse or promote any business entity nor does it make any profit from this media availability.)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-10511047735806016982009-02-17T17:13:00.000-08:002009-02-17T17:16:24.334-08:00CLA Phone Meeting Format(After you call in, and put in the Access code, you will be in a "room" with up to 30 other people on their phones. This is a generic format for what to expect at a CLA phone meeing.)<br /><br />Hello, I am ______, a clutterer, and your Leader for this meeting.<br /><br />Would those who care to, join me in the Serenity Prayer.<br /><br />Is there someone on the line who can read the Clutterers Anonymous Preamble?<br />(If not, Leader reads from attachment)<br /><br />Is there someone on the line who can read the CLA Group Purpose?<br />(If not, Leader reads from attachment.)<br /><br />Is there someone on the line who can read the CLA How It Works and Twelve Steps?<br />(If not, Leader reads from attachment)<br /><br />Is there someone on the line who can read the Tradition of the Month and the Twelfth Tradition? (If not, Leader reads from attachment.)<br /><br />Will everyone who cares to, join me in Identifying Ourselves, sharing our first names and where we are calling from?<br /><br />Now I'm going to read the Announcements specific to this Phone Meeting:<br />Phone Meeting Etiquette (Leader reads from attachment).<br /><br />I am very pleased to introduce our Qualifier for this meeting, ________, who will share her Experience, Strength and Hope with us for 15 - 20 minutes. (What it was like, What Happened, What it is like now.)<br /><br />Treasurer's Report:<br />There are no dues or fees for CLA membership. There are expenses associated with this phone meeting. Rental of the phone bridge is $12 per hour so we need to ask for Seventh Tradition donations so that we can pay the $48 or $60 a month to maintain this meeting. (Treasurer/Leader provides Treasurer's Address - see attachment - and donation types allowed [cash, checks made out to "Cash"].)<br /><br />Are there any CLA-related Announcements?<br /><br />Is there anyone Counting Days of CLA-Basic 4 Abstinence?<br /><br />I am going to ask Available CLA Sponsors or Buddies to identify themselves and give their phone numbers - slowly! If you need a sponsor or Buddy or phone numbers, please listen carefully and write the numbers down. We will not be repeating them. However, the meeting will close a few minutes before the hour so that people may exchange numbers again at that time.<br /><br />I'm going to Open the Meeting now, to positive pitches on CLA abstinence. Ten Minutes before the hour we will share tips and goals. Who would like to speak first?<br /><br />We'll go around the room now and Share a Short Tip that has helped us this week.<br /><br />Would everyone who would like to Share A Goal For The Week.. It is suggested that the goal be small, i.e. sewing on a button, so that we can keep the commitment! If there is still time, we can have more sharing.<br /><br />Would those who care to, join me in the Serenity Prayer.<br /><br />"Keep Coming Back, It Works If You Work It, So work it because You Are Worth It!<br />Give a Lot of Love!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-76813569992491583432009-02-17T16:37:00.000-08:002009-02-17T16:41:44.849-08:00CLA Phone Meeting EtiquetteThere are daily CLA Phone meetings to attend. There a few guidelines to help the phone meeting run smoothly.<br /><br />· If you have one, please use your phone’s mute button, except when sharing. Otherwise press *6 to mute and unmute (Star + 6).<br /><br />· If you are on a cordless phone, please sit near the base of the phone to eliminate static. If your battery is low, we will all hear a constant beeping.<br /><br />· You are at a CLA telephone meeting. Please do not do other things while at the meeting. Background noise is very distracting. (There are up to 30 callers on the line at one time.)<br /><br />· If your location becomes noisy (children, pets, visitors, etc), please hang up, move locations, and call back from a quiet location.<br /><br />· Some people breathe 'heavier' than others. Most heavy breathers don't realize it. Please use your mute button, or hold the mouthpiece away from your mouth and nose unless you are speaking.<br /><br />· Do not put your phone on hold during the meeting. This often causes beeping, ringing, or even recorded messages to interrupt the meeting.<br /><br />· If there is an echo, static, or other interference when you dial into the phone bridge, it is probably your phone causing the disturbance. Please hang up and try another phone, especially if you are using a mobile phone.<br /><br />By group conscience, the leader (and only the leader) is empowered to interrupt the phone meeting at any time to address distractions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-19176541905482641942008-11-11T13:54:00.000-08:002008-11-11T13:57:10.092-08:00First hand experience of CLA Sponsorship Tool<p>CLA Tool Box</p> <p>The CLA "Tools of Recovery" state: </p> <p><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sponsors are CLA members who are committed to recovery through the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. A Step sponsor leads us through the 12 Steps of recovery. We choose a sponsor who has what we want. The sponsor and buddy may be the same person.</span></i></p> <p><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial;">In working another 12 step program, I got aware that my life was unmanageable around clutter.<span> </span>For years, I had been paralyzed, overwhelmed and oblivious about the boxes, piles, collections, unpaid bills, ignored correspondence, unfinished projects, unopened purchases, unused items that filled my hallways, overflowed from my drawers, spilled out of my closets.<span> </span>I knew that underneath all that was dust and filth – I didn't know there were also mice.<span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had a good excuse – I was a widow raising 3 young children.<span> </span>I had moved to a much smaller house following my husband's sudden death.<span> </span>I was an Internet professional and had worked in volatile start-ups.<span> </span>I juggled my work, my special-needs daughter, my community activism, my 12 step meetings, my insomnia, volunteering, driving my children to their various extra-curricular activities and Sunday school teaching.<span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">In retrospect, I did it by moving from one activity to the next without stopping to clean up from my last project or prepare for the next.<span> </span>I needed to be busy so I didn't have time to feel anything. By the time I got home every day, I was exhausted, angry, resentful, full of pride and incredibly hurt.<span> </span>I was too tired to deal with laundry, cleaning, cooking, organizing or maintaining a healthy home environment.<span> </span>I couldn't think straight in such a messy environment, but I could watch television and berate myself for everything that I was NOT doing and fall down a familiar, negative spiral of depressive thinking until I dropped to sleep.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">These self-pitying feelings originated in my traumatic childhood.<span> </span>I had survived by repeating the same patterns through-out my life – investing myself 110 percent to accomplish big things that helped others and got me recognition all the while sacrificing my own needs. I got much approval from others, but I never approved of myself.<span> </span>I never counted myself in my priorities, I never noticed the good things I did, I did not think I deserved my own attention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">When I found CLA initially, phone meetings were hard for me because I could hide my shame, not pay attention nor stay focused to listen.<span> </span>I am visual and it helps me to view a person's communication in order to remain engaged.<span> </span>I found that when it comes to things that are emotionally threatening – I will take any distraction and not reveal the truth about myself.<span> </span>On the phone I can stay in my head, but at in-person meetings, I am forced to come out of isolation and be seen.<span> </span>Miraculously, in my desperation, I started an in-person CLA meeting with someone I met at another 12 step fellowship who had shared about a problem with cluttering.<span> </span>I knew I could get myself to in-person meetings, and it was simple to set it up using the traditions and support provided by CLA WSO. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Because we were all new to CLA, and for many, our meeting was their first exposure to a 12 step program, we had no available sponsors.<span> </span>I have had a sponsor in another program that I speak to daily. I yearned for such support in CLA.<span> </span>I knew I did well with structure, but I could provide none for myself even though I could organize someone else and had worked my way through college as a personal assistant and executive secretary.<span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I desperately wished for someone to be witness to my commitments, to provide feedback from their own experience regarding the reality of my intended projects, and show me the way.<span> </span>I don't have good judgment when it comes to how much time it takes for me to do something.<span> </span>I don't know how to take care of myself.<span> </span>I have absolutely no idea how much energy I have.<span> </span>I think that I am depleted before I even begin to deal with paperwork.<span> </span>(It had taken me 7 years to send my husband's death certificate to my accountant.<span> </span>I constantly misplaced my children's birth certificates and sent for them several times, only to lose them again.)</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had promised I would find a CLA sponsor and then was embarrassed to admit when I didn't do it.<span> </span>I became ashamed of myself and felt I had let the meeting down by not being a good role model.<span> </span>It was an intervention from my HP that got me down to LA for the Clutter Free day.<span> </span>Out of nowhere, I got a call from someone driving down.<span> </span>I went with the intention of finding a sponsor.<span> </span>I had hoped there would be discussion around this tool.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was wonderful to put faces to the voices I have heard on the phone and words I have read in CLArity.<span> </span>I heard people communicating about how their mind was a jumbled mess, just like mine.<span> </span>I was surprised, relieved and disappointed to find that I was not alone in not having a sponsor and also in refusing to sponsor someone else.<span> </span>People who I judged to have it "together" in their appearance, spoke my concerns about not<span> </span>considering themselves "advanced enough" in the program and definitely not able to assist someone else's recovery. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I learned at the Clutter Free Day, that recovery is about "Progress, not perfection."<span> </span>I heard that "You can not think yourself into right action, but you CAN act yourself into right thinking."<span> </span>I took home with me that all we need to be is "one step, one action" ahead of someone else in order to be a sponsor.<span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I established a sponsor relationship with someone I met in LA, and I agreed to sponsor someone who had asked me repeatedly at home.<span> </span>I will sponsor as long as it supports my recovery.<span> </span>I must get more from sponsoring than I am giving so I sponsor to be reminded of what I am committed to in my recovery from cluttering.<span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">As a sponsor, I share how I work my program and I sponsor someone who wants to work the program in a similar fashion.<span> </span>This is unnerving at the beginning, because we get to learn to tell the truth and trust someone else with intimate details about our living situation.<span> </span>As I gain the ability to do this daily, I am finding that I deserve to give myself attention and I can trust someone else to be understanding.<span> </span>Here's what works for me:</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">I write down my mantra for myself that I can view during the day when I forget who I am and what I am committed to.<span> </span>I email it to my sponsor and sometimes I look at it 25 times during the day.<span> </span>It looks like this:</span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I am a compulsive clutterer.<span> </span>I am abstinent and grateful today because I don't add anything, unless I remove something first.<span> </span>Daily I commit to my sponsor my plan of action.<span> </span>No matter what happens today, I know that I am working my program to become clutter free.<span> </span>I make my bed when I wake up. I put away everything I take out. I do one act of de-cluttering. I clear my sink before I go to bed.<span> </span>I write down my schedule and assign a timeframe to each task.<span> </span>I ask for help to bookend and turn over my anxieties when I get stuck. <span> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">It has been amazing to me to see how much I do when I write it all down and how much easier it is when I turn it over to someone else.<span> </span>I ask my sponsees to do the same for themselves. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is much easier to sponsor than I feared, because daily I get a phone call about someone else's de-cluttering progress, and I get to be witness to their spiritual and emotional growth.<span> </span>They are so grateful when I point out their obvious progress.<span> </span>It strengthens my focus and I know I am not alone, because I have a sponsor that I am turning over my goals to as well. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Before I only noticed what didn't get done and now I'm relieved of that critical judgment because I have someone else "holding the space" for me to recognize how much I have done as well.<span> </span>I am learning to measure my time and choose where I invest my time, energy and resources.<span> </span>I am learning to say no to things and people. I am recognizing that I am only obligated to my own program and my own commitments come first.<span> </span>I heard someone say that CLA is a "selfish" program, and I think it is true for all of recovery, we must mind our own business first. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">It is uncomfortable and I feel guilty, but the more I say no to what I don't want, the more I am able to determine what does work for me and the free-er I am to enjoy what I do choose to have in my life.<span> </span>This has been a long process – its taken 2 years of going to in-person meetings to get to this place.<span> </span>Weekly I work the steps with a step buddy.<span> </span>Some days it seems like 2 steps backwards instead of 1 step ahead, but I have another day tomorrow and every day is a success if I do one thing that I said I would.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">No longer do I have to struggle, stay stuck, or keep something that doesn't support me.<span> </span>Every day I am reminded to take care of myself first, turn over my plans to my sponsor and let my higher power support me. I don't have to do it alone because today I have tools of the program, as well as the steps and the fellowship. <span> </span>It is simple, but not easy.<span> </span>I am truly grateful for the 12 steps and CLA tools for recovery, especially the tool of sponsoring and being sponsored.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cindy S., CA</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-84016162540274063482008-04-16T16:19:00.000-07:002009-07-29T14:19:08.133-07:00What is a Sponsor?<span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:100%;" >A sponsor is a more experienced member of the program who guides the newcomer through the process of recovery. Generally, a sponsor has at least one year or more in the program; however, some cities have so many new people coming into the CLA meeting that supply and demand makes such criteria unrealistic. With this in mind, some CLA communities suggest a sponsor have six months living the program. The most effective sponsors have:</span> <ul style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A working knowledge of the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Personal experiences dealing with life in recovery</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A willingness to listen</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A willingness to help another person build a foundation for recovery by sharing their experience, strengths, and hopes</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A willingness to guide a person through the12-Steps based on their own personal experience</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A willingness to make suggestions and refrain from giving advice.</span></li></ul><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Having a CLA sponsor provides the opportunity to learn to trust and be trusted, perhaps for the first time. Many of us wrestle with our problems alone for so long; there is a tendency to isolate, even after coming into recovery; we have to come to believe that we are not alone and that we never have to be alone again. We can do what we could not do alone. Calling a sponsor usually provides comfort, identification of the feelings, and hope that, in spite of how the person feels, he or she does not have to self-destruct.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">A sponsor provides a listening ear and acts as a sounding board for decisions that have to be made. If a sponsor has no experience in a particular area, a wise sponsor will direct the person to someone else who has had similar experiences. Guidance is freely given so that the person gets practice in making sound decisions.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsors do not give advice; they only make suggestions, based on their experience, strengths, and hopes. Sponsors who have had experience with a particular situation that is presented, will share<i> </i>with the person<i> </i>what their feelings were and how they handled a similar situation using the tools of recovery. This shared experience process keeps the newcomer<i> </i>from feeling alone with their problem. In the fullness of time, the newcomer sheds the question that haunts most of our lives, "Am I the only one in the world who feels like this?" The realization that we are not so different, not alone, in our problems gives us relief.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">It is the member's choice whether to take the suggestions once they are given. There are no "musts"; "Take what you want and leave the rest." Sponsorship is an effective tool of recovery because sponsors are people who have suffered with the same problem and are on the same road seeking recovery from the chains that once bound them; sponsors understand because they have been there.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Good news, victories, and hopes are also shared with a sponsor. Some of the principles both sponsor and the person being sponsored practice through developing this crucial relationship are unconditional love, selfless giving, patience, tolerance, honesty with another human being, and trust.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">A sponsor is neither a counselor nor a mental health professional. If, the sponsor is a counselor professionally, that role is left at the door of the CLA Program. The sponsor is in recovery, too. Sponsors are equals who are members of the program also on the road in search of lasting recovery. Sponsors are not to be used as therapists, loan companies, landlords, nor do they work the program for you. They listen, share their experience, and guide the people they sponsor through the12 steps and 12 traditions of the program. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">When additional help is needed, members are encouraged to seek professional guidance; doctors, accountants, marriage counselors, and financial brokers are all to be found outside of the program. </span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">It is suggested that a sponsor should be of the same gender. The newcomer to the program is quite vulnerable; for some of us, this is the first time we have expressed our true feelings, our secrets, and our fears. Experience has shown that this new relationship with a member of the opposite gender could be misinterpreted, which if acted upon, could reduce the chances for sustained recovery for both parties. One of the advantages of choosing a same-gender sponsor is that the member will get to know more about himself or herself as a member of that gender. Experience has also shown that it is sometimes more difficult for a male to talk to a female and vice versa. As open dialogue is of paramount importance in the sponsor/newcomer relationship, it makes good sense to avoid gender based communication problems.</span></p><ul style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;">A sponsor is an objective person on the outside looking in.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsors are able to see patterns that emerge and point out problem areas before the person sponsored gets into more trouble.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsors see how much a person has changed and offers encouragement along the way. There’s a slogan that defines the need for a sponsor, "Other people see you better than you see yourself"</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsors generally stress accountability</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsors help the people they sponsor stay focused on their recovery.</span></li></ul></ul><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsorship is a two-way street. It is a relationship built to help the sponsor and the person being sponsored; therefore, people who opt not to choose a sponsor, or later not to sponsor others, are cheating themselves and fellow human beings out of a great opportunity to grow spiritually and emotionally.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsorship is a vital tool of recovery. Sponsorship allows another person in so that together they can begin the process of healing and learning how to live one day at a time.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Sponsorship is a beacon in the night; this is especially true, in the beginning, when the new member feels that his or her whole life is one opened festering wound. Newcomers usually say they feel like they are bombarded by an onslaught of emotions, feelings, and painful memories; they doubt that the program can and will work for them; and they are usually angry because of their failure to control their own lives.</span></p><p style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Newcomers, normally, have a myriad of complex problems that are a direct result of the out-of-control lifestyle; these problems will not go away overnight and will take time and patience to remedy—patience that newcomers usually don’t possess. This is where a sponsor can shed a bit of light by sharing with the newcomer his or her own experiences, strengths, and hopes. Sponsors can empathize because they have been where the newcomer is; they have known the hopelessness, desperation, humiliation, and powerlessness to control or change themselves for the better. Someone was there for us when we first sought help in the program; so, we want to be available for the newcomer. The program is built on this mutual sharing of recovery. Sponsors strongly believe the motto: "You can not keep what you have unless you give it away."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Sponsors are committed to the fact that they get more from the sponsor/sponsee relationship than they give, as it is a mutual benefit. Sponsors know that sponsoring supports their own 12 step recovery and commitment to "sober" living.</span></p><p><strong>WHAT DOES A SPONSOR DO?<br /></strong>A sponsor's primary responsibility is to help a sponsee work the 12 Steps </p><ul><li>A sponsor helps us work the 12 Steps by providing explanation, guidance and encouragement. </li><li>A sponsor helps us get established quickly in our Fellowship by explaining basic concepts and terminology and by introducing us to other members. </li><li>A sponsor is a safe person whom we can learn to trust. </li><li>A sponsor can answer the many questions that we can have as newcomers or develop as "mid-timers." </li><li>A sponsor can help us in the process of self-examination that the Steps require. </li><li>A sponsor encourages us to read the basic text of our Fellowship and other program literature and to engage in Fellowship activities and service work. </li><li>A sponsor can monitor our progress, confront us when it is appropriate and generally help us stay on the recovery path. </li><ul><li>A sponsor confronts our behavior, not our being, and he or she does it with compassion. </li></ul><li>A sponsor reminds us to apply 12 Step principles in our lives. </li><li>A sponsor models the 12 Step program of recovery. </li><li>Our sponsor is available in times of crisis. </li><li>A sponsor provides practice in building relationships. </li></ul><p><strong>WHAT A SPONSOR DOES NOT DO: </strong></p><ul><li>A sponsor cannot keep us in recovery. </li><li>A sponsor is not our therapist </li><li>A sponsor should not attempt to control our lives or encourage an unhealthy dependence. </li><li>A sponsor should not take advantage of us our exploit us in any way. </li></ul><p><strong>SOME FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CHOOSING A SPONSOR: </strong></p><ol><li>Has what we want </li><li>Lives in the solution </li><li>Walks the talk </li><li>Has a sponsor </li><li>Emphasizes the steps </li><li>Has more time in recovery than we do </li><li>Has worked more steps than we have </li><li>Is available for telephone calls and meetings </li><li>Emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the program </li><li>Gender is the same as ours* </li></ol><p><strong>IF A POTENTIAL SPONSOR SAYS NO: </strong></p><p>Some reasons are: </p><ol><li>The person is currently sponsoring as many people as he or she can handle. A sponsor who takes on too many sponsees does each of them (and himself or herself) a disservice. </li><li>The person is not taking on new sponsees because of a heavy travel schedule, a planned move, or some other reason based on where he or she is in life or the program. </li><li>After discussing the potential sponsorship, the person realizes the match would not be a good one. That conclusion is as much about the potential sponsor as it is about us. </li><ul><li><strong>When potential sponsors reject our request for sponsorship, it is usually about them. </strong></li><li><strong>It's a privilege to sponsor someone. And it's one of the ways we stay in recovery.</strong></li></ul></ol><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dzgrmnz_828wrwcmhq">Download this as a word doc</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-32939796423059012382008-04-16T15:23:00.000-07:002008-11-11T14:09:03.279-08:00CLA Meeting Service Positions<span style="font-weight: bold;">General requirements for CLA Service:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">CLA MEETING SERVICE POSITIONS</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SECRETARY -- </span><span>Requirement is consistent attendance for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">previous 2 months</span>. The Secretary's responsibility is to assure that the meeting takes place every week by:<br /></span><ul><li>Arriving early, before the meeting, to see that the room is set up.</li><li>Bringing the meeting format and timer each week (if not left in a safe fashion, at the site).</li><li>Getting someone to lead the meeting (for those formats that change, and allow for different readings, speakers, literature, and/or Courage to Change, etc.)</li><li>Making announcements, like providing reports, CLA News, upcoming events, business meetings, etc.</li><li>Being responsible for gently monitoring that all other service position responsibilities are being attended to. When someone needs to be replaced...see below!</li><li>Calling for, and conducting periodic Business Meetings, as needed.</li><li>If the Secretary is unable to be at a meeting, it is his or her responsibility to find someone that will fill in as a temporary replacement Secretary for<span style="font-style: italic;"> that</span> week, so that the meeting continues to function.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: </span>this officer's position can be shared amongst 2 people, to make sure that the post is covered!</li><li>Offering a friendly reminder to keep the <span style="font-style: italic;">sharing</span> on track and on purpose, limiting to 3 minutes (or whatever has been agreed upon, lengthwise), etc. As a friendly reminder, no outside-of-our CLA Program material, literature, workshops, books, tapes, etc. can be talked about during our CLA meeting.</li><li>Secretary is responsible for upholding the safety, integrity, and anonymity during the shares and meeting duration, responding to and handling interruptions, emergencies, unforseen events to enable the meeting to continue</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">TREASURER -- </span>Requirement is consistent attendance for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">previous 6 months</span>. They must also not have any money, tax or debt problems.<br />The Treasurer handles all of the money that is collected by:<br /><ul><li>Passing the basket for the 7th tradition, for WSO.</li><li>Collecting any money that is donated for literature.<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li>Keeping a written record of any and all money that is collected and/or spent.</li><li>Keeping a Prudent Reserve of at least a 3-month site rental fee in the Treasury at all times.</li><li>Paying the rent. Note: this includes maintaining communication with the location organization, keeping paperwork and receipts of payment.</li><li>Providing money to the Literature person, to replace it, when needed.</li><li>Sending donations that are left over, after the Prudent Reserve, to WSO.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">7th Tradition</span>: This is whatever donations are left over, after the Prudent Reserve, which might be 3 months rental fees. These contributions are sent to WSO, POB 91413, LA, CA, 90009. These contributions keep CLA in operation and pay for the website, webmaster, phone service, printing literature, meeting lists, postage, producing events and paying rents.</li><li>Giving a Treasurer's report to the group at Business meetings or regularly. This consists of in/out/balance. Keep it simple and easy.</li><li>Suggested columns: Meeting Date, # attendees, 7th Tradition Income, Literature Income, Expense, Balance Forward.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">LITERATURE -- </span>Requirement is consistent attendance for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">previous 1 month</span>. The Literature person serves by:<br /><ul><li>Arriving before the meeting to put out the literature on the counter. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Note: </span>In keeping with the 6th Tradition, only CLA WSO-approved literature is displayed.</li><li>Putting the literature donation basket on the counter. This person gives the money (25 cents/pamphlet) that is collected to the Treasurer, and it must be recorded as incomel.</li><li>Keeping inventory of the literature, and purchasing it from WSO when necessary. Get the money needed from the Treasurer. Filling out the literature inventory form, and sending it to the WSO with postage.</li><li>Getting and filing updates from WSO, i.e. meeting notes/minutes, etc. with the literature notebook. Keeping one copy of all pamphlets and flyers as needed.</li><li>Maintaining a library of CLA approved/AA literature including big book, 12 and 12, etc.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />WSO DELEGATE -- </span>Requirement is a willingness to serve, and to give back for benefits gotten from CLA attendance, working the program, using the Steps and Tools, etc. The WSO Delegate serves as a liaison between the local group and CLA World Service Organization by :<br /><ul><li>Attending WSO meetings, held monthly, on the telephone. They are held on the last (4th or 5th) Saturday of the month, and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> anyone </span>can attend, speak/participate, or not. No one knows whether or not you are on the line unless you choose to join in with the discussion! Meetings run from 10 AM - 12 PM Pacific Time.</li><li>Representing the local group by giving an informal status report to the WSO of their activity, such as attendance, business, problems/successes, etc. It is in this manner that all voices and ideas can be heard, both up, and down, the grapevine!</li><li>Distributing any of the other paperwork that is produced, such as any Newsletters, Treasurer's reports, minutes, agenda topics, discussions, notes, etc.</li><li>Reporting back to the local group any news from the WSO meeting.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEWCOMER CONTACT -- </span><span>Requirement is a willingness to serve. The Newcomer Contact serves by:<br /></span><ul><li>Identifying him or her self by name during Meeting Announcements.</li><li>Being available for questions about CLA after the meeting. Don't worry about the details, as any "old-timers" will lend a hand, if asked!</li><li>Making sure that each newcomer gets a packet of all of our literature and newcomer brochure (which has the meeting list and web information). There may be as many Newcomer Contacts as there are people willing to serve, as decided by a group conscience.</li></ul>____________________________________________________________<br />Service terms are for a suggested period of 6 months, and can run from 1/1-6/30 and 7/1-12/31 of each year. If a position is vacated in mid-term, the replacements serve and complete just the current term, and not a full additional 6-month term of office. The requirements for positions and the length of time served were determined by a group conscience at a Business Meeting at a local CLA group meeting held September 8, 1997. The WSO Board has since expanded upon them in 2006.<br /><br />All service providers agree to uphold the 12 Traditions as follows:<br /><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template"> <a name="3606010958645933656"></a> <h3 style="font-family: arial;" class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://www.clutterersanonymous.net/12traditions.html">The Twelve Traditions of Clutterers Anonymous</a> </h3> <div class="post-body entry-content"> <p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" > <ol><li>Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon Clutterers Anonymous unity.</li><li>For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving God as expressed through our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. </li><li>The only requirement for Clutterers Anonymous membership is a desire to eliminate clutter and bring order into our lives. </li><li>Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or Clutterers Anonymous as a whole. </li><li>Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the person who still suffers. </li><li>A Clutterers Anonymous group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the Clutterers Anonymous name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, or prestige divert us from our primary purpose. </li><li>Every Clutterers Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. </li><li>Clutterers Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers. </li><li>Clutterers Anonymous, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. </li><li>Clutterers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the Clutterers Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy. </li><li>Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, or films. </li><li>Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. </li></ol> </span> </p></div></div>Four ways to contact CLA WSO:<br />1. mail: CLA WSO / POB 91413 / LA, CA 90009<br />2. phone: 310-281-6064<br />3. Web: <a href="http://www.clutterersanonymous.net/">http://www.clutterersanonymous.net</a><br />4. Email: clawso@hotmail.com<br /><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dzgrmnz_83d8b3rvdg">Download this document as a word doc</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-66913722443209192122007-08-08T07:28:00.000-07:002007-08-16T08:49:56.978-07:00Sharing Format during meetings<span style="font-family:Arial;">We follow the CLA Meeting Code of Conduct, to protect the safety, respect and anonymity of all present.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>The words you hear today are spoken in confidence and should be treated as confidential.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>This is a place to share our feelings, experience and recovery without fear of gossip, retaliation, or our anonymity being broken.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>If you don’t get a chance to share, please talk with someone after the meeting.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;">Timing</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;">: We time shares (at 3 or 4 minutes depending on attendance) to give everyone equal opportunity to share if they choose.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;">Content:</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> We open with “My name is _________ and I am a compulsive clutterer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> My recovery action last week was to ___________ <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"> <span style="font-family:Arial;">My results_______________<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"> <span style="font-family:Arial;">My commitment for next week is ____________<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We keep the <b>focus on ourselves</b> using “I” statements rather than “you” or “they” statements.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We encourage “positive pitches” which are about an experience that has helped you to grow, given you a new level of awareness, and a sense of recovery rather than your backstory or history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:Arial;">We <b>do NOT cross-talk</b> which we define as speaking during another’s share, asking questions, interrupting, side conversations, criticisms, giving advice or referencing another person’s share.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Please <b>refrain from promoting or discussing any other</b> approaches to the problems of cluttering during the meeting to keep the <b>focus on YOUR experience, strength and hope.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><b><span style="font-family:Arial;">THE MEETING IS NOW OPEN FOR SHARING</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;">.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Sharing is voluntary and optional.<span style="font-size:+0;"> </span>Please <b>let the secretary know</b> when you are moved to share.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-73624305546641260262007-08-08T00:22:00.001-07:002007-08-16T08:50:51.383-07:00Business Meeting FormatBerkeley CLA Business Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the beginning of the meeting instead of the pamphlet reading.<br /><br />Meeting Time:<br />The Tuesday, 10 AM Clutterers Anonymous business meeting, held on the 1st Tuesday of the month for _________minutes, beginning at _______ o’clock.<br /><br />1. Secretary Opens with:<br /><br />We will now have our monthly business meeting.<br /><br />Who would like to keep time?<br /><br />Who would like to take notes? (Secretary provides paper from notebook.)<br /><br /><div align="left">Please join me in a moment of silence followed by the reading of Tradition 2:<br /><br />Tradition 2:<br />“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving God as expressed through our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern..”<br /><br />2. Last month’s report and notes:<br />Secretary reads or designates reader of last month’s business meeting minutes.<br /><br />3. Today’s business agendas<br />Secretary counts how many agendas, and announces:<br />“Today we have (how many) agendas. State briefly:<br />The agendas are: (for example)<br />_____________________________<br />_____________________________<br />_____________________________<br /><br />Secretary:<br />Starting with agenda 1. Read what is written in business notebook.<br />Open up to group for discussion<br />Ask for a proposed motion<br />Ask for second motion<br />Ask for votes: YES, NO, ABSTAIN<br />Count and record<br />Move to next Agenda #2<br />Continue for each Agenda Item<br /><br />Timer notates one minute left and informs Secretary, who announces:<br />“We have 1 minute remaining for the business meeting this month. We will table the agendas not finished to address/complete/discuss at the next meeting.”<br /><br />Secretary lists agendas to be tabled for the notetaker.<br /><br />CLOSING:<br />“We will close the business meeting with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer.”<br /></div><div align="center">Serenity Prayer<br />God grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">----------------------------------------------------------</div><div align="left"><br />FORM FOR LISTING BUSINESS AGENDA SUGGESTIONS</div><div align="left"><br />If you wish to bring up anything at the monthly business meeting, please write in this notebook your suggestions. Please be present at the business meeting to address your agenda.<br /><br />Agenda #____</div><div align="left"><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Background Information (if any)</div><div align="left"><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Suggested motion</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br />________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />By: _____________________________________________<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8426170988094595907.post-50626541592821820182007-08-08T00:18:00.000-07:002007-08-16T08:49:56.979-07:00Berkeley Meeting Format<p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:arial;">Clutterers Anonymous Suggested Meeting Format<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><b>Meeting starts promptly at </b><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:time minute="0" hour="10"><b>10:00 AM</b></st1:time><b> and ends promptly </b><st1:time minute="15" hour="11"><b>11:15 AM</b></st1:time><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Welcome</b> to the Tuesday 10:00 AM Meeting of Clutterers Anonymous at Unity of <st1:city><st1:place>Berkeley</st1:place></st1:city>. This is a one hour and 15 minutes meeting with a structured format. My name is _____________, I am a recovering clutterer and I am privileged to be the secretary for today. After a moment of silence, please join me in the serenity prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;">God, grant me <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;">the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;">the courage to change the things I can, <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;">and the wisdom to know the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Note</b>: This is a “scent free” meeting. Please refrain from wearing perfumes, lighting candles, or bringing animals. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Passing around 3 things</b>: We are passing around a contact sheet, business notes and speaker calendar. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Contact Sheet: Please add your name, phone and email address if you wish and take other’s info to make contact in between meetings. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;">Business Meeting notes: <span style="font-size:100%;">Please review notes from the last business meeting and add items to be discussed at the next business meeting. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -1.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Calendar: Please sign up on the calendar to speak at a meeting the 2<sup>nd</sup> Tuesday of the month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Introduction</b>: We will now go around the room and introduce ourselves by first name only. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Structure</b>: We follow a structured format at our meetings that does not allow for interruptions or side conversations. If you have any questions, please hold them until after the meeting when there is time to respond directly to your concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><b>Read the appropriate week:<i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;">1. On the FIRST Tuesday of the Month: BUSINESS MEETING. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;">We will now have a Business Meeting.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;">2. On the SECOND Tuesday of the Month: SPEAKER MEETING<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;">Today is a speaker meeting. Our speaker will share for 10-15 minutes about their experience, strength and hope regarding their recovery from compulsive cluttering. After the extended share, the remainder of the meeting will be devoted to shorter shares by attendees, as time permits.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;">3<sup>rd</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>, 5<sup>th</sup> Tuesdays of the Month: <st1:city><st1:place>READINGS</st1:place></st1:city><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><i>PREAMBLE</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><i>WHAT IS CLUTTER?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><i>12 STEPS OF CLA<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><i>TRADITION OF THE MONTH<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><i>5. TOOLS OF RECOVERY – Please ONLY read each title. CHOOSE ONE TOOL TO READ IN ITS ENTIRETY.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 81pt"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">6. HOW IT WORKS<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Literature:</b> We will now read from CLA literature for up to 15 minutes, followed by the 7<sup>th</sup> tradition and then the meeting will be open for sharing. (Secretary chooses literature, as well as discussion theme, if warranted.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><b>CHOICES:</b> HOW DO I KNOW? A brief guide (blue)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><b></b><i><span style="font-family:arial;">DECLUTTER YOUR MIND (green)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">HOME: OUR SACRED PLACE (purple)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">SPIRITUAL TIMING (light yellow)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">FINDING YOUR LIFE PURPOSE (orange)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">WORKING THE STEPS: RECOVERY FROM CLUTTERING (bright yellow)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">DECLUTTERING RESENTMENT (pink)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><i><span style="font-family:arial;">AFFIRMATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>7<sup>TH</sup> Tradition:</b> It is now time for the 7<sup>th</sup> Tradition which states that “<span style="color:black;">Every Clutterers Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” </span>Suggested donation is $2. <span style="color:black;">The money collected is used to cover the cost of our rent, literature and support of Clutterers Anonymous World Service Organization (CLA WSO</span>). Are there any CLA related announcements? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>2<sup>ND</sup> Tuesday of the Month:</b> report of the business meeting notes from last week<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Sharing:</b> It is now time for sharing and pitching. We follow the <a href="http://berkcla.blogspot.com/2007/08/cla-meeting-code-of-conduct.html">CLA Meeting Code of Conduct</a>, to protect the safety, respect and anonymity of all present. The words you hear today are spoken in confidence and should be treated as confidential. This is a place to share our feelings, experience and recovery without fear of gossip, retaliation, or our anonymity being broken. If you don’t get a chance to share, please talk with someone after the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Timing</b>: We time shares (at 3 or 4 minutes depending on attendance) to give everyone equal opportunity to share if they choose. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Content:</b> We open with “My name is _________ and I am a compulsive clutterer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My recovery action last week was to ___________ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My results_______________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">My commitment for next week is ____________<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We keep the <b>focus on ourselves</b> using “I” statements rather than “you” or “they” statements. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We encourage “positive pitches” which are about an experience that has helped you to grow, given you a new level of awareness, and a sense of recovery rather than your backstory or history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We <b>do NOT cross-talk</b> which we define as speaking during another’s share, asking questions, interrupting, side conversations, criticisms, giving advice or referencing another person’s share. Please <b>refrain from promoting or discussing any other</b> approaches to the problems of cluttering during the meeting to keep the <b>focus on YOUR experience, strength and hope.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.75in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>THE MEETING IS NOW OPEN FOR SHARING</b>. Sharing is voluntary and optional. Please <b>let the secretary know</b> when you are moved to share.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>AT </b><st1:time minute="10" hour="11"><b>11:10</b></st1:time><b>:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><b>Thank you for sharing:</b> That is all the time we have for sharing at this CLA meeting. If you need to talk and did not have the opportunity to do so, please talk with any of us after the meeting or use the phone list to contact us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in"><b><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Acknowledgements:</b> Thank you for the privilege of being secretary today. Let’s thank everyone who helped with the meeting (details on cleaning up and identifying helpers).<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.25in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>CLOSING</b>: Read <b>PROMISES CLOSING</b> followed by the Serenity Prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com