A MESSAGE FROM YOUR ALATEEN EXPRESS EDITOR

I attended the 2013 NoCAC and received a lot of sharings from the teens who attended the event. My heart felt “thank you” for being willing to share your experience, strength and hope with other Alateens and the Al-Anons in our area and world wide though your newsletter.Remember that the Alateen Express is your newsletter. Please send me your poems, drawings, stories, and thoughts on how Alateen has helped you.

Keep those sharings coming!

Please send your sharings

In This IssueA Message From Your Editor Page 1Current Events Page 1Sharing From NoCal Alateens Page 2Sponsor’s AMIAS’ Corner Page 3Sharing From Alateen Talk Page 4Tools For Your Tool Box Page 5Answer to the Fall 2012 Puzzle Page 5Just For Fun- Word Maze Page 6

CURRENT EVENTSThese events abide by the NCWSA requirements for Alateen Safety.

Contact information for the NoCAC events listed below:. nocacchair@ncwsa.org or nocacsponsor@ncwsa.org

First NoCAC BASH Clear Lake State Park

June 20, 21, 22, 2014 5300 Soda Bay Rd. Kelseyville, CA20 Suggested Donationhttp://www.ncwsa.org/Flyers/Event_20140620_NOCAC_Bash_Clear_Lake.pdf

NoCAC & District 12 FundraiserSaturday, July 19, 2014

3:00 pm-8:00 pm Ocean Beach San Francisco

$10 for Al-Anon & $7 for Alateenhttp://www.ncwsa.org/Flyers/Event_20140719_NoCAC_and_D12_Fundraiser.pdf

2nd NoCAC BASHAugust 15-17, 2014

Turkey Hill Equestrian Campground, Valley Springs, CA

20 Suggested Donationhttp://www.ncwsa.org/Flyers/Event_20140815_2nd_NoCAC_Bash.pdf

1“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

SHARINGS FROM ALATEENS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

NoCAC 2013- Modesto CaliforniaAlateen just like Al-Anon is a safe place to express our feelings and explore recovery.

Dylan H I stopped living with my mom aboutfour months ago. Even though her disease makes her crazy and she treats me mean, I miss her sometimes. When I feel like I miss her, I have to remind myself I don’t miss her, I miss the mom I never had. Being away from my mom’s abuse brings up things for me. Not being around someone who is putting me down, mentally and physical abusing me, I start to make-up for it by being cruel to myself. I feel bad about myself and become extremely critical. When I go to my Alateen meetings, it reminds me that I am not alone and that other people are feeling the same way I do. It reminds me that when I think these things, they are not true and it’s just my thinking. I remember that I need to be loving to myself and be as gentle as I can. Thanks to Alateen I can love myself!

Bryana My First NoCACNoCAC wasn’t just an experience it was like a whole life time in one weekend! Where to start, I know! The car ride was fun, but it took a lot to even get one! My mom could not drive me, no one could come from my group and bad In n’ Out. I tell you. We

talked the whole time, about not only the program but other things too! I took the car ride with two other bright hearts who made me feel comfortable at my first NoCAC. When I first got there I was checked-in & met my wonderful roommates. I got to know teens from everywhere! I also learned the term warm & fuzzy, a hug for a hug and string for a string. When I woke-up I was happy to see faces I knew from Woods and make connections with some teens I’ve never met! Breakfast was yummy! The first workshop I went to was sexuality. I have one thing to say about that, I learned that everyone is so different but that doesn’t matter, we are all here for the same reason. After that I went to a workshop on siblings. I shared and it was interesting to hear other’s shares. Oh, I almost forgot the talent show was amazing because I realized that Alateens are some of the most creative and talented people I have ever know. From beautiful love poems to one of my closest friends from Woods singing my fave song with the guitar (The Only Exception). Back to Saturday. Easy does it time felt really long, but it was so much fun because I went swimming and really got to make a lot of new friends. I went to the banquet. I didn’t know that we had to dress nice, so I made a beautiful dress from something I would wear every day. The dance was probably my fave part of the day. 4 words, FUN TIMES, and a GOOD DJ. The next morning I was so sad to leave. On the way back we shared our stories. What sat in my mind was the people and faces I will never forget & the full warm fuzzy that sat around my shoulders. I am definitely going next year.

BryanaI should be the one to have said Iwon families courage every day and then I think I would have been dead

2“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

if it weren’t for Alateen. I am truly only a teen. Hiding behind the mask there is only a little girl. I am not perfect nor

successful yet but I will be. I’m in this moment stepping forwards from the past.

AnonymousI wasn’t that typical Alateen. My brother was my qualifier and it didn’t affect everyone as much as it upset me. Our family was good. We never had to worry about money because we were well off. I stepped into the rooms at the age of 12 right after my birthday. I went and met a lot of people I liked. I kept going even though my mom said, “you don’t need it anymore our family is back to normal.” She wasn’t the alcoholic. There was this thing called “Woods”. It was like, I never gone camping maybe I should. It was great. I loved it. Then NoCAC, that was great. I went to Woods again and I’m writing this from NoCAC. I’m now the GR for my Alateen group. I went to assembly which my group was able to raise money for.

AnonymousFly Away LoveSex is deep/but love is shallow so I’m gonna fly like a sparrow until tomorrow when the pain goes away then again, once again, it will be new day. New day, new pain, then the cycle starts again, over and over and over so I cry over and over and over…..

Baby You’re So CrazyYou know you were my baby. You knew that I was lazy but now I’m crazy. You tell me you’re not faded but I can see it in your eyes, your blood shot eyes. You could have been my guy if you didn’t tell me lies. Now I just Try not to cry, baby you’re so crazy. I can tell you are faded but I’m just crazy. What is the point? Light the joint, maybe in

my dreams it will all be what I need, the pain will go away, someday, one day…

SPONSOR’S & AMIAS CORNERNoCAC 2013- Modesto

Edward SAlateen HowdiesLove of my higher powerComes to me though youOne day at a time I heal

The smiles, the hugs, the open heartsThey help me know love.You’re why I keep coming back.

My childhood was so bad.It’s better today. I have you to thank for that.Your hugs are warm and fuzzy.Your shares touch my soul.Each day what’s hurts gets better.

SAVE THE DATE8th Annual NCWSA Sponsors Weekend

September 19-21, 2014 Westminster Woods, Occidental $150 on or before August 22, 2014 $170 after August 22, 2014 alateencorrdinator@ncwa.orgRegistration Packet http://www.ncwsa.org/Flyers/Event_20140919_Sponsors_RandR_Registration_Packet.pdf

3“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

SHARING FROM ALATEEN TALKexcerpts from

Volume 51 Numbers 1 and 2Used with permission from Alateen Talk

Younger MembersFitting inLaurenI am the only child in my family andsometimes I feel the pain of loneliness. I have complained but there was nothing I could do. I also felt alone when I thought I was the only one with alcoholism at home. When I found Alateen, I realized that I am indeed not the only one. At school I might be but I know I can phone my Personal Sponsor or anyof my Alateen friends if I need help. I know I am not alone. Not fitting in can be an issue too. I have had that feeling so many times. In school I am always the youngest. In sports I am always either the oldest or youngest. I am just never in the right spot. But none of that matters in Alateen. They just make me feel whole and perfect.

“How Important Is It?”Jessica“How Important Is It?” This slogan helps me in so many ways at so many times. If a friend does something like rip my shirt or interrupt me when I am talking I will get very mad. But before I start yelling at them, I think: “How Important Is It?” This slogan makes me realize that I shouldn’t get mad atpeople for stupid reasons. Alateen has taught me to establish limits too.

“One Day at a Time”Alexis

“One Day at a Time.” “One Day at a Time.” “One Day at a Time.” I keep repeating that every day in my mind. Don’t get worried, there is nothing to worry about. Is it a mountain or a mole hill? Do I need to keep it in my mind? Or just let it go? I wish I knew this when my dad died. I came to Ala-teen after he died. Learning that alcoholism is a disease hit me right in the face. It was notmy fault. Alcoholism is a disease and I am not a disease. Alcoholism affects people and sometime kills them. I relaxed. It was okay, “One Day at a Time!”

My Serenity PrayerJillAt our meeting, we say the Serenity Prayer at the start of it. “God grant me the Seren-ity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.” Then, at the end I liketo say: “God grant me the Serenity to ac-cept the people I cannot change, Courage to change the person I can, and Wisdom to know that person is ME!” This helps me start the week.

With the help of AlateenShaniaWhen I came to Alateen I felt shy. I am not shy anymore! I don’t feel lonely any more either. I stopped screaming and saying bad things about people. I’ve been in Alateen for more than a year. It is great. Thank you, Alateen, for your help!

Scream for lovingGenevaWhen I first came to Alateen I was scared that people would laugh at me. But when I started talking, nobody laughed. I felt hap-pier. I used to make my mom scream, but thanks to Alateen, I am learning to let things go and just love her.

4“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

TOOLS FOR YOUR TOOL BOX FROM THE WSO & NCWSA

The Northern California World Service Area (NCWSA) also has great tools to help members Alateen.

Looking for information about an event, flyer, and registration forms http://www.ncwsa.org/events-calendar/

Looking for the Alateen Expresshttp://www.ncwsa.org/newsletters/

Information on Alateen-Find a meeting, Safety Requirements, Information on starting a meeting, and forms, forms and more forms.http://www.ncwsa.org/alateen/

Locate an Alateen or Al-Anon Meetinghttp://www.ncwsa.org/meetings/

Alateen On –Line Chat Alateen chat meetings now available!Additional information and safety features and registration can be found athttp://www.alanon.org/members/alateen.php

The World Service Organization (WSO) has many great tools to help members Alateen. If you are feeling lonely, sad, frustrated, confused and feel alone AND you can get on to the internet you will find that you are not alone. Check this out:

Listen to teens talk about Alateen http://www.al-anon.org/members-and-professionals-talk-about-alateen

What Alateen means to me: a letter to parentshttp://www.al-anon.org/an-alateen-letter

Read Alateen stories http://www.al-anon.org/for-teens

Alateen literature http://www.al-anon.org/alateen-literature

Answer to the Fall 2013 Puzzle

DennisNot Why JustUsing Am 4The I 2Steps Talking Day

12 Steps + 12 Traditions = 24 Hours

5“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

Great + Out + Doors = GOD

6“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease

JUST FOR FUN

7“One thing we can be sure of if we do our best today, our tomorrows will certainly be better than our yesterdays.”

Alcoholism, The Family Disease