LRCNA XXVII
Thursday, March 26th, 2009The Louisiana Regional Convention of Narcotics Anonymous wil be hosted by the Bayou Recovery Area May 22, 23 & 24.
Our Theme Not Bayou Self. Come join us for a good time at Holiday Inn South Airline Hwy. & I-12
H. I. T. C. H.™
Help Inform Touch Connect Heal
Recovery in the Rough XX
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009RECOVERY IN THE ROUGH
XX
JUNE 19TH -21ST, 2009
HOMEPLACE RECREATIONAL PARK, ARARAT, NC
SPONSORED BY NEWCOMERS HOME GROUP OF PILOT MTN.
ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR:
Kick Off Speaker Meeting Thursday Night 8pm @ Pilot Mtn.
Speaker Meetings Friday and Saturday
Pot Luck Dinner Friday Night and Group Meal Saturday around 5pm
All Day Swimming * Loads of Fellowship and Fun
RECOVERY IN THE ROUGH XX “T” SHIRTS $ WILL BE AVAILABLE
REGISTRATION PACKAGE INCLUDES:
2 Nights Camping with All Day Swimming and Group Meal Saturday Night
PACKAGE PRICES FOR THE WEEKEND ARE ONLY
ADULTS $23.00 AGE 6 TO 12 $21.00 AGE 5 & UNDER $6.00
(Exclusive RITR Memorabilia Included in Package Price)
PRE-REGISTRATIONS ARE A BIG HELP IN PLANNING THE WEEKEND
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOURS!!
“RITR AT THE GATE PRICES” FOR THE WEEKEND WILL BE
*
CAMP FOR THE NIGHT $7.00 OR SWIM FOR THE DAY $7.00
(CHILDREN 5 & UNDER $3.00)
*
1 NIGHT CAMPING/SWIMMING PACKAGE WITH THE GROUP $8.00
(CHILDREN 5 & UNDER $5.00)
*
SATURDAY GROUP MEAL- ADULTS $6.00 * CHILDREN 6-12 $4.00
(CHILDREN 5 & UNDER $2.00)
*OPTIONAL THURSDAY NIGHT CAMPGROUND PRICING AVAILABLE*
FOR MORE INFO:
Christine G (336) 239-6947 David B (336) 409-5313 Debbie W (336) 648-4970
E-MAIL US AT NEWCOMERSGROUP@ALLTEL.NET
MAIL PRE-REGISTRATION BEFORE JUNE 1st TO:
NEWCOMERS GROUP PO BOX 321 KING, NC 27021
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HERE IS MY PRE-REGISTRATION (INCLUDES FREE GIFT)
NAME: ______________________________________________________________________________
PHONE: _____________________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF ADULTS _______________________ X $23.00 EACH $________________________
NUMBER OF AGE 6 TO 12____________________ X $21.00 EACH $________________________
NUMBER OF AGE 5 & UNDER________________ X $ 6.00 EACH $________________________
NEWCOMER DONATION______________________________________________________________
TOTAL AMOUNT INCLUDED $________________________________________________________
STUFF TO BRING:
NA TEXT, SUNGLASSES, SLEEPING BAG, BUG SPRAY, SPONSOR, TOILETRIES,
BLANKET, TENT, TOWEL, FOOD, LANTERN, LAWN CHAIRS, BATHING SUIT, MATCHES, FLASHLIGHT, PILLOW
AVAILABLE WILL BE:
PORT-O-JOHNS SNACK BAR MINIATURE GOLF
SHOWERS BATHROOMS FISHING POND SWIMMING POOL WATER SLIDE ROPE SWING
DIRECTIONS:
FROM US 52
EXIT COOK SCHOOL ROAD,TAKE A LEFT OVER BRIDGE AND BEAR RIGHT ON OLD 52,GO 1.6 MI. TAKE A LEFT ON ARARAT RD.,GO 3.7 MI. TAKE A RIGHT ON LITTLE MTN. CHURCH RD., GO .9 MI. AND HOMEPLACE IS ON THE LEFT – HOMEPLACE CAMPGROUND SIGNS ARE GREEN AT ALL TURNS.
FROM HWY 77
EXIT AT HWY. 268 BYPASS. (APPROX.30 MI. N OF I-40/I-77) GO WEST, GO TO STOP SIGN AND TURN LEFT ONTO HWY. 268 AND FOLLOW 268 ACROSS 601 FOR APPROX. 2-4 MI., TAKE A LEFT ON ELDORA RD., GO TO END OF ROAD AND MAKE RIGHT ONTO ARARAT RD.THEN AN IMMEDIATE LEFT ONTO LITTLE MTN. CHURCH RD., GO .9 MI AND HOMEPLACE IS ON THE LEFT
***DUE TO PAST INCIDENTS, PLEASE NO PETS**
End of The Night’s Fourth Anniversary
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009Tuesday May 5th 2009 at Old Donation Church, 4449 North Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia
End of The Night homegroup of NA will be celebrating its 4th anniversary.
Please come out and join us! The eating starts at 9:30PM followed by the meeting at 10:30PM
Featuring two very special speakers!
Please bring a covered dish.
For more info and a copy of the flyer please contact Cynthia E at CLE819@yahoo.com
Up a Creek
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Submitted by Jeff Van Vonderen on March 23, 2009
Near where I live there is a stream. It rages and surges and swells as it winds its way. It is not uncommon to see folks along it’s banks picnicking, fishing, or just sitting to watch the water on it’s journey. For the more brave of heart, it’s a great place to canoe. Before it continues it’s trek to the Mississippi, via ever building waters, it pours into a calm and peaceful lake that was created by a damn on the far end of town.
One day one of these brave souls entered the stream quite some distance up from town. He had one goal in mind: Paddle to the Mississippi. The water was high, the rapids were churning. He had second thoughts at first, but steeling up his courage he finally entered the river. It was difficult at first, torturous. It took all of his effort and concentration to keep on course or even from capsizing. He paid attention to every swirl, every rock, every tree branch. But as time went on it got easier and he got better at the challenge, even to the point where he could begin to enjoy some of the scenery.
Still, he was so relieved when he reached the lake. The waters were still, just a ripple from the gentle breeze, and the sun was out. Ducks and geese were paddling along the shoreline. He noticed a Mom and Dad trying to teach their little one to swim and he laughed out loud at their mixed results. A campfire burned on the shoreline off to the side of him and people were roasting hot dogs.
Sliding his paddle through the struts and into the canoe, he lay back to bask in the sunshine. And to make a long story short, next thing he knew, he was wet and battered at the bottom of the dam.
WHY did this happen? Did he have a broken paddle? No. A defective canoe? No. Was the river or the obstacles in it to blame? What about the dam? Again no. (Actually, dams are good, they are a gift, a service. They provide opportunities for drinking water, and fishing, and relaxing.) So why? He had become complacent, he had lost sight of his goal.
DID this happen? No, although the stream, the lake and the dam really do exist here where I live.
But then again….
I got in the stream of recovery back in the 70’s. It wasn’t all clear sailing and in fact, very rough at times. We all have rocks, and branches, and eddies that can take us down. Don’t we? But I was motivated, focused, there was a lot at stake. I was shot out of a cannon. Months passed, years went by. Life was good, life is good.
I know and know of people who, when things go wrong, it becomes their “reason” to go out and drink or use to console themselves. I also know those who, when things are great, that is their “reason” to go out a celebrate with their substance of choice. That is not, nor has that been me. Frankly, I am not the kind of person that is easily battered by circumstances. And I am not prone to overreact when things are great. The good and the bad that life brings my way are just that, life. And in fact, when it comes to recovery I have learned that those are times that call for extra concentration and diligence. But despite that, and to make another long story short, one day I woke up at the bottom of a dam.
This is my parable. Each of us need to figure out how it applies, and what is really the stream and rocks and lakes and dams in our lives. I am not going to psychoanalyze all the how’s and why’s of this right now, except to say this: I had become complacent. And I got a wake up call without causing myself or anyone else irreparable harm. Is God gracious or what.
Want to know the funniest (not Ha Ha funny) part of the whole thing? Next to the river, at the bottom of the dam is the local AA building. (FOR REAL, no really!). I mean, does God have a sense of humor or what? After living in many places over the many years, I “find” myself (and isn’t that one of the things God does, help us find ourselves?) living in a town where I am constantly reminded to be alert, keep focused, and to keep paddling my little recovery canoe one day at a time.
Weird, huh….(or is it?)
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Jeff VanVonderen is a proud member of InTheRooms. His profile can be found here.
You can also check out his website, http://www.innervention.com
