YOU CAN HOLD A RETREAT or WORKSHOP

RETREATS/WORKSHOPS

AND/OR 12 STEP STUDY GROUPS:

Planning, Starting, or Conducting One?

Probably the most beneficial thing in the building of our understanding of the recovery programme (as embodied in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps and 11 other AA books and individual members experience) have been our Four Day Retreat/Workshop. We all work together with nearly 1200 quotes from these 13 books and make the process of recovery very clear. We accomplish this in community and through discussion with humour, and purpose. The main purpose is to understand the underlying principles, purpose and benefit of the 12 Steps when worked in a manner that brings about the Deep Soul Cleansing possible within them.

Many have wanted to do something similar in their area. Though this is being done in some areas there is the idea of having Alano Clubs and 12 Step Groups across the world sponsor these functions. This of course would be up to each group to set up the time and place and if there is the desire for the facilitation of the group by us that can be arranged. We will make available any and all material and any suggestions for times and development for those of you interested. A list will follow of a suggested path to accomplish this.

STEP 1—First decide on just how much work you feel you and your group are willing to do. Below are the different degrees of commitment to a deeper understanding of the Steps.

___101—FOUR DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREAT – Are you ready for the kind of commitment that nearly 200 members have been willing to devote in the past. Where we spend from say 3:30PM on a Wednesday to 3:30PM Sunday (exactly 96 hours – 4 Days of course any four days will work). During this time there is a complete focus on getting through ALL the material and having a COMPLETE EMERSION in the Twelve Steps. No one has ever left this retreat disappointed that they did the work.

___102—FOUR DAY WORKSHOP – Designed in much the same way as the Four Day Residential but where everyone goes home or to their hotels late each night and comes back early in the morning. This would be with everyone eating breakfast before coming in early and having dinner late at home. We can of course have a second option of dinner being brought in. These are flexible plans.

___103—TWO—TWO DAY WORKSHOPS ON CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS – These would again follow the design of the above plans with them starting late afternoon on Friday and ending Sunday. This should keep the integrity of the original retreat but again is flexible.

___104a—THREE DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREAT – This retreat would of course be shorter leaving less time to review everything so some information would be left for you to review on your own. However, as a residential it would again be 100% focused on reviewing the Steps to the best of our ability in the shorter time constraints. The retreat would start on say late Thursday afternoon and end late Sunday afternoon (again 72 hours or three days).

___104b—THREE DAY WORKSHOP – As with the Four Day Workshop designed as stated in that workshop though of course less material would be covered. Remember all start days and times are adjustable.

___105a—TWO DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREAT OR 105b—NON-RESIDENTIAL WORKSHOP – This of course would review less information and the understanding that the less time there is to do this work the less discussion and therefore the less we will all learn. Each would follow the schedules provided in step 3 below.

___106—FOUR – ONE DAY WORKSHOPS – Each day will again be anywhere from 8 to 12 hours in length. The more time the more accomplished. These workshops could be on consecutive weekends or in whatever pattern you are able to arrange.

___107—FOUR DAY RESIDENTIAL RETREAT—COVERING STEPS 10, 11, & 12 ONLY—this retreat has been held twice and was very successful. It moves us into an ever so much deeper understanding of the “Maintenance Steps.” During our time together we have a greater in depth discussion of prayer, daily inventory and service and a powerful look at “practicing these principles in all our affairs.”

___108—ONE TO TWO HOUR WORKSHOP—THE PRINCIPLES—

This is what we call an overview of the programme, its purpose and its promises.

STEP 2—Schedule a date with us to be there. Check our “Appointment Calendar” on the right of each page. After you have chosen a date, email us for confirmation. Wait for date confirmation.

 

STEP 3—Gather material from both the “Bookstore” and the “Available Forms” from Downloads found on the right hand side of this and every page.

The bottom line is you provide the place, and times—we make available the facilitator, schedule and material. We pay for our expenses from donations made by those attending this work. Donations are gratefully accepted.

List of items needed:

          ___ Books (either book or download required)

___ Book—Deep Soul Cleansing (used with 101, 102, 103, 104a, 104b, 105, 106) choose this as the easier option, no copying required.

___ Deep Soul Cleansing (Download for copying and put in ring binder) choose this option if you prefer not to purchase the above book.

___ Deep Soul Cleansing—The Workbook (1 each)

___ Four Column worksheets—(Choose this option if you prefer not to purchase the above book.) see forms

___ The Maintenance Steps—Practicing these Principles (Used only with 107, download for copying and put in ring binder) this has not been published yet, so this is the way it must be done right now.

          ___ Forms see downloads

                ___ Check list—see downloads

___ Four Column worksheets (Download for copying front and back and put in ring binder 10 or 20 copies needed for work during workshop) choose this option if you prefer not to purchase the above book—see downloads

___ Schedule for chosen workshop/retreat—see downloads

___ Cheat sheet—see downloads

___ If your group is larger than 20— see downloads

        ___ Small Groups 20

        ___ Small Groups 30

                ___ St Francis of Assisi Meditation— see downloads

                ___ Life’s an Ocean meditation (written) — see downloads

                ___ Forgiveness meditation (written) — see downloads

                ___ 3^rd and 7^th Step Prayers— see downloads

          ___ CDs (optional)

                        ___ Prayer of St Francis of Assisi Meditation

                        ___ Life’s an Ocean & Forgiveness meditation