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SPRING NETWORKING 2008 A WARM WEEKEND FOR ALL IN MONTEREY
The 21st Annual Spring Networking was held in Monterey at the Hilton
Garden Inn. During the summer-like weekend approximately 60 members
and spouses enjoyed the sights, swam, sat in the Jacuzzi, and attended
the meetings and presentations focusing on the growth and the independence
of the Otherbar in the future. The warm weather was perfect and
Monterey was picturesque beyond belief! Inside the group shared
the family type warmth as we gathered together for a spiritual weekend.
The Friday Night opening reception was followed by an MCLE session
lead by Peter M., one of our board members from Alameda County and
organizer of the Networking. Peter kicked off one of the most intense
and emotional meetings that I can remember. The heartfelt sharing
about our parents and family recollections went on late into the
evening.
Saturday saw the annual Membership meeting reelect the Board of
Directors and announcement were made that the Otherbar would be
producing MCLE products for sale on our website www.otherbar.org
and that in addition we would begin hosting Otherbar meetings over
the internet in a chat room on our website to be announce shortly
on the website www.otherbar.org.
Our Saturday lunch speaker was J.Gary Gwilliam Esq. Gary is one
of our own Otherbar family as he related his intervention experience
at the hands of one of our Otherbar founders Ed C. Ed sat in the
audience to testify to the facts of Gwilliam's fantastic journey
and entry into the Otherbar over 20 years earlier. Gary is a nationally
recognized attorney and frequently lectures on quality of life issues,
stress reduction, and ethics. Gwilliam is the past president of
the Public Justice Foundation and of the Consumer Attorneys of California.
Gary talked about his life and read passages from his book Getting
A Winning Verdict In My Personal Life: A Trial Lawyer Finds His
Soul, http://www.pavior.com/
Saturday's Dinner speaker was Michael P. Neustadt, executive director
of Serenity Knolls in Forest Knolls, California. http://www.serenityknolls.com/
Neustadt and his recovery facility have been gigantic supporters
of the Otherbar for many years. Many of our members have gone through
their program and our organization truly has a special relationship
with Mike and "The Knolls". Mike's story had the whole audience
laughing and crying. His classic story was just what the doctor
ordered for our Spring Networking.
Sunday Morning's spiritual breakfast speaker was Seamus O'Connor.
After leading a very successful Otherbar Men's retreat last fall
in Yosemite Seamus was a natural to preside over our Spiritual Sunday
breakfast meeting. His rye Irish wit and classic AA life story of
a clergyman chasing the concept of Spirituality was riveting and
riotous! O'Connor was a clergyman in the Sacramento area for many
years and has worked in Recovery ever since. We were the ones who
were blessed to have him in attendance.
This successful event ended too soon and everyone was invited to
attend our upcoming Fall Retreats in Southern California. (Locations
to be announced) We hope to see you all at next year's 221st Annual
Spring Networking in Southern California.
2008
ILAA Annual Conference
October 24 to 26, 2008
Little Rock, Arkansas
Hotel reservations and additional details can be found on the “Conference
Information” page of this web site http://www.ilaa.org/pages/conference/
Otherbar Fall
Retreats
Will be Announced on our website www.otherbar.org In Late April
Consumer
Attorneys Association of Los Angeles CAALA
August 28 to 31, 2008
26th Annual Las Vegas Convention
at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas
The Otherbar will host a lunch meeting each day of the Convention
Visit our website at www.otherbar.org for exact time and Room Name
The
State Bar of California Annual Meeting
September 25 to 28, 2008 In Monterey
we will have 3 OtherBar meetings (Friends of Bill W meetings) each day of the conference. We will post The Hotel, the room name and/or number the week prior to the conference.
Call our Hot Line 24 Hours a Day at: 1-800-222-0767 |