How We Do It

Early Registration for CMALA 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:09:00 +0000

CMALA 2010 has begun its registration.Check out our revised website, http://www.cmala.org/, for donations, information, and registration (online and mail in). Early Bird Registration is $30 until December 31st. Advanced Pre-registration is $40 from 1/1/10 to 3/12/10.

On site Registration is $50.

H&I Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Hello my Fabulous Fellows:
The next H&I meeting is this Saturday, December 12, at 1pm at the West Hollywood Recovery Center.
Please continue to invite our fellows to the H & I meeting to sign up for panels. I know the holiday season is very busy for all of us. It's also a perfect time for us to share our gift of experience, strength, and hope to those unable to attend our meetings.

If you do not have an H&I Liason here is some useful information to assist you with an announcement:The primary purpose of the Hospitals & Institutions Committee is to carry the Crystal Meth Anonymous message of recovery to individuals who are confined, restricted, or otherwise unable to attend a 12-Step CMA meeting. Many times, an H&I panel meeting is the first introduction to Crystal Meth Anonymous that many inmates, clients, or patients receive. An H&I panel is a 12-Step recovery meeting that takes place inside recovery homes, sober living environments, jails, treatment centers, hospitals or any other institution or facility where access to CMA meetings, for those inside, is limited or restricted.

Please invite your fellows with 6 months or more of recovery to join us at our H&I meeting to sign up for upcoming panels.Thank you for your service to district and the H&I Committee,

Roger D.

GSR Meeting Report, November 14, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Hello CMAer’s,
Thanks to all of you that attended our special outdoor GSR meeting. Here are the key points.

The annual CMA World Conference will be held in New York City from March 4th – 7th, 2010. Registration is $75.00 and there are hotel rooms available for $139.00 per night at The Gem Hotel (price good until Jan. 20th, 2010). Go to crystalmeth.org for more information.

CMA in LA has a cool interactive blog, "How We Do It." The monthly GSR report, events and great stories from our members are posted to keep us in the know. Go to the cmainla newsletter link at our web-site (cmainla.com) to access it or access it directly at:http://www.cmainla.blogspot.com/ Please write the editor (Mark O.) at editorcmainla@gmail.com to submit an entry, and don't hesitate to approach him with any ideas you have for an entry.

All committees are in need of volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to be of service and to give back to your community. If you are interested, go to cmainla.com and send a message to the chairman of the committee you would like to be a part of.

Roger D. - Information & outreach: Roger is looking for volunteers to help him distribute the helpline cards.

Bob P. - Helpline: The helpline is receiving around 3 calls a day. The time has come to expand. Coming soon we will be having a training class for the helpline.

Ari U. - Registration/Directory: The fall 2009 directory is here. It can be viewed and printed online at cmainla.com. There are physical copies for your meetings. They are available for twenty cents a copy at our monthly GSR meeting. If a meeting is low on funds, the district will cover the cost.

Dale G. - Events: A winter dance (possibly in Long Beach) and a bowling night are events to watch for in January. We will also have information within the next two months regarding L.A.’s first retreat set for sometime in 2010.

The resurrection dance and the skating night were highly successful and I would like to thank all those that volunteered and participated in these events.

Victor D. & Donald L. - H&I report: If you do not have an H&I Liaison, here is some useful information to assist you:

The primary purpose of the Hospitals & Institutions Committee is to carry the Crystal Meth Anonymous message of recovery to individuals who are confined, restricted, or otherwise unable to attend a 12-Step CMA meeting. Many times, an H&I panel meeting is the first introduction to Crystal Meth Anonymous that many inmates, clients, or patients receive. An H&I panel is a 12-Step recovery meeting that takes place inside recovery homes, sober living environments, jails, treatment centers, hospitals or any other institution or facility where access to CMA meetings, for those inside, is limited or restricted.
Please invite your fellows with 6 months or more of recovery to join us at our H&I meeting to sign up for upcoming panels. The next meeting is on Saturday December 12, 2009 1pm at the WEHO D&A Center 626 N. Robertson Blvd. Weho CA 90069.

Kurt T. - Chips/Literature: Always available are chips & literature at each GSR meeting. We will also have a pocket-sized edition of the big book the (around $1.25 per copy). If you need these items you can come to the meeting or alert your GSR’s.Joey C. - the newcomer packets: There are newcomer packets available at our monthly GSR meeting. Please let your GSR know how many you need for your meetings.

Meetings that need support are:
Monday: Steering Clear 12:00pm @ 5715 Broadway in downtown Los Angeles.
Tuesday: Spinning into the Solution 7:30pm @ Franks House 2530 Hyperion Avenue.
Wednesday: Sex & Relationships 8:00pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Saturday: 7:00pm @ Franks House 2530 Hyperion Avenue
Sunday: Gracious Methers 4pm West L.A. Alano Club 11530 W. Pico Blvd.
Sunday Round Robin east 7:00pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.

The next GSR meeting is on Saturday December 12, 2009 @10am at Plummer Park West Hollywood.

Being of Service,
Freddie

Movie Night Cancelled

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Hello everyone. The CMALA committee has decided to reschedule the Movie on the Green II due to the weather being so cold and damp lately. We are going to wait until the beginning of next year and pick a date/time that will work better. Please continue to check the CMALA group for upcoming news and information. Online registration should be up and running soon so please take advantage of early bird registration of $30.
Once again- THANKS for your continued support of CMALA.
CMALA 2010 Committee

Skate Night

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:12:00 +0000

Wed, Nov 11th, 8pm
Moonlight Rollerway
511o San Fernando Rd.
Glendale, CA 91204

Movie Night

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:09:00 +0000

Event: Movie Night on the GREEN... Take 2
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show"
What: Fundraiser
Start Time: Saturday, November 14 at 7:00pm
End Time: Saturday, November 14 at 10:00pm
Where: Home of Terry G.

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Key Points from the GSR meeting on Saturday October 10, 2009
Hello CMAer’s,
I want to thank everybody that participated in the GSR meeting on Saturday October 10, 2009. We had a positive and productive meeting. Here are the key points.

Joey C. will be chair of a new sub-committee to chips and literature that will over se the production of the newcomer packets. That being said, we should have newcomer packets ready for distribution by the next GSR meeting.
Roger D. our information & outreach chair will be printing more copies of the hotline postcard for distribution. The hotline will need volunteers but not at this time.
Ari U., our registration/directory chair, will have the latest directory online at our website (CMAINLA.COM) and he has physical copies for your meetings. They are available for .20 cents a copy at our monthly GSR meeting. If a meeting is low on funds the district will cover the cost for your meeting. There are some new meetings that started in the last month or so and they will be added to the directory.
Dale G. events chair, is preparing for the annual Halloween dance on Friday October 23rd from 9 pm – 1 am featuring DJ Freddie D. and the undead costume contest featuring zombie drag queens from planet 13. There is a $10.00 suggested donation. The location is the haunted church at 1296 N. Fairfax Av. Weho CA 90046 (S.E. Corner of Fountain). Volunteers are needed! Please contact Dale G. if you want to be of service.
Other up coming events includes a roller skating night on Wednesday Nov. 4 (details coming soon), a holiday dance in December, and a bowling night in January. All these events are CMAINLA district fundraisers.
If anyone is interested in being a part of the planning process, please contact Dale G. (an e-mail can be left on the district website) to be a part of this committee.
The 15 year anniversary of CMA was a great success and we look forward to having an annual anniversary conference.
Victor D. & Donald L.’s H&I report: H&I takes panels to various recovery houses in the area. Every addict is qualified to speak if they have 6 months of recovery, have a sponsor and are working the steps. Guidelines for speaker conduct are available at the monthly H&I meeting, held on 2nd Saturday of month 1pm at the WEHO D&A Center 626 N. Robertson Blvd. Weho CA 90069.
Kurt T. has chips and literature available at each GSR meeting. If you need these items you can come to the meeting or let your GSR know what you need. We recently brought in a pocket-sized edition of the big book. If your meeting is interested in ordering them to add to the literature please let us know. Your GSR will be bringing a copy for your meeting to check out. The cost will be $2 or less a copy.
Meetings that need support are:
Monday: Promises 7pm @ NJWC 543 N. Fairfax Avenue.
Tuesday: Spinning into the solution 7:30pm @ Franks House 2530 Hyperion Avenue.
Wednesday: Sex & Relationships 8:00pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Thursday: Speaker step study 8:15pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Friday: Home group 10:15pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Saturday: Tweakers with a purpose 12:00pm Cherry Park in Long Beach.
Saturday: Step into the solution 9:10am @ The Village 1125 N. McCadden Place.
Sunday: Gracious Methers 4pm West L.A. Alano Club 11530 W. Pico Blvd.
Sunday Round Robin east 7:00pm @ AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
The next GSR meeting is on Saturday November 14, 2009 @10am.

Being of service, Freddie

Halloween Party

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:40:00 +0000

We are gearing up for our Halloween Costume Extravaganza at Fountain and Fairfax on Friday October 23rd. On hand will be Music by DJ Freddie D...an amazing light and sound show...An Un-dead costume contest and performances by a host of Zombie Drag Queens from Planet 13. Prizes will be awarded to the best overall costume, best zombie tweaker, and best un-dead drag. The Church will be transformed into a haunted mortuary where the music will raise the dead. So spread the word that on Friday October 23rd there will be a thriller, chiller night at the haunted house of worship at Fairfax and Fountain. The party will start at 9pm until 1 am.

There are also volunteer opportunities to help decorate, set up and facilitate the performances so email me back with any names and numbers of those who want to help.
Thanks
Dale G.

CMA turns 15

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Come celebrate 15 years of CMA on October 3rd! Volunteers needed!

What is clean and sober, according to CMA

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:05:00 +0000

Bill C. had two models to choose from when setting up the fellowship of Crystal Meth Anonymous, those of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Narcotics Anonymous was started because many of the members of Alcoholics Anonymous considered drug use an outside issue, the discussion of which in meetings detracted from the singleness of purpose outlined in AA's traditions. This made for controversy and discomfort for drug addicts who needed the 12-step model, and Narcotics Anonymous was started.

Narcotics Anonymous literature uses the word "clean" instead of "sober" to connote abstinence from all mind-altering substances, but it is unequivocal in its insistence that alcohol is a drug. Although the burgeoning of crystal meth as a drug of choice prompted Bill C. to start a new fellowship, this terminology was adopted in our own literature. At the beginning of each meeting, we read a paragraph adapted directly from NA's How It Works: "Thinking of alcohol as different from other drugs has caused a great many addicts to relapse...we cannot afford to be confused about this...alcohol is a drug, period. We are people with the disease of addiction who must abstain from all drugs in order to recover."

The Third Tradition also states "the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using." It does not state that someone is required to have stopped using or drinking, for that matter, in order to come to meetings. Many people come to the decision to stop over time, often because they were exposed to the support and recovery available to them in meetings.

However, what constitutes "clean time" in Crystal Meth Anonymous, as far as that which is acknowledged on a group level in the form of chips and birthday cakes, is clear. It is abstinence from all non-medically prescribed drugs, including alcohol.

Mark O.

Tues Night Meeting (Frank

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Due to the recent event at the Tuesday night meeting at 2530 Hyperion Ave. Frank's House has asked that the meeting no longer take place there.
Efforts are underway to locate a new venue for this meeting and as soon as this has happened, this information will be shared here.

GSR Meeting, September 12, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:19:00 +0000

Hello CMAer’s,
I want to thank everybody that participated in the GSR meeting on Saturday September 12, 2009. We covered a lot of ground and here are the key points from the meeting.

• We had a change in officers: Tim P. is secretary, Dale G. is events chair and Roger D is information and out reach. Congratulations guys!
• At this time I would like to thank Sal I (out-going events chair), Tim P. (out-going information and out reach chair) for all their dedication and service to the committee.
• A new committee was formed called the advisee. This committee will be comprised of those officers that came before in order to help guide us with their knowledge of this program.
• Gary W, Chairman for PACMA gave a report from the monthly meeting that took place in San Diego on August 29th. They are working on developing an H&I committee that would help us to take panels to prisons state wide. They are also working on splitting California into two regions in order to have two votes from California at the world conference.
• Due to a recent event, a minority report was presented to us that reiterated our traditions and reaffirmed our readings clearly state that our program is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs and that alcohol is a drug period.
The unity of CMA is the most cherished quality our society has. Our lives and the lives of all who come depend on it. The CMA member has to conform to the principles of recovery. His/her life depends on obedience to spiritual principles.
When a meeting decides to by group conscience re-define sobriety by allowing someone to consume alcohol; then said meeting has veered from the traditions in CMA. It is their message and they are free to share it, but it is not the unified message of CMA. The minority report was forwarded to the GSO.
• Ari U., our registration/directory chair, has the new directory online at our website (CMAINLA.COM) and he has physical copies for your meetings. They are available for .20 cents a copy at our monthly GSR meeting. If a meeting is low on funds the district will cover the cost for your meeting.
• Dale G. events chair, will be overseeing the upcoming events lined up through January 2010. The first event will be the 15 year Crystal Anniversary of Crystal Meth Anonymous on Oct. 3rd at Plummer Park. This will be a one day conference from 8-4 which will include: 11th Step Yoga; the history, organization, and traditions of CMA; and four workshops (steps; sponsorship; experience, strength, and hope; & spirituality). There will also be a barbecue and a main speaker. From 8pm - 1am at the church at Fountain and Fairfax). On Sunday there will be a planned event to accommodate our out of town guests (no cost to the district).
Other events are: the annual Halloween dance on Friday Oct. 23rd at The Church on Fountain and Fairfax, a roller skating night on Wednesday Nov. 4, a holiday dance in December, and a bowling night in January. All these events are CMAINLA district fundraisers.
If anyone is interested in being a part of the planning process, please contact Dale G. (an e-mail can be left on the district website) to be a part of this committee.
• The Labor Day pool party on Monday September 7, 2009 at the Van Ness Recovery House was the first of an annual event.
• H&I
• Victor D - Chair
• Marc R. - Co-Chair
• Mark M. - Secretary
• Eddie S. - Treasurer
• Donald L. - County & State Liaison for incarceration facilities

• GSR's are requested to invite CMA members to attend & participate in the H&I meeting on the 2nd Saturday of the month if they would like to speak on panels.

Those interested in speaking on jail panels should have 5 years of sobriety and show their interest in the jail program by participating on the established panels that do not require clearance or on AA H&I panels.

H&I has accepted applications from about 12 members requesting jail clearance from LASD. One CMA member has already been cleared and has spoken on a jail panel. Other speakers on the CMA jail panels (held the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month at MCJ since mid-July 2009) previously received LASD jail clearance through the fellowship of another 12 Step program.

It is no longer necessary to take phone numbers or messages from CMA members interested in H&I. Those that would like to participate should be invited to attend the monthly H&I meeting. It is listed in the directory.

If the GSR's home meeting has an H&I liaison already, please invite them to participate in the monthly meeting so they may be informed of H&I updates.

If the GSR's home meeting does not have an H&I liaison, please invite them to create the commitment in a manner the meeting sees fit.

H&I will follow the format of the 12 Step program our H&I meeting is modeled after. The H&I Chair & Co-Chair will choose new panel leaders from current H&I participants, as they are needed.

• Kurt T. has chips and literature available at each GSR meeting. If you need these items you can come to the meeting or let your GSR know what you need.
• Meetings that need support are:
Monday: Promises 7pm @ NJWC 543 N. Fairfax Avenue.
Tuesday: Relapse Prevention 8:30pm @ Cedars 8730 Alden Dr.
Wednesday: Sex & Relationships 8:00pm @ The AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Saturday: Step into the solution 9:10am @ The Village 1125 N. McCadden Place.
Sunday: Gracious Methers 4pm West L.A. Alano Club 11530 W. Pico Blvd.
Sunday: Sunday Morning CMA 9:30pm 1900 San Fernando Rd.
• The next GSR meeting is on Saturday October 10, 2009 @10am.

Being of service,
Freddie

H&I Panels

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:52:00 +0000

GSRS:
If your meeting does not have an H&I liaison, please call a business meeting to decide:
1. If you want an H&I liaison
2. If you decide to have a liaison, take a vote to decide if it is an appointed position or an elected position
3. If it's an elected position, elect a a liaison or if it's an appointed position, appoint one.

Don't forget:

September H&I Meeting
Saturday, September 12, 2009
1pm @ West Hollywood Recovery Center
626 N. Robertson Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Please continue to invite your fellows to sign up for panels.

Thank you,
Roger

Comments

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:15:00 +0000

I have altered the parameters for commenting so that anyone can do so. I am hoping this does not lead to comment spam by automatic bots, and if that occurs, I may have to revert to only "registered" users -- i.e., people with gmail or several of the other choices.

Hopefully this change will lead to more commenting and more interactivity. Just click on "Anonymous" if you don't fall into any of the other categories.

Mark O.
Editor.

GSR Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Hello CMAer’s,
I just want to thank everybody that participated in the GSR meeting on Saturday August 8, 2009. We covered a lot of ground and here are the key points from the meeting.

Elections were held and our new co-chairperson is Mark M. Our new Web-master is Brian L. We also have a new events chair: Sal I. Congratulation’s guys! Mark M. was appointed to continue his secretary through September 12, 2009. At that time the district will have a vote for this position.
At this time I would like to thank Donald L (out-going treasurer), Bob P. (out-going events chair) and Mark M. (out-going secretary) for all their dedication and service to the committee. You guys rock!
The by-laws have been reviewed by the district and no more changes were suggested. Therefore, they were officially voted in. This was our 3rd amendment to the by-laws and the district is officially 501 C.
Ari U., our registration/directory chair, will have the new directory online at our website (CMAINLA.COM) within the week and on Sunday August 9, 2009 he will have the newest version of the directory available to be picked up for your meetings at The AT Center and The West Hollywood Drug & Alcohol Center. That being said, if anyone knows of any meeting changes (I.E., meetings going dark, new meetings, location changes, etc.), please let Ari know by contacting him or leaving an e-mail on the website.
Sal I., our events chair, has some events lined up through January 2010.
The first event will be a celebration of 15 years of CMA set for Oct. 3rd at Plummer Park. This will be a one day conference from 8-4 which will include: 11th Step Yoga; the history, organization, and traditions of CMA; and four workshops (steps; sponsorship; experience, strength, and hope; & spirituality). There will also be a barbecue and a main speaker. From 8pm - 12am we will have a dance (location to be determined; possibly the church at Fountain and Fairfax). On Sunday there will be a planned event to accommodate our out of town guests (no cost to the district).

Other events are: the annual Halloween dance hosted by Glenn H on Friday Oct. 23rd, a roller skating night on Wednesday Nov. 4, a holiday dance in December, and a bowling night in January. All these events are CMA district fundraisers.

There is also a spiritual retreat event that is in the works.

If anyone is interested in being a part of the planning process, please contact Sal I. (an e-mail can be left on the district website) to be a part of this committee.

The H&I fundraiser/pool party on Sunday July 26, 2009 was a huge success. These funds were directly allocated to the H&I reserve. Thanks to everyone who participated and or volunteered in this event.

Victor D. & Donald L., our co-chairs for H & I, are looking for speakers for the panels that are going to the jails. They would like to get clearance for at least 12 people. The requirements are: no felonies, experience speaking on panels, and 5 years of recovery (the five year requirement is negotiable if a person shows willingness and experience in speaking on panels). There is also a need for panel leaders for two new panels that were lined up. If you are interested please attend the next H & I meeting on September 12, 2009 1PM at the West Hollywood D & A center. If you are at a meeting without an H&I liaison; please suggest a business meeting to add the commitment and appoint it to someone.

Kurt T. has chips and literature available at each GSR meeting. If you need these items you can come to the meeting or let your GSR know what you need.

Note: In honoring our 11th tradition, please refrain from posting pictures from CMA events using the CMA name on Internet mediums such as Facebook.

Meetings that need support are:
Monday: Promises 7pm @ NJWC 543 N. Fairfax Avenue.
Tuesday: Relapse Prevention 8:30pm @ Cedars 8730 Alden Dr.
Wednesday: Meditation 7:30pm @ The church (Fountain & Fairfax) 1296 N. Fairfax Avenue.
Wednesday: Full Speed Ahead 8pm @ the West Side Alano Club 11530 W. Pico Blvd.
Saturday: Step into the solution 9:10am @ The Village 1125 N. McCadden Place.
Sunday: Gracious Methers 4pm West L.A. Alano Club 11530 W. Pico Blvd.
Sunday Round Robin West 7:00pm Weho A & D Center 626 N. Robertson Blvd.
The next GSR meeting is on Saturday September 12, 2009 @10am.

Being of service,
Freddie

The Nature of the Beast

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:59:00 +0000

In CMA one often hears “my disease wants me dead.” This may be true, but I think its more immediate goal is to make sure you are so preoccupied with the satisfaction of instinctual drives that you are cut off from any sense of spiritual contact with a God of your understanding. If killing you is required, the disease is more than willing, but keeping you high or numb is fine enough, as long as you’re thinking only of yourself.

I have found it very useful to conceive of the disease of addiction as having intelligence, even the capacity to think and strategize. I believe it occupies the same area in your brain your ego operates from, and has the capacity to parasitically engage all of your brainpower in manifesting its agenda of getting you loaded again.

In my experience, the disease doesn’t even always “object” to short periods of sobriety. (After all, it’s a great way to delude yourself you have things under control.) However, when your disease starts to sense that you really might do this sobriety thing, it starts to panic. Suddenly everything becomes a trigger; cravings mug you around every corner. When you get past that, it tries less obvious approaches, like finance and romance—“I’ll always be poor” and “I’ll never have a boyfriend” are favorite tapes my disease plays. As you stick to your guns, you can expect bouts with free-floating anxiety, boredom, and depression with no evident cause.

As your disease adjusts to the new reality of layers between you and picking up, it tries various back doors, to nudge you over to the chair next to the chair next to the hotseat. This most impatient of syndromes can actually be very patient. It can seem to lie dormant for years, but it’s lurking all the time, waiting for an opening.

It may seem irrational that to say that the disease is smarter than you, but it's not for nothing that we say “my best thinking got me here.” That’s why a power greater than oneself is an indispensable ally. Here’s something you can’t see, can’t touch, can’t weigh or measure---it’s the only thing more irrational than the disease itself. That just might be why it’s the very thing that works.

M.O.

From District Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:16:00 +0000

1. We would like to thank all that attended, volunteered and participated in the H&I pool party fund raiser. There was over 100 people in attendance and we were able to raise a nice donation for H&I. THANK YOU!
2. The district is in search of a new web master to maintain our web-site. This is a 1 year commitment. All that are interested should attend our GSR meeting on Aug. 8th. Please be prepared with your web design history. The committee will then have a vote.
We encourage all members who would like to attend to do so.

Freddie D
District Chair

GSR meeting - July 11th

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Hello CMAer’s,
I just want to thank everybody that participated in the GSR meeting on Saturday July 11, 2009. We covered a lot of ground and hear are the key points from the meeting.

Elections were held and our new chairperson is Freddie D. Our new treasurer is Eddie S. Congratulation’s guys! Donald L. was appointed co-chair until the next district meeting on Aug. 8, 2009. At that time the district will have a vote for this position.

The bylaws have been amended and the district is now in compliance with the state of California for corporation status. GSR’s have an opportunity to review the changes and report to the district on Aug. 8, 2009 if they notice any typos or errors to the amendment. A vote will take place at the district meeting on Sept. 12, 2009 in order to accept the changes.
Tim P., our information & outreach chair, is in search of recruits to help him on this committee. This committee helps to spread the word of CMA to our community. Currently he is working on getting the word out for the new helpline. Be of service to your district. This would be a great opportunity.

Ari U., our registration/directory chair, will be updating the directory online at our website (CMAINLA.COM) within the week and on July 31st he will be printing the newest version of the directory. That being said, if anyone knows of any meeting changes (I.E., meetings going dark, new meetings, location changes, etc.) please let him know by contacting him or leaving an e-mail on the website.

Bob P., our events chair, will be working on a few upcoming events with Sal. There will be a dance in Aug. and there will be a celebration of 15 years of CMA coming up by the end of Sept. or early Oct. The anniversary event will be set up conference style. It will be a day of speakers, possible workshops, a dinner or barbecue, and a dance. We will have more details by the next district meeting. If anyone is interested in being a part of the planning process, please contact Bob P. or Sal (an e-mail can be left on the district website) to be a part of this committee.

The comedy show fundraiser was a huge success. This was the highest grossing fundraiser as of late. Good work to all that participated in making this a success. A special thanks to Sal for coming up with the concept.

An H&I fundraiser is coming up in the form of a pool party on Sunday July 26, 2009 from 12pm – 4pm at Russell Y’s house. The address is 7013 Aldea Ave. Lake Balboa Ca. 91406.

CMA history was made on Thursday July 10, 2009 when we had our first H&I panel at jail.
Victor D. &; Donald L., our co-chairs for H & I, are looking for speakers for the panels that are going to the jails. They would like to get clearance for at least 12 people. The requirements are: no felonies, experience speaking on panels, and 5 years of recovery (the five year requirement is negotiable if a person shows willingness and experience in speaking on panels). If you are interested please attend the next H & I meeting on Aug. 8, 2009 1PM at the West Hollywood D & A center.

Appreciation goes out to Mark M. for the stellar job he does while documenting and providing the minutes of each GSR meeting. You rock!

Meetings that need support are:
Tuesday Relapse Prevention 8:30pm @ Cedars 8730 Alden Dr.
Wednesday Sex & Relationships 8pm @ the AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Wednesday Full Speed Ahead 8pm @ the West Side Alano Club 11530W. Pico Blvd.
Thursday 12 x 12 8:15 pm @ the AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Friday Home Group 10:15pm @ the AT Center 1773 Griffith Park Blvd.
Saturday Crystal Clear 2:30 Weho A & D Center 626 N. Robertson Blvd.
Sunday Morning CMA 9:30 am @ 1900 San Fernando Rd.
Sunday Round Robin West 7:00pm Weho A & D Center 626 N. Robertson Blvd.

Being of service,
Freddie

Less is More

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:41:00 +0000

Recently, I completed my second 4th step, but the first one based almost entirely on my behavior in sobriety, and focussed on the area causing me the most emotional discomfort: sex and romance.

The specifics of the relationship that finally provoked me to do this step again are much less important than the theme that emerged as I examined the patterns that it embodied. It was the same overarching character defect that had come to light as my #1 shortcoming when I did my 4th step the first time around: a lack of humility.

This had manifested itself most obviously in the relationships I had with the circle of addicts who I employed and kept off the streets when I was dealing drugs. I couldn’t understand why they all ended up being resentful of me. Working with my sponsor, I recognized that it went much deeper than my enabling of their addictions. I’d taken away their right to make their own mistakes and face the consequences of their own actions. Under the guise of playing Robin Hood, I played God. And just as I had to learn accountability for my own actions the hard way, with a stint in prison, they had to go on their own journeys without my “help”—some into sobriety, some not.

It took me a while to see my lack of humility in this second 4th step. I had to break down my behavior to a few recurring tendencies, for example, making a chemistry more intense in my mind than it was in reality; writing scripts in my head for myself and others to follow (which they never did of course); expending untold energy figuring out what you were thinking instead of just asking you. I began to see that I played God by not allowing God to operate in my relationships. What about trusting if someone likes you on Tuesday, they’ll probably like you on Thursday? What about having faith that perhaps you were having the very relationship you two were meant to have?

As I completed this process, it occurred to me that if I didn’t know myself nearly as well as I thought, that perhaps I might not know others as well as I’d assumed either. I began to question how I approached all sorts of relationships, not just the romantic ones. Why not try to let others reveal themselves to me instead of being so busy forming opinions about them as soon as I can? I began to get comfortable with being in the present instead of projecting into the future, which immediately reduced the expectations that so often created disappointment.

If acting your way into right thinking is an essential tool in early sobriety, step work allows you to start changing your behavior by changing your thinking as well. As I’ve discovered a willingness to approach relationships with greater humility, I’ve already experienced a shift in how these relationships unfold. “I don’t know” has become three of the most powerful words I can use.

M.O.

Resolving Resentments and Facing Fears

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:48:00 +0000

Having at last finished my Fourth Step, resentments have now been front and center in my recovery for months. I have a good relationship with my sponsor who continually challenges me with gentle but firm direction. Because of his patient and thorough approach to the Fourth Step, I finally got a huge amount of relief from working this step. My sponsor's plan for doing Step Four was to do it piecemeal--not all at once. This helped me understand how writing out my resentments as instructed in the Big Book could actually change the way I felt, thought and acted. First, he had me write out columns 1 through 3--that's all. He didn't let me even start Columns 4 and 5.

That bugged me. I wanted to do it all and get it done ASAP. But he made me think it through when writing out each of my resentments so that I slowed down to understand the process better. I was forced to take time to reflect on the first 3 columns over and over. I had to think long and hard about my resentments and not rush. His instructions made me reflect deeply on who I resented, why I resented them and why it really bothered me.

After he reviewed Columns 1-3 with me, he then told me how to write out Columns 4 and 5 paying special attention to my fears. Frankly, I had never understood how my fears had anything to do with my resentments. But my sponsor was right. When I told him what fears I had written down, he didn't let me stop there. He pushed me to look at the core of what my fears were all about. Each step of the process was a revelation that opened my mind to exactly where I had been wrong.

My fears led me to behave in ways that were destructive not just to others, but also to myself. Understanding the connection between the two in a very specific way is profoundly liberating. Going through the process of looking at each resentment and the fears behind them taught me tools that I can use everyday in practical ways.

The game of fear and resentment is a vicious cycle, but it is one that only I can break. Holding onto a resentment never hurts the person we intend it to hurt. It only hurts us and hinders our own progress in life. We end up doing lifelong damage to ourselves more than anyone else.

The process of seeing my part in my own resentments and what my fears behind them are is going to save me from a lifetime of misery, bitterness and suffering. Now I understand the power of the Fourth Step as a way of seeing my own self-destructive behavior and changing it from within.

Jericho W.

LOL 4 A CAUSE

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:34:00 +0000

LOL FOR A CAUSE

A night of Happy, Joyous and Fierce Comedy to benefit LA CMA DISTRICT with some of the funniest people in comedy.

Leslie Jordan

Betsy Salkind, Mary Kennedy, Adam Barnhard Paul Jacek

With Your Hosts: Lotta Slots and Patrick Marks

Friday, June 26th 7 pm PRE SALE TICKETS ONLY

Plummer Park Fiesta Hall

7377 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

10.00

You will be ROFLYAO for sure!

Applied Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Somebody hit my parked car last night without leaving a note. Upon discovering the scratched and dented fender, the first feeling on my mind was anger. Without hesitation, it became the basis for my share at a meeting. The 12-step recovery program gives me a chance to go to a meeting and get out of my head. Left alone with the feeling of anger will surely seed the dreaded mental state of resentment. Trying to find a solution to this undefined problem can be like looking for serenity in an active addict. With that said, the closest model to cope with these life experiences is the recovery program of Crystal Meth Anonymous.

While in recovery, there are a lot of feelings already in my prescription for life. Dealing with feelings of worthlessness, shame, anger, and fear regarding my behavior and wreckage has been paramount to my recovery from crystal meth. It is these same feelings that made my drug use justifiable, in-my-mind, and fueled my fuck-everything-and-run attitude. Before recovery this behavior became my reaction to almost all of my life circumstances even though nothing could be changed. Crossing into recovery, having clearly defined and untangled these feelings about my past behavior, they still remain relevant to my maintenance because I still have the same feelings today. The response to life events can still trigger the same deep feelings from my early addict behavior. Being in recovery gives me the ability to be aware when events trigger my old unjustified feelings.

Calling my sponsor and attending a meeting was the first action in my recovery program following a major trigger such as this hit-and-run. Working through my feelings involves writing them down and carefully looking at them to sort the distortion from the gratitude. There was gratitude in this circumstance because it wasn’t me doing the damage. The car damage was caused through no action of my own. My conscience remains clear today. With that declaration, there was a chance for me to move quickly into forgiveness. Forgiving the person who caused the damage to my car can best be described as forgiving myself during my addict behavior. I forgive them because I need to be forgiven for doing destructive things, in a similar fashion.

Finding forgiveness and gratitude among tough circumstances are examples of applied recovery. Overcoming my addiction remains paramount.

Grgr

District Meeting Report

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Hello Everyone,
Thank you to everyone who attended the district meeting on saturday. It was a great meeting and with all of the big changes coming up including the changing of the guard in which a new chairperson will step in, I just wanted to say thank you for all of the hard work everyone has done over the last 2 years.

So, on with the show, as they say. The comedy show LOL 4 A Cause, is on track for June 26th at 730pm in Fiesta Hall of Plummer Park. Tickets will be pre-sale only. If you havent gotten tickets yet to sell at your meeting, please call Victor at 323-401-7760 or myself (Dale) at 323-244-8949 and we will make sure that you get some tickets to sell. The show is going to be hot! People will be talking about this one for a long time. With professional comics like Leslie Jordan, Bobby Lee, Adam Barnhardt, Mary Kennedy, Sarah Hyland, and Paul Jacek, it is bound to be a happy, joyous and fierce night of stand up. And, when you add to that lineup, the hosts Lotta Slots (Jeffrey Drew) and Patrick Marks, we are going to have fun.

Also, there is a great event coming up in Orange County called the "Crystal Clean Fest" Saturday June 20th in Costa Mesa at the Community Center at 1845 Park st. The festival goes from 10 am until midnight with marathon meetings till 6, Dinner, a speaker and a dance to follow. the whole thing is only 25 dollars and tickets can be purchased at www.crystalcleanfest.com[

The Hospitals and Institutions meeting is a great way to find out how to be of service to those who cant get to a meeting or better yet, it is a great way for your sponsee to be of service! When they get 6 months, send them down to the West Hollywood Recovery Center on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 1pm to sign up to speak on a panel and then hang out and learn more about the way that this committee works.

We are now weighing the options for a retreat next year and soon we will narrow down the facilities that we are considering for our spiritual outing. Stay tuned.

I will be in touch with updates about ticket sales and any other news coming up in the district.
Just a reminder to all that with the rise of Facebook and other networking sites it is very important that we protect CMA by not mentioning it by name on our personal pages or blogs. We should never connect our face and name with the letters CMA in a public forum. For instance a photo album should never be titled, "Johns 3rd CMA birthday party" or "Pictures from the CMA fundraiser" Just a reminder that anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all of our traditions.
Dale

Shame No More

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I felt so much shame when I first came to CMA. So much shame that it was killing me. Literally. Fueled by my addiction, shame was the negative tape loop going round and round in my head, requiring ever larger amounts of speed to quiet.

I was ashamed of being a drug addict. Especially a meth addict. (Coke was so much more glamorous.) I was especially ashamed that I was an IV user. Good little boys don't shoot up. I was ashamed to have contracted HIV; I was high when it happened. I had withdrawn from my family and friends during my addiction, and caused them no account of pain and worry. I was in debt. Bankrupt. But too high to even show up for the court proceedings that would allow me to start fresh. I was ashamed that I'd let clients down, disappearing for months, doing questionable work, and just being unprofessional. And I relapsed. Repeatedly. My last run began while I was the secretary of not one but two CMA meetings. I just stopped showing up for my commitments.

My addiction can help explain all of these shameful actions, but it can't excuse them. So how can I heal? How can I feel worthy? The 12 steps and a good therapist have taught me that I must first and foremost forgive myself and then strive to earn forgiveness from those I have harmed. I will always have HIV and it will, to some extent be part of me for the rest of my life. I can best deal with that reality by leading a healthy lifestyle and remaining sober. I must be honest and open and reveal my deepest secrets to remain free of self-hatred. And most importantly, I must seek to maintain a spiritual connection, a faith that I am loved and worthy of being loved.

By surrendering completely, practicing acceptance and gratitude in everything I do, I will live each sober day in the hope of making the world a slightly better place for me and every being I encounter (that’s a nod to my priceless dog.)

So now when those shameful feelings come and I feel that tightening in my heart, and the voice in my head wants me to believe that I am damaged goods, that I am the bad things I have done...I simply take a deep breath and repeat to myself: "You have a disease, Richard. You did the best you could. I love you and I forgive you."

Richard H.

Something to Do

noreply@blogger.com (Editor) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:14:00 +0000

This is not an official endorsement of anything, neither is it a CMA function.

However, if you want a safe place to socialize with other sober people, Sobar, at Here Lounge, on the 1st Sunday of the month, is a fun place to go.

1-4 pm, and the proceeds benefit recovery homes in the LA area.