
A Wellspring of Hope
Newsletter of The Recovery Group
June 2004
Volume 6, Issue 6
ser*en*dip*i*ty ~ (noun) First appeared 1754:
the faculty or phenomenon of finding
valuable or agreeable things not sought for. |
PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO:
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com
with a Subject of 'Letter to the Editor'
PLEASE SEND Serendipity ARTICLES TO:
SerendipityNewsletter@yahoo.com
with a Subject of 'Serendipity Article'
TO VIEW Serendipity ONLINE, PLEASE VISIT:
The Serendipity Archives
FEATURED ARTICLES


~ FROM OUR EDITOR ~
Dear Serendipity Friends,
This is your newsletter, and I am, once again, writing to ask for your
suggestions and your input. Mostly we want to know what you'd like to
see in Serendipity each month, especially as far as "extras" are
concerned. We are looking for general comments, too... If there's
something you don't like, we want to know that as much as we would
like to know what you _do_ like.
Your response could take the form of a Letter to the Editor, or you can
send your ideas to us and ask that they not be published. Either way
will work. The bottom line is that we want to hear from you.
Serendipity is your newsletter of recovery; your editors want to see
that it "speaks" to each of you.....
In recovering love,
Marty
Editor, SERENDIPITY
Newsletter of The Recovery Group

~ FOUNDER'S CORNER ~ EXPERIENCE ~
Dear Serendipity Readers,
One of the blessings of my life is to be in a community which pays
attention not only to our disease of compulsive eating but also to the
reasons we eat. The Recovery Group is a 12 Step organization . . .
that is our reason for being; however, we also have Special Focus loops
which do not ignore the main focus, but enhance it. We're very proud
of these types of support groups; one such loop is Grief ODAT.
Elsewhere in this issue of Serendipity is an article ("Special Focus
Loop") about this very special loop. We now find ourselves in June,
the first glorious month of summer. We hope that those who need to
work the Twelve Steps, but who also need to focus on another aspect of
their recovery, will approach summer with recovery in their hearts.
If you are experiencing a loss and this is your first summer without
someone you love, and you find it difficult to focus on your recovery,
I hope you will join others in Grief ~ One Day at a Time. I believe it
may help.
Wishing you a happy and serene June ~
@-}-}-}------
Love in recovery,
Mari
~ THE RECOVERY GROUP ~
ADMINISTRATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
~ FROM THE TRG ADMINISTRATION ~
It has been six months since Mari, the founder of The Recovery Group
(TRG) retired and left adminstrators doing the jobs she had previously
done. Dodee is the Adminstrator, Cody and Mary W. are Apprentice
Administrators. They spend some time answering questions and working
to help TRG continue to function. When they can't answer the
questions, they have a committee of advisors to help.
TRG Adminstration oversees the Recovery, ODAT and Discovery loops,
Meetings and Special Services. Dodee also coordinates the Recovery
Loops and Special Services. Nancy coordinates the ODAT loops, and
Cody and Mary W coordinate the Discovery loops. Meetings are
coordinated by Terri, Chris and Barry.
TRG Adm is going to spend some time recruiting volunteers to finish the
terms of some trusted servants who have resigned mid-term. Do you
know that service is one way to make "the" program into "your" program?
http://www.TheRecoveryGroup.org
Contact:
TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org

~ FROM THE RECOVERY LOOP DIVISION ~
Many of the Recovery Loops are flourishing. Newcomers has had many
new members, some asking questions, some answering. OA Friends has
become a group of friends, as the name implies, but new members are
always welcomed. Discussions lately have been about fear and its
solution, and members share their Experience, Strength and Hope
(ESH). The Big Book study is now on Chapter 5, "How it Works".
Working the Steps (WTS) will be completing the 12 Steps in June, and
starting a new step study in July, which will be led by Rose.
Anorexia and Bulimia has a strong recovery message and many members.
Relapse and Recovery has new members who are re-commiting to recovery.
http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/trg.html
Contact: RecoveryLoopsAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org
~ FROM THE ODAT LOOP DIVISION ~
The ODAT loops are here for compulsive eaters to share their program
of recovery, but the members of these loops also have a second interest
in common.
Silver Recovery is a place for those over 50 to talk about their
program and what it means to them, as so many other things are changing
in their lives. TeensODAT is a safe place for teenagers to discuss
their eating compulsions, and how they work their program of recovery
with their peers. Those who have had, or are contemplating having,
weight loss surgery, and are also working the 12 steps have a place to
go to share their experiences and feelings with others : WLS_ODAT.
Please go to http://recovery.hiwaay.net/odat/, and see if there is a
special interest loop that may enhance your recovery program.
http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/odat/
Contact:
ODATAdm@lists.therecoverygroup.org
~ FROM THE DISCOVERY LOOP DIVISION ~
Things at the Discovery Loops have really picked up lately! We've
added in some new co-cordinators, Marie (odatmarie@yahoo.com) with
Discovery Kitchen , Estebel with Exercise and
Discovery, as well as some new trusted servants to help run the loops.
These wonderful volunteers are really breathing new life into the
conversations going on with the loops. On COKids and 'Kids and
Recovery', sharing was up a bit this month and the future looks to be
promising, as long as the kids have a place to come when they feel
alone, sad, and scared. We invite and encourage you to check out the
Discovery loops and say hello by visiting:
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/discovery/index.html
http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/discovery/
Contact:
TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org
~ FROM THE TRG OA MEETING DIVISION ~
This month has seen several changes within the meeting division with
the resignation of Danielle as Meeting Coordinator, and the appointment
of Barry and Christine to take her place. Danielle has been an
excellent assistant, we wish her well in all that she does and hope
to work with her again within this wonderful organisation. Thank you,
Danielle, and welcome to Barry and Chris!
With respect and sadness we remember Meeting Leader, Margie, who
passed away in May. She will be sadly missed by those she served and
also by those who served along side her. On behalf of meeting leaders
past and present, we extend our deepest sympathy to Margie's family.
Since our last report several new meetings have been given a permanent
leader, and the 24 hour meeting schedule is becoming increasingly
operational.
We warmly welcome the new meeting leaders and as the new meetings
grow, and fellowships form, great rewards come in the knowledge that
those who come to depend on the meetings now have regular place of
recovery that may not have been available to them before.
Meeting leaders are still needed from countries outside the USA, and
anyone who is interested can contact Meeting Administration on the
contact address below. Leading meetings is an excellent way to meet
other OA's as well as enhancing our own personal recovery, and of
course, training and support is provided to those who need help
getting started.
Reading of the month: "Faith alone is insufficient. To be vital,
faith must be accompanied by self-sacrifice and unselfish, constructive
action" AABB p.93.
In Loving Service,
TRG Meeting Division Administrators
http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/meetings/
Contact:
MtgAdm@lists.TheRecoveryGroup.org
~ FROM THE TRG SPECIAL SERVICES DIVISION ~
This division is currently in need of an administrator. As its name
suggests, it includes areas of TRG which are, indeed, special services
for the members of TRG. The Recovery Meditations, Odyssey the Journal,
the Recovery Sponsor program and Serendipity are but some of the
services in this division. To see more of what's included in this
division, please see
http://recovery.hiwaay.net/trg.html#services.
If you believe you would like to be of service to TRG in this area,
and would like to know more about being an administrator of this
division, please contact Dodee at:
TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org.
http://www.theRecoveryGroup.org/trg.html#services
Contact:
TRGAdm@TheRecoveryGroup.org