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Philadelphia Area and Vicinity CoDA IntergroupNewsletterfor the27th Annual Weekend RetreatIssue 2 May 20, 21, 22 2016 April 2016Welcome to the 27th Annual CoDA RetreatThe retreat will be here before we know it. It has been a long winter, and it will be nice to have warmer weather, where we will be outside on the beach of Wildwood Crest, NJ. Please join us for our 27th Annual retreat. We grow in baby steps at meetings, and grow by leaps and bounds at retreats. This is a great experience to be at the beach with others who understand us, and we can develop lifelong friendships. Our stories may be different, but we have so much in common. Combine all that with workshops, meetings, a speaker, games, singing, and a lot of recovery all in one weekend. Keep the registrations coming. We only have 65 spots open for this year’s retreat. Please spread the word to others. This year’s theme for the 2016 CoDA retreat in Wildwood, New Jersey, “A Treasure Chest of Tools”. This theme was chosen because of the many wonderful tools there are to use to help support, facilitate, and continue recovery. If you would like to write a short article about your favorite tool(s) and how they help your recovery, please email us at coda2016retreat@, we would love to hear about your experience, strength and hope using the tools. IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATIONThe first deposits for rooms have been sent to Reges and they will NOT hold rooms after April 29th, 2016, as stated in our contract. They will be on a first come, first serve basis, meaning please register now to ensure that you have a room to stay in! First come first serve means that we will not be able to ensure availability of rooms if you do not register in time.Bodywork is Back!Back by popular request, massage therapy will again be offered for a fee. You will receive more information about the hours it will be provided as well as the price, and contact information to sign up ahead of time. Massage will be provided Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Please contact Ann B to schedule your appointment at (215) 643-2074. Retreat RegistrationRetreat registration information can be found at by clicking on “CoDA 2016 Weekend”. Thank you very much to Chuck for maintaining the Philly Coda site- Thanks Chuck! If you have any questions about the retreat flyer, please email coda2016retreat@. Favorite Tools of RecoveryBy Julia HFrom my experience in 12 step programs, I have learned how to use the tool of reaching out to others. It has shown me that I am not alone, and that I need others to help me on this journey called recovery! By calling someone on the phone l, I know that I am helping them as well as myself! It can get me out of my head. It can cheer someone else up. It lets the other person know that they are thought about. It can help me or the other person when we struggle or have a bad day. Likewise , it can give me the opportunity to receive support and love when I am struggling. Another important part of this tool for me is having a sponsor, who I generally talk on the phone to about 6 days out of the week. Sometimes it is a short check in, sometimes it's doing a reading from the Big Book together, sometimes a discussion, or step work, or just telling her about my day. But whatever it is, I know I can be heard. The most amazing thing is that no matter what I say, my sponsor does not judge me or think any less about me! In both reaching out to others by calling someone on the phone or talking to my sponsor, both ways are how I use the tool of use the tool of phone calls to stay in contact with others.-Julia HService Opportunities There are many exciting service opportunities for the retreat, including help coordinating retreat food (one light meal and one dinner as well as snacks/drinks), volunteers for set-up/take-down, and general support and help throughout the retreat. If you are interested in doing service at the retreat, please email us at coda2016retreat@. Service is a great way to feel good and to give back as you are comfortable. In addition, we will be doing our basket raffle, and would love new or gently used items to put in baskets to raffle off- as well as actual baskets! Start collecting or gathering trinkets you’d like to bring if they are around! Scholarship InformationFor those who need financial assistance, there may be scholarships available. These are picked at random out of a hat, no one is favored, and you will still pay the 75$ registration fee. If you are in need of a scholarship, please email coda2016retreat@ to have your name entered, and send your registration form in. APPLICATION DEADLINE WILL BE APRIL 15th.My Retreat ExperienceBy Sarah NThe first time I went to a CoDA retreat, I was very nervous, because I have a lot of fears about being in new places with people I don’t know. When I got to the retreat for the first time, I immediately knew I was in a safe place with good people. There were signs telling me where to go, I always knew what to expect, and there were things planned for me to do. I had the option of doing everything available, like workshops, or meetings, but I also had the option of just being alone and walking on the beach. It was really important to me to be able to get what I needed and leave the rest, and I felt like I got to know a lot of wonderful people, and I learned a lot about myself. I also got a lot of experience, strength, and hope from the workshops, and I made friends that I still talk to years later. I also love to be near the beach, and I had a lot of time to walk along the shore, hear the waves, and sit in the sun. I even went and played skee ball, which is one of my favorite things to do. I really appreciated how the retreat also had options for food, and I could eat on my own or with other people, and no one was going to make me do anything. For the first time in a long time, I found myself having fun, letting my inner child come out and enjoy the smiling faces and the sun and the waves. I felt strong and encouraged by everyone around me, and I felt like I was growing because I did something new that in the past I would not have done. This will be my fourth retreat and I am very happy to go again!What happens at the retreatBy Kathy H. When you arrive at the retreat, please register with the hotel. They will have your name; you will need to secure your room with a credit card (you will NOT be charged as you already paid). Last year we had a light dinner on Friday evening, which was suggested on the surveys. We will do that again this year, followed by an opening ice breaker, and an opening meeting; have both men’s and women’s workshops on Friday evening, and a candle light meeting to end the day. (opening meeting starts at approx.. 6:30)Saturday, we will have morning meditations for those early risers, breakfast will be provided, in the hotel café, hear a guest speaker, and you will have different workshops to choose from, then lunch (on your own). In the afternoon there will be two more sets of workshops to choose from, and free time (with optional twelve step meetings and group games. The swimming pool will be open, and then of course dinner. The winning raffle will be announced. On Saturday evening, we will have game night, and other fun things. Sunday, we have one workshop, and a closing meeting. No lunch will be provided on Sunday. (However, breakfast will be served in the hotel café). The weekend is all about choices, your choices what you want to do. Nobody is here to judge you or tell you what you should do, or should not do. However many workshops you attend is up to you. If you want to relax all weekend, that is up to you. There is a heated swimming pool outside, as well as a Jacuzzi and hot tub. WANTED:Workshop Facilitators Aarrr Mate, Do you have the skills or experience to present a workshop? The possibilities are endless! The workshop should focus on the program and respect the 12 Traditions. Compassion, mindfulness, a step(s), boundaries, higher power, inner child, healthy conflict resolution, spotting and overcoming your triggers, prayer and meditation, preparing and making amends, letting go of control, finding your true self, and ad infinitum. A Treasure Chest of Tools27th Annual Philadelphia Area CoDA RetreatDate: May 20, 21, 22, 2016- Reges Resort Hotel, Wildwood Crest, New JerseyWorkshops are 75 minutes in length and there will be 12 total workshops for the weekend; two Friday night (1 Men’s and 1 Women’s), nine on Saturday, and one on Sunday for the closing.DEADLINE for consideration is about MAY 1st, 2016. Send your questions, interest, and the topic along with your qualifications to Emmie I at: aspiritedthinker@ ................
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