This Week @ 39 Serenity Place

Hi Everybody:  Its been another busy week at the Clubhouse which is a good thing ......most of the time.    This Sunday January 26 Sara M will be celebrating 25 years at the 1 pm AA Meeting and Lois J is speaking for her.  Will will have a Spaghetti Dinner at 2 pm. and of course Anniversary cake and Ice Cream Steve Ice Cream. Spread the word to come out and support Sara's milestone achievement and Lois J.  We are sure to follow the dinner with cards , crafts and football so there is always something to do... or anything else people want to do....   like clean the kitchen after dinner!  Saturday January 25 is also a busy day.  At 11 Am  the Clubhouse Board of Directors will be hosting the first ever Volunteer Appreciation Lunch with lots of giveaways  Fifteen Volunteers will be recognized for their contributions and efforts toward the success of the clubhouse. We have also invited back the Clubhouse Founding Members to participate in the event.  We are excited and cant wait to report back how successful it was !!!   Later that day(still the 25th) at 2pm we will continue with our Movie Series and will be showing Ben is Back with Julia Roberts. Of course there will be snacks and popcorn and a discussion immediately following the movie.  Last weeks discussion was lively and focused on feelings, denial and family reactions. If you attend it is important to stay and participate in the discussion. Sometimes people are triggered by the movies we are watching and its good to talk about it right away.  Kenny B. leads the discussion and welcomes all viewpoints . We watched Sarah T. Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic last week.  Despite the movie being quite old, the topic and issues were pertinent to everyone.  We are averaging 18-20 people every week so come early if you want a good seat. Thanks to Sue & John B who brought pizza again. The week before we watched A Beautiful Boy . It was difficult to watch for some of us but the discussion helped us to process what we were feeling. We are also learning about patience and tolerance of a variety of viewpoints.  Win Win  Sometime this week Danny L will hold a second  Meeting with Committee Members interested in keeping a positive vibe in the clubhouse.  Although the clubhouse is positive overall.. our character defects sometimes emerge and problems seep out. We want the energy to remain positive so  the group is drafting a plan to encourage this attitude.  Thanks for volunteering Kenny B, Memory, Sarah M  & Mike R.  If you want to be on the committee or have some ideas see Danny L.  Last week, Carl C. celebrated  6 years at the 1 Pm Meeting and Memory shared her story. Despite the weather the room was packed.  Carl's Anniversary was scheduled for last Sunday but due to weather conditions the celebration was canceled  so we couldn't cancel again. Karen M made a turkey dinner and Darlene N. popped in with a salad and some subs. We had lots of food thanks to these two.  . Also thanks to Ice Cream Steve we never have to worry about our ice cream inventory and of course there was cake this week as well.  Randy B. and Michelle P cleaned the entire Kitchen and it was spotless.  Thanks . It is always nice to leave knowing nothing has to be done the next day.  Also thanks to Randy B for shoveling the back door entrance before people arrived. The week before 15 people showed up for the 1 Pm AA meeting despite the bad weather.  I can't remember what we ate but I know Darlene made something.   Welcome to all the Potsdam people that were there.   Two weeks ago we had our first ever Clean Up Day at the Clubhouse and what a success.  Thanks to Carl C. Randy B, John B. Carol H. Lois J,  Beki B. Anne L, Michelle P., Sue L and Karen M for all their help . We managed to clean up the second Meeting room upstairs, set up craft tables int he attic and start organizing the store. Carol H. even cleaned out the coat closet and and Michelle P. cleaned out the pantry and Kitchen one more time.. Lots of garbage left the building and many book were donated to the Public Library. Thanks for bringing that enormous box over to the Library John. F. There  is more work to go but wee are definitely are a little more organized.  So the next clean up day will be scheduled sometime in February  When will you be back John F. ?  I almost forgot... Karen M made Macaroni and  Cheese for all the workers. Thanks Karen M.  This past week a member of the Clubhouse was having a hard time and on the verge of a relapse. But a call was made asking to go the clubhouse because the craving was taking over. Sara M. and Memory dropped what they were doing and  showed up at the  clubhouse almost immediately to help a fellow member of the program. They stayed with her until the meeting. This is why the clubhouse was started,for times like this. If you find yourself in a similar situation, don't be afraid to call the Clubhouse phone.  We will always find someone to meet you at the clubhouse . Have you noticed how clean the clubhouse has been lately?  Thanks to Michelle P, Randy B, Becki B, Lois J.  and others for cleaning and organizing  the last few weeks.  I am sure there are others.  So thanks to the unknowns too!! Finally we have made valentines for the Giving Christmas Tree. I forgot to do this around the holidays !! Please pick up a valentine  and donate what is listed on the back.  We have all sorts of price ranges and everything donated is appreciated.  This always helps keep our daily expenses to a minimum  so we can  provide more to the members. Thanks in advance.  Welcome  new members Kylie, Jesse, & Chad.  Also welcome back  Karen M. and nice to see you pop in Dan D.  More Next Week ........