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AL ANON 12 STEP STUDY - BARBARA DAVIS (3 CDs)
This 3-CD set, recorded in Dallas, Texas is an excellent Al Anon 12 Step Study. Barbara Davis shares her many years of experience as a member of Al Anon in this very complete study.
Contents - 40 Tracks
Length – 194 Minutes
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ALCOHOLISM - THE FAMILY DISEASE
This is a thorough covering of the Al Anon program. This recording begins with an explanation of how alcoholism affects the families and friends of the alcoholic. After that, there are some short personal testimonials of how Al Anon has helped different individuals deal with life’s problems. There is a section on this recording where that covers frequently asked questions and answers about Al Anon. Al Anon Slogans are discussed as well. Toward the end of the recording, the twelve steps of Al Anon are covered.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 55 Minutes
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ARBUTUS O'NEIL - CHAMPAIGN, IL 10-9-93
This Al-Anon talk is delivered with great passion and wisdom from long-time member, Arbutus O’Neil at the 3rd Anniversary of Soberfest in Champaign, Illinois on October 9th, 1993. Arbutus, from Brownwood, Texas has a wonderful historical perspective on Al-Anon and this talk helps the listener to learn more about the beginnings of this spiritual fellowship. She relates experiences of being the child of, wife of, and mother of alcoholics. Her love and respect for the Al-Anon program comes through loud and clear. Her message is inspiring, educational, and touching.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 75 Minutes
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ARBUTUS O'NEIL - SACRAMENTO, CA 2-19-00
Arbutus O'Neil is a long-timer with a wonderful story and a delightful way of telling it. She has many words of wisdom and emphasizes how important it is for those in recovery to welcome and guide newcomers. Her program is filled with inspiration and joy.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 58 Minutes
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BOND OF FRIENDSHIP
This is a unique Al Anon recording. The speakers are Mary Ann M and Doris R, two women with different backgrounds but they found a commonality and a solid friendship through the Al Anon program.
Contents – 5 Tracks
Length – 25 Minutes
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CAROL THORTON - CHICAGO, IL JANUARY 2003
Carol, from Lawndale, California delivered this Al Anon talk in Chicago IL in January of 2003.She had a wonderful alcohol-free upbringing with many siblings. Her father was in the service and they moved around a lot. She married into alcoholism and learned that "religion is for those who believe in hell, but spirituality is for those who have been there." Carol says that people who are kind and the loving are the only people that the blind can see and the deaf can hear. She had an image of the lifestyle she wanted but came a long way to finally be happy with everything she lived through. Carol feels that she would not trade a bit of the pain she has suffered through for anything. It has made her what she is; a kind and loving sponsor and a joyous Al Anon. Review written by Andrea M from Hemet, CA.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 58 Minutes
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CHARLOTTE IMISLUND - STUDIO CITY, CA 2-1-91
Charlotte Imislund, wife of Clancy, provides a humorous and heartfelt view of life with an alcoholic. She relates her growth and improvements in life to the Al Anon and her Higher Power. She is a long-term member of Al Anon and still shows that no matter how long you've been in the program, there is always something to learn and ways to grow through its messages.
Contents – 7 tracks
Length – 31 Minutes
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CINDY A - VICTORVILLE, CA 9-17-03
Cindy A.'s program is filled with gratitude and appreciation for the Al-Anon program and the process of recovery. She reflects on many aspects of her life that have improved since embracing the Al-Anon way of life.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 60 Minutes
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CINDY SCOTT - AND THIS IS AL ANON (2 CDs)
Cindy, from Billings, Montana has a great story of her recovery in the Al Anon program and she shares that story in this 2 CD set. She has been in Al Anon since January 1st, 1983. There are times in this talk that Cindy becomes quite emotional. She talks about many of her Al Anon experiences including her difficulty with choosing a sponsor. Cindy covers what she calls, the six principles of the Al Anon program. She really expresses her gratitude for the program in the last portion of her talk.
Contents – 20 Total Tracks
Total Length – 97 Minutes
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CORY D - SACRAMENTO, CA 3-3-01
Although only 18 years old, Cory D has a lifetime of experience in Alateen and Al Anon. Her program highlights the importance of a higher power in her life and she especially emphasizes lessons learned about how little we actually control in our lives. She has an inspiring story of recovery on many levels.
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 39 Minutes
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DIANA NEWPORT - JACKSON'S MILL, WV - 2000
Diana, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recorded this Al Anon talk at the 2000 Winter Roundup in Jackson’s Hole, West Virginia. At the time of this recording, Diana had been in Al Anon for 27 Years. She tells her story beginning with her loveless Czech immigrant family where her father died suddenly and her mother remarried into a marriage that was based on convenience. Wanting out of the dysfunctional home, Diana married her high school sweetheart. Joe was a drinker. Diana takes you on a journey throughout their marriage, explains how she arrived at Al Anon and how Joe entered the rooms of AA. She details Joe's downward spiral into alcoholism and her growing insanity in trying to control him. Diana had "brownouts" not to remember and to keep a journal so that she could keep her lies straight.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 49 Minutes
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ELLEN CASSIDY - AND THIS IS AL ANON - OMAHA, NE 8-26-05 (2 CDs)
Ellen, from Addison, Texas recorded this Al Anon talk at the 27th Cornhuskers Roundup in Omaha, Nebraska on August 26th, 2005. Ellen begins her talk by telling her own story of recovery and then she goes on to talk about each of the Twelve Al Anon steps. She’s got a great message.
Contents – 25 Total Tracks
Total Length – 121 Minutes
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ELSA CHAMBERLAIN - BLACKSTONE, VA 4-27-63
Al Anon pioneer Elsa Chamberlain, wife of well-known AA speaker, Chuck Chamberlain gives an excellent Al Anon talk on this recording. She tells her story and shares her experiences.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Contents – 45 Minutes
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ELSIE L - IGNATIO, CO 8-6-94
This Al Anon talk by Native American, Elsie L was recorded at the Indians in Sobriety Campout in Ignacio, Colorado on August 6th, 1994. Elsie, from Old Laguna, New Mexico tells her story and shares her thoughts.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 48 Minutes
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HELEN RHODES - PARKERSBURG, WV 9-30-67
Helen, from Cleveland, Ohio delivered this Al Anon talk at the 14th West Virginia State Conference in Parkersburg, West Virginia way back on September 30th, 1967. She had been a member of Al Anon for about ten years at the time of this recording. Helen says that it’s impossible to live with an alcoholic, even for just a few years, without developing your own serious problems. She says that her husband was treated at Rosary Hall in Cleveland and that she was fortunate enough to be able to attend Al Anon meetings there as well. She talks quite a bit about how those Rosary Hall Al Anon meetings were conducted at a little about Sister Ignatia as well. Helen says that after taking a good, serious look at herself, she no longer looks down at any fellow human being.
Contents – 6 Tracks
Length – 29 Minutes
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HENRIETTA H - LOUISVILLE, KY 2-21-60
Although this talk was delivered over 40 years ago, the message of hope and love comes through with power and clarity. The recording is wonderfully clear and easy to listen to. Henrietta from Cleveland, Ohio recorded this Al Anon talk at the 9th Kentucky AA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on February 21st, 1960. She relates her own experience of working her alcoholic husband's program for him, her self-imposed martyrdom, and the attempts to run away from the family disease of alcoholism by keeping busy with community activities. Henrietta tells of the struggles to keep one step ahead of the alcoholic only to discover that this very behavior leads to her own version of insanity. And her deep understanding of the fears that haunt the family of the alcoholic is universal. The miracle of Al-Anon and surrender in Step One is a powerful message of hope and joy.
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 43 Minutes
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JEAN K - SAN DIEGO, CA 1996
This Al Anon talk was recorded at the 1996 San Diego Spring Al Anon Roundup. Jean gives a very humorous speech. She has been in Al Anon for a number of years and it’s obvious she knows what she’s talking about. She mentions a lot of very funny predicaments her husband’s drinking caused. It’s very obvious by the way she talks, that Jean is a very grateful member of Al Anon.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length – 59 Minutes
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JUNE CHRISTIANSEN - MARIETTA, OH JULY 1999
June, from Bixby, Oklahoma recorded this Al Anon talk at Meeting on the River in Marietta, Ohio in July of 1999. June has overcome a lot of issues and her story is one of hope and inspiration.
Contents – 15 Tracks
Length – 74 Minutes
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KAREN T - HOUSTON, TX 11-23-00
Karen talks of her growth as a result of involvement in ACA and Al-Anon. She is very articulate and has a soothing voice. This program is not overly-humorous; but she has a gentle way of telling her story. Karen reflects on co-dependency and introduces a very appropriate analogy - that co-dependent's lives are like mirrors; always reflecting the feelings and behaviors of the addict. Karen has been in the program for 15 years and is now a minister.
Contents - 5 Tracks
Length – 24 Minutes
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KAREN W - CHEROKEE, NC 11-11-94
This Al Anon talk by Native American, Karen W was recorded at the Native American AA Convention in Cherokee, North Carolina on November 11th, 1994. Karen, from Stockbridge, Georgia tells her story and shares her thoughts.
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 40 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON & EARLY AFG WORKERS - BEDFORD HILLS, NY 6-25-82
This is a very unique and interesting recording of Lois Wilson, Henrietta F, and Margaret D. On this recording, these Al Anon pioneers discuss the very earliest days of the Al Anon Family Group fellowship. Unfortunately, Al Anon co-founder, Ann Bingham was in California at the time this recording was made and was not part of it. However Lois, Henrietta, and Margaret still manage to thoroughly discuss many interesting Al Anon subjects. The topics include: the 24th Street AA Clubhouse, their work with groups and individual Al Anons, and the publication of literature including The Forum. The three women also talk about the development of Alateen. This was recorded in a nice, casual setting because you can hear the occasional sounds of nature in the background.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 54 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - BLOOMINGTON, MN 9-4-82
Lois Wilson gave this Al Anon talk on September 4th, 1982 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Lois begins by thanking the committee for supplying her with a wheelchair (she was quite old at the time.) She tells quite a bit about her life with her husband, Bill. Lois tells of the isolation she felt during Bill’s drinking years. She speaks of their motorcycle trip in 1925 as well as her "famous" shoe-throwing incident, when she realized that she had her own set of problems. Lois tells how she and her friend, Ann Bingham began the Al Anon program. Her hope is that the AA and Al Anon programs can keep on growing in the coming years so that many more people can be helped.
Contents - 8 Tracks
Length - 39 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - CHARLESTON, WV 1982
On this CD is a really great AA/AL ANON Talk by Lois Wilson. This talk was recorded in 1982 at the 38th South Eastern AA Conference in Charleston, West Virginia. Lois was 91 years old at the time as was to live another 6 years before she passed on. She sounds somewhat frail and is apparently delivering this message from her wheelchair. Lois begins her talk by stating how important it is to continue “Carrying on the Message.” This is why she feels the emphasis should always be on the new people entering the program. She feels that AA & Al Anon have played a very large role in saving this troubled world from itself. Lois continues by giving some insight into the early days of her marriage to Bill and the eventual development of the AA program. She shares some stories that only she could know. She tells of the first time she saw Bill drunk. She had gone to visit Bill at a party in New Bedford Massachusetts where Bill was stationed in the army. She could not find Bill at the party; a few friends had driven him home. She found Bill at home with a “Bucket by his Head.” Lois shares some stories about Dr. Bob’s wife, Anne who she was very fond of. Anne was nearly blind in her later years. She was a very wise woman who was loved by everyone that knew her. Anne was a chain smoker that would usually sit in the corner of the room by herself during a meeting. The recording makes it very clear how much of a caring woman Lois Wilson was.
Contents - 9 Tracks
Length - 45 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - DALLAS, TX 5-29-73
On this recording, Lois Wilson talks at length about the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon. She tells her own story and Bill’s story in a single talk. Lois is introduced by Searcy Whaley and his wife at an AA event in Dallas, Texas. She recounts without rambling and in chronological order how both AA and Al Anon were started. She begins by talking about meeting Bill in Vermont. She talks about her family and Ebby Thatcher’s family. Lois recounts some of Ebby’s alcoholic adventures and his airplane escapade with Bill. She talks about Bill’s early drinking, eventual alcoholism and his sincere desire and attempts at stopping. She speaks about the meeting with a sober Ebby, Bill’s visit to Calvary Mission with Alec the Finn, life at 182 Clinton Street and how Bill sobered up. Lois tells of their early involvement with the Oxford Group and about Bill’s trip to Akron where he met Dr Bob. Lois tells of how Al Anon was started. This is a very beautiful and inspiring recording of the wife of AA’s co-founder and an excellent recounting the history of Alcoholics Anonymous and how Al Anon began. It’s a real gem for anyone interested in an eyewitness account of AA history.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 58 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - HAWAII 11-8-75
In this talk, just a few years after the death of her husband Bill, Lois talks about him quite a bit. She begins this talk by telling an interesting story about her and Bill while they were still dating. They were planning a Staten Island picnic and ended up accidentally setting the woods on fire. Bill’s coat and Lois’ hat were burned up. She tells with a lot of detail, about the time Bill and Ebby drunkenly flew to Manchester, Vermont to christen the new airport. Lois says she still has Bill’s letter of apology to the airport manager. Lois talks about how she shocked herself the day she threw her shoe at Bill. It was this incident that would be the catalyst for her and her friend Ann Bingham to found the AFG groups. At the end of her talk, Lois says, “I’m full of gratitude to you all here and to all AAs and to all Al Anons everywhere. And I pray to God they will go along hand and hand for as long as God shall let them.”
Contents – 9 Tracks
Length – 42 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - INTERVIEW AT STEPPING STONES
This is a one-of-a-kind interview with Lois Wilson, co-founder of Al Anon and wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill Wilson. The interview takes place in Stepping Stones, the house that Bill and Lois lived in together for 30 years in Bedford Hills, New York. Lois begins by talking about her early childhood in Brooklyn, New York. She was the oldest of six children and outlived them all. Lois tells about how she was shocked the first time she had seen Bill drunk. She had no idea that he had been drinking. Lois tells of the jobs she had to take to support herself and Bill during the years he was too drunk to make an income. She talks about Bill’s pledges to quit drinking that he had written in the family bible. She tells about her “shoe throwing” incident and the Oxford Group meetings. She talks about the beginnings of Al Anon and her reluctance to get involved. Lois also reveals Bill’s near slip when she was out of town. This recording is a really great insight into the lives of two people that had a major impact on recovery in the United States as well as the rest of the world.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 50 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - PALM SPRINGS, CA 6-4-83
Lois recorded this talk at the Desert Roundup in Palm Springs, California on June 4th, 1983. Lois begins this talk by telling of her engagement to Bill. From there she goes on to tell about Bill’s drinking and how shocked she was the first time she had seen him drunk. At the time she was convinced that living with her would correct his drinking problem but it actually had the opposite effect. Lois also talks about the motorcycle trip with Bill in 1925. She talks about the infamous “shoe throwing” incident. She talks about the early formation of Al Anon with Ann Bingham. Lois says that initially the AA members weren’t particularly happy with the Al Anon idea because they thought they were being talked about behind their backs. This is an overall good, solid talk by Lois.
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 40 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - TARRYTOWN, NY 7-23-82
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 11 Tracks
Length - 54 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - THE OLD DAYS
This is recording of Lois Wilson casually reflecting back on the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al Anon. This was not recorded in front of an audience; just Lois and her tape recorder. She talks quite a bit about her first impressions of Anne Smith, Dr Bob's wife. She also reflects back on the first AA clubhouse on 24th Street. Lois speaks about Bill's suggestion that she organize the family groups of alcoholics and her initial negative reaction to that idea. She tells how she and Ann Bingham got together and began the work that was later to become Al Anon. Lois talks about how, after Al Anon began to grow, she, Ann Bingham and Wally Shallot (the father of an alcoholic) visited many local Al Anon groups trying to recruit volunteers for this new fellowship. Lois also gives a pretty thorough account of how she and Bill acquired Stepping Stones, the home they lived in together for nearly 30 years.
Contents - 5 Tracks
Length - 20 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - TOPEKA, KS 10-17-75
Lois recorded this talk in Topeka, Kansas on October 17th, 1975. Lois begins this talk by talking about Bill’s drinking and says that during their three year engagement, Bill never drank. She says that when Bill did eventually start drinking, he never drank moderately; he drank to excess every time. Lois talks about a backpacking trip that she and Bill took across Maine and other New England states. She talks about the initial idea to form Al Anon as a result of Bill’s trip across the country in 1951 and noticing that the families of AA members had loosely been forming groups of their own. Lois has a great historical message in this talk and she ends the talk by saying, “It’s so marvelous now to see that AA and Al Anon are walking together hand in hand and I hope that they will continue to do so as long as God shall lead them.”
Contents – 7 Tracks
Length – 32 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON - TWELVE AL ANON TRADITIONS 1955
Lois delivered this speech on August 13th, 1955. Her topic of discussion is the Twelve Traditions of Al Anon. Lois first gives us a brief history of how the Twelve Traditions came to be. The principles of the Oxford Group eventually became the twelve steps of AA. Because Bill’s secretary, Ruth Hock was becoming flooded with questions from AA groups across the country, AA established their Twelve Traditions. The AA groups across the country then had a guide for their conduct. The individuals had the Twelve Steps and the groups had the Twelve Traditions. When the Al Anon program began to develop, they already had the AA Twelve Traditions to draw from. Lois then spends the majority of her talk going into detail about each of the Al Anon Traditions one by one. She spends quite a bit of time talking about each tradition and how it determines the behavior and conduct of Al Anon groups. This talk is about 48 years old but the recording was done well and is easily understood.
Contents - 7 Tracks
Length - 35 Minutes
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LOIS WILSON AND SEARCY WHALEY - BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10-13-87
This is a unique recording. It was made by Searcy Whaley of Texas when he visited Lois Wilson at Stepping Stones, her home in Bedford Hills, NY. Lois was 96 years of age at the time, less than a year prior to her death. Some of the people present when this recording was made were: Lois Wilson, Searcy Whaley, Margaret Whaley, Nell Wing (Bill Wilson’s longtime secretary), Fran (Lois Wilson’s caretaker), and some Stepping Stones workers. It appears that one of the purposes of the visit was an old movie film that Searcy had taken way back in 1950 during an earlier visit to Stepping Stones and he had brought Lois a copy. Lois had never seen it before and seemed quite touched to see her husband, Bill walking in their garden. Searcy just lets the audio recorder run and it picks up a lot of reminiscing between him and Lois. Searcy recalls when Bill handed him the brand new Twelve Traditions written in long hand and wanted his opinion. Lois talks about her family and Ebby Thatcher’s family knowing each other quite well. This recording gives you a hint of how casual it was inside the Wilson home.
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 35 Minutes
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LOVING YOURSELF
This Al Anon talk by Darlene L deals with the topic of Loving Yourself as part of recovery.
Contents – 6 Tracks
Length – 28 Minutes
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LU BELLE McQUANY - LIBERAL, KS 1-10-81
Lu Belle, the first black woman in Al Anon and the wife of Joe McQuany of the Joe & Charlie Big Book Studies, delivered this Al Anon talk in Liberal, Kansas on January 10th, 1981. Lu Belle talks about her early days growing up in Tennessee before moving to Little Rock, Arkansas. She talks about her first husband, who drank quite a bit. Lu Belle says that she met Joe at church through his sister. Shortly after marrying Joe, she realized that he had a real drinking problem. She talks about Joe’s drinking quite a bit. Lu Belle says that it was difficult for her at the beginning of her Al Anon program because there were no other blacks. Now, she is a very active member of Al Anon; she's the delegate from the state of Arkansas. Lu Belle lightly covers the Al Anon twelve steps.
Contents - 7 Tracks
Length - 33 Minutes
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LUANN G - COLUMBUS, OH 8-12-05
This Al Anon talk by LuAnn G was recorded at the 49th Ohio – Southeast Michigan State Conference in Columbus, Ohio on August 12th, 2005. LuAnn is from Delaware, Ohio. LuAnn says she did not grow up in a drinking environment. Her older sister did begin drinking at age 16 and LuAnn, at age 10 was in charge of serving drinks. She was always attracted to people who drank because they always seemed to be having the most fun. LuAnn’s first and second husbands were both alcoholics. She attended her first Al Anon meeting on May 19th, 1983. LuAnn gets quite emotional when she talks about her last divorce. She had been married for 25 years. LuAnn says that she would have gone insane a couple of years ago when her grandson was killed if it were not for the Al Anon program.
Contents – 11 Tracks
Length – 56 Minutes
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MARCE WHITE - NASHVILLE, TN 7-4-87
We don't have a description of the contents of this CD because we have not personally listened to this yet. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions after listening to it.
Contents - 12 Tracks
Length - 57 Minutes
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MARY PEARL THOMPSON - RICHFIELD, OH OCTOBER 2006
Mary Pearl Thompson from Little Rock, AR recorded this Al Anon talk at the 2nd Annual Greater Cleveland Conference in Richfield, Ohio in October of 2006. At the very beginning of this talk, Mary announces, “With the help of the An Anon program I haven’t been tempted to kill an alcoholic since January 15th, 1977.” Mary says that there was a lot of alcoholism on her mother’s side of the family. She describes herself as a very anal non-drinker. Mary learned the fine art of revenge at the early age of 5 years old from her father. She said she’s been told by a few different people that she’s only one six-pack away from being an alcoholic herself. At her lowest point, Mary describes her life as, “Living in the middle of the Madness.” Toward the end of this recording Mary tells of a recent airplane trip she took that almost ended in disaster. She took great comfort in knowing that she was not alone….spiritually.
Contents – 14 Tracks
Length – 68 Minutes
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MARY PEARL THOMPSON - THE 12 PROMISES - OMAHA, NE 8-17-94
Long time Alanon member, Mary Pearl Thompson from Little Rock, AR gave this talk in Omaha, Nebraska on August 17th, 1994. In this sometimes humorous talk she applies the Twelve Promises to her life and the Al Anon program.
Contents – 16 Tracks
Length – 80 Minutes
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OTTO M - MISSOURI 7-6-02
Otto, from Plano, TX recorded this Al Anon talk at the Missouri State Convention on July 6th, 2002. He tells his story with a lot of feeling. Otto was brought up in an alcoholic home with a violent father who is also a cop. His mother was beaten regularly and his brothers were in and out of jail until one of them hung himself after Otto had him incarcerated. He survived his family and Vietnam but is handicapped because of his leg being blown up in the war. His story is filled with "victim-itis" until he found Al Anon and realized the only one he could change was himself. Once Otto started changing, things fell into place. He had a wise sponsor who told him that you don't have to believe in the god you gave up on. Today Otto is healthier after many surgeries and has a happy family life. He says his kids traveled a path he would have never given them, but they got through it in the way their higher power wanted them to.
Contents – 12 Tracks
Length - 57 Minutes
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PAT FRANCIS - CLEVELAND, OH MAY 1979
Pat recorded this short Al Anon talk at the Cleveland Intergroup Dinner in Cleveland, Ohio in May of 1979. Pat says that Al anon saved her life. Although she never actually thought about suicide, she had considered homicide a couple of times. She said that the benefits of the Al Anon program did not hit her all at once; a little light flickered, then a dim light came on and then suddenly full brightness. Pat says that if you want to look like St Teresa, then marry a drunk. She says that Step Eleven really opened her eyes to a whole new type of prayer. Pat ends her talk with a short prayer.
Contents – 4 Tracks
Length – 16 Minutes
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PAT ROCHE - GRAND ISLAND, NE 6-6-98
Pat, from Oceanside, California recorded this Al Anon talk in Grand Island, Nebraska on June 6th, 1998. She is an awesome speaker who was a psychology major in college. Pat felt she had to make her husband’s life happy so he wouldn't have to worry about the little things, like money. She says, "Of course we know in Al Anon that never works.” Pat also compares alcoholics to slot machines; "You pay off often enough to keep us Al Anons coming back."
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 64 Minutes
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PEGGY - RICHLAND, WA 1981
Peggy begins this Al Anon talk by describing herself as a person who used to be angry, frustrated, resentful, manipulating, conniving, emotionally out-of-control, run-of-the-mill spouse of an alcoholic. She says her husband was charming even when he was drunk. Peggy says she was once very tempted to knock her husband overboard when he got drunk while boating. After her husband got sober, Peggy says that she really liked that but did not like the idea of him associating with all those drunks in AA. The way Peggy feels now is, “Thanks to the AA program I have my husband back. Thanks to the Al Anon program he has a slightly insane wife back, and thanks to both programs we have our family back.”
Contents – 5 Tracks
Length – 23 Minutes
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PLOOMIE HAMEN - AKRON, OH 6-15-77
This recording was made during Founder’s Day in Akron, Ohio on June 15th, 1977. Ploomie says she is a member in good standing of the Rosary Hall Al Anon group in Cleveland. Her mother died when Ploomie was 11 years old. Around that same time she met the boy who would become her future husband. She was attracted to him because he was “different.” Later on she and her husband moved to Cleveland and his drinking really took off. Her husband was eventually put in Rosary Hall. It was at that time that Ploomie became acquainted with Al Anon. She originally had trouble feeling like she belonged in Al Anon, but after someone told her to try to take at least one positive thing home from every meeting, her outlook began to change. She goes on to give a great talk and at the end she says, “Without my Higher Power and you people and without this program, I would not be here. And I would like to say that I’m glad I’m married to an alcoholic so that I could find all these good things. Thank you.”
Contents – 8 Tracks
Length – 33 Minutes
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RICHARD G - CHEROKEE, NC 11-12-94
This Al Anon talk by Native American Richard G was recorded at the First North Carolina Native American AA Convention in Cherokee, North Carolina on November 12th, 1994. Richard, from Atlanta, Georgia tells his story and shares his thoughts.
Contents – 10 Tracks
Length – 50 Minutes
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ROZ CORRIGAN - CLEVELAND, OH 5-1-76
This is a nice, short Al Anon talk by Roz Corrigan from the Lorain Tuesday Al Anon Group in Cleveland, Ohio. She recorded this at an AA Intergroup Dinner in Cleveland, Ohio on May 1st, 1976. She calls this talk, “Al Anon in a Nutshell.” Roz was an Al Anon member for 13 years at the time of this talk. She tells about some words of wisdom given to her by Sister Ignatia. She talks euphemistically about, “Opening Cans and Making Meals.”
Contents – 3 Tracks
Length – 15 Minutes
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SISTER ROSE 5-25-2008
This Al Anon talk by Sister Rose was recorded on May 25th, 2008 at the 25th Helping Hands Breakfast Anniversary. Her very good, long-time friend and AA speaker, Sister Maurice is in attendance and much of this talk is about how Sister Rose dealt with Sister Maurice’s alcoholism. Rose says that she was not raised in an alcoholic home but when her best friend, Sister Maurice developed a drinking problem, all systems were in place as far as trying to control her drinking. Her perfectionism kicked in. She counted her drinks, she marked the bottles, she hid the car keys. Sister Rose became totally obsessed with Sister Maurice. The "rescue operation" for her became as important as the drinking was to her friend.
Contents - 5 Tracks
Length - 23 Minutes
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STEPHANIE BUTLER - COLUMBUS, OH APRIL 2006
Stephanie, from Granite Shoals, Texas recorded this Al Anon talk in Columbus, Ohio in April of 2006. Stephanie is 61 years old. She was born into an Italian-Catholic family, the oldest of three children. She speaks of her children quite a bit. Her daughter just celebrated 19 years of sobriety and her son just had 15 years. Stephanie says that she use to call her sponsor every time she ran into a little trouble. She tells a very funny story of her granddaughter introducing herself as an alcoholic at age seven. The humorous tone of Stephanie’s talk becomes very serious when she tells of her husband’s inability to cope with sobriety. It’s very sad. Stephanie was holding her sponsor’s hand when she took her last breath. It was a very special moment for Stephanie. This is one of the better AFG talks we’ve heard in a long time.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 67 Minutes
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THE TWELVE STEPS OF AL ANON - BABS BLACK - MARCH 1997 (3 CDS)
Babs, from Dallas, Texas is an awesome and dynamic speaker. She shares her story right from the heart in a warm and honest, sometimes humorous way. She discussed the Twelve Steps of Al Anon with many insights that really makes one think about their own experience, strength and hope. Her story includes six kids and a husband who didn’t behave. She calls him a “revolving SOB, because any way you turn him he’s still an SOB”. Through the Twelve Steps, she has come to a serene and peaceful way to live her life (with breast cancer, no less.) Her Step Nine really stands out when she says, “We are held prisoners by the people we resent, the guilt we feel, and the debts we owe.” She makes an awesome sponsor in her belief that, “Your unique past gives you the key to freedom for somebody else.”
Contents – 42 Total Tracks
Total Length – 208 Minutes
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VANNOY SHAW - EDISTO ISLAND, SC 4-15-93
This is a really great Al Anon talk by Vannoy Shaw. Vannoy recorded this talk at Edisto Island, South Carolina on April 15th, 1993. Vannoy is a well respected Al Anon speaker who has seen quite a bit in her life. She’s not only humorous in this talk but she gets quite emotional at times as well. Vannoy is from Dallas, Texas and has a genuine “Texas Twang.” She tells us that her childhood was pretty tough a lot of poverty after her brother suffered a major life-changing injury. Vannoy became addicted to always needing someone in her life. One of her lower points in her life was when she broke up with an alcoholic boyfriend and the father of her young daughter. She began dating another alcoholic to make her boyfriend jealous. Boyfriend number one ended up “blowing the head off” of boyfriend number two. Vannoy tells an interesting story of additional family problems and an amazing story of her eventual recovery. A truly inspirational talk.
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 64 Minutes
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VANNOY SHAW - MESA, AZ JANUARY 2002
Vannoy, from Los Angeles, California has a lot of experience in the Al Anon program. She shares some of here experience here on this recording that she made in January of 2002 in Mesa, Arizona at the Fourth Annual Mesa Roundup. She came into the fellowship on February 7th, 1969 in Lubbock, Texas. She tells a funny story about an alcoholic she was once involved with. He would very often pee in her closet and she didn’t think that was necessarily a big problem. Vannoy also tells a very sad story about an attempt to make her boyfriend jealous by dancing with another guy. The other guy ended up getting killed that night. She realized that after many years of being involved with alcoholics she had developed a feeling of, “I don’t care how you treat me, just don’t ever leave me.” At the end of her talk Vannoy says, “I am a child of kings and my heritage comes from you people at this meeting and boy I am so grateful for that. Thank you for letting me share.”
Contents – 13 Tracks
Length – 61 Minutes
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