About the TeddysRule! A.C.A. Site * À propos de ce site d'EAA
How TeddysRule! evolved, acknowledgements, policies, contacting us, exchanging links and what we are (and aren't). Tips, specs and site history too.
- Purpose (why this site)
- "TeddysRule!" (?) (why the name)
- Contacting TeddysRule!
- Policies:
- Contributions (sending things in)
- Acknowledgements of the many who helped make the site possible
Step 12: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the
result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to
practice these principles in all our affairs." (not bad
for a mission statement). This site
exists to help those in or contemplating recovery from Adult Child
issues. Its aim is to provide information and materials that can provide
assistance in that regard. Those new to or not participating in the
program should be aware of the traditions of ACA, which state in part
that "each group should be autonomous"; consequently, each
takes on its own distinct features and complexion as it adapts to the
needs of the individual members who define it. There is no one, sure-fire
path to recovery. In fact, as we progress, we soon realize that defining
our own paths - rather than simply following those who seem, or profess
to know it all - is an element central to the whole process. In the words
of a Zen master:
To be a little less poetic, one evening I came to a meeting where there were around a dozen members, along with a few newcomers… but no chairperson nor anyone else who knew the combination to the locker where our materials were stored. Fortunately, in between running to a bookstore across the street for a few quick purchases and knowing most of the opening script almost by heart, another old-timer (thanks, Bob) and I were able (eventually) to get things back more or less on track. I made a mental note that night that making the core meeting materials more accessible would really be a good idea!
The second mental note I made concerned our Newcomer's packet which, while informative, had become rather large: making it difficult to easily copy or carry around and rather intimidating to some newcomers. Breaking it down into a few "bite-sized chunks" seemed a good idea and, in the course of creating a series of pamphlets (which I intend to post here as they're completed), much of the content for this site became available (after many blistered fingers and contributions from several other e-scribes), in electronic format.
...and sorry about the spelling. It's a long story, but it actually helps to find us faster on the Web, without stumbling across too many unwanted and inappropriate "hits".
For now, the easiest way to get in touch is via the e-mail link at the
bottom of each page (but please see the note below
first). As the site evolves, this will hopefully be supplemented by
feedback and contributions forms, to make things
a bit better structured, but for now, it's at least in keeping with the 9th
tradition (that "A.C.A... ought never be organized"). If you're
in the Ottawa area, you can of course also drop by the
Monday group and ask for Ian (and please
stay for the meeting, too).
General E-Mail:
teddysruleinfo@netscape.net
First, please be aware that the default settings for many e-mail set-ups append your name as a "signature" at the end of messages you send and may also show your name (alongside your e-mail address) in the "From" block of the message. If you are concerned with anonymity, keep this in mind if you are using the "mailto" link at the bottom of the pages on this site. A Feedback Form will be added to the site in the weeks to come, which will allow you to send messages with only your first name and initial (or city of residence) as an identifier, to keep things more in line with the 12th Tradition.
Second, if you don't have a personal internet account and access the
Web from your place of business, please realize that companies and
government agencies are increasingly archiving their employees' e-mails
on message servers, for security and access to information purposes (it
is, after all, their system you're using). So, you may wish to pursue
a free personal e-mail account with a service such as:
Netscape's "Webmail":
http://webmail.netscape.com
or Microsoft's "Hotmail":
http://www.hotmail.com
both of which are, for your purposes, more secure. Using either of these
doesn't involve the company's mail system, just the Net connection, and
your messages are stored off site.
This site has been created primarily to provide service and support to Adult Children Anonymous members in the National Capital Region of Canada (Ottawa-Hull ). In keeping with the Traditions of A.C.A., there is no affiliation between this site and the official service structure of ACA/ACoA in the National Capital Region, nor with the World Service Organization; if you require information in this regard, please contact:
National Capital Region ACA Intergroup,
P.O. Box 77002, Ottawa South,
Ottawa, ON, K1S 5N2
(613) 230-9071
Similarly, should you require official program information and/or materials, for example, to start an ACA group in your own area, please contact the ACA (ACoA) Adult Children of Alcoholics World Service Organization, Inc. http://www.adultchildren.org/
But we don't do it that way in our group…
The information and readings displayed on this site reflect traditions and a number of changes to the certain readings based on the group conscience of members attending meetings in this area over the years, as well as other suggestions which are simply the author's (the latter are identified as such, wherever I could). As we say in our closing: "Take what you want and leave the rest".
However, this site does its best to adhere to the traditions and best interests of the A.C.A. program. If you see something here you like and would like to use in your own group, please do discuss it with the other members, have a "group conscience" on whether to adopt it and adapt it as necessary. The more that any A.C.A. group involves all its members such that they all feel equally that it's their own, the better its chances of success. Help your members find and express their voice.
Suggestions and contributions are welcomed; just bear in mind that some of us have day jobs, too.
Copyright & Proprietary Material
To the best of the site editor's knowledge, all the information on this site is in the public domain, having been for the most part obtained at meetings where it had been freely distributed for years as program material (and is understood to have been provided in that regard by authors following the Twelfth Step themselves), or, to a lesser extent, from the Internet itself. Wherever known, authors have been identified and readers are encouraged to consult the original works or related works by the same authors.
The graphics are predominantly original material; however, some have been taken from the Newcomer's packet used in this area and the logos of various organizations present on the Web have been reduced in size and used as visual aids in the links section.
Should any organization or individual WITH OWNERSHIP identify proprietary material on this site which they feel is being used improperly or in violation of copyright, please contact the e-mail address at the bottom of each page and appropriate action will be taken.
If your A.C.A. group is in the N.C.R. we can also offer you a Web page dedicated to your group, but you'll have to supply the content.
Many people (and at least one Higher Power), helped make this site possible. Some of their contributions are apparent already and others will show up as the site is fleshed out in the period to come. Here are a few special thank-you's…
In the beginning, or thereabouts, there was "Dr Jan", who wrote the book and "Sister Louise" of Serenity Renewal, who helped get the program going in the Ottawa area.
Next were Michèle and Tara, who introduced me to A.C.A. (at that time, ACoA), and provided insight in the early stages, along with many members of the old Thursday St Paul's and Wednesday Orleans groups. Thanks also to Marie-Ange, for wisdom and example on meditation, spirituality and staying positive, despite it all, and to Pierre S., for wise counsel on the Steps and, in particular, explaining how my wanting to be "restored to sanity" didn't necessarily mean I was crazy. Also thank you Bob, for countless discussions over coffee, and Lynn, for being the first to qualify with "I belong".More recently, thanks to the Inner Peace group (and I believe, Rick), for putting the first Ottawa A.C.A. site up on FreeNet, to the Wednesday and Monday St Paul's group members who provided words of encouragement, including Todd (for also liking the name), Paula, for her support and suggestions, Gerry for carefully transcribing and organizing the meeting texts (my blistered fingers can relate to that), and June's husband, who provided some of the graphics including the first Teddy Bear certificate. Finally, thanks Raymond, for giving what you could; your passage inspired many hours of work on this project and, God willing, will help others to find their second chance.