SANA News

SANA Area News

March 2010 News

Tuesday March 2nd the LeMars Tuesday group held a 6th Anniversary pizza party. There were about 15 addicts from LeMars, and another 7 that came up from Sioux City to join in the celebration. Jesse and Kristi sprung for about a dozen pizzas, and received a huge round of applause for starting the meeting 6 years ago and keeping it open all these years. There was lots of good sharing at the meeting from addicts with only a few days clean to one with over 29 years. Great party and great work. Thanks LeMars group!

February 2010 News

SANA Valentine’s Day Dodge Ball & Dance

By: Ross W.

On Saturday, February 13^th, the SANA Activities Committee hosted the 2010 Valentine’s Day Dodge Ball and Dance event. Held at the Boys and Girls Home on 14^th and Nebraska Streets, a grand total of around 120 recovering addicts showed up to take part in a whole day’s worth of fun and fellowship. Around 20 recovering addicts from Nebraska made the trip to support the event. These addicts came from Omaha, Wayne, Norfolk, and Columbus. The DJ for the event, Scott R., hauled his equipment from Columbus to provide premium entertainment for those in attendance. The event proved to be the biggest and most exciting so far this year.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, addicts assembled themselves into teams of six for the Dodge Ball Tournament, which was held in the gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Home. Addicts had to choose a team name for themselves, and here’s what they came up with: the NA Ballers, Team Monstrosity, the American Patriots, the Roughnecks, and a few others whose names escape me. Mike M. served as the referee for the games, and he did a fantastic job of enforcing rules and keeping the pace of the games smooth and efficient.

The teams lined up at opposite ends of the gym. The balls were lined up along the half-court line. As Mike M. counted down from three, those sitting around the sidelines leaned forward in anticipation. Mike shouted, “GO!” and the teams sprinted frantically towards their balls, their shoes squeaking against the hardwood floor. In a desperate attempt to grab them before their opponents, players immediately flung balls at each other. The tournament was underway. As the crowd cheered them on, players ran all over the court, whipping balls at each other while trying to avoid being hit. Throughout each game, the intensity flared and the sweat rolled. Players took shots to the arms, chest, and legs. The fun and excitement was outstanding. Team Monstrosity emerged victorious from the Tournament, and the players on the team earned free admission into the dance. The American Patriots won the consolation bracket, and those players also earned free admission to the dance. Although the Dodge Ball Tournament was completed by 3:00, many recovering addicts assembled new teams and continued to play for fun until 4:00.

After dodge ball, addicts were treated to hot dogs, chili, chips, and soda. Addicts chowed down and enjoyed food and fellowship for a couple hours before turning the gymnasium into a dance floor. Several recovering addicts graciously helped decorate, assemble tables and chairs, and set up the DJ equipment.

At 7:00 o’clock, SANA Activities Chairperson Sarah T. chaired the speaker meeting. She introduced Jason T., the meeting’s speaker. Jason stood in front of a crowd of around one hundred recovering addicts and told his story, delivering a powerful message of recovery. Jason is heavily involved in SANA Hospitals & Institutions service work. He regularly participates in H&I panels at the Dakota County Jail in Dakota City, NE and the Synergy Treatment Center in Cherokee, IA. He has a tremendous passion for carrying the message of recovery to the still-suffering addict, and he has devoted himself to doing just that. A special thanks goes out to Jason P. for sharing his experience, strength, and hope at the Valentine’s Day Dance.

Following Jason’s message, Scott R. closed the meeting by leading a Clean Time Countdown. Amidst shouting, cheering, and hollering, everyone formed a gigantic circle that encompassed almost the entire gymnasium. With hands joined, everyone recited the Gratitude Prayer.

Next, the lights in the gym were put out and DJ Scott R. pumped up the jams and the strobe lights. Scott proved to be a versatile DJ, serving up a wide array of music. For three hours, a continual wave of recovering addicts stormed the dance floor, busting a move, getting their groove on, and having a great time.

About midway through the dance, a raffle drawing was held. Prizes included NA literature, boxes of chocolate, and goofy stuffed animals that sang and danced when you squeeze their hands.

The long day of fun came to a close at midnight, at which time several recovering addicts pitched in to help clean everything up. On behalf of recovering addicts in the Siouxland Area, we would all like to thank the Activities Committee for the amazing job they did in making Valentine’s Day 2010 full of fun and excitement. The Dodge Ball Tournament was a blast, and the dance was hoppin’. We are all extremely grateful to everyone who donated time and effort in making this huge event such a great success!

Sana Superbowl Party

SANA SUPERBOWL PARTY 2010 was held Sunday February 7th at the Unity Club. The SANA activities committee planned
and hosted the party which started with an open meeting at 3:00 PM. After that, more addicts staggered in from the cold carrying food of all kinds for the potluck. Chips and dip, wraps, loosemeats, cakes, cookies, and various other treats were available for people to snack on while they watched the big game. Mike M. graciously provided his big screen tv for our viewing pleasure. Mike wants us to know the the size of his tv is not compensation for anything! About 45 addicts attended the event, and many spent their time just conversing and catching up with people they hadn't seen for awhile. The mood was relaxed, and everyone seemed to enjoy the day. Thanks activities committee for another outstanding event!!

January 2010 News

SANA Snow Day

By: Ross W.

On Saturday, January 16^th, around twenty-five recovering addicts hit the slopes at Grandview Park for a day of sledding. Fortunately, the 16^th of January was by far the most beautiful day of this winter season, with temperatures reaching into the high 30’s. Our recent blizzards proved to be a blessing in disguise as they left plenty of snow on the ground, setting a perfect stage for those seeking an opportunity to sled.

Addicts from the Siouxland area met at the Unity Club, located at 2101½ Court Street, at 11:00 AM, Saturday morning. Several addicts graciously brought a smorgasbord of food including cake, chips & dip, beef stew, spaghetti, and various other decadent desserts. Addicts enjoyed a bit of food and fellowship before departing for Grandview Park at noon. Many recovering addicts brought their children along to join in on the fun.

Once at Grandview Park, addicts toted their disc-sleds, inter-tubes, and toboggans with them and made the trek up the steep slope. The slope itself was one of the biggest hills in Grandview Park. The surface was pretty smooth and conducive to sledding, but it was not without its bumps and divots. There was also a small ramp halfway down the hill that several tried to launch themselves off of in hopes of “getting some serious air.”

Atop the slope, looking down across the immense whiteness below, addicts braced themselves to make the plummet down the hill. Addicts and their children hopped in their sleds and plunged downwards. On the way down, with ever increasing speed, they bounced over bumps, momentarily airborne, screaming in exhilaration, smiling from ear to ear. Each run down the slope was a mix of laughter, fright, and excitement. Most managed to hold on and stay on their sleds. Some hit bumps too big to handle, launching them from their sleds into the snow surrounding them. Of course, the wipeouts were extremely entertaining to watch. But the best part of the whole day were the smiles on everyone’s faces.

After over two hours of sledding, everyone was soaked, not to mention worn out (the adults more so than the kids). Addicts and their children packed up the sleds and headed for the Unity Club where hot chocolate, coffee, and more food were waiting for them. Everyone enjoyed more food and fellowship. Many addicts hung around for the 3:00 “Keepin’ it Simple” meeting of Narcotics Anonymous, which enjoyed a good turnout.

SANA Snow Day proved to be an exciting and fun-filled day. It was especially touching to see the children interact with their parents. Nothing compares to seeing a grownup and their child climb onto a sled and watch as they surge down the hill, laughing and screaming in joy. In that moment, they are no longer parent and child. They forget themselves. Their souls are exhilarated. They are two humans getting the absolute most out of the present moment. Recovery teaches us to strive for this, making the most of this day, just for today.

October 2009 News

SANA Halloween Dance

By: Ross W.

Close to one hundred fifty members of the Siouxland recovery community came out to the Mayflower Church on Saturday, October 31^st to support the 2009 SANA Halloween Dance. Many were in costumes ranging from funny and creative to downright creepy. SANA Activities Chairperson Mitch K. went out with a bang, as the 2009 Halloween Dance was his last event as Activities Chairperson. On behalf of the Siouxland recovery community, we would like to thank him for the wonderful job he has done throughout the past year providing entertainment for recovering addicts. Fortunately for us, Mitch’s successor, Sarah T., has been working alongside him for the past year. The way it looks right now, there will be no end to the fun as Sarah T. takes the helm as SANA Activities Chairperson.

The Halloween Dance was held in the basement of the Mayflower Church located at 18^th and Rebecca Streets in Sioux City. The basement is an ideal spot for the dance: a big, open room with a stage at the front and a large kitchen in the back. Volunteers showed up at 5:00 PM on Saturday to help the Activities Committee turn the basement of the Mayflower Church into a dance hall gleaming with Halloween decorations. Orange and black streamers hung from the ceiling, jack-o-lantern lights were strewn about the tables and walls, bags of candy could be found on all the tables. One recovering addict even carved a pumpkin for the dance, and it was displayed at the entrance.

Fellowship officially started at 7:00 PM. Hot dogs, nachos, chili, and pop were available all night, and many recovering addicts used the fellowship time to chow down on some of the grub and admire each other’s costumes.

At 8:00 PM, the speaker meeting began. I chaired the meeting with the help of Chris and Diana, who read “How It Works” and “The Twelve Traditions.” Next, I had the privilege of introducing the speaker, Mark. An audience of about one hundred recovering addicts cheered as Mark approached the podium (in his Fred Flintstone costume) to deliver his message of experience, strength, and hope. The first part of his talk was particularly touching for me, as he stated that when he first came into the program, he never dreamed he would one day be speaking at one of the biggest SANA events of the year. The program of Narcotics Anonymous is miraculous, and Mark’s talk further reinforced the truth that the gifts of recovery far exceed what many of us could have ever envisioned when we first set foot in the doors of NA. Mark, who emphasized his gratitude, is a living example of what working the program of NA can do for a person. Another particularly moving moment of Mark’s talk was when he recognized his sponsor Bill S., who was in attendance, as being an invaluable part of his recovery. Bill has sponsored Mark for over ten years and was the best man in Mark’s wedding and is also the godfather of Mark’s children. The value of one addict helping another is truly without parallel. The conclusion of Mark’s talk was met with a standing ovation. Over one hundred addicts closed the meeting by circling up, joining hands, and reciting the gratitude prayer.

Following Mark’s talk, SANA Public Information Chairperson Jesse K. led a spirited Clean Time Countdown. Addicts of all ages were cheered on as their clean time was recognized. An NA Basic Text was presented to the newcomer, who had six days clean.

After the Clean Time Countdown, the Monday Night Freedom and Surrender Group had a special treat for those in attendance: a Pie-In-The-Face fundraiser. Elise C., Don B., and John S. were the benevolent volunteers to offer their faces for targets. Jesse K. led an auction as recovering addicts bid for the opportunity to smother the volunteers’ faces with pie. Some addicts pooled their money together as the stakes were raised higher and higher. Elise, Don, and John were all good sports as their faces got clobbered with pie. Besides everyone having fun, a good sum of money was raised for the Monday Night Freedom and Surrender Group, which is the oldest NA meeting in Sioux City, now in existence for over twenty years.

After the Pie-In-The-Face Fundraiser, Jesse K. once again did an outstanding job of providing music for the dance. The dance floor was literally overrun with recovering addicts and children in costume busting a move and getting their groove on.

At 10:00 PM, Jesse K. facilitated the Costume Contest. Prizes were awarded in the categories of Most Original, Scariest, and Best Kids’ Costume. Mitch K. and Veronica B. took home the award for Most Original Costume as Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein. I must say, Veronica’s sister Brenduh, who did the makeup and designed their costumes, did en exquisite job. Doug T. won the award for Scariest Costume, taking advantage of many people’s phobia for clowns. His costume was very impressive, too, complete with a green wig, face paint, a big red ball on his nose, and an elaborate multi-colored clown outfit. Lily M.’s son Andy was awarded the prize for Best Kids’ Costume. He was dressed up as an inmate in prison, complete with the orange jumpsuit typical of prison apparel.

In addition to the Costume Contest, there were three separate raffles held. A variety of raffle items were available to be won, including NA t-shirts, a Just For Today, lava lamps, a “Clean Time” clock, a $50 tattoo certificate from Little Nicky’s, as well as many other neat prizes.

The dance raged on for more than three hours. Jesse K. kept everyone dancing with his diverse blend of music consisting of rock, pop, hip-hop, funk, soul, disco, and other music that defies genre classification. As usual, Jesse K. had something for everybody. A special thanks from the recovery community goes out to Jesse K. for offering his services as DJ.

The Activities Committee did a fantastic job of putting on the 2009 SANA Halloween Dance. Food, fun, and fellowship were plentiful. Once again, we would like to thank Mitch K. for the outstanding job he did as Activities Chairperson over this last year. The Halloween Dance was a great testament to his commitment to providing fun and fellowship for the Siouxland recovery community. A big thanks also goes out to Sarah T. and John N. who worked their butts off in the kitchen serving up food all night. Also, it was very touching for me to see the many recovering addicts who willfully volunteered to help out with anything that was needed: helping decorate, taking tickets, cleaning up, et cetera. One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the overwhelming spirit of service that exists in Narcotics Anonymous. We can only keep what we have by giving it away. Happy Halloween!

September 2009 News

H & I Learning Day

By Ross W.

On September 12, 2009, the Hospitals and Institutions subcommittee of SANA hosted a Learning Day on the function and purpose of providing NA service to hospitals and institutions (H&I for short). What is H&I? What is its purpose? What facilities do they reach out to? The answers to these questions and more were provided at the Learning Day. Recovering addicts in the Siouxland area were treated to three out-of-town guest speakers, including the Regional H&I Chairman for the state of Iowa, John F.

At about noon, the event began on the third floor of the Boys and Girls home, located on 14^th and Nebraska streets in Sioux City. Before any presentations were made, lunch was served, consisting of chili and hot dogs. Following this, attendants were offered an H&I informational packet to supplement the day’s learning.

The first presentation was given by guest speakers John F., Al T., and Jim D. They first discussed the basics of H&I, what it is and what its purpose is. H&I is a committee of recovering addicts who go to various facilities, carrying the message of recovery. These committees are headed by a panel leader, and no addict ever hosts an H&I meeting alone. The purpose of H&I is to carry the message of Narcotics Anonymous to addicts in places where they do not have full access to NA meetings. These places can include, but are not limited to: hospitals, treatment facilities, jails, prisons, psychiatric facilities, etc. The message H&I carries differs slightly from regular NA meetings in that they are trying to introduce people to the basics of NA rather than host an in-depth discussion of the Basic Text, discuss open topics relating to addiction, or any other format by which NA meetings are held. The speakers went on to stress that a clear and concise message of recovery be conveyed in H&I meetings. They also highlighted some of the Do’s and Don’ts that apply to different facilities in which H&I hosts meetings, as well as some of the proper etiquette one should carry out. Audience members were free to ask the guest speakers questions and did so on several occasions. Some of the best, most substantive discussion came as a result of addicts projecting their curiosity onto the panel members.

Following the H&I presentation, a presentation on NA Public Information (PI for short) was given by the SANA PI Chairman, Jesse K. Jesse gave a very concise, informational talk on the purpose of PI, which is, in short, to provide information about Narcotics Anonymous to the public. PI performs an extremely important function, as many newcomers find their way into Narcotics Anonymous via the information PI provides, be it through the NA Helpline, ads, flyers, or other media. Remember, PI is simply providing information about Narcotics Anonymous, not promoting it.

After Jesse’s presentation, Carla J. gave a powerful, heartfelt talk on sponsorship. Though Carla made a point to say that her talk was based only on her experience, she did convey some very universal themes: Sponsorship is a key ingredient to many addicts’ recovery. She also stressed the importance of working the steps with another addict. One of my favorite quotes of Carla’s is, “If you’re working the steps in your head by yourself you’re not working the steps.”

After Carla’s talk it was time for dinner. Addicts were treated to a taco bar along with other refreshments. Following this, everyone made their way from the third floor down to the gymnasium, where John F. stood poised at the podium to tell his story. At about 7:30 PM, he began speaking and proceeded to deliver a powerful, poignant message of recovery. John spoke extensively about the unselfish nature of recovery, the importance of providing service to others, and the need to reach out to the addict who still suffers. As Don B. pointed out afterword, John F. is a man who walks the walk. One of my favorite quotes of John’s was, “I do whatever service NA calls me to do, because I can never repay NA for what it has so freely given to me.”

After John F. was done giving his inspiring message, it was time for recovering addicts in Siouxland to get their groove on. Aside from serving SANA as our PI Chair, Jesse K. also has some serious DJ skills, and the entertainment he provided at the H&I Learning Day Dance was premium. For 3 hours Jesse served up a lively blend of rock, pop, hip-hop, disco, and other music from every decade. Jesse’s eclectic taste provides something special for everyone. However, you can tell he’s partial to 80’s metal, because when he plays those tunes, you’ll see him get out from behind his DJ booth and head bang on the dance floor.

In summation, the SANA H&I Learning Day was packed with education, fellowship, and fun. The recovering addicts of the Siouxland area are extremely grateful to John F., Al T., and Jim D. for making the trip across the state to come spend the day with us. H&I performs an immensely important role in carrying the message to the still-suffering addict, and our out-of-town guest speakers exemplify this tremendously. And so does our local SANA H&I Committee. If you’re looking for service work that is the real deal, H&I is where it’s at. The SANA H&I Chairperson is Elise C., and she can be reached at 712-204-9708. Give her a call and get involved!

July 2009 News

Floatin’ Down the River

By: Ross W.

On Saturday July 25^th, about forty recovering addicts from the Siouxland area convened at the Little Sioux Campground in Correctionville, Iowa for what proved to be one of the best, most fun days of this summer. What drove these fun-fiending addicts to abandon their typical Saturdays was the event known self-evidently as Floatin’ Down the River. The process is simple: get a flotation device of some sort, hop in the Little Sioux River, and float for about four hours while having as much fun as you can.

A handful of recovering addicts decided to make a weekend of it, electing to pitch tents and camp at the Little Sioux campsites. However, most who attended met at the Unity Club in Sioux City at 11:30 AM on Saturday. A convoy of about ten vehicles then proceeded to travel east on Highway 20 towards Correctionville.

After meeting as a group at the campground, they then traveled a few miles out of town to the Walling Access Point, a small dirt clearing alongside the Little Sioux with a muddy slope dropping into the water. At the access point, a few addicts tediously huffed and puffed their floatation devices to life. Most, however, had the luxury of an air compressor. For a smoker, floating four hours down the Little Sioux without a cigarette might start off serenely, but it certainly wouldn’t end that way. To conquer this obstacle, smokers placed their cigarettes and lighters in Ziploc bags where they were safe from water damage, thus allowing them to be taken along for the voyage. Many others brought pop and other refreshments along to enjoy while floating.

Once in the shallow waters of the Little Sioux, several addicts could not contain their excitement. Some splashed water at each other back and forth, others jumped from their rafts in a fit of joy (or insanity), while still others went so far as tipping each others’ rafts over. For myself, I used the time to relax and visit with a fellow addict whom I had only just met. Needless to say, four and a half hours later we knew quite a bit more about each other. While most took part in the endless chorus of laughter and antics, a handful of addicts, myself included, took a more meditative approach to Floatin’ Down the River, taking in the scenery and elements of nature in which we were enveloped.

The float reached its wild climax about three-fourths of the way through the journey. At this point, the waters are their shallowest and a bed of thick, gooey mud rises to the surface of the river. The collective child within manifested itself as addicts of all ages engaged in a colossal mud fight. The mud fight has become something of a ritual in the Floatin’ Down the River event, and this is usually the fondest memory most have of their time spent on the Little Sioux. As one addict put it, “This is the dirtiest clean fun I’ve ever had.”

The float was followed by a potluck cookout at the Little Sioux Campground. After an afternoon in the sun, everyone was eager to feast on hot dogs, hamburgers, and steaks cooked over a campfire. Vegetable dishes and salads of all kinds were also consumed.

If there were ever any doubt as to whether one can have fun in recovery, Floatin’ Down the River drowned this doubt at the bottom of the Little Sioux.

June 2009 News

Saturday June 20th the Misfits Group held a summer chili cook off/tavern and chip feed. The taverns were excellent, as was the fellowship. Craig and Carly greeted guests, and did a great job of making everyone feel at home. The Misfits Group has a relaxed atmosphere, some great art, and meetings everyday at 7:00 PM. They are located at 1911 Grandview Blvd. in Sioux City.

Friday June 19 Living free held their 2nd annual ice cream social. Several people got clean time chips at the 5:30 meeting. Silly string was auctioned off after the meeting, and many people came out of the house wearing it!!. Burgers and hot dogs were sold as a fund raiser for painting the house. Every toping imaginable was available for the ice cream. Thanks to Tonya and Bill and many others for making this a fun event.

May 2009 News

Saturday May 2nd was the first of this summers Moonlight Campfire meetings at Stone Park. The event was a great success, with over 60 people in attendance. Addicts gathered at a campsite on the west side of Stone Park, where they ate hot dogs, marshmallows, and made S'mores. A meeting was held around 9:45 and lasted until park closing (when we were asked to leave by the ranger!). The Moonlight Campfire meetings will continue the first Saturday of each month this summer. They are sponsored by the Tuesday Night Candlelight and Keeping is Simple Groups!

Be There!!

April 2009 News

2 New meetings started this month. A 'Women Only'
meeting Monday evenings at the Unity Club,
and a Thursday Evening 7:00 PM in LeMars.
See the meeting page for info!

February 2009 News

Whose the most important one? NEWCOMER! NEWCOMER!
Come check out the new Newcomer Speaker Meeting at Living Free.
Tuesday's at 8:00 PM

August 2008 News

SANA Wins at SWINA!!

Several SANA members and their family members attended the annual SWINA campout held near Villisca Iowa this Labor day weekend. The campout is a 4 day event featuring workshops, speakers, dinner and a dance on Saturday, and a Home Group Competition. This year was SWINA XXIII, and the theme was "Riding High in our Recovery". Saturday nights speaker, Jeff B. from Missouri, gave a very motivational talk on working your recovery, with several humorous stories about his early using years. SANA hosted the Sunday morning workshop called "When we are beaten, we become willing". Some members cooled themselves off by taking a swim at nearby Viking Lake. Attending the campout were areas Heartland and SANA, and SWINA home groups Harlan, Council Bluffs, and Villisca.

The home group competition included the events of volleyball, a fun run, 'how well do you know your N.A. literature', and a scavenger hunt. Thanks to Adam S. from Waterloo and Pat D. from SCANA for rounding out our volleyball team allowing us to win second place. An attempt was made to steal our newly acquired trophy, but our fast thinking "spritzer girl" was on him like a Doberman on a jewel thief, and we got it back.

SANA tied with the Heartland area for first place in the competition, and is in possession of the trophy until Feb of 2009. Thanks to everyone at SWINA for hosting this fun event.

Saturday August 2nd SANA hosted Floatin Down the River and a potluck afterwards. People met and drove to Correctionville, where they got in the Little Sioux river with rafts and tubes. They floated down to Little Sioux park, and had a potluck and played games. The float took about 3 1/2 hours, and about 14 people made the trip. Other people who didn't wish to float showed up for the potluck. It was a beautiful day and a great time. Some members got so excited the had to mud wrestle!!