Southeast Florida

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lizwool
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Instead of trying to get

Instead of trying to get everyone together at one time, decide where and what time you want to meet - on a regular basis, so if someone can't come this time, they can come next time. Will people be willing to ink that day and time on their calendars and make that day and time more important than anything else in their life? I think this is a great recovery opportunity for you all!

Liz Woolley

gsingjane
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i also wanted to add, there

i also wanted to add, there is a new member in Tallahassee who is very interested in a FTF. If we can just get these two (?) new FL meetings on the calendar, we can let people know and if they can make it, they will. I know FL is a big state.

Jane

Honey
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*pulls up my big girl

*pulls up my big girl pants*

Okay, through the next week or two I am going to find out what it takes to start a meeting at a local 12 step meeting place by me called The Crossroads (http://thecrossroadsclub.com). I am going to find out what times are available to have a meeting, and then.. well.. take it from there.

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BigH501
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  I should be available

I should be available pretty much all this weekend. Let me know if, when & where you guys still want to try to get together... Crackerbarrel ? Someplace else ?

" ... don't question it just go" "... where the body goes the mind will follow"
.
Borrowed from "Desire to Stop"

BigH501
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  <cricket sounds> Well I

Well I guess this fell off the map...

" ... don't question it just go" "... where the body goes the mind will follow"
.
Borrowed from "Desire to Stop"

LaurelS9
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Yall need to elect a

Yall need to elect a convenor to make the final decision...:P

lizwool
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Go for it Harold!  Be there

Go for it Harold! Be there or be square! Liz

Liz Woolley

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Go, go, go.   You have

Go, go, go.

You have commitment and very busy schedules-- but it is very doable.

I suggest aiming for the Saturday AFTER Valentines day, with three weeks notice even the Tampa and Tallahassee people might be able to schedule a road trip.

Leveling in Real Life

Honey
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I am getting in contact with

I am getting in contact with the guy who runs the Crossroads by me, and will be doing what I can to arrange a meeting here. So whether or not there is another meeting before this, I am going for starting a steady weekly meeting.

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Honey
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Got in contact with the guy

Got in contact with the guy who runs The Crossroads. Gatta send him the 12 steps of OLGA and the script we have for meetings. Luckily this information is readily available right here! Sure makes that part easy for me.. lol. He will be getting in contact with me to let me know what times/days are available for meetings.

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John of the Roses
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You go girl!

You go girl!

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone

Honey
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Okay, I have to actually put

Okay, I have to actually put together a full on script to read on to run the meeting with... where what we have are just the things we would read from as needed. (http://www.olganon.org/?q=material_for_meetings)

Has anyone actually put together a script already? maybe someone from the DC meeting?

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BigH501
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  Might be a good idea to

Might be a good idea to meet "informally" a time or two first just to get things started.

As some of you here know, I have never been to any 12 step meeting and I owe my recovery to the fellowship here not the 12 steps. I have never actually worked the steps myself.

In the past Solei, JamesW and I have gotten together over lunch or dinner to sit and chat and we all found that very helpful. I know at this time that is the level that I would be comfortable participating.

I think getting a 12-step chapeter in S. Fla. is a great thing, I just didn't want to set an expectation of how much I would participate in that kind of meeting.

" ... don't question it just go" "... where the body goes the mind will follow"
.
Borrowed from "Desire to Stop"

Honey
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All I am foreseeing for

All I am foreseeing for the kind of meeting I am hoping to start is just an "open share" meeting where there is an opening script, closing script, but other than that it is just open share. If people want to they can do the sponsorship and 12 step thing, but otherwise that isn't needed. So essentially it would be an informal get-together done in an official manner.

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Honey
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Okay, I threw together a

Okay, I threw together a meeting format, using our material and emulating other meetings that I attend regularly. Please let me know what you think.

(REWRITTEN VERSION IN A FOLLOWING POST, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO SEE IT)

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John of the Roses
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Thats a great start Honey! 

Thats a great start Honey! However, with having the entire 12 steps written out and reading it, you are, in essence beginning a 12 step meeting. Which is great, no doubt about it. Wherever you meet, be prepared to meet alone for a number of weeks until the word gets out that recovery from active excessive gaming can be found at your charter meeting. I know I will be meeting alone on several nights, it is only the way these things turn out, unless you do some attraction getting stuff, like handing out business cards or flyers to healthcare professionals who might know about someone who is struggling with this addiction.

A card could read:

"Having trouble with excessive online gaming? Then call 999-999-9999"

A flyer could have the same thing only larger, but you can add the name & address of the facility where you'll be meeting and also the meeting times. Be sure to always add, when mentioning a facility, that OLGA is not affiliated with that facility.

You are sure excited it seems about starting a meeting. I am going to PM you with a short message about our literature.

Blessings.

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone

Honey
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Yep, I fully intend this to

Yep, I fully intend this to be a fully fledged 12 step meeting. I am in another fellowship for another addiction, and having that kind of guidance and focus has been incredibly helpful to me. I want to treat my addiction to video games just as seriously as my other addiction. I just don't see "getting together" for a chat every so often at a restaurant as being that... beneficial for me. I mean, yeah, thats a lot better than nothing, but I much prefer having an actual meeting. I deliberately did not include anything about 'crosstalk' in the meeting format so that this way after the beginning and before the ending we can basically just chat back and forth as needed until the meeting gets larger than just maybe 3-4 people max... at which point things can become more structured in the actual sharing like a normal 12 step meeting.

I also really would like to get a copy of the flyer that I have seen mentioned before, if I could I would like an electronic copy so that I can add in the date/time of the meeting I am setting up, I can then print it out myself.

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John of the Roses
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Hello! I can send you some

Hello!

I can send you some of the Brochures that we, OLGA, have had printed and they could help you out. I sent you a PM asking for your mailing address, so we can get them to you.

A "flyer" would be something you might make yourself to advertise the meeting facility, day & time, map, etc. Nothing wrong with flyers at all!

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." --W. Clement Stone

Honey
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Awesome! Thank you! I also

Awesome! Thank you!

I also got the meeting format for the DC meeting and I am rewriting the meeting format I put together, since it includes a few things I forgot and like :)

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Honey
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The meeting format has been

The meeting format has been rewritten to include a few other things I forgot about that I really like in meetings, as well as incorporating quite a few things from the DC meeting format.

ON-LINE GAMERS ANONYMOUS MEETING FORMAT

Meeting Preparation:

A* Pass out the Preamble and the 12 steps.

OPENING

Hello, and welcome to the Southeast Florida Chapter of On-Line Gamers Anonymous, a 12 step program that welcomes all video game addicts as well as their family and friends. My name is __________, I am a Videogame Addict as well as your leader for this meeting.

To open the meeting, those who wish to could please join me in a moment of silence for the still suffering video game addict, followed by the Serenity Prayer.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

I have asked a friend to read the OLGA Preamble.

PREAMBLE IS READ

I have asked a friend to read the 12 steps of OLGA

12 STEPS IS READ

Now we will have a go around to invite everyone to optionally introduce themselves. If this is your first time attending an OLGA meeting or this meeting please say so, so that we can welcome you. As a newcomer you are vital to the health of our program and we thank you for coming.

INTRODUCTIONS ARE DONE

The Tradition of the month is:

TRADITION OF THE MONTH IS READ

This meeting is currently an open share meeting. If anyone has a topic of interest that they would like to request others to share about, please feel free to offer it as a topic, otherwise open sharing is encouraged.

15 MINUTES BEFORE MEETING ENDS: SHARING IS DONE

Thank you everyone for your shares. As stated in our 7th tradition; OLGA ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. We have no dues or fees but we do have expenses. If you feel you can donate something, we would appreciate it, but if not you are more important to us than your money.

BASKET IS PASSED AROUND THE ROOM

Are there any OLGA related announcements?

ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE STATED

We highly encourage all video game addicts to visit our fellowship on the internet at www.olganon.org. Available there is a large community of fellow addicts and that website is an excellent source of support to help us get through the week.

At this time we will have a celebration of recovery. Whether you have 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, or just the length of this meeting we welcome you to celebrate your recovery with us by sharing your time clean.

MAX 5 MIN. LONG: CELEBRATION OF RECOVERY IS DONE

As we bring this meeting to a close, I would like to remind you that OLGA is an anonymous program. We ask that you respect the anonymity and confidentiality of each person in this meeting. We ask that what you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here. Here Here!

We have a nice way of closing.

EVERYONE STANDS IN A CIRCLE FOR CLOSING

A moment of silence for the still suffering video game addict, followed by the aEU~weaEU(tm) version of the Serenity Prayer.

God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Keep coming back, it works if you work it, so work it youaEU(tm)re worth it.

ON-LINE GAMERS ANONYMOUS PREAMBLE

OLGA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from excessive gaming.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gaming. There are no dues or fees for OLGA membership; we are self supporting through our own contributions. OLGA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stop gaming and help other online gaming addicts to stop gaming.

How It Works:

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way.

They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you are ready to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Remember that we deal with obsessive gaming - cunning, baffling and powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power - that one is God. May you find God now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

THE 12 STEPS OF ON-LINE GAMERS ANONYMOUS

The 12 steps of OLGA are the steps and principles that we took; we suggest these as program of recovery:

Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over gaming, and that our lives have become unmanageable. Principles - Honesty and Acceptance

Step 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Principle - Hope

Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God. Principle - Faith

Step 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Principles - Action and Courage

Step 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Principle - Integrity

Step 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Principle - Willingness

Step 7. Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings. Principle - Humility

Step 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Principle - Brotherly love

Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure, them or others. Principle - Justice

Step 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Principle - Perseverance

Step 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God's will for us and the power to carry that out. Principle - Spirituality.

Step 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we carried this message to other compulsive gamers and practiced these principles in all our affairs. Principle aEU" Service

Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.

The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection. Our description of the excessive gamer, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

(a) That we were excessive gamers and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no human power could have relieved our excessive gaming. (c) That God could and would, if God were sought.

THE 12 TRADITIONS OF ON-LINE GAMERS ANONYMOUS

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OLGA / OLG-Anon unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for OLGA / OLG-Anon membership is a desire to stop excessive game playing.

4. The group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OLGA / OLG-Anon as a whole.

5. The group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the excessive gamer who still suffers.

6. The OLGA / OLG-Anon group ought never endorse, finance or lend the OLGA / OLG-Anon name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7. The OLGA / OLG-Anon group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. Online Gamers Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but we may employ special workers as needed.

9. OLGA / OLG-Anon., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. Online Gamers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the OLGA / OLG-Anon name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Game free since October 20, 2011

jjguy1977
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Nice!  Thank you! :D

Nice! Thank you! :D

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other" -Abraham Lincoln

Honey
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Got word that I will find

Got word that I will find out more information on the 23rd (Tuesday) the day after The Crossroads has their monthly meeting.

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Honey
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Just got word this morning,

Just got word this morning, the meeting I am starting got approved and on sunday I will be meeting with the guy who runs The Crossroads to discuss the meeting and things like when it will be. He sounded really nice this time and sounded like he was really glad to hear from me. This is so fantastic, and fantastic for the fellowships since the meeting is going to be in a place with LOTS of people in recovery who come and go here, so this meeting may pick up pretty quick :D

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jjguy1977
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Awesome news!! :D

Awesome news!! :D

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other" -Abraham Lincoln

Xandtar
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Hooray!

Hooray!

Leveling in Real Life

Honey
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New thread

New thread at http://www.olganon.org/?q=node/19990

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wes87bar
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Very nice materials, Honey -

Very nice materials, Honey - Great job!

I wish you the best of luck for your meetings!!

Xandtar
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I thought we had a nice, if

I thought we had a nice, if informal, meeting last night.

Thanks for coming to dinner!

Leveling in Real Life

Choas
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hello i am phillip, online

hello i am phillip, online video game addtied, in delray beach fl, liveing in halfway house and wondering if anyone knew of any viddeo game anonymous meeting i can go to casue i have yet to find any

BigH501
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  Hello Phillip, Welcome to

Hello Phillip,

Welcome to OLGA. We don't really have a regular meeting in SE Florida right now. There are just a few of us who get together for dinner every once in a blue moon, not a formal meeting.

There are a few regular online meetings that you could attend.

" ... don't question it just go" "... where the body goes the mind will follow"
.
Borrowed from "Desire to Stop"

lucho0
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Anyone know of olganon

Anyone know of olganon meetings in Miami FL? I have assisted AA and NA meetings in the past and I find that physical presence really does miracles. I would be willing to meet with anyone for recovery purposes, to share experience, strenght and hope! Thanks

Luis

hg7
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Hello. I was scanning the

Hello. I was scanning the threads looking for a Miami, FL meeting myself, and happened upon this thread. I noticed it's a little old, but was wondering if anyone knew of any. Thoughts? Thank you.

Falcon
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I've been wondering the same

I've been wondering the same thing as lucho0 and hg7 since I live close to this area as well.
If these Southeast Florida meetings aren't held anymore, perhaps we can get together a new Miami, FL chapter?

Live your story.

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