2024 Santa Clarita Valley Convention
by Judy F.
Another year and another Santa Clarita Valley Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous has passed. Another weekend of fellowship, speakers, and hotel banquet food – did everyone who had an opportunity to attend have a good time? Did you come away excited about recovery and feeling spiritually fit?
A bit of history on the convention since this past weekend was the 20 year anniversary of the first convention here in Santa Clarita. October 22nd , 23rd and 24th of 2004, the first “Annual Santa Clarita Valley Convention” was held at College of the Canyons. The theme was A New Beginning – how appropriate. The logo was like a wall with a door that had the A.A. symbol on it and the door was partially open and the sunlight was coming in and it cast a shadow of the A.A. symbol on the floor. The group that started the convention had a vision that our small little community needed a weekend of fellowship, speakers and spiritual growth. 20 years later a different group had the same vision and hence the convention continues and grows just as our “small little community of A.A.” grows.
As my tenure with the committee ends and I rotate off the board for the last time I reflect on the different people I have worked with over the years and the one thing we all had in common – we loved service work. With each commitment, with each year, I learned a little bit more about myself, how to interact and get along with my fellow, and each year I grew spiritually. It has been this year I have been shown the importance of “rotation of leadership” and letting go and know there are several ways to be of service in A.A.
If you enjoyed yourself at the convention – maybe you took a commitment to be a greeter or work at the information table and got to wear a “volunteer ribbon” and you want that feeling you had to continue show up at the wrap party for the convention on Sunday, November 17th 12:00 noon, at the Rafters. Volunteer for a commitment next year on the planning committee and find out what happens on the back end of the convention. The day-to-day planning that goes into a successful event. This is where you really see the traditions at work and learn to “place principles before personalities”. As someone said to me years ago “Come on Judy, it will be fun!”