We now have a very appropriate tagline for this year’s retreat. It is: Healing Through Grace & Community.

As I type these thoughts, I am thinking how appropriate this is as a theme. First, it is through grace that we can find a new and better life. Second, in order to make this new and better life come true, it requires a strong community. Together we create both community and grace.

I know for me personally, grace and community have led to my most recent strong recovery. After having a major failure in my own recovery, I only found my way back via grace and community. First, I had to accept that I was given grace. Who gave me this grace? It was both my higher power as well as the community I rejoined. If you’d like to know more about my own story, I’d love to share with you at this year’s retreat.

Come on out to one or more days. This year the retreat goes from August 22-25. We will have more time to enjoy community and grace this year. No matter if you are new to recovery or have been coming back long or off and on, you can find some strong positive recovery here. This will be our 35th annual retreat.

For me, I have been coming since 2006. Let me share with you that each year brings its own special value. Just come open to receive from your higher power, and you will receive. There are so many opportunities to strengthen and grow your own personal recovery. Better yet, use this time to grow your own community to help ensure stronger recovery, one-day-at-a-time.

Set aside the dates, August 22-25. Please share with others. Remind your recovery friends that this retreat is for anyone from any of the sexual recovery fellowships. We are open and welcoming. It is through grace and community that we can all recover alone and together.

Every year we at the Puget Sound Retreat Committee, PSRC, take your feedback and guidance to heart. There were several who asked if we could extend the length of the retreat. Lo and behold, we have done just that. The new updated dates are Thursday through Sunday, August 22-25, 2024.

The retreat packages are being setup now with the options available. Just know that now there will be a full day Friday and Saturday, not just Saturday. That will give us all more time to settle in and go the way in which our Higher Power guides us. Maybe this year is focusing on meditation and nature. Maybe you want to get to as many meetings and/or workshops. Maybe you wish to enjoy the lakefront more. No matter what, you can mix and match your wants and needs for this retreat.

I have personally been attending the retreat now since 2006. I love this annual event. Each year this retreat has been different for me. The ways in which it impacts my recovery are different each year. Some years may be focused on workshops and learning. Other years may be more focused on the connections we can make. It is up to you and your Higher Power to find that right mix and path. The only thing I know for sure is that we can not do it, recovery, alone.

The retreat is even better now that we can be in person, once again. There is nothing like the community, connections, and conversations to help us solidify our own personal recovery. Being surrounded by the real love and positive vibes we encounter here, we can truly grow our recovery. 2024 promises to be another year for a great retreat.

We are all looking forward to the upcoming retreat. It is filling us up with excitement and healthy anticipation. It will be so good to connect with friends in recovery, old and new. There is nothing quite like the personal connections that can be made in-person.

Please share the following note with others in your fellowships this week, August 1-6:

It’s not too late to register for the retreat happening Friday through Sunday, August 25-27 at Gwinwood Retreat Center in Lacey, WA.. There will be plenty of food and places to sleep. Or just come Saturday for some workshops and the speakers.  But registration ends August 7 at soundretreat.org. No walk-ins!

Less than 4 weeks to go.  Everything is getting formalized and ready to roll.  We are all excited for this year’s retreat starting August 25.  Please keep sharing the news about this year’s in-person retreat. It is going to be so good to gather with fellow recovery folks and promote one another’s healthier recovery. And remember you need to register no later than Monday, August 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Register today.  Also remember to bring some basic items for when you arrive: bedding, towels, pillows, and toiletries.  Mattresses and bathrooms are provided.

Please share the following talking points this week with your friends in the fellowship.

July 25-31

At Serenity on the Sound you’ll experience the joy of being together again, “Alive and In Person,” with friends old and new. It’s time to begin preparing to share our talents at the Outer Circle Show and Tell. And you’ll be moved by the stories of the SAA and COSA speakers.  There’s time for work and time to play, and the retreat offers both.  There’s still time to register at soundretreat.org, but only until Monday August 7.

For your own copy of the talking points and finer retreat details, follow this link: Retreat Talking Points Rev 8.

We are getting closer and closer. Can you feel the excitement? Keep sharing the news about this year’s in-person retreat. It is going to be so good to gather with fellow recovery folks and promote one another’s healthier recovery. And remember you need to register no later than Monday, August 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Register today.

Please share the other following talking points this week with your friends in the fellowship.

July 18-24

Beautiful location, all meals, sleeping arrangements, fun, friends, music, workshops, quiet meditation, and recovery, all this for about $83 a day. By pitching in we are able to keep the price affordable. If you are short on time then just come for Saturday, and if you are short on cash, you can request a scholarship.  Contact soundretreat.org. In addition, the local SAA Intergroup is offering scholarships for women in SAA, available for those who qualify. 

Please share this with your groups this week from July 11-17. As you may have heard, the main lodge at Gwinwood was destroyed by fire. We are still able to have the retreat there with their other buildings. We are adjusting our plans in order to best utilize the facilities they have. All of them are quite nice.

July 11-17

Serenity on the Sound is coming August 25-27, and one of the many things to look forward to is the food. Gwinwood Retreat Center’s professional catering team promises us a classic comfort food menu with full buffet-style cooked breakfasts, hearty sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch, and good hot dinners.  They’ll even accommodate vegan and other special diets.  Other arrangements can be made as needed. But we need to pre-order the number of meals to be prepared, so early registration will ensure your participation (no walk-ins this year).  Find out more at soundretreat.org.

Please share the following Talking Points with your friends in recovery. The Retreat is only about 7 weeks away and registration closes up in about 5 weeks. Please note the registration page is up and active. Register today.

Here is the paragraph of Talking Points (Week 3 – July 4-10)

Don’t miss the fun and recovery at Serenity on the Sound, our annual retreat for SAA and COSA. The camp offers hiking, swimming, canoeing, volleyball, a challenge course, and a game room with ping-pong.  Recovery opportunities include workshops, yoga, guided meditation, communing with nature, and good old-fashioned meetings. Use the camp’s canoes and life vests, or bring your own paddle board or kayak. We’ll have our traditional favorites:  Outer Circle Show and Tell (or talent show), a Candle-Lighting ceremony, Back-To-Basics workshop, and Bonfires (drumming until 10 pm). More at soundretreat.org.

We look forward to seeing many of you at Serenity on the Sound Retreat from August 25-27, 2023.

Please share the following Talking Points with your friends in recovery. The Retreat is only about 8 weeks away and registration closes up in about 6 weeks. Please note the registration page is up and active as of today, June 26, 2023.

Here is the paragraph of Talking Points (Week 2 – June 27-July 4)

It’s time for some fun at the 34th annual Puget Sound Retreat. We have exclusive use of the camp.  We emphasize safety, anonymity, and support. We have a team called No One Stands Alone [NOSA] for support should you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe for any reason.  Safe housing is available for all genders and identities, and there are places to park your camper or pitch your tent. We have accommodations for the physically limited. Workshops and meetings are labeled as to who may attend. We need volunteers to present workshops, or act as temporary sponsors – contact the retreat committee at soundretreat.org or info@soundretreat.org.

We look forward to seeing many of you at Serenity on the Sound Retreat from August 25-27, 2023.

Starting on June 20, 2023, please share these weekly notes or talking points with your groups and friends in recovery. They will be posted here weekly as well as sent out to our subscriber members.

Serenity on the Sound is back, “Alive and In Person,” in a new and beautiful venue, far less hilly. Gwinwood offers more modern rooms and better bathrooms, an RV and tent field for campers, warmer water for swimming, labyrinth walking, and still with a campfire. Your Puget Sound Retreat Committee is setting up a rich program, and opportunities for connection with friends old and new. The retreat is OPEN to all SAA/COSA members, spouses, friends, and family, 18 and older – contact the retreat committee at soundretreat.org.

We, the PSRC or Puget Sound Retreat Committee, are excited for this year’s upcoming live retreat on August 25-27, 2023.  Yes, you read that right.  It’s this year, 2023, and it is LIVE, in Person.  Save the dates today in your calendar.

We are currently in the process of planning the retreat to make it the best one ever.  In order to do this, we always need volunteers to help out some both at the retreat and before the retreat.  It’s a great way to put the 12^th Step into direct action. 

You may be asking yourself, “How can I volunteer and help?”  There are a few ways.  We always need fresh PSRC members which keeps the retreat vibrant.  While at the retreat, offer to help out.  We always have small things we need assistance with.  And how about workshops?  We always need people who can help with workshops.  If you have an idea for a workshop, send us your ideas now.  If you can run a workshop, that’s great too.  Let us know.  We welcome your thoughts and ideas.  Your sharing keeps things fresh and lively for our personal recovery journeys.  Contact us at 425-272-5740 or info@soundretreat.org.

We are also moving to an exciting and new retreat location.  It is in Lacey, Washington, for many of you, it will actually be closer yet also still secluded for optimum privacy.  This all-adult event will be at the Gwinwood Retreat Center which is right on serene Hicks Lake in Lacey.  Everything we have seen is beautiful as well as convenient.  If you have any mobility issues, all areas are much more accessible than we have had in the past.  We are excited and look forward to hearing everybody’s feedback.