Every week there will be a short blurb discussing this year’s upcoming retreat. These messages are meant to remind everyone how special the retreat can be for one’s personal recovery. This is the first week of 7 in which we hope you will share them. This week’s blurb is as follows:

Please have a member of your group share this with others. It is the community in which we share this that continues to help make this retreat unique and healing. We hope to see you there. By the way, registration will begin soon.

The retreat is less than six weeks away. If you haven’t yet signed up yet, now is a good time to do so. Remember that registration closes on August 4 which is only three weeks away from today, July 14. And continue to let your friends in recovery know about your Serenity on the Sound retreat.

This year, we are going back to our old format of one speaker on Friday night and one speaker on Saturday night. We have one COSA speaker who will share their experience, strength, and hope on Friday. Meanwhile our SAA speaker will be sharing their story the following night on Saturday. As you may have seen on the registration page, their is a speaker only option which allows locals to come just for a speaker or both. It is $10 for each night. You just need to let us know which night you are choosing or whether you wish to choose both nights for both speakers. Choosing the speaker only option will allow you be on the camp site from 7 to 10 p.m. for whichever day(s) you choose.

Of course, you can avail yourselves of the other multiple options to choose from a Saturday only option up to a 1, 2, or 3 night option. There are great workshops and meetings to choose from. Some of you may even choose to attend one of the local off-site in-person meetings as well as the meetings we will have at the retreat. We have heard there is a local meeting on Thursday night and on Saturday morning. They are less than a 15 minute drive from the retreat at Gwinwood. No matter which option you choose, the retreat will provide everyone with plenty of opportunities and ways to strengthen their own personal recovery. We hope to see you there.

By now you are likely aware that we had some major technical issues with our registration platform. They have been resolved and registration is opening up on Sunday, June 21, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. Together as a group your PSRC was able to find a way to use last year’s registration program and correct the main problems, but we had to turn off the credit card option. This year we will be accepting checks and money orders. See the following paragraph:

Payment must be with a personal check or money order or cashier’s check. Some banks let you send a check directly from your online account. [people can just call the bank for more info if necessary] Make the check out to Puget Sound Retreat Committee and include your name in the memo line so we can record your payment. Send to PSRC, 704 228th Ave NE, PMB #552, Sammamish WA 98074.

If we are able to setup a more direct payment option as we have had in the past, we will let you know. As a member of the PSRC, I know that the previous ways, Venmo and PayPal, often had a charge associated with them and we have disconnected them. There is another one called Zelle that we may be able to use since the PSRC bank account is located at a bank that supports it. If we find we can do that, we will let you know. We are always working to keep things sweet, easy, and flexible for everyone.

By now you likely know that the dates for this year’s retreat are August 21-24, 2025. The retreat is shaping up nicely. The Puget Sound Retreat Committee’s, PSRC’s, most recent meeting was Sunday, May 25. It was productive and fun. Yes, I said fun. It’s amazing the joy that addicts, co-addicts, or codependents can find while in recovery. If you have ever thought that you might like to contribute the planning process, reach out at info@soundretreat.org for more information.

My goal here is to post new information regularly leading up to the retreat. One of the key points that came out of this last meeting is the opening date for when registration begins. Registration will open up on June 9, 2025. It will remain open through August 4, so the registration window is less than 2 months. As always, it is best to register early for the most available options and to ensure we don’t sell out. Yes, we do have an upper limit on attendance. We will also have waiting lists available for situations that may arise like late registration and lodging requests.

Our next retreat committee meeting will be held on June 8 from 3-5. Meetings are done in Zoom so that members and prospective members can attend from anywhere. Zoom has been a blessing for the retreat committee since no one has to take time out or fuel for driving. Far or near there is always the option to attend. If you want more information, reach out to us at info@soundretreat.org. Until the next post, I wish you all a continuing and growing recovery.

Another year, another retreat being planned. Yes, we will once again have our Serenity on the Sound Retreat this year in 2025. The dates for this year’s event are August 21-24. Once again, it is the weekend before Labor Day Weekend for the USA. Set the dates aside now for there are great things planned again this year.

This is a good time to remind everyone that from now until the retreat begins, we will have periodic updates online here on the website. New posts will come out here up to once a week, especially as we get closer to the retreat dates. So keep your eyes open. Prepare yourselves for some transformational recovery.

Speaking for myself, I can say that every year that I have attended this retreat it has added something to my own personal recovery, especially these last three years. When you are at the retreat feel free to find me and ask me more about my experiences, even why the last 3 years have been extra special. For those of you who either don’t know me or are not sure of who is writing this presently, I am Dale, a recovering COSA and sex addict. I know I look forward to meeting and connecting with many of you at the retreat.

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.