SOS 2000 International Conference

"Sober in Tinsel Town"

Friday, August 11, through Sunday, August 13

Conference Site: Center for Inquiry-West
5519 Grosvenor Blvd. 
Los Angeles, CA 90066

SOS Conference Program Outline

Friday Evening, August 11, 2000
7 - 8 pm        SOS informal reception
8 - 9 pm        Exclusive entertainment performed by Steve Allen
9 - 9:30 pm   Personal book signing by Steve Allen

Saturday, August 12, 2000
8 - 8:45 am    SOS Conference registration 
9 am - 6 pm   Conference presentations and workshops 
12 - 1 pm       Lunch buffet served on premises (included in your registration fee) 
7 - 8 pm         Dinner buffet served on premises (included in your registration fee) 
8 - 9 pm         Entertainment performed by professional L.A. comedians, hosted by Steve M.
9 - 11 pm       Dance and mingle to the sounds of popular L.A. classic rock band, "Infidels"

Sunday, August 13, 2000
8 - 11 am       Free continental breakfast and SOS business 
meeting
11:30 am -     Venice Beachwalk: Stroll along fabled Venice Beach
1 pm              with fellow SOS members. Join in an informal SOS seaside luncheon at one of Venice Beach's numerous cafes. 
2 - 3 pm         Optional trip to Hollywood and a visit to Mann's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood "Walk of Fame"
4 - 7 pm         Optional Universal Studios Tour, Universal City, CA

SOS 2000 International Conference
"Sober In Tinsel Town"

Saturday, August 12, 2000

Welcome / Thanks / Dedication / SOS Overview / New "Joy of Sobriety" SOS special interest projects - Jim Christopher, SOS Founder (Los Angeles, CA)

Introduction of Conference Hosts: Steve M. (SOS Brussels, Belgium); Ed Batis, CAS (Los Angeles, CA). SOS Activist. Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Steve M. "Emotional Intelligence"

Randolph Atkins, Jr., Ph.D. (University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Department of Psychiatric Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia).

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the role of spirituality and religiosity in the prevention and treatment of and recovery from alcohol abuse and alcoholism. This study compares the beliefs behaviors, motivations, and experiences of members of two alcohol recovery support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous (I2-step group) and Secular Organizations for Sobriety (non-I2-step group) through the use of a written survey questionnaire, individual interviews, and focus groups. Quantitative data collected and analyzed in this study focuses on the role of spirituality, powerlessness, social support, group choice and participation, professional treatment experiences, and demographic variables in individual recovery outcomes. This study also explores alternative methods of sampling a population that is, by its very nature, difficult to research. The knowledge developed in this study should contribute to improvements in matching treatment strategies, assist in the development of innovative research methods, and lay the groundwork for future projects examining the relationship between spirituality and alcohol.

J. Kenneth Campbell (actor, Los Angeles, CA). "Secular GORSKI Relapse Prevention."

Malcolm Rees (London, England). "SOS in the U.K."

Veronica Redd (actress, Los Angeles, CA). Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Manijeh K. Nikakhtar, M.D., M.P.H. (C.E.O. and Medical Director, SAT Health Center, Inc., Beverly Hills, CA). Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Larry B. (Los Angeles, CA). Early SOS activist/convener. "Your Sobriety Toolkit."

Ed Batis, CAS. "SOS Personal Reflections."

Personal reflections of early SOS members: Alfie P., Los Angeles, CA; John S., Los Angeles, CA; Tom Hill, Los Angeles, CA).

Buffet lunch on premises 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Featured Speaker SOS 2000: Kenneth Blum, Ph.D. (President and C.E.O., SynerGene Global, Inc., San Antonio, Texas). Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Gary Grossman and Michele Von Euer. "Improv for Awareness for Non-Actors."

Larry B., Luisa B.; Scott B., and Trish B. Family Panel: "Sober, With Children."

Duaine M. (Dallas Texas), and Steve A. (Austin, Texas). "Texas SOS and SOS in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice" 
(with Jim Christopher).

Ellen Lodge and Donna Warren (West Valley Mental Health, Canoga Park, CA). "SOS and Dual Diagnosis."

Atanonka F., and Jerry C. (Portals Dual Diagnosis Residence, Los Angeles, CA); Alfred H. (Dual Diagnosis meetings at SHARE!, Los Angeles, CA).

Lew Hollman, Esq. (Los Angeles, CA). Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Ruth Hollman (Los Angeles, CA). Co-founder of SHARE! Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Cookie S. (San Diego, CA) representing Women For Sobriety.

Annette R. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW (San Diego, SDSU Center on Substance Abuse representing the National Association of Social Workers.

George N. (Los Angeles, CA). "Gays in Recovery."

Professor David Mendelsohn (Lancaster, CA). Antelope Valley College.

Vern Bullough (Los Angeles, CA). Distinguished Professor Emeritus, State University of New York; Visiting Professor of Nursing, University of Southern California. Member SOS International Advisory Board.

Celinda Jungheim (Marina del Rey, CA). Recovery, Inc. panel presentation.

James Monroe, Esq. (Norwood, NY). Member, SOS International Advisory Board.

Valerie White, Esq. (Boston, MA). Member, SOS International Advisory Board. Columnist, SOS International Newsletter.

"Open Mike" - Personal reflections / Recovery sharing.

6:00 - 7:00 pm     Break

7:00 - 8:00 pm     Buffet dinner on premises with comedy and musical entertainment.

* * * * * * * * *

The SOS 2000 International Conference is made possible in part by a generous contribution from Mr. Olin Barrett.

Thanks to Dr. Ron Crane for contributing piano moving costs for Mr. Steve Allen's performance

We appreciate the loan of a piano for Mr. Allen's performance from

 FIELDS PIANOS "Home of Steinway"
810 E. Dyer Road Santa Ana, CA 92705

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