At the last meeting of the Board of Trustees, I was appointed as the new chair of the International Convention Committee. I’m excited to serve in this position because of my great love for SA conventions.

I remember my first convention: the Southern California Unity Conference, in September 2002. What a spiritual experience it was for me! I met people from all over our region. We shared a commonality and encouraged one another in our progressive recovery over lust.

Over the years, the bonds I formed at that first conference have grown into deep friendships. Today, that conference, along with other spiritual events, has turned into more of a family reunion for me. Year after year we come together and share our experience, strength, and hope as we carry the message of our recovery.

Something else happened to me at that first conference: I was introduced to the S-Anon experience. The honest shares from the S-Anon members helped me take responsibility in clearing away of the wreckage of my own past. Their stories touched me inside, and I found that I related to much of what they had to say. I’ve come to believe that if you take away my addiction, you’ve got an S-Anon here. I called my wife from that conference and asked her if she wanted to join me on this recovery journey. Two weeks later she attended her first S-Anon meeting and has been a grateful member of S-Anon ever since.

After that I attended my first International Convention in San Diego in January 2004. Wow! It was just like the Unity Conference—only bigger! More spiritual experiences! Over the years, through the international conventions, I’ve been blessed to meet people from all over the world. More than ever, I’ve come to know that I am not alone.

These experiences and more are available to all SA members. One does not have to travel great distances. They can be had in your own backyard.

The mission of the ICC is to select sites to host International Conventions. Our hope is to gain and provide insight into the numerous monumental tasks associated with facilitating an international convention. We also help intergroups put together three-day regional conferences. We know that an international convention can be put together with only six key people. The same is true for a regional conference.

A wealth of experience, strength, and hope has been accumulated to help you. Each host city of an international convention is encouraged to send a series of reports to the ICC. The reports are analyzed and the information is passed on to future convention cities. These data help local convention committees to not have to reinvent the wheel, and also help with budgeting.

Conventions are already set for Baltimore in July 2013, Nashville in January 2014, Detroit in July 2014, Portland in January 2015, Chicago in July 2015, and San Diego in January 2016. We have also received bids for July 2016 and dates in 2017.

Have you considered having an International convention in your city? Whether it’s been a while since your Intergroup hosted a convention or your Intergroup has never hosted one, maybe it’s time. Hosting a convention can be a very deep, spiritual experience! And if you’re anything like me, it can be one of the greatest adventures of your life.