I’m River W., a sober SA woman from Kansas City, Missouri. My sobriety date is August 26, 2015.

In April, I attended my 5th SA Regional in Wichita, KS. Our Region holds a biannual event which is lovingly referred to as the Family Reunion. This event is one of the great joys of my recovery. There’s nothing like getting together with people who share my common problem and solution! It’s close to my home, is held in the same retreat center, and I get to see many of the same faces each time. It’s a smaller, intimate group – usually 25–50 people.

This lends itself to a real feeling of “Family Reunion”… only like no family I ever belonged to. In my new SA family we show true compassion and tolerance for one another. We can dare to be real. We support one another through the tough times, champion each other’s progress and celebrate the journey of life together.

SA and S-Anon members showed up from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado. The theme was The Principles of the Program. There was plenty of laughter, fellowship, tears, healing and joy.

I am currently the Intergroup Representative for Kansas City so I participated in the Regional Business meeting. Being active in service has been a vital part of my recovery! In business meetings I get to learn about structure, how to disagree, discuss and collaborate and how to “Let Go and Let God.” I get to have my voice. We all get to have a voice and we are all aiming for one common unified goal based on the Traditions.

I hope to see many of you at the St. Louis International Convention July 13–15. St. Louis is part of our South Midwest Region. We’re so proud of the work they are doing to support a great convention. I’ve found them to be a real “Gateway to Freedom.”