=== Center of Attention ===
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
2 February 2004

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Calendar of Events
*Feature Article: The Gift
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<
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Santa Clara - 2/4/2004, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Mark Steinberg, PhD - Neurofeedback and ADHD --
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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Santa Clara - 2/5/2004, Thu. 7:15 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Kitty Petty ADD/LD Institute - Discussion, Sharing Successful
Strategies with other ADDults. --
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Kitty Petty ADD/LD
Institute: 650-329-9443 or visit www.kpinst.org
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San Francisco - 2/7/2004, Sat. 9 am - 3 pm
BREAKING THE CODE - Demystifying the Evaluation Process for Students
with Learning Difficulties -- UC Berkeley and Parents Education
Network (PEN) present this daylong workshop, for parents, educators,
pediatricians and other professionals, focusing on understanding a
diagnostic evaluation. You will also develop key questions to ask
service providers, and gain knowledge about strategies for promoting
your child's school and life success. Fee: $20.00 Pre-registered,
lunch $10 with prereg. CEU Credit.
St. Ignatius High School, San Francisco - Contact: Parent Education
Network (PEN): Contact UCB at (510) 642-4111 or register online
www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/203893.html
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Marin - 2/10/2004, Tues. 7-9pm
Procrastination - Deborah Lancaster, ADDult -- Come learn practical,
useful solutions and techniques to overcome our natural tendencies to
procrastinate and disorganize. Deborah was invited to host the first
ADD support group on America online.
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Santa Clara - 2/10/2004, Tues. 7:15 - 9 pm
Support Group for Partners! -- Support and community-resource
information for the partners of folks with ADHD. PLEASE NOTE: This is
NOT a support group for people with AD/HD, nor for couples, nor for
parents. It is EXCLUSIVELY for PARTNERS of people with ADHD, and
others will have to be turned away.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Gina Pera: 888-759-9758
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Alameda - 2/11/2004, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Tri-Valley Parent Support Meeting --
Thomas J. Hart Middle School, Pleasanton - Contact: JoAnn Matone: 925-484-2173
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Contra Costa - 2/11/2004, Wed. 7-9 pm
Antioch Parent's Support Group - Topic TBA -- For parents and
caregivers of children with AD/HD offering the opportunity to share
stresses, strategies and successes.
Sutter Delta Medical Center, Antioch - Contact: Colleen Ruddock: 925-757-2372
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Contra Costa - 2/17/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Adult Meeting: Fears and Prejudice -- Topic followed by
Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Dana: 925-886-8735
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Marin - 2/17/2004, Tues. 7-9pm
Adult Support Group, with SueZee Poinsett, Professional coach and
organizer. -- Free, drop-in peer-support group. Talk with others who
really understand. And share and develop life skills.
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Santa Clara - 2/18/2004, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
Silicon Valley Adult, Parent and Spouse Support Groups -- Separate
peer-facilitated groups let you share struggles and strategies with
each other. Includes video.
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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Napa - 2/19/2004, Thu. 7 - 9 pm
Adult, parent and spouse support group -- Focusing on education, ADHD
strengths, and strategies to manage the challenges of ADHD.
St. John's Lutheran Church, Napa - Contact: Karen Shepard:
707-257-8113, or ksnapa@...
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San Francisco - 2/23/2004, Mon. 7:00 - 9pm
Adult Success Group -- Share skills and strategies for success at
home, in the workplace, in relationships, etc. (It's a good idea to
call to confirm dates, get ideas on parking. etc.)
First Unitarian Universalist Church, San Francisco - Contact: Rachel
Rosenfeld: 415-362-7227
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Contra Costa - 2/24/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Parent Meeting: Concerns about ADHD? -- Topic followed by
Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Dana: 925-886-8735
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>> FEATURE ARTICLE <<
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The Gift...
By Tim Battaglia

The Boy is eight years old when he is told "You have a gift."

The Gift is an enigma...there were no instructions, no label of
contents, no parameters.

As time went on the gift slowly revealed itself. At times it gave the
boy insight and joy at the things it revealed. At other times it
seemed to interfere with his desire to know what it is to be human.
It was in fact a challenge...a narrow but very powerful conduit
through which he would view his world.

He was surrounded by others. They did not understand his Gift.
Sometimes they knew he had it, but had no idea of what abilities it
gave him. Some feared it. When he would meet the others, many times
they would see him as friendly and interesting, yet different. To
some of the others he was tedious and even a little strange.

He would ask himself over and over...How am I different? The others
could not help, they had no way to see or measure the Gift. They only
saw fleeting glimpses of it's power.

The boy grew to be a man as most boys do, but for this now young man
things were still quite puzzling. He was ever the outsider. Sometimes
wishing to fit in, and sometimes knowing that he did not want to give
up the Gift in exchange for the company of the others.

He role-played many lives and lifestyles... trying them on one by
one. None of them seemed to fit although some gave him great
satisfaction because he had the chance put the Gift to good use.

Each of these roles and paths that he tried taught him more of what
the Gift was, how it worked, and what it's power was.

After many years he found himself in a major challenge. He knew once
again that he had come to a turning point. He had done this many
times but this one was different. With the knowledge and experience
gained from working with the Gift and closely watching the others, he
finally found an answer...

The Gift is his life...


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>> PLEASE TELL US <<
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We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. Any comments,
suggestions, or criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please
continue to help us make this newsletter and CHADD of Northern
California more beneficial to you all.

We also invite readers to share their experiences with us and other
members. Please feel free to write to us about anything that you
would like to see published.

You can e-mail your comments to us at Lew@.... Simply
replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the editor.

Lew Mills, Editor

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>> CHADD INFORMATION <<
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Visit our webpage at http://www.chaddnorcal.org if you wish toŠ
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About the Newsletter:

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.

* CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support *

Contact:
--

Lew Mills, PhD, MFT
Editor, "Center of Attention"
CHADD of Northern California, Chapter # 504
mailto:Lew@...
http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
Fax or Voice Message: 510-291-2950
Toll Free 888-759-9758