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

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>> IN THIS ISSUE <<
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*Calendar of Events
*Announcements: Annual Elections and Planning Meeting
Rachel Meets Jack
*Feature Article: About Forgiveness
*Please Tell Us
*Subscription Information
*CHADD Information

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>> CALENDAR OF EVENTS <<
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This calendar only has events for the next 3 or 4 weeks listed. It
also does not list some other CHADD groups which may be closer to you
and it does not list some non-CHADD events. For a thorough calendar,
look at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/schedule and check the links at
the top.

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Marin - 5/24/2004, Mon. 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Parent Resource & Support Group -- Call First...
30 Catalpa, Mill Valley - Contact: Victoria Vogel & Holly Seerley: 415-383-6048
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San Francisco - 5/24/2004, Mon. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Success Group (With Toni. June group is canceled.) -- 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: 888-759-9758
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Alameda - 5/25/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Support Group --
Lynnwood United Methodist Church, Pleasanton - Contact: Pattie: 925-548-3997
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Contra Costa - 5/25/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Parent Meeting -- Topic followed by Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Dana: 925-886-8735
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Online - 5/25/2004, Tues. 9-11 am PST
"Ask The Expert" Chat - Arthur Robin, Ph.D. -- Dr. Robin will discuss
questions about "AD/HD in Adults and its Effects Upon Relationships."
Open to the Public.
Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 888-759-9758
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Stanislaus - 6/1/2004, Tues. 7 - 8pm
Modesto Adult Support Group --
Doctors Medical Center, Modesto - Contact: Bonnie: 209-523-4939
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Contra Costa - 6/2/2004, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult Topical Meeting --
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
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Santa Clara - 6/2/2004, Wed. Reg: 7pm, Meet 7:30pm
TBA --
Friends Meeting House, Palo Alto - Contact: Silicon Valley Warmline:
650-949-5472
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Santa Clara - 6/3/2004, Thu. 7:15 - 9:30 pm
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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Santa Clara - 6/8/2004, 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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Contra Costa - 6/9/2004, 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. Call first to confirm.
Sutter Delta Medical Center, Antioch - Contact: Colleen Ruddock: 925-757-2372
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Alameda - 6/9/2004, 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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Marin - 6/10/2004, Thu. 7-9 pm
AD/HD and Temperament - Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith, RN, MA, MFT -- What
are the nine temperament traits? How can temperament of adults and
children be accurately assessed? What typical screenings for AD/HD
(Conners, Stonybrook) tell us. Learn about the benefits of using
temperament language in the home and at school.
APPLE Family Works is a non-profit agency for persons of all ages
wishing to improve their well-being. 415-492-0720 www.familyworks.org
Family Works Counseling Agency, San Rafael - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Marin - 6/15/2004, Tues. 7-9 pm
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. In addition, if
you want to work on skills for sorting and purging papers, bring your
paper piles.
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
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Contra Costa - 6/16/2004, Wed. 7 - 9 pm
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting -- Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
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Santa Clara - 6/16/2004, 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 - 6/17/2004, Thu. 7 - 9 pm
Parent 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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Online - 6/18/2004, Fri. 9-11 am PST
"Ask The Expert" Chat - Lauren Braswell, Ph.D. -- AD/HD and Parental
Perceptions, Beliefs and Expectations. Open to the Public.
Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 888-759-9758
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Alameda - 6/22/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Adult Support Group --
Lynnwood United Methodist Church, Pleasanton - Contact: Pattie: 925-548-3997
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Contra Costa - 6/22/2004, Tues. 7 - 9 pm
Danville Adult Meeting -- Topic followed by Group Discussion
Los Cerros Middle School Library, Danville - Contact: Dana: 925-886-8735
============================

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>> ANNOUNCEMENTS <<
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Annual Elections and Planning Meeting
Rachel Meets Jack

** Elections

The Annual Elections and Planning Meeting are scheduled for Saturday,
June 19, at noon. We should conclude all our business by 3. The
location will be in the East Bay, but we have not yet finalized the
location. For updates, and to vote by mail, see:

http://www.chaddnorcal.org/ExecBoard/Election04-05/

** Rachel Meets Jack

Those of you who have been attending Rachel's Adult Success Group in
San Francisco have been expecting this for some time: Rachel met her
son Jack on Thursday, May 13th at 4 a.m. He was a "healthy" 8 lbs 10
oz and measured 21 inches. Rachel reports: "As you can imagine, I've
been kinda busy the last week and a half. I'm having a wonderful time
getting to know my son!"

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>> FEATURE ARTICLE <<
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A Note About Forgiveness

Having ADHD may explain some of the things that we do and wish we
hadn't done, or that we don't do but wish that we had. But we are
still responsible for what we say, what we do, and what we don't do.

Sometimes this is hard, especially since many of us have to live with
the fact that we will probably make more mistakes and commit more
social blunders than most other people, no matter how much we learn,
no matter how hard we try, no matter how many medications we take.

What matters is that we do our best to learn from our mistakes and do
our best to make appropriate amends. But once we have done that,
it's time to put the mistake behind us and to forgive ourselves.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that since we often depend
on forgiveness from others, it is wise to be forgiving of them as
well.

If you want to learn more about forgiveness -- why it is important,
what it is and isn't, and how you can learn to forgive, I recommend
"Forgive For Good" by Dr. Fred Luskin, Harper San Francisco, ISBN
0-06-251721-X.

--Michael C. Hinckley, Ph.D.
coach@...

This article has been published with the kind permission of Michael
Hinckley, Ph.D., a personal coach who specializes in working with
people with ADHD who want to thrive because of, not just despite
their ADHD. Mike can be contacted at coach@...

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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
* See the up-to-date schedule
* Read this newsletter and the archives
* Join CHADD of Northern California or renew your membership

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