Legacy Weekend

How and Why it Began …

Once upon a time … in October of 1999, I was asked to take a group of women, via a retreat weekend format, thru the 12 Steps in Maryland. Linda J. accompanied me and at the end of that weekend she would say “would you ever do that for us?” I said “Sure! – but someone else needs to do the planning for it.”

Preparations began for a date and a venue. Since the next year was 2000, and we’d all want to attend the International Convention (held in Minneapolis that year), we didn’t want to ‘compete’ with that, so we decided to host it the same month as my sobriety date, which is February.

Plans were finalized as follows:

February 2001 (#1) – This first weekend was intended to be a “one and done” and open to any women interested in going thru the Steps. It was held at the beautiful retreat center of Casa de Maria, in Montecito, CA. My dear friend, Rita S. co-hosted the experience with me.  We maxed it out at 98.  It was designed as an all inclusive (food and lodging). Because there was such electricity in the air, at the end of Friday night I was asked “Can we do this every year?” My reply … “Uh, No. But let me think about it.” By the end of the weekend, it was agreed we’d do it every 5 years.

February 2006 (#2) – This year began as “only for my sponsees and their sober family lines”. Since I had moved to Northern California, we held this at another lovely retreat center at San Damiano in Danville, CA. We maxed this one out at 140 attendees. Most rooms were shared. $190 included shared room and 5 meals. It was one of the most beautiful weather-wise weekends in February, ever! We introduced the “Prayer Booklet” and a special gift for each person (this is now done annually). Our program had 3 Main Speakers: Milly G., Ann W., and Me.

February 2011 (#3) – We “needed a bigger venue” so we secured the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Concord, CA. We grew to 228 attendees. $160 was for registration and 5 meals, hotel cost was additional. In addition to the items we now provided, we began to have Panels on the different Legacy’s vs. one speaker for each. We also introduced a day trip on Friday to San Francisco. “Prayer Booklet 2011” was produced.

February 2016 (#4) – One more year at the Crowne Plaza, Concord, CA, and almost doubling our attendance to 406, once again we were at “we’re gonna need a bigger venue”.  $200 included registration and 5 meals (again, hotel additional). Another Booklet, “I’ll Leave You With This”, a special pin, day trip to San Francisco, and while we reviewed all 3 Legacy’s, our focus broke down the Steps into more detail.

April 2022 (#5) – We’re moving the date (at least for this Retreat) to April for a few reasons, including better weather, to the Concord Hilton Hotel, Concord, CA. Designing it differently – this year will just be Registration cost, with one paid meal option, a coffee-mug option, as well as the Booklets from past and present year “Our History Remembered, 366 One Day At A Times”, and your other meals can be enjoyed at the numerous restaurants across the street or one block down at a popular outdoor mall. Hotel registration will be available when one person in the room/party has registered for the Retreat.

We hope your future will find you a part of our history.

Welcome – and see you soon.

Debbie Davis