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Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter,alt.recovery,alt.support,alt.procrastinatn,alt.procrastinate
From: Dan Goodman <[email protected]>
Subject: alt.recovery.clutter FAQ
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You are not alone.
Cluttering/messiness is a real problem, and can be a serious one.

alt.recovery.clutter is a place where people who have cluttering as a
problem can discuss methods of dealing with it, share Experience, Strength
and Hope, recommend books on decluttering (and ways to keep them from
becoming part of the clutter) and get contact information for self-help
groups. alt.recovery.clutter is not affiliated with any organization, nor
does it speak for any organization.

You may want to also try one or more of these email lists:

[email protected]. Very active.  To subscribe, send message
to [email protected]: Subscribe Decluttr Your Name. Put this
in the body of the message (the Listserv software ignores subject
headings), and don't put anything else in the message (this includes your
signature). Note: "Decluttr" with one e.

[email protected].  Very active.  To subscribe, send a message to
[email protected]

A couple of quieter web-based mailing lists are at the Messies Home on the Web: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3337. (Or go to http://www.onelist.com.) One with a Christian emphasis, one general.

[email protected] (not affiliated with Clutterers Anonymous)
Send any message to [email protected]

[email protected] (not affiliated with Messies Anonymous) Send any
message to [email protected]

H/C (Hoarding/Clutter) Contact Paula Kotakis - [email protected].  For
"Hoarders and/or Clutterers with OCD [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder], a
basic knowledge of CBT and a strong desire to improve their living spaces"

On IRC:

Date: Thursday, 6 April 2000
From: Shaira Goldstein

Here are the times for #clutterers on newnet:  M-F PST after 6:00 p.m.,
SAT-SUN after 1:30 p.m. PST.

Q: What is clutter? A: "Clutter is anything we don't need, want, or use
that takes our time, energy or space, and destroys our serenity. It can be
outgrown clothes, obsolete paper....We may be selective in some areas, but
not in others. Objects may be strewn about or wedged into drawers; neatly
stacked or stowed in storage." The Twelve Steps of Clutterers Anonymous,
CLA WSO Literature Committee, approved February 1996.

Q: Is cluttering a real problem? A: Anything that can get you evicted, get
your children taken away from you, keep you from inviting people into your
home, get you charged more by retailers and the tax authorities because
you can't find the paperwork needed to pay them on time, is a real
problem.

Q: Does cluttering go together with ___?  A:  Clutterers are more likely
than average to have one of these:  clinical depression, Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder, fibromyalgia.  But none of these invariably goes together with
cluttering; and cluttering doesn't invariably go together with any of
them.

Q:  It's not me who has the problem; it's an elderly relative. A:  If
you're in Minnesota, get in touch with Ruth Kildow of the Minneapolis
Office of Senior Services:  350 South 5th St., Room 11-B, Minneapolis, MN
55415-1314.  She did her master's thesis on this subject, and has a good
deal of practical experience.  Your local government may have a similar
agency. (Note: It makes a difference whether this is something that's
started recently, or if the person has always been this way.)

Organizations for clutterers

If there's an organization or local meeting not listed here which you
think should be, please let me know. I'm particularly interested in groups
outside the US. I'm also interested in people's experiences with groups.

Where a phone number is given, please call first to make sure the meeting
is still at the time and place given.

Two 12-step groups:

Clutterers Anonymous World Service Organization is at PO Box 91413, Los
Angeles, CA 90009-1413.  Website: http://www.clutterers-anonymous.org.
The website has a list of meetings; it does not have contact phone
numbers. For a recorded list of meetings, call (310) 281-6064. For
pamphlets and other information, send a long first class self-addressed
envelope with twice the minimum first-class postage. (Nothing said about
writing from outside the US for information. You should be able to use
International Reply Coupons, but I don't know how many would be needed. My
guess is 2 from Canada or Mexico, 4 from elsewhere.)  For the information
needed to start a meeting, suggested donation is $5.00 US.

Note:  I'm only listing meetings which have okayed having their phone
numbers on the Net.  For times and places of others, see the Clutterers
Anonymous website.

Minnesota: Roseville, 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 10 AM.  Contact:  Pat,
651-6441139, or Janet, 612-375-1170.  St. Christopher's Church, room 128,
2300 Hamline Ave. (Hwy. 36 & Hamline)

St. Louis Park, Second Saturday 12:15-1:15. Contact: Pat, 651-644-1139.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8115 Highway 7, Hwy 7 & Texas Ave.,
across from Knollwood Mall.

South Minneapolis, alternate Thursdays, 7 PM.  Contact: Dan G.,
612-821-3934 or [email protected]. Anodyne Coffeehouse, Nicollet Ave. S. and
43rd St.

Washington: Seattle Monday 10 am St. Paul's, 6512 - 12th Ave NW Ruth
763-8398

Messies Anonymous: 5025 SW 114th Ave., Miami, FL 33165. 1-800-MESS AWAY
Quarterly newsletter $5 per year -- sample newsletter free. Internet:
[email protected]. Website: http://www.messies.com.  Founded by Sandra
Felton.

This list is _very_ incomplete; I will list other meetings if they give me
the information to list here.

Dallas, Texas Messies Anonymous.  Day and evening meetings. Evening
meetings are the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month, 7:00-8:30 pm.  Day
meetings are the 1st and 3rd Tuesday, noon-1:00 pm. Meeting place:
Highland Park Presbyterian Church 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, Texas.
Room H110 7:00-8:30 pm. Contact: Jane K. at (214) 368-7205 email:
[email protected]; or Dorothy P. at 972-495-1950 Dorothy P. email:
[email protected]

WA: Aberdeen, Evelyn, (360) 533-1813 Greater Seattle Area: [I'm told the
contact number is disconnected; if you're in that area, could you check to
see if there's a newer number?] "We have an active MA group here (the
Greater Seattle area)..... Our meetings are the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the
month. Our contact phone number is: [Sue at] 206-824-2728."

"If you write to the address for the newsletter and include your city and
state, you will receive a list of others in the area who have asked for
the same information OR the name and number of the person who has
organized such a group--if there is one. You will also receive as much
information and support as you might need if you want to start your own
group." Bonnie Rice Change: You can now ask from the website.

One national non-12-step group: Clutterless
http://www.clutter-recovery.com "Clutterless is a self-help recovery
program (not a 12-Step program) based on spiritual, psychological and
prosperity principles. We welcome not only clutterers and hoarders, but
those whose lives have been affected by loved ones' cluttering. If enough
people join us on our chat room on MSN, we will establish a time for
online meetings. Please visit
http://communities.msn.com/ClutterFreeHoardNoMore/_messageboard.msnw.
Meanwhile there are a number of new comments on our own comments page.
.."We have adopted Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life, by Mike Nelson,
as our guide to recovery. ....For questions or information on starting a
Clutterless meeting in your area, please email us: [email protected]"

The meetings so far seem to all be in Texas.

Local to San Franciso Bay Area:

Passed on by Lori Burkart

'A Hoarders' and Clutterers' Support Group has been formed in San
Francisco and meets twice a month (2nd and 4th Mondays, 3-4 p.m.)

'The flyer reads: "For Mental Health Consumers who have too much stuff and
want help, the San Francisco Mental Health Association's Consumer Housing
Group presents a Hoarders' and Clutterers' Support Group"

'"Twice a month, starting Nov. 1997:
2nd Mondays ....
4th Mondays at Canon Kip, 705 Natoma (@ 8th St.)

'"[note: the Association is responding to the problem of evictions due to
Hoarding problems]"'

alt.recovery.clutter
(BRADFORDMC)
Sun Jan 18 1998

"I saw the original post of the San Francisco....group meetings and
attended my first meeting at the Madrid Hotel. Due to parking restrictions
and space considerations in that area the plan for the 2nd Monday in
February is to meet @ the Canon Kip location, 705 Natoma@8th Street (S.F.)
I find the support mutual and encouraging. I encourage anyone interested
in the area to attend. I also am interested in the possibility of starting
a meeting in the east bay. One other person at the meeting lives in
Berkeley. Due to a vision problem, it would be much easier to attend
meetings closer to home. Anyone else interested?"

Date: Monday, 25 October 1999
Louis

Dan, as for our Hoarders and Clutterers support group (facilitated by
myself as an employee of the Mental Health Association), the contact
number is (415) 882-6237.  We meet each second Monday of the Month, and
the fourth Thursday of the month.  Our next meeting is Thursday, October
28 from 6-7 p.m. at 705 Natoma Street, on Eighth Street between Mission
and Howard, at the Canon Kip Center.

Useful Books, etc.

Sandra Felton. THE MESSIES MANUAL: The Procrastinator's Guide to Good
Housekeeping

THE MESSIES SUPERGUIDE: Strategies and Ideas for Conquering Catastrophic
Living.

MEDITATIONS FOR MESSIES
Alcoholics Anonymous TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS
Don Aslett: Clutter's Last Stand, Not For Pack Rats Only, How do I
Clean the Moosehead?
Stephanie Culp: How to Organize, How to Simplify Your Life
Young and Jones, Sidetracked Home Executives (Warner 1981)
Young and Jones, The Sidetracked Sisters Catch-up on the Kitchen
(Warner 1983)
Young and Jones, The Sidetracked Sisters' Happiness File (Warner 1985)
Young and Jones, Get Your Act Together (Harper Collins 1993).
SHE and GYAT can usually be found at large chain bookstores or
Christian bookstores (these are not "Christian" publications, per se).
The sisters themselves peddle a variety of SHE items.... Address is:
Sidetracked Home Executives, Inc.,PO Box 5364, Vancouver, WA 98668 [360]
696-4091 http://www.shesintouch.com

"Confessions of an Organized Homemaker" by Deniece Schofield.
(Publisher: Betterway Books, Cincinnati OH. The cover lists it at
$10.99 US, $15.99 CAN, 7.99 UK).

"Lighten Up! Free Yourself From Clutter," by Michelle Passoff, Harper
Collins Publishers, 1998.  ISBN 0-06-095265-2.

Wed, 25 February 1998
MRS BONNIE J RICE <[email protected]>
Home Organization Booklist Online

Dan, It's official, I've moved my website to http://getolife.hypermart.net
and am hoping to provide more interactivity with the new site. I'm working
on making the site more helpful. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I just finished reorganizing my home organization book list into
categories instead of by author. If you are looking for the perfect book
on meal-planning or paper handling or clutter control, you can actually go
to that section of the list. Many of the books can be ordered through
Amazon directly from the list and some of the authors have websites of
their own that are linked to the list.
http://getolife.hypermart.net/booklist.html

[2/99] ... anyone who has taken the home organization class and wants to
join a support community on excite (you need to join excite which might be
a hassle to some) please let me know and I'll send you an invitation that
will get you in. It's a closed community so we won't have spam or other
inappropriate things there.

Friday, 23 Jan 1998
ttista
cleaning tools

I follow Don Aslett's book Is There Life After Housework. You can get his
catalog 1-800-451-2402. I use his mop, it's called a scrubbee doo. really.

He explains how to use the right cleaning tools, and cleaning products.

[http://www.cleanreport.com/]

Friday, 27 February 1998
Stella Sloop
SHE Online...

For those of you who have been wondering what in the world the SHE Online
thing is all about, and for those who may have been too late to take
advantage of it this past time, here's hope:

from the Get O message board of AOL

Re: March Is Clean Sweep Month!
(Get O CEO)
27 February 1998

'Kim asks if the Delphi service (new home of SHE's Online and 21 Days to
SHE) is another service like AOL.

'Kim, yes and no. Yes, you can get Internet access through Delphi. No,
it's not necessary to have a paid account to visit Custom Forum 222, the
Get Organized Board, on the World Wide Web: http://www.delphi.com/mc When
it asks "Go to Forum by Number", type in 222.

'All you do is sign up for a FREE membership at the log in page. Don't worry, you can't miss it. Pick a username and a password. and you're up and running.

'In format, Delphi is pretty nice. Messages are threaded, and easy to read and to post. There's no length limitation like the Slob Sisters Online message board. And since blessed Delphi permits me to retain copyright,it's JUST the place to post the 21 Days essays--don't miss out!...'

http://www.organizedhome.com

Sat, 11 April 1998
Mycala W Shaulis
Kitchen Web Link

http://www.123sortit.com/toc.html

It covers not just the kitchen, but virtually every room in the house.

Sat, 11 April 1998
Josie Morgan
Financial Info: What to Keep

I ran across this link while working on our taxes today:
http://www.quicken.com/saving/frugal/

It is an article by Jane Bryant Quinn on how to organize financial
records--it covers what to keep, how long to keep it, and logical ways to
organize it.

Wed, 27 May 1998 - updated 26 February 2000:
OrganizeWize -- now GET ORGANIZED

Now that I'm getting more content to my pages I was wondering if you would
add Organize Wize to your FAQ. I have added a printable form that helps
for setting goals called Daily Active Enforcement (DAE) Goal page and info
on how to get started decluttering (or achieving any goal) called
"Charting the course".

Added 2/26/00 "FREE planners, organizers, free software for home, office,
wedding, pregnancy, holiday and budget"

GET ORGANIZED
http://www.organizetips.com

Thu, 18 June 1998
Balance Check
DECLUTTR: change of site address - balance check - FAQ

Home page: http://members.aol.com/balanceck/

DeCluttr FAQ: http://user.cybrzn.com/~kenyonck/add/faq_clutter.html
DeCluttr FAQ - SHORT:
http://user.cybrzn.com/~kenyonck/add/faq_short_decluttr.html

Clutter Books:
http://user.cybrzn.com/~kenyonck/add/books/clutter_books.htm
Clutter Links: http://user.cybrzn.com/~kenyonck/add/Links/
links_categories_clutter.html#clutter

Sun, 26 July 1998
Jeannie Weeks <[email protected]>

..Chore Genie is a shareware application that helps to schedule your
household chores, includes a menu-builder and a to-do list....We offer
tips and worksheets for getting started, which can be viewed on our web
site at http://www.wecosoft.com/tips.html....We even have an email loop
anyone can join by sending me a request to [email protected]. The
email loop has tips for using the program as well as general topics for
staying motivated, getting started and anything else that is on topic.
Anyone is welcome to join!

Jeannie Weeks Wecosoft
http://www.wecosoft.com
ICQ#2837260
Chore Genie on AOL

Sun, 18 Oct 1998
The Roberts Family

I'm pleased to announce that I've added 3 pages on decluttering to my web
site (all decked up in fall colors).  More will be forthcoming, of course:
http://www.pongo.com/~webpages/andy

alt.recovery.clutter
"SaraB"
Web Site
Thu Mar 18 1999

http://www.juliemorgenstern.com/
This is the website by Julie Morgenstern (duh...) of Organizing from the Inside Out. Just found it last night. I especially liked her
"challenge" section.

alt.recovery.clutter
"Terry Voss"
Neat Link!
Tue Mar 23 1999

Online Organizing Expo: http://www.organizedtimes.com/expo2.htm
Just found it myself, so I'll be exploring. Looks good, though.

Mon, 28 Jun 1999
Katrina Ancel
organizing Link

Thought I'd pass this one along..it is the Professional Organizer Web
Ring...tons of info on getting organized at the home site, plus since it's
a ring they link to other sites on the topic.

http://www.organizerswebring.com/

Fri, 9 Jul 1999
Katrina Ancel
Free Organizing Guide from Julie Morgenstern

Get a free guide on the ten most common pitfalls when organizing and how
to avoid them..from TaskMasters the company owned by Julie Morgenstern
author of "Organizing from the Inside Out"
http://www.juliemorgenstern.com/task_masters_history.html

alt.recovery.clutter
From: naomiy
Found a neat web site! (Pun intended)
Date: Thu Aug 19 1999

Check out: http://www.organizedhome.com./

A bit advanced for some of us maybe, but there are lots of good resources
here!

Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: I found another organizational site

Hello everyone,

One of my favorite Web sites is http://www.thathomesite.com. I received
notice from them that they have a new forum--Organizing your Home. It
looks interesting. Oh, and no, I have no connection with this site!

Paula

Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: New OneList Community

I've just launched a new OneList community that might be of interest. It's
called 2BeClutterFree, and it's intended as a support group for the
clutterer/messie/housekeeping-impaired person who's actively trying to get
control of his/her life back. All ages, genders, etc. :-) are welcome.
Humor is also welcome, flame-wars aren't.

If you're interested, please proceed to http://www.onelist.com . If you
isplace the list name [which has happened to me on other occasions], look
nder the category Health:Support Groups.

Hi - I've created a little web community dedicated to simple living.  I
ave a great section on clutter control - and thought maybe some members
here would like to check it out! :)

http://communities.msn.com/SimpleLiving&naventryid=116


The Clutter Control Center: get control of that housework!
http://msmoo.simplenet.com/slobbies/index.html

Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 10:20:31 -0500 (CDT)
Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: Messies Anonymous Posting Forum Website Address

The Messies Anonymous Posting Forum is at the Cybermom.com website in the
Forum named Household Helpline.  Stroll down to bottom of the messages
list until you see MESSIES ANONYMOUS- JULY. This is the current active
posting site. When July is over with, they will start a new topic titled
MESSIES ANONYMOUS- AUGUST with a new message and etc.

Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: Messie Anonymous Web Ring

reginabrown wrote:
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=messies;list

Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: Yahoo's Search Page Results For Messies, Clutterers, and
Packrats Yahoo Clubs

I had trouble with the previous link and could not connect to the web
page. Sorry about the trouble with the link. Here is a new web link you
might want to follow to get to the clubs.--->
http://clubs.yahoo.com/?myclubs to get to the Yahoo Clubs search page.
Click on the Family & Home link and continue on. Here is the path to show
you how to get to the clubs---> Home > Family & Home > Home and Garden >
Homemaking (37) The clubs are in the Homemaking section which has 37
different type clubs.

Newsgroups: alt.recovery.clutter
Subject: Re: Julie Morganstern on PBS!

.. we've just put up a brand new Idea Exchange bulletin board on
Julie's site: http://juliemorgenstern.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi....
Sincerely,
Carol Crespo
Webmaster

Subject: Re: New Don Aslett Book

"Lose 200 Lbs. This Weekend: It's Time to Declutter Your Life!"

In the Introduction, Don says, "I had four books on clutter now and
forty-five years of experience cleaning it up. Every day and week new
"trash and trauma" stories about clutter arrived, ideas and solutions,
disaster and salvation accounts, more and better information on copingwith
and coming to terms with clutter. I knew by now, too (because youkept
telling me), that clutter sufferers need regular doses of dejunking
therapy," and it was time for a new decluttering guide."

Editorial comment: This NG is a regular dose for me.

The book has two missions: 1.) to convince and help you to dejunk NOW, and
2.) to develop a thread from "Clutter's Last Stand" on the mental and
spiritual aspect of clutter.

I do enjoy his approach. The humor helps me not to take myself too
seriously.

Carolyn

Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000
Subject: Re: info on web

While cleaning out my 2 boxes (see earlier post) I found a post that I
printed out on 10/30/99 from Paula who suggested Organizing for the
Creative Person.  Now a year later I search the web for that title and
found this link, excerpts from the book, better later than never!
http://www.danielofficeproducts.com/tips/two.html

Dan Goodman
[email protected]
http://www.visi.com/~dsgood/index.html
Whatever you wish for me, may you have twice as much.

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