Sobriety News February 2000

February 2000

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New HAl Officers Elected

The February Harrisburg Area Intergroup meeting ushered out the old and welcomed in the new as Intergroup representatives voted "in" new officers for the 2000-2001 service year. Welcome Karen P. as the new Chairperson, Leeann C. as the new Vice Chairperson, Georgia S. as returning Secretary, and Craig P. as Treasurer. Thanks go out to those who have served in the last year. Ed H. as Chairperson, Karen P. as ViceChairperson, Georgia S. as Secretary, and David D. as Treasurer. The new group officially takes "the chair'' at the March Harrisburg Area Intergroup meeting, yet their duties and responsibilities have already begun.

HERESWHATSUPAA Events around the globe
February
10-13 Atlanta, GA: 36th Interntl. A A Women's Conf. Write: Box 723964, Atlanta, GA 31139 website: www.geocities.com/~iaawc
11-13 Dryden, Ontario: 22nd Roundup. Write: Box 601, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z4
11-13 Greeley, C0: Stampede Conv. Write: 3127 22nd Ave., Greeley, CO 80631
11-13 Huntsville, TX: Spirit of Recovery Conf. Write: 320 Market #5, Galveston, TX 77550
11-13 Paducah, KY: 49th Kentucky State AA Conv. Write: Box 3193, Paducah, KY 42002
17-20 Kailua-Kona, HI: Big Book Seminar. Write: Box 161271, II Honolulu. HI 96816
18-20 Jackson, TN: TCYPAA 2000. Write: Box 3228, Jackson, TN 38303.3228. E-mail: tcypaa2000@hotmail.com
8-20 Lisburn, GA: Unity Weekend 2000. Write: Box 1333, Norcross, GA 30091 . E-mail: willing@mail.atl.bellsouth.net
18-20 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: 33rd Intergrouo Roundup. Wril e: Saskatoon Central Office, 311-220 3rd Ave. S., Saskatoon, SK S7K 1M1. E-mail: roundup@canada.com
18-20 Virginia Beach, VA: 24th Ocean Front Conf. Write: Box 66173, Virginia Beach VA 23466
24-26 Whitefish, MT: Sober Ski. Write: Box 326, St. Ignatius, MT 59865
25-27 Catalina, AZ: 3rd Rodeo Weekend Roundup. Write: Box 8701, Catalina, AZ 85738
*25-27 Greenbelt, MD: Northeast Regional Service Assembly. Write: Box 4785. Silver Spring, MD 20914-4785. E-mail: NERAASA2000@aol.com
25-26 Sikeston, MO: 19th Five Corners Conv. Write: 501 Maple St., Kennett, MO 63857 

DANCE, DANCE, DANCE Every third Saturday of the month! Fellowship House, Harrisburg

To receive Sobriety News via the Internet: E-mail bbbafree@ix.netcom.com

19th Street Group, Fellowship House, 1251 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA
11th -Derrick K.             18th - John S.                    25th - Anniversary Night

BRIDGE STREET GROUP 421 Bridge St, New Cumberland

February                                         March

6th - Joe S. Serenity Group               5th - Jane L. Elizabethtown Group

13th - Tom H. Serenity Group             12th - Steve T. Hershey Group

20th - Jeff B. Serenity Group            19th - Ed L. Desire Group

27th - Jim M. Serenity Group             26th - Dave D. Hershey Group

Groups wishing to highlight their speakers meetings should email their upcoming schedules or hand deliver them to the SN editor at the Harrisburg Area Intergroup monthly meeting.

Volunteers are needed to serve as meeting secretaries at Fellowship House. Contact Bruce S.

International Convention 2000

As we look at the snow outside, it is hard to imagine that the A A International is only a few months away! Here are some of the planned "Special Events".

Thursday, June 29
Enjoy the Block Party'' right outside the Convention Center and all along Nicollet Mall. Gotta Dance? Start right at the Convention Center. For the young and young at heart, there are other dances at the Hilton and Hyatt hotels. Meet and greet all your new and old friends as we stroll together and enjoy one of the world's largest "Block Parties.

Marathon meetings in English and Spanish begin at midnight and run continuously until 7:15 am. Sunday, July 2nd.

Friday, June 30
-AA. meetings begin at 9:00 a.m.
- Friday night is always very special. We will meet at the Metrodome Stadium and mark the Opening Ceremonies with a Parade of Flags of those countries in  attendance at the Convention. Probably over 80 flags followed by the Big AA  Meeting.
- Dance at the Stadium after the Big AA Meeting.

Saturday, July 1
- Meetings, meetings, meetings.
- Old-timers AA Meeting, the Stadium, 8:00 p.m.
-Dancing at the Stadium, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 2
- Closing Meeting at Stadium.

HAI "THE" HISTORY IN THE WRITING

Selections from the upcoming "We Carried This Message - A history of  AA in the Harrisburg Area."

Early 1940: in the summer of 1941, Roger B., a native of Philadelphia, who traveled often to Harrisburg, tried to carry the AA message as a means of seeking assistannce for his own alcoholism. He met with little or no success here.

Early 1941: John L arrived in Harrisburg from New York for the purpose of establishing a program for alcoholics.This was the first contact recorded by the General Services Office (GSO) of such action in Harrisburg.

March 3, 1941: Roger B. was transferred, by his company. to Harrisburg and became a resident here, he wrote to GSO and requested information and support in starting an AA group in Harrisburg. GSO promptly responded since this was the first inquiry from Harrisburg since the now famous Saturday Evening Post article by Jack Alexander was published and drew 1,100 responses from other towns and cities across the country.

Other Stuff (that is important)

The " City Limits" group at 29th and Derry Streets, United Methodist Church, is in need of support for its Tuesday night 6:30 pm meetings.

Fisherville needs meeting attendees for it's Tuesday night (7pm) meeting at the Messiah Lutheran Church on Ender Road in beautiful downtown Fisherville. It's a great - Big Book meeting. Check it out.

Volunteers are needed for the February meetings at the Harrisburg State Hospital, Tuesday nights from 7 to 7:50.

Grapevine Bulletin Board on Hold

The headline in the January SN said, "Grapevine Begins a Bulletin Board," and the website for AA International said: Welcome to the Grapevine Bulletin Board, hosted by the A A Grapevine magazine. Since its inception, the Grapevine magazine has carried the experience, strength, and hope of AA members around the world. Now, using the available technology found on the Internet, we are experimenting with this electronic forum as an extension of our monthly "meeting in print".

Now all of that has changed. In a web site message, Grapevine's web master, the person responsible for placing material on the web site, addresses the web readers with an update. We present it to you as it is found on the web site.

" To all the Bulletin Board Visitors and Interested Parties:

At the most recent meeting of the Grapevine Corporate Board, on January 28, 2000, some quest ions and concerns were raised about the Bulletin Board feature on our web site. After much discussion regarding questions of anonymity and our AA traditions, a decision was made to temporarily suspend the Bulletin Board until a subcommittee of the Grapevine Corporate Board could be established and more information is gathered and evaluated.

If you would like to voice your own opinion about the Bulletin Board and whether  it breaks the anonymity - or any other - traditions, please send your e-mail to: specialprojects@aagrapevine.org

We would like to thank everyone who has posted messages for their thoughtfulness and interest in the Grapevine Bulletin Board and we intend to use a selection of these messages in upcoming issues of the AA Grapevine magazine. In fellowship, The Web Manager"

SN Editor's note: The temporary suspension of the Grapevine Bulletin Board should not be misconstrued as a suspension of the main AA web site or that of Intergroup web sites.

Harrisburg Area Intergroup Meeting Minutes - February 3, 2000

Following are the groups that were represented: 19th Street, Lambda, 40th Street, Late Night, Ain't You Had Enough, New Beginnings, Bridge Street, Out 0f the Dark. Carlisle Area, Rebellion Dogs, Chapter 9, How It Works , Rule 62, Colonial Park, Serenity. Fellowship House. Survivors, Hershey, There's More To Life, It Works, West Shore Area, Joy of Living, Winding It Up, Keep It Simple Big Book

Chairman, Ed H. called the meeting to order at 6:45pm and opened with the Serenity Prayer. Secretary' s Report: Sign up sheet was passed around. Minutes were approved as corrected. Bob I., Not Bob S. representing Camp Hill.
Treasurer's Report: Dave reported $1169.70 after prudent reserve.
Ed H. thanked Bill C. for doing the history of AA. A terrific job! A motion was  made, Seconded and voted on to accept Dauphin County Technical School's price of $535.00 to print.
Vice-Chairman Report: Karen reported on several events coming up and flyers were available for anyone who didn't receive theirs in the mail. South Eastern Pennsylvania Intergroup. NERAASA 2000 Sober Cruise.
Committee Reports
Central Office: No Report
Meeting Schedules: Neal reported the cost will be $513.00 for printing 6000. A motion was made and seconded and voted on to purchase the schedules. We will sell them in packs of 50 for $5.00. If a group is in need, the schedules will be supplied to them.
Literature Report: Given by Jim D. New order forms available. Perry County has Literature that needs to be picked up. Another freebie offered this month. 9 book orders -- 5 pamphlets $790.00. Sales $300+. Out of Big Books. Out of Living Sober.
District 36: Jane L., a General Service Representative, introduced herself to the group. We were very glad to have her.
Activity Committee: Dennis Resigned. Neal W. and Bill P will help pull a committee together.
Unity: No Report
Outreach: No Report

Corrections and Institutions

Dauphin County: Given by Moses. Received literature and was very much appreciated. 25-30 in Attendance. Volunteers needed. Halfway house meeting stopped till satisfactory room is available. Perry County: No Report Cumberland County: 3 groups. Lack of help. Work release inmates told to attend. Need help! Cumberland Women's: Given by Gail. Still going on. 1 more volunteer added. State Hospital: Given by Kevin. Volunteers needed for February and March. 40th Street volunteered for March. Gail's home group committed to the last week of February Out of the Dark took August. Camp Hill: No Report

Sobriety News: Copies available (purple). Let's make Brian's job easier. Send in news about your group or events coming up.

Public Information: Brian will have all the information concerning the Internet prices and the web  page for the March meeting.

Nominations and Election of Officers: Chairperson -- Karen P.; Vice-Chair -- Leeann C.; Treasurer-- C raig P.; Secretary -- Georgia.S.

Ed H. thanked everyone for giving him the opportunity. And/or allowing him to sit in the chair he was sitting in, and for helping him.

Karen closed the meeting at 7:47pm.

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