August 2000

So where do we go from here?

Now that we’re getting the hang of this computerized publishing stuff, we ought to be looking for ways to improve both the delivery of “Sobriety News” and its content.

Here are just a couple of ideas that come to mind now:

1)  Each group has at least one member who could print off copies of SN so that every member would be able to have one as soon as possible.  That could be a good service commitment for someone. 

2)  Since SN is a function of every AA member in the Harrisburg area, we all have the right and responsibility to contribute items for publication and to suggest improvements.  Do you have a favorite passage from AA literature?  Let us know.  Do you have an idea for a regular feature?  Let us know.  Maybe you want to boost an upcoming event or get some support for a struggling meeting.  That’s all good stuff.  Do you want to share your own experience, strength, and hope?  Good!  Just keep it brief.

3)  If you’re in doubt as to the worth of something for SN, just drop an e-mail to the following email address, wcampbel@epix.net, and we can talk it over.  

    A tip o’ the hat for a “Shot of Enthusiasm”

          Great gobs of food were fixed, the speakers were lined up, hundreds of chairs were arranged…every detail of planning was attended to for “A Shot of Enthusiasm,” an Intergroup event slated for July 15 in Middletown. Then the main speaker---Polly P., of Cyprus, California---had to back out because of flight cancellations.  What to do?  Back in the old days (pre-sobriety), we know the planners would have gone totally berserk, probably even canceled.  This time?  Simple.  Eva, Cheryl H.’s sponsor, who moved here from out west earlier this year armed with 23 years of sobriety, picked up the last-minute challenge and delivered a real live shot of enthusiasm to the 125-plus AAs and friends in the audience.  Jim S., of Carlisle, and Sylvia, of East Petersburg, preceded Eva to the lectern, and Ed. H. served as emcee.  A tip of the hat to all those who planned and participated and big thanks for another lesson in who’s in control.

It’s a vending machine picnic!

            When our huge SN staff first heard about a vending machine picnic being sponsored by Fellowship House August 19, we figured everyone had to bring a vending machine.  Not so, says Neal W. “This is a ‘thank you’ to all the people who have spent money in the vending machines,” he said. “Fellowship House has had this for two years, I think.  The cost of the event is paid out of the vending machine surplus.”  The picnic begins with eats at 4 p.m. followed by the Saturday night dance from 8:30 to midnight.  A $3 donation is requested, and donations of desserts are also welcome.  A Late Night Group meeting will follow.

Talk about fast planning!

Harrisburg’s PENNSCYPAA gained approval July 21 to host the statewide group’s 13^th annual conference July 27-29, 200l.  Just a few days later, plans were already completed for the big event---the who, what, where, when of it all.  It’ll be held at Holiday Inn Harrisburg East, just off I-283, beginning with an 8 p.m. meeting and ending Sunday noon with a big wind-up bash. In between, there’ll be a Saturday banquet and dance, a Friday night pool party and a whole lot of great meetings. One thing’s for sure:  they’ll need an army of volunteers. In fact, you can sign up now to chair a meeting or meet some other service commitment. This group---The Pennsylvania State Conference of Young People in AA---deserves the support of all of us, so why not sign up now so you don’t forget come next summer. Call Lindy Z. at 717-985-0782, or e-mail her at registration@pennscypaa.org.  Remember, Pennscypaa isn’t just for people who are young in years; it’s for anyone who has room to grow in AA.  That’s all of us, right?  The group’s motto is “Life happens; joy is optional,” which might give you a hint as to what you might expect at the conference.

11^th Step Meeting moves to Bridge St.

The Wednesday 8 p.m. meeting that had been held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 20^th & Market Sts., Camp Hill, will begin meeting at Trinity United Methodist Church at 421 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, on Wednesday, September 6, at 8 p.m.  The meeting follows an llth Step discussion format.

        Out of 62 groups in the Harrisburg Area, on average only 30-35      are represented at the monthly Intergroup meeting.  In other words nearly half of us aren’t getting the word about what’s going on in AA in the Harrisburg area.  Even sadder is the fact that so much is being done by so few for so many in terms of communications, prison outreach, special events, telephone hotline, schedules, etc.

through Intergroup. How about making sure your group has a commitment to attend Intergroup meetings.  They are held the first Thursday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in Fellowship House.

Another pearl from Bill W.

(Editor’s note: we invite any member to submit a brief writing from AA literature or share experience, strength and hope through Sobriety News. This one came from Jim M.)

                        *   *   *   *   *

“For all its usual destructiveness, we have found that fear can be the starting point for better things.  Fear can be a stepping-stone to prudence and to a decent respect for others.  It can point the path to justice, as well as to hate.  And the more we have of respect and justice, the more we shall begin to find the love which can suffer much, and yet be freely given.  So fear need not always be destructive, because the lessons of its consequences can lead us to positive values.”---Bill W., Language of the Heart, p. 265. And Jim adds: “FEAR = False Events Appearing Real.”  


Hershey Group hears service rep  
Jane L., District #36 liaison to Harrisburg Area Intergroup, and Sheri S., another District #36 General Service Rep (GSR), attended the Hershey Group’s monthly business meeting August 2 to give the Hershey folks a rundown on the overall duties of District #36 and the responsibilities of the GSR. Jane and Sheri were well received, and the Hershey group feels that the visit was “timely, meaningful, and supportive of unity.”

District #36 is our immediate link to New York, but many AAs, especially newcomers, know little about its functions. That’s why Jane is eager to make visits to the individual groups.  You can contact her through your group’s GSR.  Your Intergroup rep also sees her at most Intergroup meetings.

Speakers 
Speakers for August-September at Bridge Street Group Sunday 8 p.m. meeting (no one else sent any in) include Aug. 20, Bill D., York; Aug. 27, Jean W., Stay Alive; Sept. 3, open; Sept. 10, Bonnie C., 19^th Street; Sept. 17 Mac C., Carlisle; Sept. 24, Bill W., 19^th Street.

An easier, softer way? 

You may have received this as a forward from Bob H.  Regardless, we thought it was worth passing on.

Area 29 Fall Conference

The Maryland General Service will sponsor the 16^th annual fall conference in Hagerstown, Maryland Oct. 26-29---with AA, Alanon, and Alateen participating.  This has become a favorite among Harrisburg area AAs, and this year’s agenda promises a top-notch weekend. 

AA speakers include Wayne S., of Delaware; Russell S., of S. Carolina; Beth G., of Ohio; Clint H., of California; Karen G., of California, Nancy N., of California; and Mike S., of Maryland.  Alanon speakers will be Joyce S., of Maryland; and Virginia M., of North Carolina.

All activities will be held in the Ramada Inn.  Complete agenda and registration forms are available through your Intergroup rep.  Deadline for registration is October 6. You’ll want to act early on this one; traditionally this conference draws a large crowd, including many of our friends from Serenity Weekend in Richmond and the Shenandoah Roundup in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Sue H. back for Women’s Serenity Retreat

Sue H., of the Caron Foundation, who led the 1998 WSR, is coming back for the 2000 retreat, which is already drawing a good turnout, judging from early registrations.

The retreat will be held September 22-24 at Precious Blood Retreat Center in Columbia, Pa., about a 40 minute drive from Harrisburg.

This is a closed retreat, focusing on the 11^th Step.  Cost of a room is $120 for double occupancy; $130 for single.  Scholarships are available for half the cost of a double ($60).

Further information may be obtained by calling LeeAnn at 766-8099 or Eileen at 564-7049.   


Men’s 4^th Step Retreat this month
            Everything’s set for the Men’s Spiritual Retreat, slated for August 18-20, also at Precious Blood Retreat Center in Columbia. Leaders will be Father Ed L., Jared L., and Jim S.  For last-minute info, call Moses B. at 238-3924, Ed L., at 652-3801, or Bob S., at 761-6151.  The focus this year is the 4^th Step, making the retreat an ideal joint venture for sponsors and sponsees.


Bill W.’s traveling companion to speak

Somers Point 12 Step Group, of Linwood N.J., will hold its third annual Unity Breakfast at the New Atlantic City Convention Center October 15, starting at 9 a.m., with doors opening at 8 a.m.  Cost of registration is $17 on or before September 16 and $20 thereafter.  Reservations for tables of 12 are available.  No tickets will be available at the door.  Key speaker will be Peter W., who has a wealth of inspiring stories to tell of his association with Bill W.  For more info, call Ed D., at (609) 927-7477; Fred McL., at (609) 641-9807; or Bob U., at (609) 926-0703.

Has your group made its contribution  
to Intergroup this month?

Another Pearl
        “Even the newest of newcomers finds undreamed of rewards as he tries to help his brother alcoholic, the one who is even blinder than he.  This is indeed the kind of giving that actually demands nothing.  He does not expect his brother sufferer to pay him, or even to love him.

“And then he discovers that by the divine paradox of this kind of giving he has found his own reward, whether his brother has yet received anything or not.”---Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 109

Publications

Jim D., chair of the HAI literature committee, unveiled two excellent pieces at the August Intergroup meeting: 1) “What Does an ‘Intergroup Representative’ Do?” and 2) “The structure of Intergroup.”  If you’ve been around for a while and still feel like you’re in the dark about Intergroup, get a copy of these items from your Intergroup rep.  When you read about how the many, many recovery services are delivered to the Harrisburg area, you’ll want to be a part of it all. And if you’re sponsoring a newcomer, there could be no simpler way to provide an orientation of Intergroup.

Financial Summary for Intergroup

Craig P., Intergroup treasurer, reports that at the end of July, we had a balance of $828.75, in addition to a $2,000 prudent reserve that we maintain for emergencies.  Before you get big ideas of where we might spend the 828 bucks, keep in mind that we’re playing it pretty close to the vest where finances are concerned.  We had total income for July of $1,879.01, but only $791.97 of that came from group contributions---barely enough to cover just our current expenses. The largest amount of income came from higher-than-usual literature sales of $902.