We’re in cyberspace!
If you don’t yet have a computer, you might want
to get one now. And if you are already hooked up, you’re in for a
treat.
Thanks to Andrew B. — with help from
B.F., D.H., S. Mc., and D. L., — Harrisburg Area Intergroup now has its own website. And
it offers a host of services for recovering alcoholics in our 50-some local
groups and to visitors from out of town.
Here’s what you’ll get:
1) a complete meeting
schedule for the Harrisburg Area
2) The 12 Steps and
12 Traditions
3) Sobriety News
4) Click-on links
to the General Service Office and the AA Official website, including a
complete monthly copy of "Grapevine" in English, Spanish or French
5) Intergroup and
central office information for all 50 states, including Pennsylvania and
Harrisburg, of course.
6) "Is AA for You?"
7) Facts about Alcoholics
Anonymous
8) Welcome message
from Intergroup chairperson (under construction at this writing)
9) If all goes as
planned, eventually you will be able to purchase approved AA literature
directly through the website.
There are many other features — too many to list
in this space — all of which rank the new website as the single biggest information
service in local AA history.
Just being there is "carrying
the message"
Harrisburg’s Pennscypaa — Pennsylvania State Conference
of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous — will make its official bid in
York July 21-23 to gain the group’s statewide meeting for Harrisburg in
2001. The local chapter has a strong letter of support from Harrisburg
Area Intergroup, but now they’re looking for another boost —
lots of bodies
from Harrisburg AA groups.
"The more the better," said Tim. W. "A good turnout
will go a long way toward convincing them we are serious in this effort."
You can contact your Intergroup rep or any member
of Pennscypaa for more info and a possible ride-share.
State AA Convention August 4-6
Golf, a motorcycle scenic tour, bowling, great speakers
and fellowship — they’re all yours at the 7th Pennsylvania State AA Convention
Aug. 4-6 at the Ramada Inn, Somerset, Pa. Just $35 covers registration
for all three days and pays for Saturday night banquet and Sunday breakfast.
Golf, bowling, and lodging are extra. You can get a registration
form from your Intergroup rep. For more information, call Albert
B. at (610) 461-0486 or John B. at (215) 676-7481. By the way, it’s
okay to join the motorcycle tour in your car.
Help "Living Sober" Celebrate
The Living Sober Big Book Meeting will hold its
second year anniversary meeting Saturday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m. This
will be an open speaker meeting, so bring a friend. It will be followed
by a pot-luck dinner so also bring some food to share. The meeting
is held in the building next to St. Andrew’s in the Valley Church in Lower
Paxton Township at 4620 Linglestown Road, kitty-corner to the country club.
The Big Dip
The Late Night Group will hold its first annual pool party July 29 from
2 p.m. to midnight at 600 Cockley Avenue, Swatara Township. Lots
of fun and food and music by DJ Ronnie G. See group members for tickets---$5
each; children ten and under free. Bring a covered dish or desert if you
can. A midnight meeting will follow. Ticket sales will be limited
to 100.
Short Snorts
The midnight oil is burnin’ again at the Fellowship
House, now that the Late Night Group is back to meeting seven nights a week —
Sunday through Friday at 11 p.m. and Saturdays at Midnight.
No meeting the third Saturday. We need to support these meetings
that have been born again after dying out. Same thing goes for the
4:30 p.m. meetings at Fellowship House…They bothered to send it, so we’re
passing it on: The 31st Annual Central West Ontario Convention of AA will
be held August 11-13 at Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Ave.,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Ask Intergroup rep for flyer…Not AA as such,
but of interest: "Soberstock 2000" is a drug-free and alcohol-free music
festival slated for July 29 from 1-10:45 p.m. at Pat Garrett’s Amphitheater,
exit 7, I-78, Strausstown. Call 610-693-5177 for more about it.
Lots of good music!…Speaking of music, mark your calendar for those Saturday
night dances at Fellowship House……Keep your eyes open for special doings.
September is National Recovery Month throughout the US.
Feedbag & Fun…Time for the
Intergroup Picnic!
Everything’s set for the big annual Intergroup Picnic Saturday, August
12, from noon ‘til 6 p.m. at Susquehanna Township Park On Elmerton Ave.
off Progress. Softball, horseshoes, and volleyball will be on-going, and
there’ll be a big kiddies carnival at 3 p.m. There’ll also be 50-50
drawings and a booth for purchase of AA history books at $2 each.
So what do you have to bring? Nothing but a covered dish (with something
in it like a salad or dessert), a chair, and lots of energy. Tickets
are $5 for adults; all kids under 12 get in free. You can still make
your daily meeting, too, at a 4 p.m. open session. Get there early.
Chicken will be ready at about 12:30 p.m.
Women’s 11th Step Retreat
A closed women’s 11th Step Spiritual Retreat will
be held Sept. 22-24 at Precious Blood Spiritual Center in Columbia, PA.
Cost is $120 for the weekend, and scholarships are available for half the
cost through the
Lucy H. Scholarship Fund. Applications must be made by September 1.
Ask your Intergroup rep for details. This can be a really special
weekend. Anyone who has been to Precious Blood for a retreat raves
about the scenery, the accommodations, the food, and the fellowship.
There’s a Men’s Retreat, Too
Now that the lineup of leaders is complete, everything
is set to go for the men’s Fourth Step Retreat, also at Precious Blood
Spiritual Center, August 18-20. Leaders include Father Ed L., Jared
L., and Jim S. This is a "don’t miss" event for sponsors and their "pigeons"
who are about to embark on the all-important inventory steps. For
more information and last-minute reservations, call Jim B. at 232-4180,
Moses B. at 238-3924, Ed L. at 652-3801, or Bob S. at 761-6151.
Pearls
Jim M. passed along this excerpt from the "12 &
12," and it got your friendly editor to thinking it might be nice to include
a writing of Bill W. in every issue of SN. So, here goes the first,
with a "thanks" to Jim:
"Anonymity is real humility at work. It is
an all-prevailing spiritual quality which today keynotes AA life everywhere.
Moved by the spirit of anonymity, we try to give up our natural desires
for personal distinction as AA members both among fellow alcoholics and
before the general public. As we lay aside these very human aspirations,
we believe that each of us takes part in the weaving of a protective mantle
which covers our whole Society and under which we may grow and work in
unity."
A footnote: Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking
of yourself less.
July-August Speakers
The only speaker schedule submitted to Sobriety News came from the Bridge Street Group. If you want to list your speakers, you can send info directly to wcampbel@epix.net. The Bridge Street slate is as follows: July 16 Tom H., Serenity Group; July 23 Jean W., Stay Alive Group; July 30 James H., Mid City Group; August 6 Bill C., Halifax.
Joy of Living Meeting
The Joy of Living Group will hold a combined meeting-pool party July 21 at 507 Kelker Street in Steelton.
An open meeting will be held from 6-7 p.m. followed by refreshments and
a swim after the meeting.
LeeAnn C. Headed for Service
Weekend
We’ll be back with more details, both before and
after, on this one. For now, we’ll just let you know that Intergroup
vice chair LeeAnn C. will attend the 42nd annual Eastern Pennsylvania General
Service Convention and Assembly in Whitehaven November 10-12 at the Mountain
Laurel Resort. She’ll attend regular AA meetings there, but most
of her time will be spent at workshops and displays dealing with service
activities that she’ll be able to bring back to the Harrisburg area.
Polly P. and Her Friends
At the time of this writing, the Harrisburg area AA community
was buzzing about "A Shot of Enthusiasm" at Middletown, where Jim S., of
Carlisle, and Sylvia, of East Petersburg, were set to join Polly
P., of Cyprus, California, in an evening of inspirational talks at a meeting
in Middletown July 15. We will attempt to bring you a special account via
the website.
The following url is a link to the maps for the upcoming Intergroup picnic
http://www.abcomputing.com/picnicmap.htm
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