October, 2000

What's going on here!
        Call it an early-bird edition.  That's okay.  We have decided to begin publishing on the first Wednesday of each month as just one more way to try to improve circulation of SN and boost readership.  Intergroup meets on the first Thursday of each month, so the thinking is that we will be better able to enlist the help of Intergroup reps if we can have some "hard" copies ready for distribution then in hopes that the reps can make copies for anyone in their group without access to the internet.  Now that the computer-stupid editor has mastered the business of getting the pages to the website in the same form in which they were originally put together, we feel we're ready to move ahead, bravely and boldly, to the next horizon. It is possible, of course, that this issue may be a little "lean" since we're covering only half a month. Get over it.  Things will return to normal in the next issue, whatever "normal" means.

Pearl of the month
    "When I was driven to my knees by alcohol, I was made ready to ask for the gift of faith.  And all was changed.  Never again, my pains and problems notwithstanding, would I experience my former desolation.  I saw the universe to be lighted by God's love; I was alone no more."      As Bill Sees It p. 51

      "Change is the characteristic of all growth.  From drinking to sobriety, from dishonesty to honesty, from conflict to serenity, from hate to love, from childish dependence to adult responsibility---all this and infinitely more---represent change for the better.
    "Such changes are accomplished by a belief in and a practice of sound principles.  Here we must needs discard bad or ineffective principles in favor of good ones that work.  Even good principles can sometimes be displaced by the discovery of still better ones.
    "Only God is unchanging; only He has all the truth there is."  As Bill Sees It p. 76 (contributed by Jim M.)
 
 
 

"And when we were wrong..."
    Maybe we should call this "The third time is a charm." We hope. First we were asked to put in a simple change in meeting site.  We got the time wrong. Next, we got the time right, but the place wrong.  Try this: the "There's More to Life" Group meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesdays is now at 16th and Bridge Street, New Cumberland. Which brings us to an observation: if the people outside AA had the patience and forgiveness of those inside, most of the problems of the world today never would have occurred in the first place. Thank all of you who may have been loused up by our error.

You're invited to PENNSCYPAA XIII
    The good news is that Harrisburg's Pennscypaa nailed down the group's statewide convention for 2001. The better news is they're already in the planning stages and are taking reservations.  The best news is that they want you to come.  Pennscypaa (Pennsylvania Conference of Young People in AA) is for people who are young in spirit, not just young in years.
    Pennscypaa XIII, billed as a "celebration of recovery", will be held from Friday, July 27 at 8 p.m. through noon Sunday, July 29, 2001 at the Holiday Inn on Trindle Road in Camp Hill.
    Sobriety News will publish a detailed slate of events in a later issue.  For now, just know that you'll have a good time. In case you're not familiar with the folks in Pennscypaa, you can expect to meet enthusiasm in the flesh at the get-together.  So mark the date now; it'll creep up faster than any of us can imagine.
    Better yet, you can pick up a registration form at the Fellowship House and various other meeting sites or you can call Beth at 717-558-9134; the e-mail address is registration@pennscypaa.org.  And they're still looking for help with registrations.

Just some tips here
    We're getting close to that holiday season when we hear the newcomer's lament: "I have to go out of town, and I don't know how to stay sober."  We've all been there, and here are a few of the things we've done to calm the jitters and stay on the road to sobriety.  In fact, most of us still use these tools.
    1) Load up on AA and AA-related tapes.  Play them constantly enroute to your destination and back. 2) Often there's some jerk,  someone with a drinking problem himself, who knows you're trying to turn your life around and still insists you take a drink.  Make sure you always have an escape.  You probably got there by car; make sure you have your own ride away from this kind of trouble. 3) Before you leave home, know the times and places of meetings in the town you're going to.  Get to those meetings. 4) You'll be surprised how easy it is to recognize other people in the program---even members of your extended family. Latch on to them and make them your principal company. 5) Pray.  Next year, when the going is easier, say a prayer of gratitude for having grown through the experience this year.  And then do it again.  ---Harry C.
 
 
 

A grand event, indeed!

By Jim S.
    The Harrisburg Intergoup held its first "Recovery and Shot of Enthusiasm" gathering in Middletown, Pa., the evening of July 15, 2000.  What a grand event!
    I was privileged to be the thorn between two roses.  One was a groovy lady with more than 20 years sobriety and whose home group is the Friday Night Speakers meeting in Lancaster. The other lady, who moved to Middletown several years ago, got sober in her early twenties. She also has 20 years sobriety, sponsors three other women and is a real inspiration.  There were many others in the gathering with 20 years.  I feel that amount of sobriety at one gathering is rather uncommon in the Harrisburg area.  What a grand event!
    I arrived at the meeting hall and was met by a group of enthusiastic greeters---great hugs and crisp handshakes.  There were tables of AA books, pamphlets, and other information.  There were also tables of tasty food---home made and store bought, along with desserts, fresh fruits, and vegetables.  And there were tables of hot coffee, tea, and cold drinks.  There were also lots of volunteers, young and old, men and women, all smiling like crazy.
    Some members of AA or Alanon were saying hello for the first time.  Some of their spouses were having their initial meeting with members of either fellowship.  Some people were meeting their sponsor or sponsee for the first time.  I heard laughter coming from all corners of the hall---old friends remembering special stories; old-timers sharing with newcomers; people sharing their lives or starting new friendships that may last the rest of their lives. What a grand event!
    Positive, powerful conversations were going on all around me.  People were making commitments to each other.  I spoke to or learned of, three different people asking another member to be their sponsor.  One lady told me she had met six really neat women headed for the Women's Spiritual Retreat in Columbia, Pa. I also spoke to several AA's (married in recovery), who had just spent nine days at the 65th International Convention in Minneapolis.  A neighbor of mine said she was going to attend different meetings and might even change her home group.  It was a spiritual reward to be there.
    I met one man with 30 days sobriety among the 150-plus AA's and Alanons who attended the gathering.  I hope he is still sober.  It would have been overwhelming to me at 30 days, but what a great place to be.
    When those two roses got on stage, they captured the hearts and minds of all in attendance.  The clapping when each speaker finished was more enthusiastic than any I have observed before in Harrisburg.  And get this: tapes of the speakers for $3.  What a grand event.
    I thank everyone who helped make the "Recovery and Shot of Enthusiasm" gathering the huge success that it was.  My heart goes out to everyone who started this project a year and a half ago. I know there were many hours and weeks of work, many ups and downs.  And now?  I'm ready for another grand event!

Shop for the holidays; help a woman in AA
   Keep an eye open for the big sale of Christmas plants by the Women's Serenity Retreat Committee. This sale, of top quality plants from one of the more prominent garden centers in the area, will finance scholarships for next year's retreat.  Eighteen women were able to attend this year's 11th Step Retreat, September 22-24, in Columbia, Pa., thanks to half-scholarships provided by the fund. In fact, the retreat drew a total of 61 participants from our own area as well as York, Lancaster, Lebanon, Carlisle and as far away as New York State.
    You can help insure that no woman has to be kept from attending because of financial constraints.  Just buy a Christmas plant.  You'll see posters and hear announcements of the sale in the near future.
    And here's a tip of the hat to the women, who must have set some kind of a record for attendance.  They've already started to get ready for next year's event, which again will be held the last week in September.  Mark it down.

Speakers
    If you want to give a boost to your speaker meetings, just contact us with names and dates and we'll include them in our list.  Bridge Street group, which meets Sundays at 8 p.m. in the Trinity United Methodist Church, 421 Bridge Street, New Cumberland, has slated the following speakers through October: October 8, John S., of the Dover Group; October 15, Bob I, of the Dillsburg Group; October 22, Charlie T., of the Carlisle Group; and October 30, Fran, of the Carlisle Group.  Get on the list by e-mailing wcampbel@epix.net

A message from the new Intergroup chairperson
    LeeAnn C., who has taken over the job of chairing Intergroup, sends along the following: "I hope to be able to continue the good work of Harrisburg Area Intergroup for the rest of this year.  If there are any concerns you have that pertain to Intergroup, please e-mail them to me at leeann_c_17055@yahoo.com and I will give them my best shot. Also, ideas for future events, programs or anything else you think can help Intergoup help your group's recovery as a whole, let us know."

Who wants to be a Wilsonaire?
     The Harrisburg chapter of Pennscypaa (Pennsylvania Conference of Young People in AA) held a better-than-TV version of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire"---as part of its effort to raise funds for the group's statewide conference, to be held here in 2001.  
    "Who Wants To Be a Wilsonaire," which debuted at the Union Deposit Fire Hall September 30, featured all the bells and whistles that are so prominent on the TV show of a similar name.  But the subject matter was just slightly different.  All questions (asked by Regis Fill-in, we presume) were based on AA and its history, steps, traditions, and general precepts.  The whole creation was fun for newcomers and oldtimers alike and introduced a lot of people to Pennscypaa for the first time.
    One thing this rather wild show had, in addition to lots of prizes that fell a little short of $1 million,  was tons of great food---well a lot of it anyway.  Let's see Philbin match that.
    The next fundraiser is a Halloween party set for October 21 at the Union Deposit Fire Hall.  Keep your eyes peeled for announcements.  The group also is prepping already for a sequel to "Wilsonaire."  Remember, Pennsycypaa isn't just for members who are young in years.  Who's it for? It's for all the young at heart---and that's our final answer.

Jim M. to speak at Williamsport
    Several Williamsport groups will hold their 6th Annual Alcothon starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, October 20, and running through 11 p.m. Saturday, October 21, at Grace United Methodist Church, 324 Campbell Street in Williamsport. Part of the event is a celebration of the Williamsport Group's 56th anniversary.  Highlight of the weekend is a string of round-the-clock speakers, including Harrisburg's own Jim M.  Lots of folks from out of state and from within are planning to attend.  Call Rob D. at 570-322-0253 for more info.

Area 29 Fall Conference
    Many Harrisburg area AAs have made the fall conference in Hagerstown a "must" on the list of their out of town visits.  This year the conference, hosted by Maryland General
Services, will be held October 26-29---with Alanon and Alateen participating.  Get further info from your Intergroup rep.

Lancaster archives group celebrates
    The Lancaster County Intergroup Archives Committee will hold an Archives Celebration on Sunday, October 22, from 1-5 p.m. at St. Anne's Catholic Church, Duke and Liberty Sts., Lancaster.  Food, fun, fellowship and lots of history.  For more information, call Pete W. at 717-684-5941.

Another Christmas gift
    Most AAs at one time or another have found themselves needing a meeting but not able to get to one.  And their salvation has often been the AA "Grapevine"---our meeting in print.  No matter what we're struggling with at the time, we seem always to be able to find comfort in the "Grapevine," no matter the issue or the story we happen to turn to.
    So why not make "Grapevine" a Christmas gift to a friend---or perhaps better yet, a stranger---in the program? You can find purchase details in any issue or you can turn to the Harrisburg Area Intergroup website at aaharrisburg.org. And remember, your gift will mean more to you if you send it anonymously.
    While we're at it, you can give your home group a big gift too, by making sure the group has a Grapevine Rep.  We'll publish more on this very important commitment in the next issue of SN. 
 
  
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