Our apologies!
        You will find no artwork in this issue, and some items you might have expected to see may be missing.  Our computer crashed, and our huge editorial staff had to scramble to get substitute equipment, which---as it happened---was less than "state of the art."

Thanks for the alcothons
        Before we get into what perhaps will be heavier items in some cases, let's first take time to thank all those who played any part at all in making our three holiday alcothons such a huge success. First, thanks to all those who had a hand in the planning, especially the 19th Street Group.  Thanks too to those who brought goodies---everything from entrees to pickles, potato chips and cookies.  And thanks most of all to all who attended and helped carry the message.  That's what it's all about---one alcoholic reaching out to help another, doing together what none of us could do alone.  And rest assured, there were many members who, without the alcothons, would have found making it through the holidays a lot tougher than it was, maybe even impossible.

Our common welfare...
        Much of this issue will deal with unity---how we pull together to carry the message
to the alcoholic who still suffers---and what that unity entails.

        On p. 130 The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Bill W. writes:
"The moment Twelfth Step work forms a group, a discovery is made---that most individuals cannot recover unless there is a group.  Realization dawns on each member that he is but a small part of a great whole; that no personal sacrifice is too great for preservation of the Fellowship.  He learns that the clamor of desires and ambitions within him must be silenced whenever these could damage the group.  It becomes plain that the group must survive or the individual will not. 

        And on p. 129 of the same he adds: "The unity of AA is the most cherished quality our Society has.  Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it.  Without unity, the heart of AA would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God."

        Finally, on p. 294 of A.A Comes of Age, he says: "I learned that the temporary or seeming good can often be the deadly enemy of the permanent best.  When it comes to survival for A.A., nothing short of our very best will be good enough."

       Although he talks about unity at all levels of AA---from the smallest group to the World Services Office--- we will focus on Harrisburg Area Intergroup since this is an Intergroup publication.  And we will try our hardest to avoid opinion, and instead just present facts.

Intergroup
         Intergroup was formed as a result of the group conscience of all groups in the Harrisburg area to perform four specific functions that none of the groups was capable of accomplishing on its own: 1) operate a telephone hotline; 2) publish Sobriety News; 3) manage the publication of AA meeting schedules; 4) establish and operate a prison outreach program.  We cannot do without three of these---prison outreach, the hotline, and the scheduling--- if we expect to give life to our statement of responsibility: "I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible"
        There are two ingredients vital to the success of these three functions: volunteers and money.  Scheduling costs about five cents per copy and depends on constant back and forth communication between the groups (via their Intergroup reps).  The Hotline depends almost solely on volunteers; we now rely in large part on an expensive commercial answering service with questionable effectiveness because the number of those volunteers has dwindled to a handful.  The prison outreach requires large outlays for literature and a cadre of stout-hearted volunteers who are forced to work within the constraints and vagaries of the prison system.
    There is one more thing they all depend on---the moral and spiritual support of the groups they serve,  and most importantly  attendance at Intergroup meetings on the first Thursday of each month by all Intergroup Reps.

Meeting attendance         

 Attendance varies from one Intergroup meeting to another, of course, depending on a whole lot of circumstances.  In recent months, however, it has declined to a point that conducting business is sometimes difficult.  The sign-in sheet at the December meeting indicates that out of our 50-plus groups, the following  were represented: 19th Street, Bridge Street, Dillsburg Area, Fellowship House, Hershey, It Works, Joy of Living, Rule 62, Out of the Dark, Survivors, There's More to Life, Trudgers, and Women's Serenity.
        There also were in attendance members who have taken the responsibility for various tasks but who have no vote.

Speakers and short snorts
        Speakers for the Bridge Street Group Sunday 8 p.m. meeting are January 7, Dick J., of 40th Street Group; January 14, Jerrie, of the Carlisle Group; January 21, Georgia E., 40th Street Group; January 28 is a Super Sunday discussion meeting; February 4 the speaker is Ed E., of Middletown.
        Speakers scheduled for the 8:30 Friday meeting of the 19th Street Group at Fellowship House are January 5, Jersey Dave; January 12, Bruce, 40th Street Group; January 19th, Beth P., 19th Street; and January 26 is Anniversary Night.
       Congrats to the Out of the Dark Group on it's second anniversary.  If this doesn't reach you too late, you can help them celebrate at 9 a.m. Sunday, January 7, at the Wormleysburg Boro Hall at the corner of Market and 2nd Street. Turn off Front Street, go one block and the Boro Hall is on the right.  Enter on 2nd Street.  Brunch will be served right after Faith E., of the Out of the Dark Group, shares at an open speaker meeting.
    A Matt Talbot retreat will be held from 6:30 p.m. January 12 through January 14 at the San Alfonso Retreat House, 755 Ocean Avenue, Long Beach, NJ.  Call 732-222-2731 for last-minute arrangements.
    Should we include sobriety anniversaries in Sobriety News?  Drop us a line at wcampbel@epix.net and let us know what you think.

Pennscypaa fun(d)raisers
    Probably too late, but we'll remind you anyway.  Pennscypaa will continue activities aimed at carrying the message and raising funds for the Statewide Pennscypaa conference slated for July at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg. On January 6 they'll start off with an open discussion "Smileyball" meeting at 7 p.m., followed by Monte Carlo Night II---all at the Union Deposit Fire Hall in Union Deposit.  At Monte Carlo you can buy $100,000 in Pennscybucks for a full night of fun.  Get in on it.  You'll have a good time for a good cause.

Footprints
Footprints in the Winter Sand is slated for Friday, January 26 through Sunday, January 28 at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Maryland.  Lots of well-known speakers, both AA and Alanon, workshops, a dance and much, much more.  Registration desk opens at noon January 27.  You can get more details at www.footprints-wintersand.com.