Sobriety News
FEBRUARY 2003

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

    The Sobriety News is a publication of the Harrisburg Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is written, edited, and read by AA members, and those interested in the AA program of recovery from the disease of alcoholism, linking one alcoholic to another.
    Our desperation to find relief from the bondage of alcoholism has led us to this program as a new "design for living". Many members utilize meetings, sponsorship, self examination, amends, prayer, meditation, AA literature, service to fellow alcoholics, and many other tools to maintain their recovery. This publication is intended as one more tool to live a life of recovery. Because each AA member has an individual way of working this program, divergent views to recovery, within the concept of the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, are welcome. An effort is made to print all viewpoints in this forum. Articles are not intended to be statements of AA policy, nor does publication of any article imply endorsement by AA or the Harrisburg Area Intergroup.

February Calendar of Events*

 

LOOKING AHEAD*

* Look for more information about these events in Sobriety News.
** See links page for flyer

To links and current events

Your Help for the Calendar of Events

A complete Calendar of Events depends on our active members contributing information about their coming events, participation of Intergroups in surrounding Districts, and our ability to gather information. We feel it is worth trying. Let us know what you think. Often, we miss opportunities within the fellowship because the message didn't get out. We all want to carry the message to other alcoholics. This will be one more way we can accomplish that.

OUR FACE IS CHANGING

    Sobriety News is updated during the course of the month, so events can be added to the Calendar. You may, therefore, find it helpful or informative to check back to the website periodically to see what has been added.
    The HAI index page has links to flyers of coming events. Also there is a link to the Meeting Schedule so you can print out the schedule (if you can access Microsoft Word) on a single sheet of 8 1/2X11 paper. This schedule is current with the latest information available. If you see an error, or information for your meeting has been changed, the schedule will be updated if you notify Sobriety News at info@aaharrisburg.org or if you notify an Intergroup Officer or mail the info to HAI, Fellowship House, 1251 S. 19th Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105. This current schedule can be duplicated for group purposes from this link or by clicking on the chip at the right.
    Flyers will be added as they become available and removed when an event passes. If you are looking at this on the Internet, you will see that many of the insert pictures are links you can click on to get added information or flyers. Keep checking.
    The above suggested service opportunity to bring internet information back to the group could also be broadened to include flyers, and current meeting schedules. The printed schedules and flyers will still be available but may continue to have their current disadvantages too. The HAI Bookstore currently restocks schedules every other month.
 

God finds us at the end of our rope.

A NEW BEGINNING

The New Beginning Group , of New Bloomfield invites you to join us to celebrate our 17th Anniversary Monday, February 24. There'll be food and fellowship at 7 p.m., followed by a speaker meeting (Bill C., of the Winding It Up Group of Lykens).  It all happens at the Methodist Church, Main and Church Sts., New Bloomfield.

Out of the Dark

The fourth anniversary meeting for Out of the Dark was celebrated by more than a hundred jubilant recovering alcoholics on Sun, Jan 5. It was an open speaker meeting with Alice D telling her story of growing up in a dysfunctional household where she learned to be caretaker and substitute father to her siblings. As an adventurous hippie she lived a life of extremes. The deaths of several people close to her made her seek help for depression, and they led her to treatment for her alcoholism. She has found that recovery for her is a seeking of the middle ground between the paradoxical extremes. She has done that through working the steps, attending meetings, and staying grateful for the grace she has received. A fabulous brunch followed a sobriety countdown that so dramatically punctuated the benefits of long term sobriety. Craig-9, Bill-14, Carl-15, and Richard-25 picked up chips for achieving those milestones in their recovery.

THE BIG BOOK WORKSHOP

The There's More To Life Group presented a capacity crowd with a walk through the Steps, as presented in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, on January 17 and 18, 2003. Friday evening at 6:00PM was a speaker meeting with Bob O from the Happy Way Group, of Englewood, CO. He told his story through the Steps. Bob shared what he believes has kept him sober since May 1973, and that is working the steps as clearly stated in the Big Book. He believes that this is a Program of action, not a program of thinking. To allow a newcomer to have a Twelve and Twelve is to give him/her a chance to intellectualize, a good way to procrastinate. He asks, "What part of launched, didn't you understand?" In approaching the fourth step, the book tells us to "list people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry". It doesn't say write an essay, no one else will ever see it anyway.

On Saturday, an audience of eager students waded through There Is A Solution, More About Alcoholism, We Agnostics, How It Works, Into Action, and Working With Others. Participants were able to share their experience with aspects of the Program under discussion. The bulk of the load was carried by Bob, however, with inspiring frankness.

Some of the gems that were shared were: People who go back out, were not struck drunk, they simply failed to enlarge their spiritual development. When we share our bitching in meetings, what we are doing is, we're telling what we are doing to ourselves. Place your reliance upon God, not your sponsor, he is only the guide. Re-examine your beliefs (in writing) and discard that which conflicts. (You can't add more to a cup that is already full.) People are intuitive, they see who you are by how you look, not by what you say. If we don't have goals in our life, we aren't going to accomplish them. The meaning of the word excitement in 1939 was more like overwhelmed; it's all right to be excited by life; Thy will be done, eliminates 'overwhelmed'. Have the courage of your convictions, and be willing to stand up for them; if you don't, you have no convictions. When it comes down to it, has your life made a difference or was it wasted by lethargy and indifference? You can only share precisely how to recover from this seemingly hopeless condition if you have done it.

It is an unfair picture of nine hours of intense commentary (including plentiful humor) to write three paragraphs, or ten. The point is, those unfortunate enough to be unable to attend this workshop were deprived of a stimulating opportunity at self examination, and a honing of skills that enhance the joy in our lives. Thank you There's More To Life.

CHATHAM SPONSORSHIP ANNIVERSARY

The Sponsorship Group of Chatham, NJ will be celebrating their 2nd year of carrying the message with a dinner speaker meeting Sunday, March 9, 2003. NO DUES - NO FEES. Dinner will be from 6:30 till 7:30PM, followed by the speakers, Tom F from the Harbor City Group, and Clancy I from the Pacific Group. Directions are contained on the flyer, which you can access from the blue AA button near the top of the page.

BALTIMORE ACTS OF RECOVERY

Another FREE conference in the Acts of Recovery series will be coming to Baltimore on Saturday March 8, 2003. The Acts begin at noon and after the usual mood setting opening, Barbara B from York will discuss 'Living the Twelve Steps. Following a short break Winslow S from Pasadena, MD will humor us with 'We are not a glum lot'. A free light lunch will then be available to be followed by being 'Rocketed into the fourth dimension' by Liz N from Odenton, MD. To wrap up what promises to be an inspiring afternoon, Tom F will demonstrate 'Service thru Action', hoping he doesn't damage the microphone while doing it. This event will again be held in the Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church, 4640 Edmondson Ave, Baltimore. From Harrisburg, take Interstate 83 South to the Baltimore Beltway (695) to Exit 15A (Rt 40 East). Go 2.2 miles to Church on your left; ample parking available in church lot.

Joy of Living Christmas Party

The Joy of Living Group wants to thank everyone for their support in their 4th Annual Christmas Party for Children of Recovering Families. This year they were blessed with 3 bikes (already put together) that were raffled to the children. From the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous and contributions, they received over 200 gifts to give to the children. They would especially like to thank Linda M., Puffy, Don H., who diligently sweated under that Santa suit, Fellowship House Committee, Harry M. and the 19th Street Group for their outstanding support. As the event dwindled down to a closing, and as each child was leaving, they would say "see you next year." Then one of Santa's helpers would reply in a loud voice, " Keep Coming Back!"

" THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REMOVED. IT DOES NOT EXIST FOR US"

The POCKETS OF ENTHUSIASM CONFERENCE at Virginia Beach was held Nov 8-10, 2002. The weekend was great, an all star line up and a full house of people filled with the spirit. God willing I will be there next year. Thank you to all who were involved in putting that weekend together. Your excellent service did not go unnoticed.
    Don P., Aurora, CO, Working With Others and The Doctor’s Opinion. Don gave his experience of working with others and carrying the message thru service work while institutionalized and how he has continued to serve to this day. With a from the gut delivery and a firm but loving hand, he passed this message on to all in attendance.
    Karl M., Covina, CA. Karl’s was the first speakers meeting. It should have been titled, "Insanity - What to do and what not to do in and out of sobriety." He spoke with humor, sincerity and humility.
    Bobby C., Philadelphia, PA.  I have heard Bobby’s story twice. The first time was early in my sobriety. What a story! If he could forgive himself and others, stay sober and on the road of recovery, I felt so could I and so could anyone.
    Michael E., Evans, GA.  Her hold nothing back story of being part of the problem, living in the solution and perseverance earned her many gifts in sobriety. Her story came from the heart.
    Michael C., Louisville, KY, General History Of AA. His talk took up two tapes and three hours later we had barely scratched the surface. He gave me the impression that if we had the time he had the information. He gave this with, kindness, service and perfection.
    Clancy I., Los Angeles, CA. Clancy covers everything. Inspiring all the way. He is THE example of "quality of life" in sobriety. His opinion of the solution is expressed in a way that everyone can understand.
    Tom F., Bowie, MD. Tom, with true humility, has a simple message for complicated people. After hearing Tom’s message of hope I believe anyone can stay sober.

Contributed by Patrick L. Brownstown, PA, Keep It Simple Group OD Saturday’s 8pm.


ACTS OF RECOVERY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

The January 18 AOR was another free Saturday afternoon event from noon till 5:00PM in Falls Church, VA. Like all the other Acts, there were four excellent speakers lined up. Susie H from Richmond shared on the Recovery Experience, Keith W from Baltimore explored Living by Spiritual Principles, Sally P from York talked of the Family Afterward, and Ross M from Emmitsburg, MD clarified the Fellowship of the Spirit. You can look forward to other Acts in Richmond, VA on February 8, and in Hershey in July. See the flyer on the links page, make a copy and take it to your group. click here

Any problem blesses us,
when we learn the lesson it teaches.

New Meetings and CHANGES

There is a new meeting at the Salvation Army, which started Jan 27. It will be a Monday evening closed Big Book meeting starting at 7:30PM. The address is at 3650 Vartan Way. ( This is near Camelot Village off North Progress Ave )

The Joy of Living Group, which meets at Fellowship House at 6:00PM Wednesdays, needs your support. Due to a lack of secretaries and Tina's recent illness, the Joy of Living Group will not be holding it's weekly Wednesday night 6:00 pm meeting until further notice. Anyone who wishes to secretary the meeting can contact Tina by email at spicee308@aol.com or phone 503-5814.

The Progress Group's Wednesday 8:30PM Mystery Topic Meeting at the Ridgeway Community Church at Elmerton and Progress Avenue is in need of support. Several of the regular members are unable to attend currently for various reasons. Why not join in practicing the First Tradition by helping them weather this storm.

Alcohol helps straighten out a problem,
like a fan helps straighten a pile of papers.

GROUP CONTRIBUTION ADDRESSES

The addresses for General Service Office and Harrisburg Area Intergroup remain unchanged. You can mail your Area and District contribution to the addresses below:
Area 59 Treasurer / Hugh H / Box 143 / 611 Dale Rd. / Bryn Athyn PA 19009.
District 36 Treasurer / Fred S / PO Box 5325 / Harrisburg, PA 17110-0325   

Pearl of the Month contributed by Jim M, c. As Bill sees it, page 121

WE ARE NOT FIGHTING

We have ceased fighting anything or anyone - even alcohol. For by this time sanity has returned. We can now react sanely and normally, and we find that this happened almost automatically. We see that this new attitude toward liquor is really a gift of God.

That is the miracle of it. We are not fighting it, neither are we avoiding temptation. We have not even sworn off. Instead, the problem has been removed. It does not exist for us. We are neither cocky nor are we afraid.

That is how we react - so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition.

  

When I let go of what I am,
I become what I might be.


Free Speaker Tapes and other stuff from The Primary Purpose

There is a nifty new website that has free downloads of AA speaker tapes. It also has a free 'streambox ripper' program that you can download so that you can convert the speaker audio file you download to mp3 or wave format. Mp3 is a smaller file for storage on your computer, but if you have a CD burner, you can use wave format to make CDs that are playable on any CD player. The site has flyers for events of interest in PA and NJ, and other recovery related stuff. Check it out!  http://theprimarypurpose.no-ip.org  Although this website was off line for several weeks, it is back up and bigger and better than ever.

Adieu and Hello

     It is with grateful appreciation that we acknowledge Tina H's service to Harrisburg Area AA in her efforts as Central Office Chairperson. The installation of the cell phone service and her tireless efforts in training and operating the central office phones has been an invaluable asset to us in reaching out to the AA Community; thank you Tina. Our prayers are with her in her time of difficulty.
   We are fortunate to have Bob B volunteer to take over the responsibilities of Central Office Chair, and wish him every success in this difficult endeavor. Bob is anxious to assume the duties of managing the office and getting our answering service running smoothly. He will certainly appreciate your help in assuring that the hand of AA is there for the struggling alcoholic, or the traveler who needs meeting information. Why not give Bob a call at 838-9117 or email him at RbrtBern@aol.com to offer a helping hand or volunteer through your Intergroup Rep. Central Office needs phone volunteers to handle the phone during the day to help reduce the burden on the cell phone volunteer. This is rewarding service work, and Central Office hours are pretty flexible.

Surfing The Web

Two of the most fascinating organizations that played a pivotal role in the birth and growth of Alcoholics Anonymous were The Oxford Group and, long before them, the Washington Temperance Society, better known to us as “The Washingtonians.  Now, complete histories of both these groups are available on the internet.  Not only do they make good reading, but also they provide insight into why and how we are so fortunate today to have AA as our spiritual bedrock and why we so closely guard the traditions that guide our behavior day by day. You can find thousands of websites relative to these organizations if you simply punch up “Oxford Groups” or “The Washingtonians” on your computer’s search engine.  If you would rather not wade through all those sites, we recommend the following addresses: http://www.recovery.org/aa/misc/oxford.html; and http://www.historyofaa.com/Washingtonians/wash1.html . To newcomers, the names of these organizations may mean nothing at all. But those of us who have been around a few 24’s know that it is groups such as these and their individual members to whom Bill W. refers when he talks about how much we owe those who went before.  In addition to these web addresses, we will make available a few “hard” copies of each history in the Harrisburg Area Intergroup office.  Anyone who is serious about recovery will want to read them.  There is a truth that says something to the effect that knowing the road we’ve already traveled makes the path ahead of us just that much clearer to follow.—

Contributed by Bill C from the Halifax Group


FEBRUARY SPEAKERS

The 19th Street speakers for Feb 7, Georgia S from Fellowship House; Feb 14, Dave; Feb 21, Ron L from 19th Street and 40th Street; and Feb 28 is anniversary night. The Hershey speaker for Saturday Feb 1, 2003 is Pam M from Pine Street at 8:00PM, and Mar 1 will be Jared L from Elizabethtown. The 8:00PM Bridge Street Speakers will be: Feb 2, Craig P from Middletown Groups; Feb 9, John from the Happy Destiny Group; Feb 16, Sara from Carlisle; and Feb 23, Jim S from There's More To Life; and Mar 2, Mary Beth from Bridge Street. A Higher Power will determine the order of the Speakers; Carl R, Richard R, Don M, Steve M, and Jamie M, at the Middletown Survivors 7:00PM meetings on Feb 20 and 27.

YORK MEETING LISTS

The York District 45 Area Intergroup now has a website for those interested in getting meeting information in the York area. http://www.york-pa-aa.org York has some really active Groups that can safely satisfy your sense of adventure by taking a sojourn with AA friends and making some new friends. Our First Tradition concerns UNITY which includes the concept of carrying the message (and receiving it) near and far.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

  from "Encounter with a Street Person"
contributed by Donna Jean from Fellowship House

It  has always been amusing to me how many people spend their working days catering  to people they would not want to encounter after dark and who live in parts of town that they would not enter.  I know I am stereotyping certain sorts of people, but it is my experience from which I speak.   So many people who want “us to DO something to HELP those poor people” would not want to be seen with just the people they are saying someone should help. The “us” they are referring to is the government, some group, or some Agency, not themselves as individuals. 

It seems to me that when we say “someone” should help them, well then perhaps that someone should be me.  When I say “someone should help those people” I am meaning that I, personally, should live my life in such a way that I can help them.  Sometimes it is just a matter of doing no harm, which doesn’t seem like a big deal in and of itself; but think about it a moment.  If I ignore someone who is different than me because I am afraid of their differences  am I not in some small and subtle way doing them harm? Am I not stating to them and to myself that they don’t really exist? How difficult is it to say “Hello” or even to smile acknowledgement while walking by?  It seems to be rather difficult for some, I must say.   More often than not ‘helping’ does not come down to some dramatic show of giving this or that, of adopting someone into my home, or anything of the sort.  Much more often  it comes down simply to treating my fellow human beings as I would like to be treated.   This is something we have heard our entire lives in one form or another,  but do we realize what it means?  Many men and women far wiser than I have spent their lives pondering this question.  Perhaps that is what life is about; to ponder just such questions.

SURRENDER THE FINAL VICTORY
Contributed by Ron G from the 19th Street Group

I've fought the battle, I gave it my all,
My armor was destroyed, my spirit did fall,
A mortal injury to my inner-most being,
The essence of me can no longer sing.

My perception is loss, nothing left to lose,
The almighty slayer, a bottle of booze,
My dreams flow away like a mountain stream,
I must surrender with a guttural scream.

Emptiness surrounds me, both inside and out,
No more reason left to shout.
I cower in defeat, silence grasps my soul,
My imagination ceases, my heart goes cold.

These things I see,  with ideas of old,
They look so hopeless, nowhere to go,
A revelation came, stupendous to me,
Surrender, the final victory...

 

Multi-District History and Archives Gathering

You may or may not have been thinking that getting involved in the collection and presentation of your area's history through archival preservation would be the perfect service work. Then again, how would you know what it is, how it's done, why it's important, or as many alcoholics think, what does that have to do with me? Saturday, April 5, 2003, District 36 is hosting a FREE Multi-District History and Archives Gathering at Central Penn College, Valley Road, Summerdale PA 17093.  Sign in and coffee/doughnuts 9:00-9:30.  The morning program has scheduled interviews/discussion with three Eastern PA old-timers (54, 56, 51 years).  After lunch there will be an Historians' Panel with Mel B. (Toledo OH, 53 years), Nancy O. (Wilkes-Barre PA) and Mitch K. (Washingtonville NY), then two panels on how History and Archives connect with each other.  Among the panelists are the Area 59 Archivist and AAs from Philadelphia, Baltimore, Harrisburg, and New York.  There will be Archives exhibitions from PA Districts and Intergroups, Maryland, and the Clarence S. ("Home Brewmeister") Archive now at Brown University. The Gathering will close at 5:00.

Traditions Checklist*

TRADITION TWO: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority -- a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

  1. Do I criticize or do I trust and support my group officers, AA committees, and office workers? Newcomers? Old-timers?
  2. Am I absolutely trustworthy, even in secret, with AA Twelfth Step jobs or other AA responsibilities?
  3. Do I look for credit in my AA jobs? Praise for my AA ideas?
  4. Do I have to save face in group discussion, or can I yield in good spirit to the group conscience and work cheerfully along with it?
  5. Although I have been sober a few years, am I still willing to serve my turn at AA chores?
  6. In group discussions, do I sound off about matters on which I have no experience and little Knowledge?

*The Traditions Checklist Questions were originally published in the AA Grapevine in conjunction with a series on the Twelve Traditions that began in November 1969, and ran through September 1971. Sobriety News prints the Checklist for the number of the month that corresponds to the number of the Tradition that it deals with, because of the prohibitive length of all twelve. It is important that we be aware of the Twelve Traditions in our lives of recovery, because they help assure that AA will continue to be here for us, and for others who want it.
Printed by permission. THE AA GRAPEVINE INC., PO BOX 1980, GRAND CENTRAL STATION, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10163-1980

PROGRAM= People Relying On God Relay A Message.

This-n-That

Don't forget the Harrisburg Area Intergroup meeting Thursday the 6th of February at 6:45pm, and the District 36 General Service Rep meeting on Monday February 10th at 6:30; both meetings need your support. The Intergroup Bookstore is still open for business following the HAI meeting and on Saturday mornings from 10:00 till 11:15 for Groups to restock their literature cabinets with books and pamphlets.

If you are grateful,
you will grow.

January Intergroup Meeting

 At the January meeting of HAI, Craig opened the meeting, asking that groups send contributions directly to Area 59 and General Services New York instead of Intergroup. He announced that the February 6 meeting will include the election of new officers for the coming year. Joe C reminded Reps that the Harrisburg Men's Group served as the lead for bringing a meeting to the boys at Gaudenzia house Wednesdays at 7:00PM, beginning Dec 11. There will be a continuing need for this service work, having groups volunteer for 13 week periods. Some Group needs to step up for the next responsibility which would begin March 12. Whoever takes the next turn may want to attend the Men's Group's last session March 5, which is before the March Intergroup Meeting. The State Hospital meetings were handled by the  Harrisburg Men's Group in January, and Hershey will do the honors for February. The Hot Line was answered by Women's Serenity in January, West Shore Area, and 40th Street will take Feb + March. Elaine S presented a draft form to simplify the cell phone recording procedure, it was adopted and placed in the cell phone package. As the result of the Men's Group's observation that information in the package was too cumbersome and outdated, Craig P and Joe C reduced it to one bag before giving it to Women's Serenity. Bill C delivered 1000 copies of the updated meeting list to the bookstore. It was decided that small quantities of the current scheduled would be reproduced every other month in the future, instead of the large volume of the past that soon got outdated. The December meeting was attended by Reps from 19th Street, 40th Street, Bridge Street, Desire, Dillsburg, District 36, Harrisburg Area Men's, KIS Big Book - Carlisle, Millersburg, Never Too Young, Progress, Survivors, There's More to Life, Trudgers, Up The Creek, West Shore, and Winding It Up. Did you and your group have a voice?

Groups Continue Supporting Intergroup
Group contributions during the month of January to the Intergroup Fund were $___. We thank the following __ groups for their contribution: ________________. Of course, we also would like to thank all the groups and members who continue to donate time toward Intergroup's activities. These activities include speaker meetings, picnics, men and women's prison meetings, State Hospital visits, Internet Website, meeting schedules, literature, the AA Hotline, and the many other vital AA functions that help alcoholics recover in our community. Intergroup performs those services for our community which no single group is prepared to handle, and it coordinates activities between the 56 groups it serves. Remember that we can do together what none of us could do alone.

SOBRIETY NEWS is published monthly, and is usually available on the website the Tuesday night before the first Thursday of each month, so paper copies can be distributed to Reps at the Intergroup meeting. You can locate this newsletter, as well as lots of other stuff that would interest members of groups belonging to the Harrisburg Area Intergroup, at http://www.aaharrisburg.org

REMOVAL
     If you wish to be removed from the Sobriety News mailing list, click remove and then click on SEND in your email program, and you will promptly be deleted from the list.

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