Sobriety News
JULY 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.

July 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, or you can click on the AA blue button above. Did you know that the links page also has links to other AA websites and to back issues of Sobriety News? Also there is a link to the Meeting Schedule (or click the coin at right) 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 us  at aa@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.
 

It's never too late to be
What you might have been.

SHOT OF ENTHUSIASM

The Shot of Enthusiasm sponsored by HAI in Middletown brought together groups of recovering men and women from several states. Folks drove in from New Jersey, Maryland, and groups north and south of us here in Central PA. The first speaker was Stephanie O. from Williamsport. Stephanie's story spanned over many years, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Her alcoholism got her room and board at Muncie for many years and invitations to the psychiatric wing. After being tested it was determined that she would not be able to succeed in mainstream society. Stephanie got involved in AA, got a sponsor and began working the steps. She took that same psychiatric test again and stunned the "professionals" with a complete turn-around. After many years of sobriety Stephanie works three jobs to support her family and goes to college. The gratitude she has for this program, although expanded on during her talk, never had to be stated. You could see it in her eyes and on her face. What a wonderful message of hope from a courageous woman.

There was a break after Stephanie and all were treated to 25 feet of desserts of all kinds. Yes, of course, there were pots and pots of coffee. Hugs and handshakes were all over the room. It is so amazing to see a line of people 30 feet long waiting to thank a fellow alcoholic for sharing their story. Understand this comes from a guy that during his active years could barely handle the grocery store line.

The next speaker was Tom F. from Glen Burnie Maryland. Tom has been sober 26 years and his enthusiasm grows every time I see him. Tom did not touch on his previous life very much. His story was about the blessings he has received through the steps, traditions, and the people he has met throughout the years in AA. Tom closed with a story about his sister. He calls her "his sister the sister". Tom's sister is a nun. During his active years she prayed for him and went to a much older nun and asked her to pray for her brother, "Tom the Drunk." When Tom was sober a couple years he went to this nun to thank her for her prayers. She told Tom it was she that needed to thank him. She was now in her 90's and believed that God had forgotten her. All her friends were gone and she believed her mission on earth was over, yet she was still here. She told Tom that seeing him sober showed her that God had not forgotten her. Even in her 90's God still had work for her to do. Her prayers had been answered, "Tom the drunk", was sober. We will never know how many people we touch by practicing these principles in all our affairs. "Tom the drunk" helped an elderly nun change her life and regain her spirituality and had no idea he was even doing it.

Thanks to Rich F from the Middletown Groups for contributing this article.

Elizabethtown AA Groups 28th Anniversary

The Elizabethtown AA Group celebrated its 28th year of carrying the message on June 12, 2003. The food and fellowship began at 7:00PM; There was plenty of good food to eat as well as desserts to share. At 8:00PM guests were treated to the experience, strength and hope of Mike S. He convinced most that alcoholism was a problem in his life, but assured us that it hadn't been for the past fifteen years because he continues to go to at least one meeting almost every day. He spoke of examples of how his relationships have changed as a result of the changes in him, from working the steps in his life.

ACTS OF RECOVERY

York hosted another Acts of Recovery on June 21 from noon till 5:00PM at the Eastminster Presbyterian, 311 Haines Road. There were four excellent speakers and a light lunch included in this free conference that delivered a message of hope to all comers. In order, the speakers were: Jill T from Baltimore, "Full Flight from Reality"; Doug L from Annandale, VA, "The Hole in the Soul"; Sammy from Richmond, VA, "Rocketed into a Fourth Dimension"; and Bill M from York, "Principles in All Our Affairs". All four speakers gave plenty of evidence they were bona fide alcoholics, but the real interest was what they did about it.

Jill T started things off with the interesting tale of asking her students what they had received for Christmas, whether they liked it, and did they still enjoy it. They reported that they liked it at first, but interest soon faded. She then asked if they'd done anything that really made them happy, and it was reported that they had helped at a homeless shelter at Christmas, and they still were enthusiastic about how great that made them feel. This is something she has learned herself, through sponsorship, and the Steps, that her aim had always been to make money so she could be happy, and has found that what makes her truly happy, is taking actions to help God's other kids.

Doug L gave his highly entertaining experience, strength and hope on his topic, "A Hole In The Soul". Doug felt from his earliest days that he was no good, and in trying to explain why, he came to the conclusion that God hated him. He doesn't know or care how he concluded that, it doesn't matter, because he was delusional. He took that delusion as truth and acted upon it for many years. He finally ended in the hospital and stated that God was not actually present in his hospital room. When he opened his Big Book at random to page 30 where he read about himself, convincing him to finally surrender to the concept that he suffered from a delusion that we are like others. That idea has to be smashed. When he stated that God was not in the room, there was a very loud peal of thunder, and Doug quickly recanted, admitting that yes God was in the room. When the raucous laughter died, he continued, saying that he has never since had a compulsion to take a drink. From working the suggested 12 Steps he has found the God, that so many find in AA, and that has filled that hole.

Sammy G from Richmond told a story of her rocket ride into the fourth dimension after delineating sinking to depths of despair and humiliation. She came into AA in full flight from reality, which is how she got a ticket to the rocket. She had destroyed all relationships with family, friends, and husbands. She would do what she wanted, no matter what. What seemed to be a flimsy reed, turns out to be the loving and powerful hand of God. She knows that God touched her, she surrendered. She went to treatment, and she was so fortunate that she had a counselor that believed in the power of God and the power of AA. She felt that she was transformed when she found the power of prayer. She got a sponsor who looked mean and tough, and she was. The woman was involved in service, and Sammy went to live with her. God had given her the light, and she passed it on to Sammy. After three months she had done her fifth step, and she knew who Sammy was. She started making amends to the restaurant owner she had stolen from. After two years she started to work there as a dishwasher. She now owns the restaurant. How does that happen to a liar, a theif and a cheat? By changing your life through the Steps.

Bill M from York showed great humility in reading a letter his mother had sent him years ago, in which she described who she saw when she looked at him. It was not a pretty picture, but it was admittedly the truth. His sponsor later said, "I'd rather step on your fingers than stand on your grave. Bill finally recognized that the spirit of God, which had always been in him, was enough a part of his life that he could start acting like one of God's kids. This has been a blessing in his life and bestowed him with gifts beyond his dreams. He related how a man who lost his own daughter, comforted Bill in the despair of his own daughter's illness. That so impressed him with the power of God, that he has determined to exercise the will of God in all his affairs. That's the gist of his subject, "Practicing these principles in all our affairs".

FIRECRACKER ROUND UP

The Firecracker Round Up in Philadelphia July 3 to 6 is just around the corner. Speakers include Sandy B from Tampa, Polly P from Cypress, CA, Patricia C from Alexandria, Tom I from Southern Pines, Wayne B from Santa Monica, Harold G from Annapolis, and Al-Anon speaker Bob S Nocina, TX. The cost is $20 per person for registration, first come, first served, and the hotel cutoff date is June 21. See the Flyer by clicking the fireworks. This is such an opportunity to meet some people who are walking the walk.

SUNLIGHT OF THE SPIRIT CONFERENCE

The SOS Conference in York will be held this year August 15th to 17th at the York Holiday Inn. Registration is $20 and well worth the price. Speakers will be Polly P, Sean A, Sandy B, Wayne B and Tom I. This event is always superb, don't miss it. The Flyer is available by clicking on the SOS logo at left.

 

I WOULD RATHER GO THROUGH LIFE SOBER,
BELIEVING I AM AN ALCOHOLIC,
THAN GO THROUGH LIFE DRUNK,
TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF THAT I AM NOT.

ACTS OF RECOVERY

HERSHEY will host the Acts of Recovery on July 19 from 11:00AM till 5:00PM at the Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 359 W. Areba Avenue, Hershey, PA. There will be four speakers and a light lunch included in this free conference that delivers its message of hope to all comers. In order, the speakers will be: Al D from Middletown, Alice H from Middletown, Joe D from Hershey, and a Mystery Woman Speaker. These events condense four speakers into one day so that newcomers, as well as longtimers, can afford to attend; help another suffering alcoholic by bringing him/her to get a message of hope. You will be so glad you did.

Directions: From Interstate 83 take Exit 46 (Hershey Rt 322 East) , proceed East on Route 322 about 6 miles, do not exit the divided highway, but continue on Rt 422 another 2 miles. When entering Hershey the road narrows and the divided highway ends; at that point turn right on Richard Road at the Church of the Redeemer, and proceed three blocks to the stop sign. Turn left  and go one block, ample parking available. Click on the tree for the Flyer.

New Meetings and CHANGES

A new speaker meeting will be starting Sunday April 27 at Fellowship House at 2:00PM. On the last Sunday of each month the 2:00PM meeting will be a regular speaker meeting. On the 27th of July, the speaker will be DonnaJean R.

PLEASE ANNOUNCE AT EACH MEETING: THE BUILDING WHERE THE PINE STREET NOON MEETING IS HELD WILL BE UNDER RENOVATION FROM JUNE 2, 2003. UNTIL AROUND SEPTEMBER 15, 2003 THERE WILL BE NO MEETING HELD THERE BY THE PINE STREET GROUP UNTIL AFTER THE RENOVATIONS. The meetings will still be held under the same format at 27 North Cameron Street at the Corrections Center (across from Appalachian Brewery). Monday is a closed Step meeting, Friday is closed Big Book, and Tues thru Thurs is closed discussion.

The fledgling 7:00PM Sunday night Way Out Group which meets at the Epworth United Methodist Church at 21st and Derry Streets will be providing BABYSITTING, starting with the August 3, 2003 meeting. For those needing a meeting and a way to assure that the children are safe and not a distraction, this service may be their answer. See the flyer on the links page, or click on the thumbnail at the left; take a copy to your group. Come see what's happening - be a part of, not apart from.

The Millersburg meeting has dissolved and has been removed from the schedule.

There has been yet another change to the meeting schedule at the Colonial Park Any Lengths Group. The Wednesday night 7:00 p.m. open men's meeting is changing. Starting on Wednesday, May 7th the meeting will become a closed step and traditions meeting. Both men and women are welcome and as is their policy, smoking is permitted.

The New Day Dawning Group at Sixth St and Linglestown Road, which meets at 7:00AM on Wednesdays needs support. This is a handy spot for people coming down the river to get some morning inspiration before tackling the realities of a workday.

The Joy of Living Group restarted April 23rd and they need support. The meeting is held at Fellowship House at 6:00PM on Wednesdays.

Note that the contact telephone number for Al-anon has been changed to (877) 501-1205, and that the Alateen Wednesday evening meeting has been discontinued.

The Progress Group's Wednesday 8:30PM Mystery Topic Meeting at the Ridgeway Community Church at Elmerton and Progress Avenue is in dire need of support and is expected to fold after July 30. Several of the regular members are unable to attend currently for various reasons. Also the 7:15PM Step & Tradition Meeting could use your support. Why not join in practicing the First Tradition by helping them weather this storm.

All of AA's suggestions are free.
It is the ones I don't take,
that I end up paying for.

Pearl of the Month contributed by Jim M, c. Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, page 74

  But when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning. By this time in all probability we have gained some measure of release from our more devastating handicaps. We enjoy moments in which there is something like real peace of mind. To those of us who have hitherto known only excitement, depression, or anxiety--in other words, to all of us--this newfound peace is a priceless gift. Something new indeed has been added. Where humility had formerly stood for a forced feeding on humble pie, it now begins to mean the nourishing ingredient which can give us serenity.  


JULY SPEAKERS

The 19th Street speakers for: July 4 is Buckskin Bob from TMTL; July 11 is Bob A; July 18 is Jim M (Indian M); and July 25 is anniversary night. The Hershey speaker for Saturday July 5, 2003 is Bob S from Hershey at 8:00PM; the speaker for August 2 will be Pat W from Selinsgrove. The 8:00PM Bridge Street Speakers will be: July 6, Kevin A from Ain't You Had Enough; July 13, Tina from Joy of Living; July 20, Simon from Monday Night Men's; and July 27, Vicki A from 40th Street. The speakers at the Middletown Survivors 7:00PM meeting on Thursday July 24 & 31 will be selected later.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Contributions are made to Food For Thought by recovering alcoholics who have this outlet to share feelings and opinions about living in recovery. The material included does not necessarily express the views of Harrisburg Area Intergroup, or Alcoholics Anonymous. It is simply an opportunity for recovering alcoholics to express thoughts they would like to share.

from "A Simple Recognition"
contributed by DonnaJean from The Way Out Group

If I have expectations due to preconceived ideas of what I want someone to be, how ever could they live up to it?  I will have done both them and myself a great injustice by not allowing myself to know who they really are.

I don’t recall when the first time was that I realized that people don’t necessarily  all think alike.  I had been under the impression for a long time that people only think other than I think for lack of information.  People would live like me if they only KNEW what I know.  It was a pretty surprising revelation when I discovered that I didn’t know too terribly much, and that much of what I thought I knew  I was wrong about!  I believe that is a part of being young.  It is rather ironic that part of maturing is a path into realizing what we don’t know.

 

Self-Centered Fears
 contributed by Albert from The Way Out Group

  Self centered fears
 Poured down the beers
To drown out failures
  And create cheap cures.
  
A lifetime of running,
Fearful of becoming,
Not even trying,
And risk crying.

Faking relationships,
Settling for head trips,
Always fearing loving,
For vulnerability to hurting.

  Finally finding peace,
The heartache will cease,
When I can trust in others,
And treat all as brothers.  

 

I can't start doing what is right,
 Until I stop doing what is wrong.

Service to another Alcoholic
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 has already assumed the duties of managing the office and getting our answering service running smoothly, by appointing a committee to study the phone volunteer system to identify changes that could benefit users at both ends of the line. 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 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. Are you looking for service work for sponsees, with a year or more of sobriety , to assure them being part of  instead of apart from recovery? Maybe this would be the perfect match.

Traditions Checklist
 TRADITION SEVEN: Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

1. Honestly now, do I do all I can to help AA (my group, my central office, my  

    GSO) remain self-supporting? Could I put a little more into the basket on

    behalf of the new guy who can’t afford it yet? How generous was I when I  

    was tanked in a barroom?

2. Should the Grapevine sell advertising space to book publishers and drug 

    companies, so it could make a big profit and become a bigger magazine, in

    full color, at a cheaper price per copy?

3. If GSO runs short of funds some year, wouldn’t it be okay to let the 

    government subsidize AA groups in hospitals and prisons?

4. Is it more important to get a big AA collection from a few people, or a smaller 

     collection in which more members participate?

5. Is a group treasurer’s report unimportant AA business? How does the   

    treasurer feel about it?

6. How important in my recovery is the feeling of self-respect, rather than the

    feeling of being always under obligation for charity received?

 

*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

 

This-n-That

Don't forget the Harrisburg Area Intergroup meeting Thursday August 7th at 6:45pm, and the District 36 General Service Rep meeting on Monday July 14th and August 11th 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.

 

Joy isn't the absence of pain,
It's the presence of God.

June Intergroup Meeting

At the June meeting, chairperson Bill C expressed his concern that attendance was so meager to represent more than 50 groups. Joe C from the Monday Nite Men's Group will visit groups to encourage them to participate in the efforts of Intergroup to provide those services to alcoholics that no individual group is prepared to handle. Bob B reported that the Hot line handled 130 calls during May. It was voted to make the cell phone exchange at the monthly Intergroup meeting. Dave L, on behalf of the State Corrections Visitation requested 5 Big Books and 2 Twelve & Twelves which were approved, plus some pamphlets. Hershey volunteered to host an Intergroup sponsored speaker event in September (tentatively the 6th).

The State Hospital was covered in June by the TMTL Group, the Way Out Group will bring the meeting during July, and the Out of the Dark Group volunteered to be there in August. The Hershey Group took the cell phone for June, and the Monday Night Men's Group will be responding in July. The Middletown Groups has continued bringing a meeting to the Gaudenzia Boys facility through June, beyond their thirteen week commitment, thank you Middletown. The 40th Street will do the honors in this rewarding service for July, August and September. Al D reported that many of the adolescents do not read, so the meeting has changed from Big Book to a discussion meeting and many of the boys do share. Joe C asked that the HAI meeting agenda be changed to add regular reports on the meetings at the Gaudenzia Adolescent Center by groups covering that service work.

 The June meeting was attended by Reps from 19th Street, 40th Street, Bridge Street, Hershey, Monday Night Men's,   Progress Group, Trudgers, Way Out, Winding It Up. Did you and your group have a voice?

Groups Continue Supporting Intergroup
Group contributions during the month of June to the Intergroup Fund were $135.00. We thank the following 2 groups for their contributions: Bridge Street Group and The Carlisle Area Group. 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

INTERNET SOBRIETY NEWS SUBSCRIPTIONS

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