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Sobriety News
October 2005

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.

October Calendar of Events*

Oct.  1       Sat.      8:00pm      Hershey Speaker Mtg. Jenn Z from Concordia Group
Oct.  2       Sun.     8:00pm      Bridge St. Speaker Charlotte F from Middletown
Oct.  7       Fri.      8:30pm      19th St. Speaker Steve T
Oct.  9       Sun      8:00pm      Bridge St. Speaker Sylvia V from East Petersburg Group
Oct.  14     Fri.       8:30pm      19th St. Speaker Joyce T
Oct.  16     Sun.      8:00pm      Bridge St. Speaker Mike S from Progress Group
Oct.  20     Thur.    7:00pm      Middletown Speaker
Oct.  21     Fri        8:30pm      19th St. Speaker Lilly W
 Oct.  22     Sat.      1:00pm      Lykens Winding-it up Group Serenity Hike
Oct   23.    Sun      8:00pm      Bridge St. Speaker Jack W from BBSG
Oct.  27     Thur.    7:00pm      Middletown Speaker
Oct. 27-30 Thur. - Sun            21st Annual Area 29 Fall Conference Hagerstown, MD.
Oct. 27-30 Thur.-  Sun            Native American Indian AA Conv. http://www.nai-aa.com
 Oct.  28     Fri.      8:30pm      19th St. Anniversary
Oct.  29     Sat.      10:00AM   E-town Women's Group Anniversary Speaker Mtg.
Oct.  29     Sat.     5:00PM      Middletown Spaghetti Dinner speakers Sylvia V and Ottis M
Oct. 30      Sun      8:00pm      Bridge St. Speaker Amy Jo from BBSG

Looking Ahead

Nov 4-6    Weekend               AA State Convention
Nov 5        Sat       6:30 PM    Halloween Dinner/Dance @ Oberlin Fire Hall
Nov 5        Sat,      8:00PM     Hershey Speaker Mtg. Albie O from Hershey Group
Nov 12      Sat.      Noon-5:00 Harrisburg Area Acts of Recovery at Middletown
Nov 12      Sat.      5-8:30       Al-Anon District Spaghetti Dinner 1st United 
                                              Methodist Church of Hershey
Nov 22      Tues    12:00PM    Hershey Nooner 1st Anniversary
Feb. 9-12  Thur.-Sun              42nd Annual International AA Women's Conference
                                              Minneapolis, MN.  http://www.iaawc.org 
Jul 2008  TBD                        Al-Anon International Convention in Pittsburgh, PA 
Jul 2010   TBD                       A A International Convention in San Antonio, Texas

To links and current events

The Links Page
 The AA blue button above will take you to the links and current events page. Did you know that the links page also has links to Flyers of events, other AA websites and meeting schedules (for Lancaster, Lebanon, and York), and to back issues of Sobriety News? 
You can make flyers of your group's activities available to others for printing off the internet by e-mailing a copy to jfee@comcast.net  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.
    
 Greater Harrisburg Meeting Schedules
There is a link to the Meeting Schedule here, (or if you have Microsoft Word, click the coin at right, so you can print out the schedule .  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 schedule update , 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 by clicking on the chip at the right.

There are links to meeting schedules on the links page for Lebanon, York and Lancaster Counties also.

Carrying The Message
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.

Middletown 16th Anniversary

The Middletown Groups will be having their 16th annual Spaghetti Dinner and Anniversary Celebration on October 29th at the Middletown Presbyterian Church. Of course there will be the usual spaghetti, desserts, fellowship and recovery messages. The Spaghetti dinner will begin at 5:30PM and as usual dessert contributions will be welcome. There will be two speakers, beginning at 7:00PM will be Sylvia V from the East Petersburg Group, a short break to finish up some desserts, and then Ottis M, of the Middletown Group via New Orleans. If you've never experienced the Middletown hospitality, food, desserts, and recovery message, you're in for a treat; if you have, you already know what's up. The Middletown Presbyterian Church is located on the corner of North Union and East Water Streets, which is one block South of the Middletown Square.

Help Needed for AA Katrina Victims Thank you -This need has been amply met by contributions from our membership!

This message was received from the Baton Rouge AA Central Office

We are desperately seeking donations to purchase AA big books and 12x12's to bring to the shelters here, not only in Baton Rouge, which are filled to capacity, but to the other areas we service that have set up shelters. If you would like to make a monetary contribution, the soft cover Big Books are $6 with tax and the soft cover 12x12's are $6.50 with tax. I will put you a return receipt in the mail. Thanks to the generosity of the AA community all over the United States. We have had calls from California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland and areas in our precious state that have power, to offer their homes to fellow AA members, to offer literature, AA meetings, clothes, their time, you name it! Thanks Bill and Dr. Bob and all our friends for the hand of AA that know no boundaries!

You may reach us at 225-924-0030 during the weekend. We have real AA people answering the phones, but if you can't reach us, our phones are tied up with many important calls, so keep trying or should I say trudging!

Our address is: Baton Rouge AA Central Office, 8312 Florida Blvd. Suite 213-A, Baton Rouge, La. 70806

Again, words cannot express our thanks to each and every one of you!

Joy

“I am responsible when anyone anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA to always be there and for that I am responsible”.

Help for the Hearing Impaired
If anyone in our AA community knows sign language and is willing to be of service, there is a need in the Harrisburg Area for your help.  If you are willing to help a hearing impaired person please notify intergroup through your intergroup rep.

Internet Source for Recorded AA Talks
There is a new source for some good AA recording of talks from the Harbor City Speakers, Acts of Recovery.  South College Speaker Group, Steps in Action, Unity in Action, White Rose and various others.  These are free for you to download in MP3 format on your computer.  The Web address is http://greatfact.org  You can hear speakers from the Greater Harrisburg Acts of Recovery that you may have missed.

Alcoholism is the only disease that
tries to convince you that you don't have it

Anecdotage

There's a new step in town STEP ZERO.

What do you mean, STEP ZERO? I don't remember reading any STEP ZERO in the Big Book.

We do have a step zero.  We read it at every meeting.  It is that part of "How it Works" that says If you want what we have, and are willing to go to any lengths to get it; then you are ready to take certain steps.

When I was first visited by AA, a guy named Eddie came to my house and talked to me about the program and his problems with alcohol.  He even offered to take me to a meeting that night.  I was reluctant to go but he convinced me that this was a good idea.

I started to get ready to "see the drunks".  I put on a reasonably clean sport shirt that I rescued from the hamper (SHE was long gone) and doused myself liberally with Aquavelva.  Eddie arrived exactly on the hour and I went out and got in his car.  It was a brand new Mercury and had that great "new car" smell.  I mentioned to Eddie that he had a very nice car.  He said "you know, AA got me this car"  I immediately thought to myself, maybe they'll get me one too.

There it was! STEP ZERO! I wanted that mercury.

When we arrived at the meeting, everyone was busy making coffee, cutting cake, setting up chairs, etc.  They seemed to be having a GOOD TIME.  I mentioned to Eddie that everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.  I wondered when the alcoholics would get there.  He said I was looking at the alcoholics.  Again, I took STEP ZERO.  I wanted that GOOD TIME, too.

Now, some years later, I take STEP ZERO whenever I enter a meeting.  I want what you have.  Sobriety. Serenity. Happiness. Peace of Mind.  A God in my life.

I'm willing to go to any lengths to get it.

Thanks to Terry E  from AA in the Desert       

  Sobriety is not for people who need it
it's for people who want it

New Meetings and Changes
There is a new SPANISH Speaking meeting starting on October 17th.  The meeting will be held at St. Francis Church,  1439 Market St. Harrisburg.  The meeting will be held from 6:00PM - 7:00PM

The Elizabethtown Women's Group  Sane, Sober and Serene which meets on Wednesday Evening @ 7:30PM is moving their meeting to 6:30 on the same evening.  This change takes effect on 8/3/05

There is a new AA meeting in New Cumberland starting June 7th at the Community United Methodist Church, 16th & Bridge Streets. They call themselves The Mid-Morning Reprieve, because they meet at 10:00AM every Tuesday. The meeting will be non-smoking, and will be an open literature meeting (As Bill Sees It, Language of the Heart, Little Red Book, Stools and Bottles, Best of Bill, and More).

The Way Out Group, which meets at the Bethany A. M. E. Church (formerly the Epworth United Methodist Church) has changed its meeting day to Monday evening at 7:00PM, because of a conflict with planned Sunday evening Services in the new congregation's church. All other details about the meeting are unchanged.  See the flyer.

There is a new open beginners meeting called the Hershey Step One Meeting, which will meet at the Derry Presbyterian Church on the corner of Derry and Mansion Roads on all but the first Saturday of the month at 7:00PM. The meeting chair will read an excerpt from AA literature and open the meeting for discussion.  The meeting will be only 45 minutes because of the Hershey Group meeting which will be following in the same room.

The Stay Alive Group meeting scheduled at Fairview Twp. Firehouse on Sunday mornings has moved! The last meeting was Sunday July 3, 2005. Beginning Sunday July 10, 2005 the new meeting location is 122 Geary Ave. In New Cumberland. A new Firehouse is slated to be finished construction in March of 2006. The meeting may or may not return to that location. Stay tuned.
You may contact Richard W. 717-329-8320 with any questions. You may also email aa@aaharrisburg.org. Link to full information.

The Wednesday night 7:15 Progress Group meeting at Ridgeway Community Church @  Elmerton and Progress Ave. reports that the church locks the doors @ 7:15.  The group cannot always hear if someone knocks on the door after that so it is best to be there for the meeting before the meeting.

UPDATE: Mid-City Group reports they are looking for a new home, but haven't settled on one yet. In the meantime, they continue to meet at the Ste. Paul's Methodist Church on the corner of River and Vine Streets. Meeting times are 7:30-8:30 on the following evenings, all are non-smoking.
Tuesday - Big Book Study,
Thursday & Saturday - Closed Discussion

AA doesn't work
unless YOU do 

This-n-That
Don't forget the Harrisburg Area Intergroup (HAI) meeting Thursday October 6th, at 6:45pm, and the District 36 General Service Rep meeting on Monday October 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. 

September Intergroup Meeting
A t the September 1st meeting of Intergroup, Chairperson RC opened the meeting with the serenity prayer. The secretary's report was read by Ami Jo and accepted.  Kevin read the treasurer's report which was also accepted.

The State Hospital - Because of impending changes in the Harrisburg State Hospital Operations, there will only be a Friday 7:00PM meeting for the foreseeable future.  The Way Out Group will visit the meeting during September.  Hershey will cover the cell phone in September, Middletown in October and More to Life Group will cover in November.   Gaudenzia Juvenile Facility has requested that the meeting be moved to Thursday as they wish to take their clients to an AA meeting outside on Wednesday, Frank O reported that the meetings are going well, and asked for big books and 12 & 12s, which were donated.  Volunteers for the various county and state prison and Gaudenzia Juvenile facilities continue to carry the message to those who hope to change their lives through a more spiritual way of living; if you'd like to benefit from this 12th Step opportunity, see your Intergroup Rep, or leave a message with the hot line at 234-5390.

Cumberland County Women's Prison needs volunteers to take a meeting into the prison.

Groups represented at the Sept. meeting were: HAI Officers, Pine St., 40th St., Hershey, BBSG, Al-Anon, Way out, Mid City, St. Francis, Hbg. Mens Group, Middletown, 19th St. Was your group represented?

The alcoholic's mind is like a bad neighborhood
don't go there alone 

Traditions Checklist
Tradition Ten: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

Do I ever give the impression that there really is an “AA opinion” on Antabuse? Tranquillizers? Doctors? Psychiatrists? Churches? Hospitals? Jails? Alcohol? The federal or state government? Legalizing marijuana? Vitamins? Al-Anon? Alateen?
2.    Can I honestly share my own personal experience concerning any of those without giving the impression I am stating the "AA opinion".
3.    What in AA history gave rise to our Tenth Tradition ?
4.    Have I had a  similar experience in my own AA life ?
5.    What would AA be without this tradition? Where would I be.
6.    Do I breach this or any of its supporting traditions in subtle, perhaps unconscious, ways ?
7.    How can I manifest the spirit of this tradition in my personal life outside AA?  Inside AA?

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

Don't work my program
or your program 
just work the Program

Pearl of the Month  ©  AA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p 90
It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed , no matter what the cause , there is something wrong with us.  If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong also.  But are there no exceptions to this rule?  What about justifiable anger.  If somebody cheats us, aren't we entitled to be mad? Can't we be properly angry with self-righteous folk?  For us of AA these are dangerous exceptions.  We have found that justified anger ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it.
With permissions, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 

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. Why not share something of yourself with our readers?

Prayers for the Twelve Steps - a Spiritual Journey

> The Lord is my sponsor, I shall not want
> He maketh me go to many meetings
> He leadeth me to sit back, relax, and listen with an open mind 
> He restoreth my soul, my sanity and my health
> He leadeth me I the paths of sobriety, serenity, and fellowship for mine own sake
> He teacheth me to think, to take it easy, to live and let live and to do first things first 
> He maketh me honest, humble and grateful
> He teacheth me to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can, and give me the wisdom to know the difference
> Yea, though I walk through the valley of despair, frustration, guilt and remorse, I will fear no evil, for thou art    with me, the program, thy way of life, the 12 steps, they comfort me
> Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: rationalization, fear, anxiety, self-pity and resentment.  Thou anointest my confused mind and jangles nerves with knowledge, understanding and hope.  No longer am I alone, neither am I afraid, nor sick, nor helpless, nor hopeless. My cup runneth over.
> Surely sobriety and serenity shall follow me every day of my life, 24 hours at a time, as I surrender my will to thine and carry the message to others, and I will dwell in the house of my Higher Power, as I understand him, daily.  Forever and ever

This Month in AA History
 1919     Congress passed the Volstead Act (National Prohibition Act) over President Wilson's veto

1933     Bill W's first admission to Town's Hospital.  Lois turned to her brother-in-law Dr. Leonard Strong who arranged and paid for the admission.

1942     With the help of San Francisco members and Warden Clinton Duffy, the first AA prison group was established in a maximum security prison at San Quentin Penitentiary.

1951     The American Public Health Association presented the Lasker Award to AA.  Originally the award was to be for Bill W but he asked that it be given to the fellowship.  The award was accepted but not the $1,000 cash grant.   

1957     AA Comes of Age is published.  Although guised as a 3 day diary of the 1955 Convention, it amounted to an entire history of AA up to 1955.

1958     The days of Wine and Roses premiered on CBS Playhouse 90.  AA cooperated in it and also the later movie version.  The story centered on an AA testimony at an AA meeting.  

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

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Sobriety News is e-mailed monthly to free subscribers who have indicated a desire to receive it.  You may indicate a wish to be added to the mailing list by clicking on  Subscribe   and then clicking on send. There is no charge for this service. It is normally mailed the Tuesday before the first Thursday of the month by BCC (blind copy) to protect the anonymity of recipients. You need to notify us if you change e-mail addresses, and you may not receive it, if your computer or internet service provider screens out mail that does not have your name in the To: box.

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