Sobriety News
September 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.

September Calendar of Events*

Sept 1     Thurs.      6:45       Harrisburg Area Intergroup
Sept 2     Fri.          8:30       19th St. Speaker Larry L
Sept 3     Sat.         8:00       Hershey Speaker Dean H from There's More to Life
Sept 4     Sun.        8:00       Bridge St. Speaker Ron G from Hershey Group
Sept 9     Fri.         8:30       19th St. Speaker Marlin
Sept 11    Sun         1:00       Dillsburg Group Pig Roast 
Sept 11    Sun.        8:00       Bridge St. Speaker Josh from Hershey Group
Sept 15    Thurs      7:30      Trinity West Shore  44th Anniversary* 
                                            Speaker James H
Sept 16    Fri.         8:30       19th St. Speaker Jim
Sept 16 & Fri.         7:30       Primary Purpose Weekend*
Sept 17    Sat.        9:00am   http://www.bbsgpa.org
Sept 18    Sun.       2:00        SAM Sunday @ 19th St. NON-SMOKING MEETING
                                            Speaker Anthony B - 28 years Sober
Sept 18    Sun.       8:00        Bridge St. Speaker John McR from There's More to Life
Sept 22    Thurs.    7:00       Middletown Speaker Cheryl H
Sept 23    Fri.        8:30       19th St. Speaker Heather
Sept 24    Sat.       11:00am   Hershey Picnic Speaker Bob C, Picnic 12-5
Sept 25    Sun.      8:00        Bridge St. Speaker Glenn S from Big Book Study Group
Sept 29    Thurs.   7:00        Middletown Speaker Bob H
Sept 30    Fri.       8:30        19th St. Speaker Anniversary
* (See Flyer on Links Page)

Oct. 1       Sat.      8:00PM      Hershey Speaker Mtg, Jenn Z from Concordia Group
Oct 2       Sun       9:00AM     Out of the Dark Speaker Meeting Jared L from E-town S&T
Oct.27-30Thurs-Sun              Native American Indian AA Conv.  http://www.nai-aa.com 
Nov 4-6    Weekend               AA State Convention
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  
Jul 2008  TBD                       Al-Anon International Convention in Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 2010   TBD                      AA International Convention in San Antonio, Texas

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.

Help Needed for AA Katrina Victims

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!

Volunteers Needed for New Correctional Meeting
The Harrisburg Intergroup Corrections Committee recently met with representatives from the Dauphin County Adult Probation and Parole Department about establishing ongoing meetings at the Gibson Blvd. work release facility. There are approximately 300 people housed at the facility split into 2 separate groups.  The facility is requesting four meetings a week divided by two evening meetings and two afternoon meetings.  The proposed days and times are:
Tuesday:      2-3pm and 7-8pm
Thursday      2-3pm and 7-8pm

One year of continuous sobriety is recommended.  If interested in volunteering please contact either:
Harry P        766-8420
Ed O            (H) 948-0804 or (c) 805-6076
Moses B       238-3924
or signup on the Harrisburg Volunteer data Sheet through your Homegroup
Note:        This is for men only

“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.

STEPS
Solutions to Every Problem in Sobriety

Annual Hershey Picnic at Campbelltown
The annual Hershey Group Picnic will be held again at the Campbelltown Firehouse Park on September 24. The speaker will be Bob C of the Paoli Group.  The speaker will begin at 11:00AM with food and fellowship to follow.  The group will provide hot dogs, hamburgers, soda, etc.  A side dish or dessert would be appreciated.  The firehouse is located on Rte 322 in Campbelltown 

Dillsburg Pig
The Dillsburg Group is having a pig roast on September 11, 2005, at Logan Park located behind Haar's Drive-In in Dillsburg from 1:00PM till 5:00PM. Tickets are required for the pig roast  @ $5 per person (children under 12 are free when accompanied by a paid adult). The lunch will be served promptly at 2:00PM. Donations of side dishes and desserts will be appreciated. There will be a speaker Mark H at 3:00PM and there will be volleyball, games, prizes, fellowship, and fun. For tickets or other information contact Terri Z at 502-1080 or Tomi P at 421-1208.

Primary Purpose Weekend
The 2nd annual Primary Purpose Weekend will be held on September 16th and 17th at the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church (101 N.23rd St Camp Hill).  Speakers are Valerie D from Richmond, Va. and Gerry W from Cleveland, OH.  More information is available at  www.bbsgpa.org 

Anecdotage
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.   His name was Kyle.  It looked like he was carrying all of his books.   I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?   He must really be a nerd."  I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.  As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.   They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.   His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.  He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.   My heart went out to him.  So, I jogged over to him, and as he crawled around looking for his glasses and I saw a tear in his eye.  As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks.   They really should get lives.  "He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face.   It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.    I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.  As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.  He said he had gone to private school before now.  I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.    We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.  He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.   I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends.   He said yes.   We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!  He just laughed and handed me half the books.  Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.  When we were seniors, we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown , and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.   He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.   Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd.    He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.  Graduation day,  I saw Kyle. He looked great.   He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I  had and all the girls loved him.   Boy, sometimes I was jealous.  Today was one of those days.   I could see that he was nervous about his speech.   So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"   He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.  "Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began.  Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the
best gift you can give them.  I am going to tell you a story."   I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.    He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.   He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.   "Thankfully, I was saved.  My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."  I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.  I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.  Not until that moment did I realize its depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.   God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.   Look for God in others.

Thanks to Jim & Kathy M

AA is like an Adjustable Wrench
it fits almost any nut

New Meetings and Changes
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 7^th at the Community United Methodist Church, 16^th & 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.

Mid-City Group reports their last meeting at the current location will occur in September.  The church has been sold and the group is looking for a new home.  The group meets on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday @ 7:30PM.
UPDATE:  Mid-City will have a new location after September 30th.  The meetings will be held at the 2nd United Church of Christ, 215 Verbeke St. Harrisburg.  Meeting times are 7:30-8:30 on the following evenings, all are non-smoking.
Tuesday - Big Book Study,
Thursday & Saturday - Closed Discussion

Take a walk with God
He will meet you at the steps 

This-n-That
Don't forget the Harrisburg Area Intergroup (HAI) meeting Thursday September 1st, at 6:45pm, and the District 36 General Service Rep meeting on Monday September 12th, 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. 

August Intergroup Meeting
At the August 4th meeting of Intergroup, Co-Chairperson Doug K 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 Sunday 2:00PM meeting for the foreseeable future.  Middletown handled the August commitment, and The Way Out Group will visit the meeting during September. At this point it appears there will not be hospital meetings beyond September.  Mid-City covered the cell phone commitment in August,  Hershey will serve 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 12^th Step opportunity, see your Intergroup Rep, or leave a message with the hot line at 234-5390.

The price on all literature items, except for the Big Book increased in July, Bill C passed out copies of the new order forms with the new prices. Bill announced that the press of commitments makes it necessary for him to ask to be replaced as Literature Committee Chair.  

Groups represented at the Aug. meeting were: HAI Officers, 40th Street, Big Book Study, Dauphin County prison meetings, Harrisburg Men's Group, Survivors, TMTL, Trudgers, The Way Out, West Shore Area, Mid City and Winding It Up. Was your group represented?

Pearl of the Month ©  AA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p 85
After taking this preliminary trial at making amends , we may enjoy such a sense of relief that we conclude our task is finished.  We will want to rest on our laurels.  The temptation to skip the more humiliating and dreaded meetings that still remain may be great.  We will often manufacture plausible excuses for dodging these issues entirely.  Or we may just procrastinate, telling ourselves the time is not yet, when in reality we have already passed up many a fine chance to right a serious wrong.  Let's not talk prudence while practicing evasion.    
With permissions, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.