Sobriety News
May 2006

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.

May Calendar of Events
* Indicates Flyer on the Links page

May 4 Thursday 6:45PM HAI Meeting @ Fellowship House
May 5 Friday 5-8:30PM TMTL Group 17th Anniversary Speaker Georgia E *
May 5 Friday 8:00PM 40th St. Speaker Dennis T from 40th St. Group
May 5 Friday 8:30PM 19th St. Speaker Derrick K
May 6 Saturday 8:00PM Hershey Speaker Meeting Vicki N
May 7 Sunday 9:00AM Out of the Dark Speaker TBA
May 7 Sunday 8:00PM Bridge St. Speaker Bobby McK from Bridge St. Group
May 8 Monday 6:45PM District 36 meeting @ Fellowship House
May 12 Friday 8:30PM 19th St. Speaker Jim S 
May 14 Sunday 8:00PM Bridge St. Speaker Laura S from TMTL Group
May 19 Friday 8:30PM 19th St. Speaker Chris D
May 20 Saturday 11-4:00PM Lancaster Intergroup Day of Sharing*
May 21 Sunday 2:00PM SAM @ 19th St. Speaker Patty M from Bendersville, non-smoking.  Refreshment donations appreciated
May 21 Sunday 8:00PM Bridge St. Speaker Laura P from TMTL Group
May 25 Thursday 7:00PM Middletown Speaker TBA
May 26 Friday 8:30PM 19th St. Anniversaries
May 28 Sunday 8:00PM Bridge St Speaker Karen S from TMTL Group

Looking Ahead
June 3 Saturday 8:00AM Hanover Intergroup Fellowship Breakfast*
June 3 Saturday 8:00PM Hershey speaker Greg W. from The Way Out Group
June 5 Monday 7:00PM Unity Committee @ New Bloomfield
Jun 9-11 Weekend   61st Annual Texas State Convention http://www.txaa2006.org/
Jun 17 Sat 5:30-11:00 40thStreet Spring Fling*
June 24 Saturday 8:00AM Third Multi-District History & Archives Gathering*
June 30 - July 2nd Weekend   Firecracker Roundup http://www.firecrackerroundup.org
Aug 18-20 Weekend   9th annual Sunlight of the Spirit Conference, York, PA*
Aug 25-27 Weekend   18th annual PENNSCYPAA, Erie, PA.*
Sept 29-30 Friday 7:30-10:00 BBSG 3rd Annual Primary Purpose Workshop http://bbsgpa.org
  Saturday 9:00-4:00  
Jul 2008 TBD   Al-Anon International Convention - Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 2010 TBD   AA International Convention - San Antonio, TX

 

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 has links to Flyers of events, other AA websites and to back issues of Sobriety News? Currently, there is an ongoing project to add recreations of old paper copies of Sobriety News, so they too can be available freely to those who wish to browse.  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.

Intergroups Unity Committee Active Again
On April 20th, on behalf of Intergroup's Unity Committee, about a dozen 'lowlander' recovering alcoholics traveled to Lykens to bring some love and fellowship to the Winding It Up Group. Their meeting was chaired by Travis, who is their Intergroup Representative. He selected the topic of Unity (certainly appropriate for such an occasion), and many had the opportunity to share how the unity of AAs, wherever they joined in the program with other recovering alcoholics, had given them the strength and guidance that has kept them sober through difficulties or just their isolating fearful natures. Several expressed appreciation for the generous involvement Winding It Up has had in Intergroup events and in service positions for the benefit of all the District 36 groups and alcoholics in general. Many home group members remarked at how they enjoyed being at such a large meeting and hearing shares by someone different for a change. 

On April 25th, that group of Unity Committee travelers made a stop at the Big Book Study Group in New Cumberland, where they had an opportunity to witness to a new member, Seth, who was at his very first meeting. The meeting was chaired by Ami (our Intergroup Secretary) who gave the visitors 15 minutes to share before proceeding with the regular reading and sharing from the Big Book. The newcomer gave a good illustration of the importance of unity in sharing about how 12th step calls happen, and how, without the meeting schedules, the Hot Line, and volunteers to make the calls, this vital function of AA would suffer, or not be available (to the suffering alcoholic, or the volunteer whose sobriety may be saved by service). Of course, thanks were expressed for the contribution the BBSG makes to the unity and service of Harrisburg Area Intergroup. 

If invited, a group of active service oriented alcoholics, on behalf of the Unity Committee may come breath some fresh air into your group. They visited the Way Out Group  on Monday May 1.

Informational Speakers at District ~ Intergroup Joint Meeting
The Informational joint meeting of Harrisburg Intergroup and District #36 General Service was well received on Monday April 10th. The well attended meeting featured Carl (former Intergroup President) and Joylynn M (the current Vice President), who discussed the relationships between the North Eastern Pennsylvania Intergroup Association, and the Districts contained in the same geographical area. Although there were many similarities between them and our District, one glaring difference is we having two Intergroups in one District, and they having seven Districts within the area served by their Intergroup. Interestingly, their District General Service offices have the same committees as their Intergroup has, which facilitates the delivery of services within their very large area. This suggests that. perhaps the marriage of the capabilities of both our Intergroups and our General Services volunteers in the District #36 area would be a better way of delivering services to the professional community, or providing a Speakers Bureau, for example, two services which have fallen dormant due to lack of participation and support. 
    Their Intergroup is concerned with delivering the AA message to the area served, and they coordinate the delivery of institutional programs by others. The Districts, on the other hand, are concerned with the transmitting of their needs and concerns through the Area to the General Service Conference. Although the Intergroup is not a part of the governing structure, they do rely often on the services and resources of Area #59, to help in carrying the message.
   Sheila D., our Alternate Delegate, was also present and graciously contributed her knowledge of the relationship between the two entities. 
    Talk to your Intergroup Rep or GSR about how you fit into this.

Acts of Recovery at York

The York Acts of Recovery were again held at the Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 311 Haines Road in York. The event was Saturday April 29 from Noon till 5:00PM and included a free light lunch and four excellent stories of recovery. The speakers were Maureen M from Chatham, NJ "Finding A Power"; Jeff B. from Slippery Rock "Into Action"; Sara S from Phila. "Working With Others"; and George S. from Boston "Practice These Principles". Those who attended know what an intoxicating and inspiring experience this Conference can be; those who didn't, won't know till they experience it themselves.

40th Street Spring Fling

The 40th Street Group will again be holding their Spring Fling gala Dinner/Dance on June 17th. It will be held at the Oberlin Firehall, starting at 5:30PM for dinner (Dessert donations appreciated), followed at 7:00PM with speaker Jay C of the 40th Street Group, and really getting going with dancing to the DJ music of Ron G from 8:00 till 11:00PM. Hope to see you there for fun, fellowship and an AA message.

9th Annual Sunlight of the Spirit

The 9th Annual Sunlight of the Spirit Conference will be held this year August 18 through August 20. The location will again be the Holiday Inn on Arsenal Road (first road east of Interstate 83 at Rt. 30 exit). Registration is again $20.00 to cover the expense of the Convention. Register early, as the 400 available spaces go quickly and are usually sold by June. The tentative schedule is shown below. This is always an outstanding recovery event and we are lucky to have it so close by. You can complete and print the registration form at their website www.sosyorkpa.org/index.html

August 18 Friday 8:00PM Larry O Upper Marlboro, MD
August 19 Saturday 9:00AM Mari G Wasaga Beach, Ontario
August 19 Saturday 11:00AM Dennis N Charlotte, NC 
August 19 Saturday 4:00PM Patti O Laguna Nigel, CA
August 19 Saturday 8:00PM Wayne B Santa Monica, CA
August 20 Sunday 9:30AM Don M Louisville, KY

Area # 59 Meeting Schedules
There is a link to the Meeting Schedules here, ( if you have Microsoft Word,  you can print out the schedules that use the doc. extension). These schedules are 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. 

There are schedules available for many Districts within Area # 59, including Lebanon, York and Lancaster Counties, as well as for District 42 (Sunbury-Lewistown), District 35 (Gettysburg-Chambersburg, and Hanover), District 38 Pottsville, Northeastern Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre-Scranton), Reading Area, Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Southeastern PA, and Williamsport District 48.

Alcohol is a perfect solvent
it dissolves marriages, families & careers

We need your help locating old copies of Sobriety News
We are looking for older copies of sobriety news that were created before the website was developed.  We have in archive everything from January 2000 to present plus the following older editions. 

1996 - August, October, November, December
1997 - January, March through the rest of the year,
1998 - January, February, March, June  

Sobriety News was first published in 1983. If you have one of the missing copies and would like to help, please contact asdungan@comcast.net or jfee@comcast.net We will make a copy of your edition and return it to you.  Thanks in advance for your help.

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.

Traditions Checklist
TRADITION FIVE: Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

  1. Do I ever cop out by saying, "I'm not a group, so this or that Tradition doesn't apply to me"?
  2. Am I willing to explain firmly to a newcomer the limitations of AA help, even if he gets mad at me for not giving him a loan?
  3. Have I today imposed on any AA member for a special favor or consideration simply because I am a fellow alcoholic?
  4. Am I willing to twelfth-step the next newcomer without regard to who or what is in it for me?
  5. Do I help my group in every way I can to fulfill our primary purpose?
  6. Do I remember that AA old-timers, too, can be alcoholics who still suffer? Do I try both to help them and to learn from them?


*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

12 Concepts Illustrated

From the publication Concepts Illustrated, The Sobriety News will publish the Concept each month, which corresponds to the number of the month, because we so seldom are exposed to these very important concepts of relationships, whether it be between levels of the organization, or members of a family.

 Concept V

Throughout our world services structure, a traditional "Right of Appeal" ought to prevail, thus assuring us that minority opinion will be heard and that petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered.

Newcomers to AA's General Service Conference are often surprised at the pains taken by the presiding officer to make sure the minority has a second opportunity to present its views. Even after extensive debate on an issue, followed by a vote in which a "substantial unanimity" is reached, those opposed are polled individually to see if they wish to speak further to their minority view. In fact, numerous instances can be cited in which this minority view is so compelling the Conference has then reversed itself.

This is AA's "Right of Appeal" in action, and Bill says the same principle should apply to meetings of our area committees, trustee committees and boards. On an issue of grave importance, the minority has the actual duty of presenting its views.

This "Right of Appeal" recognizes that minorities frequently can be right; that even when they are in error they still perform a most valuable service when they compel a thorough-going debate on important issues. The well-heard minority, therefore, is our chief protection against an uninformed, misinformed, hasty or angry majority.

"Trusted servants," according to Bill, "do for the groups what the groups cannot or should not do for themselves." And in exercising their "Right of Decision" (see Concept III), trusted servants are almost always 'a small but truly qualified minority" - whether in the form of area committees, staffs, boards or even the General Service Conference itself. It is incumbent upon them, therefore, in their own meetings, to pay special deference to the minority voice.

This Concept also warns us of "the tyranny of the majority" and points out that in AA, a simple majority is seldom sufficient basis for a decision. That's why we usually require at least a two-thirds majority. Lacking this, it is preferable to delay the decision; or in the case of an election following the "Third Legacy Procedure," to "go to the hat." (See Service Manual, Chapter I.)

The "Right of Appeal" also permits any person in the service structure, whether paid or volunteer, to petition for redress of a personal grievance. He or she can complain directly to the General Service Board, without prejudice or fear of reprisal.

Printed by permission of A. A. World Service

“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.

The ego seeks the destination
the soul seeks the journey

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.

The 12 steps are not multiple choice

Anecdotage

The Countdown

10 Alcoholics, all in a line, one got to thinking --- then there were nine

9 Alcoholics, one said "Wait a near beer can't hurt"--- then there were eight

8 Alcoholics, looking up to heaven, one cut out meetings --- then there were seven. 

7 Alcoholics, doing service for kicks, one starting grumbling --- then there were six

6 Alcoholics, glad to be alive, till one smoked pot --- then there were five.

5 Alcoholics, greeters at the door, one played the big shot --- then there were four.

4 Alcoholics, for fun and for free, one's case was different --- then there were three

3 Alcoholics, knowing what to do, one rewrote the Big Book --- then there were two.

2 Alcoholics, having some fun, one started lying and then there was one.

1 Alcoholic, talking to HP, "If only one is sober --- then I'm glad it's me

Submitted by Arnie T 

Without you
there is no we

New Meetings and Changes

The Lambda Group (gay), which meets at the Friends Meetinghouse at 6th and Herr Sts. on Mondays and Fridays is changing the meeting time for the Friday meeting to 8:00PM. Both meetings now are 8:00PM closed, non-smoking, except the last Friday, which is an Open Speaker Meeting.

The There is a Solution Group which meets on Thursdays at 6:30 on Jerusalem Rd. in Mechanicsburg is in need of support. Copy the flyer on the links page and take it to your group.

The Out of the Dark Group has changed it's format for the 1st Sunday of each month.  The group meets at 9:00AM at the Wormleysburg Borough Hall and starting in March, 2006 the meeting will be an open speakers meeting.

The Millersburg Group which formerly met on Monday Nights has changed the name of the group to The Open Door Group and will now meet on Tuesdays at 8:00PM.  The meeting is held at the Feed My Sheep Ministries located at 242 Market St, Millersburg.  The format is Open discussion and it is a non-smoking meeting.

The new Loysville "Empty Jug" meeting has moved to the Assembly of God Church on 6th Street in Newport. The meetings are still Saturday nights at 7:00PM, and the formats are unchanged, see the flyer . 

There is a change of place for the Sunday night Al-Anon meeting. Formerly Holy Spirit Hospital, now at the: Chapel Hill UCC (corner of Poplar Church & Erford Rds.), entrance in rear of church, 2nd floor-Rm. 4. Also, Al-Anon's next District meeting is on Tues. Jan. 31st @ 6:00 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Camp Hill Rm. 232.

If you don't have a higher power
try mine

April Intergroup Meeting

Chairperson Kris S. opened the meeting with the serenity prayer.

The secretary's, treasurer's and chairperson's report were all accepted as read.  The unity committee is visiting Winding it up Group and BBSG in April.  They are looking for other groups to invite them to share at a meeting.  Lorie was named the new activity chairperson.

Kris S gave a report on the Spring Fling held on 3/18.  While the event was popular and well attended, some concern was raised about whether any traditions were violated by having a paid comedienne as part of an AA meeting.  

The following groups were represented at the meeting, BBSG, Progress Group, 19th St., Women's Serenity, Winding it Up, Trudgers/Survivors, Hershey, TMTL, Bridge St., Rule #62, Never Too Young, Way Out Group, Trinity West Shore, Out of the Dark.   WAS YOUR GROUP REPRESENTED.

Donations
 March's donation to Intergroup from the local groups totaled $335.00.  Contributions were received from Harrisburg Monday Night's Men's, Trudgers Group, Chapter 5 How it Works and Out of the Dark..  If you are mailing donations to either Intergroup or District please use the following addresses:

Harrisburg Area Intergroup                                 District 36
1251 S. 19th St.                                                    PO Box 5325
Harrisburg, PA. 17104                                          Harrisburg, PA. 17110

Also, the addresses for contributions to Area 59  and GSO are

Eastern PA General Service Area 59                    General Service Office
1112 Silver Maple Dr.                                           Box #459
Clarks Summit , PA 18411                                     Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163
Pearl of the Month   
DR. NORRIS' TALK 
MEMORIAL SERVICES for BILL W
NEW YORK, N. Y. FEB 14TH, 1971  

Our beloved Bill is dead. Even as I stand before you and say the words, I cannot really believe that it is true. In my heart I choose to believe that Bill is here with us at this very moment. And I somehow can almost hear him saying in that half-amused, half embarrassed way of his, "Oh come on now Jack, do you really think all this fuss is necessary?" Two weeks ago, at a meeting of your Board of Trustees, shortly after Bill's passing, there was a rather lively discussion about a matter involving the whole fellowship. When it had reached a certain level of intensity, I found myself waiting to hear Bill speak up, as he so often did and say those few words that would put everything in perspective. But he didn't speak. And it was then that I realized way down deep that we would never hear his voice again...that we could no longer count on the constant presence of his wisdom and strength. We could never again say as we had said so many times before, "Bill, what do you think?" And I at least, have not yet come to accept this completely. 

Bill was no saint. He was an alcoholic and a man of stubborn will and purpose. How else could he have lived through the years of frustration, failure, and discouragement while the steps, the traditions, and the conference were being hammered out on the anvil of hard experience with the first few groups? That he had the self-honesty, the clarity of vision to see the vital necessity for the Third Step, and turning one's life and will over to a Higher Power is just one part of our great good fortune that Bill lived. I have seen Bill's pride and I have seen his humility. And I have been present when people from far countries have met him for the first time and started to cry. And all Bill - that shy Vermonter - could do was stand there and look like he wanted to run from the room. No, Bill was no saint, although many of us wanted to make him into one. Knowing this, he was insistent that legends about him be kept to a minimum - that accurate records be kept so that future generations would know him as a man. He was a very human person -- to me an exceptionally human person.  

Bill's constant concern during almost all of the years that I knew him was that Alcoholics Anonymous should always be available for the suffering alcoholic--that the mistakes that led to the fading of previous movements to help alcoholics should be avoided. To me one measure of his greatness is the clarity of his vision of the future in his determination to let go of us long before we were willing to let go of him.  Bill was a good sponsor, - the wise old timer determined to relinquish the role of founder because he knew that A.A. must, as he would say, come of age and take complete responsibility for itself.  He had an abiding faith that our Fellowship not only could, but should run without him. Repeatedly, during the last few years, he has said in General Service Conference sessions "We have nothing to fear." Bill believed that the wisdom of A.A. came out of church basements and not from the pulpit; that it was directed from the groups to the Trustees rather than the other way around.  He sometimes felt, though, when the Conference disagreed with him as it sometimes did, that its conscience needed to be better informed, but it was this way that we really shared experience and developed strength and confidence that the answers would work out. Bill knew that it was not one voice that should be heard, but many thousands of voices. And it was his gift that he was able to listen to them all, then, out of the noise and confusion discern the group conscience. Then he would put it all together, the tension of argument would fade, and everyone would realize that his answer was right. What Bill's death means to me now is, that all of us--all of us: you, the delegates, the Trustees--will have to listen much more carefully than we once did in order to make out the voice of the group conscience. And I know that this is possible. Bill has trained us for it beginning in St. Louis in 1955. 

For this was Bill's vision -- to create a channel of communication within the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous that would make it possible for everyone to be heard: from the individual through the group, to the delegates and to the Trustees, so that A.A. will always be here to extend a hand to the drunk who is at this very moment crying out in the darkness of his night as he reaches for help. In closing, I want to say that it has been an honor for me to have had this opportunity to participate with you in giving thanks to God that Bill lived and was given the wisdom and strength and courage to make the world a better place for all of us. There are many more things I could say, but what can one say finally of a man's goodness and greatness? How many ways can you take his measure? I cannot do it or say it for any of you -- only for myself. He was the greatest and wisest man I ever knew. Above everything, he was a man. And I believe that he left his goodness and greatness and wisdom with us, for any of us to take in what measure we can. May God grant us the wisdom and strength to keep Alcoholics Anonymous alive, vital, attractive unencumbered by the egocentricities that can so easily spoil it

Thanks to Greg B for forwarding the article

 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?

The Discovery
I found everything I had ever looked for in Alcoholics Anonymous.  I used to thank God for putting AA in my life; now I thank AA for putting God in my life.  I found my tribe the social architecture that fulfills my every need for camaraderie and conviviality.  I learned how to live .

Alcoholics Anonymous p. 336
With permission, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.


I am responsible for the effort
not the outcome

This Month in AA History
 1921    Bill W answered a blind ad in the NY Times and received a reply from Thomas Edison to come to his lab to take an employment test of 286 questions.

1932    Bill W went on a business trip to Bound Brook, NJ with a group of Pathe Co. engineers to examine a new photographic process.  It turned into a disaster.  In a small hotel Bill drank Apple Jack (Jersey Lightning) and was drunk for 3 days.  His contract with Wheeler and Winans was cancelled.

1935    In Akron on business and in poor spirits because of a lost proxy fight, Bill W is tempted to enter the Mayflower Hotel bar.  Realizing he needed another alcoholic he started calling members of the clergy listed on the lobby directory.  He reached Rev. Walter Tunks who referred him to Norman Sheppard who then referred him to Henrietta Sieberling (age 47 and an Oxford Group adherent).  Bill introduced himself as "a member of the OG and a rum hound from NY"  Henrietta arranged a dinner meeting with Dr, Bob and Anne for the following evening.  Bill W (age 39) met Dr. Bob (age 55) Anne and their son Bob (age 17) at Henrietta Sieberling's gatehouse at 5PM.  Dr. Bob, too hung over to eat dinner, planned to stay only 15 minutes.  Privately, in the library, Bill told Bob of his alcoholism experience in the manner suggested by Dr. Silkworth.  Bob opened up and he and Bill talked until after 11PM

1938    The writing of the Big Book begins at Hank P's office in Newark, NJ.  Bill W wrote, edited and rewrote manuscripts at home on legal pads then dictated chapters to Ruth Hock.  Most of the early hand-written Big Book manuscript documents were lost during a later move from Newark to NYC.

1939    Led by pioneer member Clarence S (Home Brewmeister) the Cleveland OH group met separately from Akron and the Oxford Group at the home of Albert G (He Thought He Could Drink Like a Gentleman).  This was the first group to call itself Alcoholics Anonymous.  The Clevelanders still sent their most difficult cases to Dr. Bob in Akron for treatment.

SOBRIETY NEWS is published monthly, and is usually available on the website the Wednesday 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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