Sobriety News
August 2008
 Calendar of Events
* Indicates flyer on the Links Page

Aug  1 Friday 8:30 PM 19th Street speaker
Aug  1-3 weekend PA State AA Convention in Carlisle*
Aug  2 Saturday 8:00 PM Hershey Group Speaker Jay C from the 40th Street Group
Aug  3 Sunday 8:00 PM Bridge Street speaker Keven C from 40th Street
Aug  6 Wednesday 7:00PM Middletown Into Action speaker Shelley H from Marionville, PA
Aug  7 Thursday 6:45 PM Harrisburg Area Intergroup business meeting
Aug  8 Friday 8:30 PM 19th Street speaker
Aug 10 Sunday 8:00 PM Bridge Street speaker Jim H from the Lambda Group
Aug 11 Monday 6:30 PM General Service District # 36 business meeting
Aug 13 Wednesday 7:00 PM Middletown Into Action speaker Charlotte F from Boiling Springs
Aug 15 Friday 8:30 PM 19th Street speaker
Aug 15-17 weekend Sunlight of the Spirit Conference in York*
Aug 17 Sunday 8:00 PM Bridge Street speaker Jim H from the Lambda Group
Aug 20 Wednesday 7:00 PM Middletown Into Action speaker Caroline C from Lebanon
Aug 22 Friday 8:30 PM 19th Street speaker
Aug 24 Sunday 8:00 PM Bridge Street speaker Bill G from the Lambda Group
Aug 27 Wednesday 7:00 PM Middletown Into Action speaker Lori W
Aug 30 Friday 8:30 PM 19th Street Anniversary Night

Looking Ahead

Sep  6 Saturday 8:00 PM Hershey Group Speaker Bob S from the Hershey Nooner
Oct 18 Saturday 10 till 2 District # 36 Traditions Workshop
Sep 11 Thursday Fellowship House will become a NON-SMOKING building
Nov 7,8,9 weekend 50th Annual EPGSA Assembly and Convention - Poconos*
Nov 7,8,9 weekend Pockets of Enthusiasm in Virginia Beach*
July  2008 TBD Al-Anon International Convention in Pittsburgh
July  2010 TBD AA International Convention in San Antonio

 

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 Mail  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. Sobriety News is updated as new information becomes available.

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.

11/7-9/08 50th Annual Eastern Pa Assembly & Conv Flyer and Registration

Around Our Town

If you happened to be traveling on Linglestown Road towards the River from the Square, and you turned right at the Stauffers of Kissel Hill just a little before 6:30PM on a Friday evening, you just might happen upon about a dozen people standing in front of the Bethany Church of the Nazarene, right behind Stauffers, waiting for the new Some Are Sicker Than Others meeting to start.
    Not long ago, a local resident who had recently started attending the Bethany Church was talking to the minister, who said  they had a beautiful new church and he hoped that it would get a lot of use. The idea sprang to life to start an AA meeting handy to those wanting a meeting in the area. So, Dan got permission to start the meeting which had its initial meeting on July 11, 2008, and attendance has been running at about a dozen so far. Several shared that they wanted a meeting where the sharing would be rigorously honest. Drop in on them sometime, I was glad I did.

Thanks to Don S for sharing this.

6:30PM – Some Are Sicker Than Others – Bethany Church of the Nazarene, 1605 Parkway West, Linglestown – "OD,NS"

June 1 Mini-Assembly - Area #59

The Mini-Assembly for Area 59 was held in State College on June 1st.  Mini-Assemblies are held so that the delegate can give a report from the annual General Service Conference that they attended in New York City in April.  The 58th General Service Conference was dubbed "The Conference that Wouldn't End" because some of the voting and discussions lasted well after midnight (this is usually not the case!)  The conference included delegates from the US and Canada Regions (there were 93 in attendance this year), 19 trustees, and non-trustee directors along with General Service Office/Grapevine staff. Some of the discussions and floor actions:

Discuss ways in which AA can continue to be a resource to the legal/criminal justice system
Conference Committee Considerations:
- Consider placement of the C.P.C Workbook on G.S.O's A.A. Web Site
- Stressed the importance of one-on-one contact with professionals
- Utilize professionals who are friends of A.A. at local A.A. events

Discuss the benefits and liabilities of funding the General Service Office of AA solely by the voluntary contributions of A.A. members and A.A. groups and that profits from literature sales will no longer be used to fund our General Service Office.
Conference Advisory Action:
- The action is basically this - that trustees' Finance and Budgetary Committee gather input from the Fellowship and forward this info to the 2009 Conference Committee on Finance.

A request that the Grapevine take out the section on medical, legal and social aspects of alcoholism (informally known as the "Grey Pages").
-No action was taken.  This means the Grey Pages will remain in the Grapevine until next General Service Conference next year.

Consider ways to increase awareness of the Grapevine and La Vina's roles in the Fellowship today
Conference Committee Considerations
- That delegates challenge each of their areas to increase circulation of the Grapevine by at least 100 subscriptions.  (our delegate serves Eastern PA, so that's like 2 subscriptions a district, very minimal)
- That groups put copies of the magazine in grocery stores, laundromats, and other public places where they might help alcoholics
- That groups hold Grapevine or La Vina meetings
- That districts buy subscriptions for local libraries

Consider proposed text for a new section in the "Understanding Anonymity" pamphlet on posthumous anonymity (this would include stronger language to alert family members of our policy of anonymity after an A.A. member dies). 
The action was to recommit this to the Public Information Committee for further discussion.   

Consider a request that a wall poster with information about Alcoholics Anonymous be created for placement in school guidance counselor offices.  
Conference Advisory Action - Motion Passed
- It was recommended that a wall poster for young people would be developed and brought back to the 2009 Conference Committee on Public Information.   Discuss the possible development of Conference-approved literature and/or service material to stimulate A.A. members' interest in Treatment Facilities Twelfth Step work. Motion Passed

Thanks to Lisa K from the BBSG for contributing this report on our delegates activities on our behalf.

PENNSCYPAA XX

The 20th State Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous was held Friday, July 11th through Sunday, July 13th in Harrisburg at the Holiday Inn East.  "Shoulder to shoulder on our common journey" was our slogan.  It was a weekend filled with unity, recovery and festivity.  There were three speakers who all delivered amazing stories of their own experience, strength, and hope.  They included our Friday night speaker : Jimmy C. from Atlanta, GA; Saturday night speaker: Brenda J. from Tampa, FL; & Sunday morning speaker : Brian D; from right here in Central PA.  There were also two panels which included a "Young Old-timers" and "Working the Steps".  Four local speakers were on each of the panels.  If you were looking to go to a meeting over the weekend, you didn't have to look far because there was a meeting every hour. Other activities that were incorporated into the weekend were Monte Carlo night, a banquet, the Saturday night dance, swimming at the pool, and shopping at the "Just for Today" shop.  The weekend was a true celebration of sobriety among those of us who are "young at heart".  If you were not able to attend PENNSCYPAA XX this year, be sure not to miss this extraordinary function next year.  PENNSCYPAA XXI will be held in Pittsburgh next year.  Further details will be given and you can stay up to date by visiting http://www.pennscypaa-advisory.org/.  On behalf of the host committee we would like to thank Intergroup, District, and all the local homegroups for their generous contributions.  Most of all we would like to thank those of you who supported us, and were there for us throughout this past year - "We love you lots and lots and lots and WHOLE bunches!"

Thanks to Ashley F of the Middletown Trudgers for sharing this.

Forgiveness is the final form of love.

15th Annual Pennsylvania AA Convention

The 15th Pennsylvania AA Convention called "Working Together, Sharing Together" will be held in Carlisle August 1, 2, & 3, and includes participation by Al-Anon Family Groups. The event will be held at the Hotel Carlisle, 1700 Harrisburg Pike (Rt. 11), Carlisle. The Friday Nite speaker will be Stan W from Philadelphia; Fran S from Cresson PA, will speak Saturday Nite. There will be other speakers, around the clock Alcothon meetings, workshops, pool party, and Saturday Banquet. There is a $20 registration fee for the event.

Sunlight

    The Sunlight of the Spirit Conference will be here before you know it and is again sold out. The conference will be on the weekend of August 15 - 17 and will begin with speaker Dave L from Wilkes-Barre at 8:00PM on Friday. Saturday gets started with Billy N from Spring Lake Heights, NJ, at 9AM and things keep moving with Donna E-H from Huntley MT, at 11:00AM. There is ample time for you to join new or old friends for lunch and fellowship, before June G from Los Angeles tells her story at 4:00, and then Sandy B from Tampa, gives the evening talk, starting at 8:00PM. An Ice Cream Social will close out the evening formally, but surely there will be meetings in rooms around the hotel for overnighters before bed. Sunday morning wraps up the Convention with Sean A of Vancouver, BC at 9:30AM. Don't forget to stick around to pick up your CDs if you ordered them. The registration fee of $20 pays the costs of the hotel, the amenities provided, and travel expenses and accommodations for some of the guest speakers, and is certainly a small price for such an inspiring weekend.

I am grateful for this minute.  
My eternity may be in it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Since the beginning of my sobriety, a little over 5 years ago I have been traveling for my sobriety. A lot of my friends also travel all over the place to go to meetings, but why? Before explaining why I travel to meetings, let me tell you what some other fellow A.A.s had to say when asked why they travel.

“A lot of different reasons, being asked to speak, going to see other friends or because I know there is a message of hope there, and I need to be refilled.”    Jamie F. York, Pa

“Because I traveled to drink. I went everywhere to get drunk!”    Patti B. York, Pa

“To do what is asked of me in Alcoholics Anonymous, to hear something different …can’t get well rounded sobriety staying in York”    Steve R. York, Pa

“Because my sponsor tells me to and if my sponsor tells me to do something I do it because I want what she has.”    Tiffany R. York, Pa

“I will go to any lengths to get what I needed, I like diversity, and fear boredom.”   Lindsay M. York, Pa

So why do I travel to meetings? Well my answer includes some of the reasons that our friends have stated but I have to say, the main reason I travel is because of what I found that first night when I traveled what seemed way too far for a meeting.

A young man in my area kept telling me about this great meeting in Baltimore, Md. I was living in Hanover, Pa, at the time, which meant an hour drive. I was barely sober, hating life and meetings were definitely not my favorite pastime. After avoiding the offer to go for several weeks, I finally agreed. I showed up at the place we were meeting, angry and miserable (my usual disposition at the time) with little idea that something would happen that night that would change my life!

   This meeting was different than any other meeting I had ever been to. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something there. I sat through the readings,  just looking around. The meeting was packed; over a hundred people were there. They asked if anyone was new to the meeting; I don’t think I raised my hand but a handful of people did. They were from Alexandria, Va, York, Pa, and other parts of Md. I myself was from over an hour away too. Why were all these people driving so far to get to this meeting? In hindsight, I have to say that I think they were all there because they were seeking.

The message that I got there that night was amazing. It is actually the first time I remember hearing what a speaker was saying. I don’t think it was just the speaker though. I think I was attracted to the meeting’s message. For me, the message is more than just a story, it is about a solution and that is what this meeting was offering! I left that meeting with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. Yes, the drive was well worth it! I went back the next week and made it my home group. For the next 2 years I didn’t miss my home group for anything. So, you ask why I travel; because it saved my life. After that experience I was willing to go to any lengths for my sobriety.

Thanks to Jessica M for contributing this article.

 

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light;
take off all your selfishness, and fear.

Traditions Checklist*

TRADITION EIGHT: Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but its service centers may employ special workers.

1. Is my own behavior accurately described by the Traditions? If not, what needs changing?
2. When I chafe about any particular Tradition, do I realize how it affects others?
3. Do I sometimes try to get some reward-- even if not money-- for my personal AA efforts?
4. Do I try to sound in AA like an expert on alcoholism? On recovery? On medicine? On sociology? On AA itself? On psychology? On spiritual matters? Or, heaven help me, even on humility?
5. Do I make an effort to understand what AA employees do? What workers in other alcoholism agencies do? Can I distinguish clearly among them?
6. In my own AA life, have I any experiences which illustrate the wisdom of this Tradition?
7. Have I paid enough attention to the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions? To the pamphlet AA Tradition How it Developed?

Printed by permission. THE AA GRAPEVINE INC., PO BOX 1980, GRAND CENTRAL STATION, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10163-1980

*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.

12 Concepts Illustrated

Reprinted by permission from the publication The Twelve Concepts Illustrated, The Sobriety News will provide a link to 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 AA organization, other employees we work with or members of a family. Click on the Concept below for the full text.

Concept VIII

The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments: that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document: that it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the A. A. purse for its final effectiveness.
Meeting Changes

There is a new Open Discussion meeting on Friday nights at 6:30 PM in Linglestown, right behind the Stauffers of Kissel Hill on Linglestown Road, at the Bethany Church of the Nazarene. The group's name is Some are Sicker Than Others, see the article above "Around Our Town"

The Women's Nooner at Hershey, 500 W. Chocolate Ave, at the Church of the Redeemer, which used to meet on Mondays at Noon has stopped meeting due to a lack of regular participation.

The Palmyra Group has started a Monday 7:00PM Big Book meeting at the Chestnut Street, Palmyra address and their Thursday meeting continues as a closed discussion.

Corrections were made to the schedules removing the handicapped designation for the 40th Street Group, and adding it for the Hershey Group meetings at the Derry Presbyterian.

 

Pearl of the Month  

God either is, or He isn't.  What was our choice to be? Arrived at this point, we were squarely confronted with the question of faith. We couldn't duck the issue. Some of us had already walked far over the Bridge of Reason toward the desired shore of faith. The outlines and the promise of the New Land had brought lustre to tired eyes and fresh courage to flagging spirits. Friendly hands had stretched out in welcome. . .  Without knowing it, had we not been brought to where we stood by a certain kind of faith?
c.2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 53
With permission, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.


 c. 2001 AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 552
With permission, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Faith dares the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.

July  Intergroup Meeting

The July 3, 2008 meeting was called to order at 6:48 p.m.
Meeting was opened with the Serenity Prayer.
MEETING MINUTES: Last month’s meeting minutes were read and accepted.
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT: John P. read a letter from an AA thanking HAI.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Joyce reported a mix up with phone bulls. Closing balance 5/31/08 was $4,342.87. See printed report.
CENTRAL OFFICE: No report. Chairperson is needed. Office duties were discussed. Phone goes to Hershey in July, 4th&Bridge in August, 19th St. in September, Middletown in November.
MEETING SCHEDULES: Albert reported the removal of handicap accessible designation from 40th Street meetings. Handicap accessible was added to Hershey Group.
LITERATURE: Richard reported on May literature figures and will have June and July at next meeting. $834.35 sold. $270.10 purchased. Total inventory $2394.92.
CORRECTIONS AND INSTITUTIONS:
DAUPHIN COUNTY MEN’S: Harry reported meetings going well. Recent lockdown interfered with several prison meetings.
DAUPHIN COUNTY WOMEN’S: Karen reported meetings going well. Two more volunteers makes 12 women on the schedule.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY WOMEN’S: No report.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY MEN’S: No report.
CAMP HILL MEN’S: No report.
SOBRIETY NEWS: Albert reported. July SN now available online and as hard copy. OOTD Anniversary Brunch at Negley Park 9 am Sunday July 27. Pennscypaa convention weekend of July 11-13. $25 fee for all weekend activities. Holiday Inn East off Eisenhower Blvd.
ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE: Tom reported. Everything is getting lined up for the Intergroup Picnic. Flyer is available and tickets are printed and ready for sale and are still $5. Picnic is scheduled for Saturday August 23 at New Cumberland Borough Park, noon till whenever, speaker meeting starting 3:30pm.
UNITY COMMITTEE: AmiJo reported. Ask your homegroup who will be Unity Committee contact person. Ami will create a list of names/numbers. Will concentrate on the fellowship side of Intergroup, traveling to different meetings in and out of the area, meeting for dinner and fellowship regularly.
ARCHIVE COMMITTEE: No report.
DISTRICT 36: Karen reported. 50th Anniversary of Area 59 General Service Convention at Split Rock in the Poconos November 7-9, 2008. Voting year for GSR’s. District 36 hosting a Traditions Workshop October 18, with speakers, traditions play, panel of Area Officers for Q&A and free lunch. More details forthcoming.
CUMBERLAND VALLEY INTERGROUP: No report.
AL-ANON: No report.
OLD BUSINESS: 1. Discussion about the issue of the content of Sobriety News. Reps voted in favor of content of SN to be decided upon by SN editor and any staff, in accordance with SN statement of purpose. 2. Pennscypaa donation request resulted in reps voting in favor of $750 HAI donation, with the understanding that a portion of any leftover money will be donated back to HAI.
NEW BUSINESS: Letter of thanks read by John P.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:30 pm with the Lord’s Prayer.

District # 36 General Service

The July 14 meeting of the District # 36 General Service Representatives concentrated on planning an October 18  Traditions Workshop to be held at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 4th and Bridge Sts. in New Cumberland. It is planned that the event will begin at 10:00 AM with a person yet to be determined to speak on the Traditions. At 11 o'clock Bob H will speak about the Traditions as they relate to the Group. A half hour lunch will be provided at Noon, followed by the "Traditions Play". At 1:00 PM until the conclusion of the event will be a Questions and Answers Panel with Sheila D, Hugh H and Dave A, all officers of our Area # 59. The Traditions were designed to assure that AA will remain viable in the future and not fall into petty divisiveness and resentments which would destroy it from within, which is why they are so important to all of us.

Of course there was a discussion of Concept Seven, which Bill crafted to create a balance of power between the General Service Conference and the General Service Board. The Concept states. "The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments: that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document: that it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the A. A. purse for its final effectiveness." Although the Conference is advisory only, it does represent AA as a whole and thereby controls whether its member Groups contribute to World Services. This balance has apparently worked well as cooperation between the two entities has never required the Conference to exercise the power of the purse.

Thanks to Vivian F of the Middletown Trudgers for sharing this report.

 

Anecdotage  

After Bill's meeting with Ebby T and subsequent visit to a meeting of the Oxford Group, Bill couldn't stay sober and had a three day bout with drinking and decided to give this new formula for sobriety a try. He deposited himself for the last time at the Towne's Hospital.

"I was not in too awful a condition. In three or four days I was free of what little sedative they gave me, but I was very depressed. I was still choking on the God business. Bright and early one morning friend Ebby showed up and stood in the doorway, smiling broadly. I didn't see what was so funny. Then I had a suspicion: maybe this is the day he is going to evangelize me; maybe he is going to pour on the sweetness and light. But no, he made me wait until I asked him. "Well," said I, "what is your neat little formula once more?" In perfectly good humor, he handed it out again: You admit you are licked; you get honest with yourself; you talk it out with somebody else; you make restitution to the people you have harmed; you try to give of yourself without stint, with no demand for reward; and you pray to whatever God you think there is, even as an experiment. It was as simple and yet as mysterious as that. After some small talk he was gone.

My depression deepened unbearably and finally it seemed to me as though I were at the very bottom of the pit. I still gagged badly on the notion of a Power greater than myself, but finally, just for the moment, the last vestige of my proud obstinacy was crushed. All at once I found myself crying out, "If there is a God, let Him show Himself! I am ready to do anything, anything!"

Suddenly the room lit up with a great white light. I was caught up into an ecstasy which there are no words to describe. It seemed to me, in the mind's eye, that I was on a mountain and that a wind not of air but of spirit was blowing. And then it burst upon me that I was a free man. Slowly the ecstasy subsided. I lay on the bed, but now for a time I was in another world, a new world of consciousness. All about me and through me there was a wonderful feeling of Presence, and I thought to myself, "So this is the God of the preachers!" A great peace stole over me and I thought, “No matter how wrong things seem to be, they are still all right. Things are all right with God and His world."

Then, little by little, I began to be frightened. My modern education crawled back and said to me, "You are hallucinating. You had better get the doctor." Dr. Silkworth asked me a lot of questions. After a while he said, "No, Bill, you are not crazy. There has been some basic psychological or spiritual event here. I've read about these things in the books. Sometimes spiritual experiences do release people from alcoholism." Immensely relieved, I fell again to wondering what actually had happened."2

2 Nearly every A.A. has a spiritual experience that quite transforms his outlook and attitudes. Ordinarily, such occurrences are gradual and may take place over periods of months or even years. A considerable number of A.A.'s, including Bill, who have had the sudden variety of spiritual experience see no great difference so far as the practical result is concerned between their quick illumination and the slower, more typical kinds of spiritual awakening.

Reprinted by permission of AA World Services from, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pp62 and 63.

Service puts feet on my prayers.

Donations
The addresses for group mailings of local contributions are as follows.

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
2 Kathleen Ct.                                                       Box #459
Havertown , PA 19083                                              Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163

We're not a Glum Lot

A man died and went to Heaven. St Peter asked: 'What denomination are you?' The man said: 'I don't belong here, I don't go to church.' St Peter said: 'Well, we don't make mistakes, you belong here alright. Lets just walk around and you can see if you'd like to stay'.

So they walked down a long hall, and St Peter opened a door, and there were all these pews with people kneeling and praying and crossing themselves. 'Who are they?' asked the man. 'Those are Catholics', answered St Peter. 'Well, I don't want to stay here', said the man as they continued walking down the hall.

St Peter opened the next door, and there were pews with people sitting in them staring straight ahead. 'Who are they?' asked the man. 'Those are Protestants', answered St Peter. 'Well, I don't want to stay here', said the man as they continued down the hall.

The next room they went to, smelled like coffee as soon as the door opened. The man looked inside and there were all these people laughing and hugging one another. He watched them form a circle and recite the Serenity Prayer.
The man said: 'I like these people; who are they?'
St Peter shrugged his shoulders and said; 'I don't know, they won't tell us.'

Thanks to Joyce T from 19th Street for contributing this.

Take time to laugh -- it is the music of the soul.

This Month in AA History

1879 - Robert Holbrook Smith (Dr, Bob) was born on August 8th in St. Johnsbury, VT.>

1917 - Bill W (age 22) took his first drink. It was a Bronx Cocktail (gin, dry and sweet vermouth, and OJ). He got thoroughly dunk, passed out, threw up and was miserably sick the next day.

1941 - It was announced that a regular Thursday 8:30PM meeting would be established and held in the Blue Room of the Hotel New Governor Café dinning room in Harrisburg. In early 1940 Roger B had started holding infrequent meetings in the Harrisburg area

1947 - The original Harrisburg AA group relocated to 2nd & Chestnut in Harrisburg. It was known as the Harrisburg Group and was 50 members strong. This was the only meeting between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

1950 - The Harrisburg Group having grown to 100 commemorated its 10th Anniversary by holding an open public meeting at the State Forum.  They invited the Dept. of Health, Dept. of Properties and Supplies, GSO and the Harrisburg Evening News.

1974 - Pine St. Group held its first meeting in the basement of the Pine St. Presbyterian Church at 3rd and Pine Sts. in Harrisburg

1981 - The Mechanicsburg Serenity Group held its first meeting.

Thanks to Jim F for contributing this.

SOBRIETY NEWS is published monthly, and is usually available on the website 
( http://www.aaharrisburg.org/sn.htm ) 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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