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GA & GAM-ANON NEWSLETTER

Friday June 23 Paddle Wheeler Cruise up the Fraser River 7 - 10 pm tickets $28 - SOLD OUT! Thank you for your support.

Refreshments will be available for purchase. Meet at The Inn at the Quay in New Westminster.

Sunday June 25 Chilliwack Summer Picnic at Hougen Park, 2887 Cole Rd.Abbotsford. (covered area near washrooms) from 1 - 5 pm.Pot Luck. Donations are appreciated to help pay for site rental.For more information and directions contact Paul B. at braumbergers@telus.net or Ph# 604-701-8948.Please note that this event is open to GA, Gam-Anon, friends,

relatives and support people.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 27 - 29 201760th International

Inland Empire GA ConferenceOntario, California

2017IEFALLCONFERENCE.COM

WELCOME, to the FIRST publication of the Area 2A Gamblers Anonymous and Area 18 Gam-Anon Newsletter. The Newsletter Committee's purpose is to bring you information; future events, announcements, birthday celebrations, member inspired submissions and inter-group information.

Please bear with us while this newsletter goes through inevitable growing pains on our way to providing you, our members with pertinent information, and inspiring articles. However, this goal would be difficult without the participation of our fellowships. We invite all our members to contribute to the success of this newsletter by submitting group events and thoughtful content. Please see page 2 & 3 for examples of this and suggestions to inspire you.

GA Area 2A - Serving Alaska & British ColumbiaIssue 001 Gam-Anon Area 18 - Serving Western Canada June 2017

INTER-GROUP SUMMER PICNICSaturday August 19, 2017

Time: 9-5pmCrescent Park 2585 138 St. Surrey.

Bring your own "goodies"! BBQ's provided.

Electricity available.

A Note from the Newsletter Committee

email - friend@gabc.ca June 2017

Please consider contributing content to this newsletter for future publication. Write an article, essay, or poem. Draw a picture or take a photograph. Creating art or writing can be very healing. Share your experience, strength, and hope with your fellow GA & Gam-Anon members. We respect your anonymity. Submissions to the newsletter can be published with your first name and last initial, meeting location, anonymously – or any combination of those things. No submissions will be shared beyond the newsletter committee unless published. The letter below has been included as an example.

Dear Gambling Addiction,

For many years you have been a welcome escape from the misery of life. I have relied on you for so many things; for companionship when I was lonely, excitement when I was bored, a place to go when I was scared. You were my family; my friend and you were always there for me. I could always count on you to have music and bright lights, to welcome me into your embrace; you were my life. I came to depend on you completely. I knew you would never let me down, but you have. You have left me a broken person; you wanted more than I can give. You became a voracious monster that has stolen my very soul and spirit. Over our relationship, you have become more and more demanding, wanting my time, my money and my total commitment. I have slowly become someone else, someone I don’t like and I no longer want to be enslaved in your fantasy world.I am now starting a new life without you. It will be difficult because I have become enslaved to you; but I will persevere. I will make new friends and have new meaning in my life. I will reclaim my dignity and my character. I know there will be long nights and days when I will miss you, but I will build a new life and with hard work, new friends and the rekindling of my spirituality; I will succeed. I can see in the distance a new person emerging, a free person, when I don’t have all the lies and the secrets, when I can be open and honest with everyone and myself. I will have money to pay my bills and feel good about myself. I will be able to enjoy life again. With you out of my life I will be able to help and serve others and not be a taker, but a giver, as I’ve always wanted to be. My relationship with you has almost destroyed me, you have stolen my very identity. I will no longer allow you to destroy me, so this is goodbye forever; I will be free.

Sincerely, Patti S.

email - friend@gabc.ca June 2017

Nutrition And HealthHealthy dietsHealthy cookingHealthy menusShopping strategiesNutritional supplementsHealthy lifestyleLiving Well

STORY STARTERSSHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE, STRENGTH AND HOPE

Write a little or a lot - a sentence, paragraph, or page. Use these ideas or your own topic.Email your contribution to friend@gabc.ca or give it to your room Intergroup Rep.

• One of the tools I use to help stay gambling-free is…• The person I am now that I am not gambling is…• Some of the joys I have (re)discovered after stopping gambling are…• One of the GA events I have enjoyed was ____ because…• Fellowship with other GA members is important to me because…• What “principles before personalities” means to me is…• When people ask me to go gambling, my answer(s) is/are…• In the combo book it says, “Meetings make it.” For me…• What I have to say about gambling being “insidious” is…• One of the words/phrases of the combo (or other GA) book that resonates with me is…• I relapsed & gambled. Leading up to my relapse I ___ . Now I am…• I am working on Step __ . One of the biggest insights I have had is…• Something I learned about myself through being a part of GA is…• One of my biggest gambling-related struggles is ___ . I am working on this by…• Service in GA is helpful in my recovery because…• One of the things I do to reach out to new members is…

In this section we will present one step of the 12 Step Recovery Program each month for individual reflection.

The practice of the Gamblers Anonymous Recovery Program can assure every person with a gambling problem that they need never make another bet as long as they live.

The Recovery program is composed of Twelve Steps. It is in no way original with the Gamblers Anonymous Fellowship. It reflects application of spiritual insights as recorded by thoughtful men and women of many ages. Through its practice in our daily lives, we have been able to stop gambling and bring about certain personality changes within ourselves.

12 STEPS OF RECOVERY

***OPPORTUNITY***"GET INVOLVED AND BE OF

SERVICE"

The Intergroup Treasurer Position is now up for rotation. We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Michele P. for 3 years o f serv ice in th is pos i t ion . Requirements are; 2 years free of gambling in the program, the ability to attend monthly IG meet ings and a knowledge o f bookkeeping would be helpful.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS.....

Have you been going to the same meeting for months now, or years? Why not give a different meeting a try. Meet new members, inspire yourself while inspiring others.

Friday Night Live in Vancouver is asking for your support. They are less than a year old and still growing. Bethlehem Lutheran Church 320 E. 15th Ave., Vancouver 7:30 - 9:00 pm Open.

email - friend@gabc.ca June 2017

****ATTENTION****If you are not already receiving this monthly newsletter by email, and would like to, please forward your email address to:

friend@gabc.caand we will add you to the mail out list

for the next month.

Disclaimer Statement - All articles and materials published in this newsletter do not reflect the opinion of Gamblers Anonymous as a whole. All materials are submitted voluntarily by members and their identities are kept in the strictest confidence unless otherwise permitted by the individual.

JUST A REMINDER....

GA Area 2A has a new website. Please take the opportunity to visit it for meeting times, locations, GA Literature and information.

www.gabc.ca

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR JUNE

CELEBRANT YEARS CLEAN CELEBRATION DATE LOCATION

John C. 3 Tues. June 6 Nanaimo BC Brandon R. 1 Tues. June 6 Nanaimo BCDoug H. 10 Wed. June 14 White Rock BCPaddy C. 4 Mon. June 19 Surrey BC NoonFardeen A. 2 Sun. June 25 Surrey BCCyndi P. 1 Friday June 30 Richmond BC

CONTACT INFORMATIONEMAIL ADDRESSES FOR TRUSTED SERVANTS

GA Area 2A Intergroup - Alaska and British Columbia

Trustee Paul N. trustee@gabc.caChair Danielle R. chair@gabc.caTreasurer Michele P. treasurer@gabc.caSecretary Esther J. secretary@gabc.caPublic Relations Steve W. publicrelations@gabc.caWebsite Bob C. webmaster@gabc.caPressure Relief Bob C. pressurerelief@gabc.ca

Gam-Anon Area 18 - Western Canada

Delegate Janet W. gamanonjanetw@shaw.ca