the san diego aa coordinatoraasandiego.org/coordinator/coord-may16.pdf · heir published monthly by...
TRANSCRIPT
aasandiego.org
heir
Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
The San Diego AA Coordinator
MAY 2016 VOL. XVI NO.5
Join the fun and
submit an article!
Monthly Themes JUNE It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. (due 4/23/16) JULY For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never proceeded. (due5/24/16) AUGUST Service had helped me… (due 6/24/16) Submit a 500 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]
Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council
Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,
pgs. 8 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p. 11 Upcoming Events &
Subscription form, p. 13
A CLEAN SLATE STEP FIVE
Most of us were born perfect and the slate was clean. From the very first day of our lives we started to experience different emotions (for lack of a better term) and those feelings had a lot to do with the way we evolved into who we are today. Instinctively we responded to the different threats and joys that we were faced with and these were the things that established our strengths and weaknesses. That is true for most of us, but not all of us. Unfortunately some of us were born with other problems that require medication, such as, A.D.D; Bipolar, and other difficulties that cannot be treated simply by changing our attitudes and behavior. These things, I am not educated enough to discuss, but for the average alcoholic, I believe, our problems can be traced back to that conditioning we experienced as we formed our mental and spiritual makeup. I often hear it said that alcoholism is a disease of perception. It is a disease of many things, and perception is one of them. The perception we have of ourselves may be likened to a chalkboard containing every experience of our lives. If we can look at it and be satisfied that we had a pretty good track record, we would probably be comfortable with it and lead a relative normal life. If, however, we find ourselves on the negative side of the ledger most of our lives, we may develop abnormal feelings of guilt and shame, for instance, and that may just be the thing that triggers the beginning of the compulsion to drink excessively. In the beginning we get a temporary relief that tells us that we are just fine, but it only lasts until we wake up the next morning and find ourselves in an even deeper pit. We reach for the bottle, and again it gives us that temporary buzz, and we repeat this process over and over until, by some tragic occurrence in our lives that drives us to alcoholics anonymous, we are forced to go through a process that can restore us to a somewhat normal life. Steps one through four are about surrender, acceptance, and discovery. Step five is about disclosure. Step five, for me, was the gateway to how I was going to live the rest of my life. After two attempts at step four, I was faced with the decision as to whether my future was going to be honest and meaningful, or just a meaningless facade. Fortunately, for me, I took a leap of faith and disclosed all those, so called, tormenting ghosts of yesterday, (12x12 pg.55) and looking back on it now, I realize that, that decision was the hinge pin, for my thoroughness, with the rest of the steps. Had I not cleaned the slate at that time I just don't see how I could have followed the spirit of truth and honesty, with myself and others that would result in the peace of mind that I enjoy today.
Continued on page 15
aasandiego.org
heir
Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
The San Diego AA Coordinator
MAY 2016 VOL. XVI NO.5
Join the fun and
submit an article!
Monthly Themes JUNE It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. (due 4/23/16) JULY For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never proceeded. (due5/24/16) AUGUST Service had helped me… (due 6/24/16) Submit a 500 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]
Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council
Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,
pgs. 8 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p. 11 Upcoming Events &
Subscription form, p. 13
A CLEAN SLATE STEP FIVE
Most of us were born perfect and the slate was clean. From the very first day of our lives we started to experience different emotions (for lack of a better term) and those feelings had a lot to do with the way we evolved into who we are today. Instinctively we responded to the different threats and joys that we were faced with and these were the things that established our strengths and weaknesses. That is true for most of us, but not all of us. Unfortunately some of us were born with other problems that require medication, such as, A.D.D; Bipolar, and other difficulties that cannot be treated simply by changing our attitudes and behavior. These things, I am not educated enough to discuss, but for the average alcoholic, I believe, our problems can be traced back to that conditioning we experienced as we formed our mental and spiritual makeup. I often hear it said that alcoholism is a disease of perception. It is a disease of many things, and perception is one of them. The perception we have of ourselves may be likened to a chalkboard containing every experience of our lives. If we can look at it and be satisfied that we had a pretty good track record, we would probably be comfortable with it and lead a relative normal life. If, however, we find ourselves on the negative side of the ledger most of our lives, we may develop abnormal feelings of guilt and shame, for instance, and that may just be the thing that triggers the beginning of the compulsion to drink excessively. In the beginning we get a temporary relief that tells us that we are just fine, but it only lasts until we wake up the next morning and find ourselves in an even deeper pit. We reach for the bottle, and again it gives us that temporary buzz, and we repeat this process over and over until, by some tragic occurrence in our lives that drives us to alcoholics anonymous, we are forced to go through a process that can restore us to a somewhat normal life. Steps one through four are about surrender, acceptance, and discovery. Step five is about disclosure. Step five, for me, was the gateway to how I was going to live the rest of my life. After two attempts at step four, I was faced with the decision as to whether my future was going to be honest and meaningful, or just a meaningless facade. Fortunately, for me, I took a leap of faith and disclosed all those, so called, tormenting ghosts of yesterday, (12x12 pg.55) and looking back on it now, I realize that, that decision was the hinge pin, for my thoroughness, with the rest of the steps. Had I not cleaned the slate at that time I just don't see how I could have followed the spirit of truth and honesty, with myself and others that would result in the peace of mind that I enjoy today.
Continued on page 15
aasandiego.org
heir
Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
The San Diego AA Coordinator
MAY 2016 VOL. XVI NO.5
Join the fun and
submit an article!
Monthly Themes JUNE It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. (due 4/23/16) JULY For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never proceeded. (due5/24/16) AUGUST Service had helped me… (due 6/24/16) Submit a 500 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]
Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council
Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,
pgs. 8 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p. 11 Upcoming Events &
Subscription form, p. 13
A CLEAN SLATE STEP FIVE
Most of us were born perfect and the slate was clean. From the very first day of our lives we started to experience different emotions (for lack of a better term) and those feelings had a lot to do with the way we evolved into who we are today. Instinctively we responded to the different threats and joys that we were faced with and these were the things that established our strengths and weaknesses. That is true for most of us, but not all of us. Unfortunately some of us were born with other problems that require medication, such as, A.D.D; Bipolar, and other difficulties that cannot be treated simply by changing our attitudes and behavior. These things, I am not educated enough to discuss, but for the average alcoholic, I believe, our problems can be traced back to that conditioning we experienced as we formed our mental and spiritual makeup. I often hear it said that alcoholism is a disease of perception. It is a disease of many things, and perception is one of them. The perception we have of ourselves may be likened to a chalkboard containing every experience of our lives. If we can look at it and be satisfied that we had a pretty good track record, we would probably be comfortable with it and lead a relative normal life. If, however, we find ourselves on the negative side of the ledger most of our lives, we may develop abnormal feelings of guilt and shame, for instance, and that may just be the thing that triggers the beginning of the compulsion to drink excessively. In the beginning we get a temporary relief that tells us that we are just fine, but it only lasts until we wake up the next morning and find ourselves in an even deeper pit. We reach for the bottle, and again it gives us that temporary buzz, and we repeat this process over and over until, by some tragic occurrence in our lives that drives us to alcoholics anonymous, we are forced to go through a process that can restore us to a somewhat normal life. Steps one through four are about surrender, acceptance, and discovery. Step five is about disclosure. Step five, for me, was the gateway to how I was going to live the rest of my life. After two attempts at step four, I was faced with the decision as to whether my future was going to be honest and meaningful, or just a meaningless facade. Fortunately, for me, I took a leap of faith and disclosed all those, so called, tormenting ghosts of yesterday, (12x12 pg.55) and looking back on it now, I realize that, that decision was the hinge pin, for my thoroughness, with the rest of the steps. Had I not cleaned the slate at that time I just don't see how I could have followed the spirit of truth and honesty, with myself and others that would result in the peace of mind that I enjoy today.
Continued on page 15
aasandiego.org
heir
Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
The San Diego AA Coordinator
MAY 2016 VOL. XVI NO.5
Join the fun and
submit an article!
Monthly Themes JUNE It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. (due 4/23/16) JULY For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never proceeded. (due5/24/16) AUGUST Service had helped me… (due 6/24/16) Submit a 500 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]
Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council
Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,
pgs. 8 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p. 11 Upcoming Events &
Subscription form, p. 13
A CLEAN SLATE STEP FIVE
Most of us were born perfect and the slate was clean. From the very first day of our lives we started to experience different emotions (for lack of a better term) and those feelings had a lot to do with the way we evolved into who we are today. Instinctively we responded to the different threats and joys that we were faced with and these were the things that established our strengths and weaknesses. That is true for most of us, but not all of us. Unfortunately some of us were born with other problems that require medication, such as, A.D.D; Bipolar, and other difficulties that cannot be treated simply by changing our attitudes and behavior. These things, I am not educated enough to discuss, but for the average alcoholic, I believe, our problems can be traced back to that conditioning we experienced as we formed our mental and spiritual makeup. I often hear it said that alcoholism is a disease of perception. It is a disease of many things, and perception is one of them. The perception we have of ourselves may be likened to a chalkboard containing every experience of our lives. If we can look at it and be satisfied that we had a pretty good track record, we would probably be comfortable with it and lead a relative normal life. If, however, we find ourselves on the negative side of the ledger most of our lives, we may develop abnormal feelings of guilt and shame, for instance, and that may just be the thing that triggers the beginning of the compulsion to drink excessively. In the beginning we get a temporary relief that tells us that we are just fine, but it only lasts until we wake up the next morning and find ourselves in an even deeper pit. We reach for the bottle, and again it gives us that temporary buzz, and we repeat this process over and over until, by some tragic occurrence in our lives that drives us to alcoholics anonymous, we are forced to go through a process that can restore us to a somewhat normal life. Steps one through four are about surrender, acceptance, and discovery. Step five is about disclosure. Step five, for me, was the gateway to how I was going to live the rest of my life. After two attempts at step four, I was faced with the decision as to whether my future was going to be honest and meaningful, or just a meaningless facade. Fortunately, for me, I took a leap of faith and disclosed all those, so called, tormenting ghosts of yesterday, (12x12 pg.55) and looking back on it now, I realize that, that decision was the hinge pin, for my thoroughness, with the rest of the steps. Had I not cleaned the slate at that time I just don't see how I could have followed the spirit of truth and honesty, with myself and others that would result in the peace of mind that I enjoy today.
Continued on page 15
aasandiego.org
heir
Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
The San Diego AA Coordinator
MAY 2016 VOL. XVI NO.5
Join the fun and
submit an article!
Monthly Themes JUNE It is not by accident that pride heads the procession. (due 4/23/16) JULY For us, material well-being always followed spiritual progress; it never proceeded. (due5/24/16) AUGUST Service had helped me… (due 6/24/16) Submit a 500 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]
Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council
Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,
pgs. 8 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p. 11 Upcoming Events &
Subscription form, p. 13
A CLEAN SLATE STEP FIVE
Most of us were born perfect and the slate was clean. From the very first day of our lives we started to experience different emotions (for lack of a better term) and those feelings had a lot to do with the way we evolved into who we are today. Instinctively we responded to the different threats and joys that we were faced with and these were the things that established our strengths and weaknesses. That is true for most of us, but not all of us. Unfortunately some of us were born with other problems that require medication, such as, A.D.D; Bipolar, and other difficulties that cannot be treated simply by changing our attitudes and behavior. These things, I am not educated enough to discuss, but for the average alcoholic, I believe, our problems can be traced back to that conditioning we experienced as we formed our mental and spiritual makeup. I often hear it said that alcoholism is a disease of perception. It is a disease of many things, and perception is one of them. The perception we have of ourselves may be likened to a chalkboard containing every experience of our lives. If we can look at it and be satisfied that we had a pretty good track record, we would probably be comfortable with it and lead a relative normal life. If, however, we find ourselves on the negative side of the ledger most of our lives, we may develop abnormal feelings of guilt and shame, for instance, and that may just be the thing that triggers the beginning of the compulsion to drink excessively. In the beginning we get a temporary relief that tells us that we are just fine, but it only lasts until we wake up the next morning and find ourselves in an even deeper pit. We reach for the bottle, and again it gives us that temporary buzz, and we repeat this process over and over until, by some tragic occurrence in our lives that drives us to alcoholics anonymous, we are forced to go through a process that can restore us to a somewhat normal life. Steps one through four are about surrender, acceptance, and discovery. Step five is about disclosure. Step five, for me, was the gateway to how I was going to live the rest of my life. After two attempts at step four, I was faced with the decision as to whether my future was going to be honest and meaningful, or just a meaningless facade. Fortunately, for me, I took a leap of faith and disclosed all those, so called, tormenting ghosts of yesterday, (12x12 pg.55) and looking back on it now, I realize that, that decision was the hinge pin, for my thoroughness, with the rest of the steps. Had I not cleaned the slate at that time I just don't see how I could have followed the spirit of truth and honesty, with myself and others that would result in the peace of mind that I enjoy today.
Continued on page 15
2
Submit Your Stories, Photos, Art and More! The Grapevine, "your meeting in print" is also your meeting on
the Web. Why not share? We're always accepting submissions of art or text, and you need no prior publishing experience. All it takes is a little willingness and a desire to
share. Read the guidelines for submitting, check our editorial calendar for upcoming special topics, and then use
our upload form.
AAGRAPEVINE.ORG
SAN DIEGO CENTRAL OFFICE24 HOUR PHONE (619) 265-8762 OUR WEB PAGE www.aasandiego.org E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: (619) 265-2954 OFFICE & BOOKSTORE Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9 am – 1 pm Central Office Manager: Connie L. Administrative Assistant: Denise H.
The San Diego “AA Coordinator” is a monthly newsletter published by the San Diego Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole, nor does publication of any article imply endorsements by Alcoholics Anonymous or San Diego Central Office, except when Conference approved publications are quoted.
Contributions from A.A. members are welcome and will be printed as space allows and as they are relevant to the upcoming topic(s) (see page 1, bottom left).
Submissions may be emailed to the newsletter chair at [email protected]. They may also be typed or neatly handwritten and mailed to Central Office or delivered in person to the committee before the fourth Thursday of the month at 6PM, Central Office. Submissions must include contact information and a name (your name and last initials only). The editors reserve the right to edit contents for length, clarity, and their relation to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. An effort will be made to contact the author regarding content changes.
Phone Volunteers, 12th Step Calls, meeting information, group and individual contributions, book and literature sales, Coordinating Council and Intergroup Information can be obtained at the Central Office.
Please contact Central Office at 619-265-8762 for Officer’s phone numbers.
Coordinating Council Officers: Council Chair
Precious [email protected]
Council Assistant
Frank [email protected]
After Hours Phones
Renea [email protected]
Business Committee
Lauren [email protected]
Program Committee
TBD. [email protected]
Public Info Curtis [email protected]
Newsletter TBD [email protected]
Area Officers:Delegate Jane [email protected]
Alternate Delegate
Roxanne [email protected]
Area Chair Emily [email protected] Archives Anne [email protected]
H & I Chair Chris [email protected]
Contributors: Blaine H., Rick R., Daniel R. Mike SD, Suzanne C.
June Theme: “It is not by accident that pride heads the procession.” (due 4/23/16)
Collate: Wed., May 18, 2016 5:30 pm, at Central Office
All are welcome.
Committee Anouncement :The Newsletter Committee has openings for
members to prepare newsletter pages, to write articles, write poems, and to fold and collate the newsletter once a month. We also need submissions from the AA population at large! Ask for participation in your meetings so everyone has a chance to carry the message. If you have something to say, write it down and email it to: [email protected]
Following Coordinating Council Standing Committees need members.
1) Program Committee – needs 3 2) Public Information – needs 4
Are you available to serve Alcoholics Anonymous? Availability is about; do I have the suggested sobriety? If there are other suggested qualifications, do I have those qualifications and to the best of my knowledge, do I have no scheduling conflicts to serve in the commitment? If my answers to all of those questions are yes, I should make myself available and let my Higher Power decide if that is the position I should be in.” Also, please talk to the members in your group about serving on the Council. Members at large may be elected to positions. It is not required that you are a Coordinator to serve on a committee.
2
Poets Wanted Here Your Newsletter Committee invites you to
participate in a monthly AA Poem feature. Please submit your original
poems to: [email protected] – 200 words or less.
"SOBRIETY FOR TWO" BY: DANIEL R.
A STRUGGLE WITH ALCOHOL AND THAT IS NO
LIE BUT WE'LL FIGHT THIS DISEASE NOT LAY DOWN
AND DIE WE DID OUR 90 MEETINGS IN 90 LONG DAYS
AND PRAY TO STAY SOBER FOR NOW AND ALWAYS
GOT A 90 DAY TOKEN THAT FITS WELL ON
YOUR KEY AND WAS PROUD TO ACCEPT IT FROM OUR
FRIEND NAMED "G" THE ROAD IS A TOUGH ONE AND HOPE WE
DON'T FALL BUT WE'VE GOT MANY NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
TO CALL
WE TELL YOU OUR STORIES THEY'RE SAD BUT THEY'RE TRUE
THEN WE GET GREAT ADVICE FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU
THE FELLOWSHIP IS HERE SO YOU’RE NEVER ALONE
SO INSTEAD OF THAT DRINK JUST PICK UP THE PHONE
WE WALKED IN THESE ROOMS NOT KNOWING
A SOUL BUT FOUND ONE THING IN COMMON SOBRIETY
IS OUR GOAL THE CARING IN A.A. IT IS SO MUCH ALIKE
CUZ WE GOT ANOTHER TOKEN FROM OUR FRIEND NAMED "MIKE"
WE COME INTO THESE MEETINGS AND LISTEN
TO YOU ALL IT'S SAD WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH
"DAMN THAT ALCOHOL" WE'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE LAUGH AND
SOME PEOPLE CRY WE ASK HOW THEY GOT SOBER BUT THEY'D RATHER TELL US WHY
March 2016 Total Calls 1,633
Central Office Phone Calls and Website Hits
Meeting General 12 Step Daytime 918 376 36 9am-9pm
Nighttime 205 80 18 9pm-9am Website
Hits March Total 31,952 2,053,297
Many A.A. members celebrate their birthday by sending a donation of one or two dollars for each year of sobriety to Central Office. If you would like to carry on this tradition,
please fill out the form below.
Mary K. – 30 years Ken K. – 30 years
Chris K. – 25 years Birthday Gratitude
Name
City/Home Group
Sobriety Date
Amt. Enclosed
Please mail to: San Diego Central Office 7075-B Mission Gorge Rd San Diego, CA 92120-2454
All birthdays submitted will be published the month following submission.
H & I NEEDS OLD GRAPEVINE MAGAZINES Those confined are starving for AA Grapevines. Donate your old issues by giving them to your Coordinator to bring to Coordinating Council or drop them off in the purple box at
Central Office. We have so far collected 800 copies to distribute.
Thank you so very much for your support.
3
4
4 MEETINGS IN MOTION
Allied Garden
Sat @ 10:30 am
El Cajon
Sun @ 3:00 pm
AA By The Bay Just Us Girls
La Mesa Allied Gardens Step Study La Jolla Beginners Group
Sat @ 9:00 am Back To Basics For Women La Mesa Mens
Battery Chargers La Mesa Step Study Workshop
Clairemont Mens La Mesa Womens Saturday Morning
La Jolla Clairemont Womens Step Study Mid-Week Mens
Sat @ 7:25 pm D.D.G.T.M. Mira Mesa Friday Night
El Cajon Womens Serenity North Park Mens
Fourth Dimesion Group Old Town Speakers
Yawn Patrol Pacific Beach Free At Last Over The Bridge
Daily @ 9:00 am Freash Start Beginners Point Loma Mens
Friday Night Irregulars Poter Hall Structured Step Study
Downtown Gift Of Grace Women Rainbow Group
Tues @ 6:30 pm God Squad Too Sky Hi Womens
Golden Hill Sun Discussion The Other Meeting
Ocean Beach Great Fact Group The We Group
Weds @7:00 pm Harmony Group Women Let Go And Let God
Imperial Beach Group Women's Gut Level
Lemon Grove
Thurs@ 8:00 pm
Alcoholic Anonymous (Comes Of Age) p.1-2
During the first three days of July, 1955 Alcoholics Anonymous held a Convention in St. Louis, commemorating the twenieth
anniversary of its founding. There our fellowship declared itself come to the age of full responsibility, and there it received from its founders and old-timers permanent keeping of its three great
legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. I will always remember those three days as among the greatest experiences of my life. At
four o'clock in the afternoon of the final day about 5,000 A.A. members and their families and friends were seated in the Kiel Auditorium at St. Louis. All of the United States and Canadian
Provinces were represented. Some had traveled from far lands to be there. On the auditorium stage were the General Service
Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, including some seventy-five delegates from the United States and Canada, Trustees of A.A.'s General Service Board, directors and secretarial staff of
our world services at New York, My wife Lois, my mother, and I. The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous was about to take over the custody of A.A.'s Twelve Traditions and the guardianship of its world services. It was to be named as the permanent successor to the founders of A.A. Speaking for co-founder Dr. Bob and for A.A.'s old-timers everywhere, I made
the delivery of the Three Legacies of Alcoholoics Anonymous to our whole society and its representative Conference. From that
time A.A. went on its own, to serve God's purpose for so long as it was destined,under His providence, to endure.
Church - 7250 Eckstrom Ave
**CANCELLED**Was: 8320 La Jolla Scenic Dr
Undestanding Anonymity
Club - 4861 Cass St
Downtown Discussion Womens
Conference Rm - 825 7th Ave
Ocean Beach Beginners
Club - 2229 bacon St
Coordinating Council AttendanceThe following 36 groups attended April Coordinating Council
There are 760 groups in San Diego
**NEW MEETING**Group and Meeting Changes
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS: THURSDAY, May 12, 2016
WAS YOUR GROUP THERE?
TO ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS OF SAN DIEGOTHANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Mens Jelly Donut
Office Bldg - 5107 Waring Rd
Mollison Ave Big Book Study
Church Blue House - 882 Mollison Ave
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S
Church - 8360 Lemon Ave
**RELOCATED**Women's Joy of Living
Was: 4690 Palm Ave
La Jolla Speakers
Thursdays Open Discussion
Club - 6901 Central Ave
At the public level of press, radio, TV, films and other media technologies such as the Internet,
anonymity stresses the equality in the fellowship of all members by putting the brakes on those
who might otherwise exploit their A.A. affiliation to achieve recognition, power, or
personal gain.
Pamphlet 47 (p-5)
" Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities."
What is the purpose of anonymity in Alcoholics Anonymous ? Why is it often
referred to as the greatest single protection the Fellowship has to assure its continued
existence and growth? If we look at the history of A.A from its beginning in 1935
until now, it is clear that anonymity serves two different yet equally vital function:
At the personal level, anonymity provides protection for all members from identification as
alcoholics, a safeguard often of special importance to newcomers.
4 MEETINGS IN MOTION
Allied Garden
Sat @ 10:30 am
El Cajon
Sun @ 3:00 pm
AA By The Bay Just Us Girls
La Mesa Allied Gardens Step Study La Jolla Beginners Group
Sat @ 9:00 am Back To Basics For Women La Mesa Mens
Battery Chargers La Mesa Step Study Workshop
Clairemont Mens La Mesa Womens Saturday Morning
La Jolla Clairemont Womens Step Study Mid-Week Mens
Sat @ 7:25 pm D.D.G.T.M. Mira Mesa Friday Night
El Cajon Womens Serenity North Park Mens
Fourth Dimesion Group Old Town Speakers
Yawn Patrol Pacific Beach Free At Last Over The Bridge
Daily @ 9:00 am Freash Start Beginners Point Loma Mens
Friday Night Irregulars Poter Hall Structured Step Study
Downtown Gift Of Grace Women Rainbow Group
Tues @ 6:30 pm God Squad Too Sky Hi Womens
Golden Hill Sun Discussion The Other Meeting
Ocean Beach Great Fact Group The We Group
Weds @7:00 pm Harmony Group Women Let Go And Let God
Imperial Beach Group Women's Gut Level
Lemon Grove
Thurs@ 8:00 pm
Alcoholic Anonymous (Comes Of Age) p.1-2
During the first three days of July, 1955 Alcoholics Anonymous held a Convention in St. Louis, commemorating the twenieth
anniversary of its founding. There our fellowship declared itself come to the age of full responsibility, and there it received from its founders and old-timers permanent keeping of its three great
legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service. I will always remember those three days as among the greatest experiences of my life. At
four o'clock in the afternoon of the final day about 5,000 A.A. members and their families and friends were seated in the Kiel Auditorium at St. Louis. All of the United States and Canadian
Provinces were represented. Some had traveled from far lands to be there. On the auditorium stage were the General Service
Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, including some seventy-five delegates from the United States and Canada, Trustees of A.A.'s General Service Board, directors and secretarial staff of
our world services at New York, My wife Lois, my mother, and I. The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous was about to take over the custody of A.A.'s Twelve Traditions and the guardianship of its world services. It was to be named as the permanent successor to the founders of A.A. Speaking for co-founder Dr. Bob and for A.A.'s old-timers everywhere, I made
the delivery of the Three Legacies of Alcoholoics Anonymous to our whole society and its representative Conference. From that
time A.A. went on its own, to serve God's purpose for so long as it was destined,under His providence, to endure.
Church - 7250 Eckstrom Ave
**CANCELLED**Was: 8320 La Jolla Scenic Dr
Undestanding Anonymity
Club - 4861 Cass St
Downtown Discussion Womens
Conference Rm - 825 7th Ave
Ocean Beach Beginners
Club - 2229 bacon St
Coordinating Council AttendanceThe following 36 groups attended April Coordinating Council
There are 760 groups in San Diego
**NEW MEETING**Group and Meeting Changes
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS: THURSDAY, May 12, 2016
WAS YOUR GROUP THERE?
TO ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS OF SAN DIEGOTHANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
Mens Jelly Donut
Office Bldg - 5107 Waring Rd
Mollison Ave Big Book Study
Church Blue House - 882 Mollison Ave
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S
Church - 8360 Lemon Ave
**RELOCATED**Women's Joy of Living
Was: 4690 Palm Ave
La Jolla Speakers
Thursdays Open Discussion
Club - 6901 Central Ave
At the public level of press, radio, TV, films and other media technologies such as the Internet,
anonymity stresses the equality in the fellowship of all members by putting the brakes on those
who might otherwise exploit their A.A. affiliation to achieve recognition, power, or
personal gain.
Pamphlet 47 (p-5)
" Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities."
What is the purpose of anonymity in Alcoholics Anonymous ? Why is it often
referred to as the greatest single protection the Fellowship has to assure its continued
existence and growth? If we look at the history of A.A from its beginning in 1935
until now, it is clear that anonymity serves two different yet equally vital function:
At the personal level, anonymity provides protection for all members from identification as
alcoholics, a safeguard often of special importance to newcomers.
5 Minutes of the Coordinating Council Thursday, April 14, 2016
Precious P. – Council Chair called the 850th
meeting to order at 7:30 pm. Twelve Traditions read by Cindy. Council Definition and Purpose read by Victor. There were 4 new Coordinators, 0 Visitors and 2 Birthdays. Roll Call: Frank B., Assistant Council Chair reported 36 groups were represented out of 61 registered Coordinators. There was a quorum (36). March 2016 minutes were approved. 7th Tradition: $59.00
Area Assembly: Colin M., Area 8 Alt. Chair shared Area 8 is making efforts to become paperless to reduce expenses. Area has redesigned their website area8aa.org to be user friendly. Upcoming: Conference Report Back Assembly- Saturday, June 4th and Sponsorship Workshop- Sunday, July 31st. Flyers may be found at area8aa.org website.
H & I Representative: Written report submitted. H&I – Takes AA meetings and AA literature into places where people can’t get out to go to meetings – jails, prisons, hospitals, etc. We hold orientation on the 3rd Sunday of each month at noon in the Machinists’ Hall 5150 Kearny Mesa Rd, and the 3rd Thursday of the month 7:00 PM at San Diego AA Central Office. Our subcommittee, Contact on Release, matches people being released from these facilities with AA volunteers who take them to meetings in their local area. It meets the 3rd
Tuesday at 6:45 PM at Central Office. Our website is <sdhandi.org>. We recently presented 2 great panels – H&I at the San Diego Spring Roundup, and Contact on Release at the SoCal H&I Conference. REMEMBER TO DONATE YOUR OLD GRAPEVINES. Thank you! Thanks to all those who have donated old Grapevine issues. Should your group wish to donate a Grapevine subscription to an institution, please go to www.aagrapevine.org/specialdeliveryto get the particulars.
AFTER HOURS PHONES: Renea, Chair 1. Thank you to the groups that answered
AA’s phones this past month. 2. The 3rd & 16th are OPEN nights. 3. Your groups may also sign up on a waiting
list and individuals may sign up on an emergency fill-in contact list.
4. Thank you for letting me serve you. BUSINESS COMMITTEE: Lauren L., Chair reported Committee met on Tuesday, 4/12/16 at 6:00 pm. Present: Lauren L., Erica B., Precious P., Frank B., Jim M., Rudy M., Joni B., John M. and Connie L. Visitors: Donnie and Jesse. There was a quorum. It was m/s/c to approve March 2016 Minutes. It was m/s/c to approve Financials Statements. March 2016 Financial Summary: March Net Revenue is -1,823. Our 2016 YTD Net Revenue is -1,021. Group and Individual Contributions were 9,039. Literature Sales Revenue and CD Bank Interest were 1,053 while total office and committee expenses were 12,775. Thank you for supporting your Central Office in carrying the message to the suffering alcoholic. Manager’s Report:
1. April’s Book of the Month: “Daily Reflections” sale: $8.25 reg. $10.25
2. April’s Pamphlet of the Month: “12 Steps Illustrated” 5₵ ea.
3. May’s Book of the Month: “AA Comes of Age” sale: $6.50 reg. $8.50
4. May’s Pamphlet of the Month: “Anonymity” 5₵ ea.
5. Daytime phone volunteers shifts: a. Have a need for fill-ins.
6. Secretaries/Treasurers: please include email address w/contributions for receipts.
7. Coordinator Newsletter: FREE subscription electronically by email. Send an email to [email protected].
8. Coordinator Newsletter 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, & Jan 2011 - 2016 issues are on our aasandiego.org website.
9. “Calendar of Events” on aasandiego.org website includes downloadable event flyers.
Continued on page 6.
5
66
Continued from page 5.
Business Committee Member reports: 1. Lauren L. chaired meeting. 2. Frank B. distributed Council lists. 3. Precious P. attended Area Committee and
Area Assembly. 4. Erica B. prepared committee minutes. 5. Jim M. reviewed bank statements and
financial statements. Met with Connie. OLD BUSINESS: There was none. NEW BUSINESS: There was none.
COORDINATOR NEWSLETTER: Mike Mc. reported we have a full issue of original articles by local members. Thank you to those who submitted their experience, strength and hope for others to read. May’s Theme: “We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world. (due 3/22/16)” Submissions of 500-1000 words welcome. Also, Personal Recovery Poems/Limericks 200 words. Send to [email protected] or mail to Central Office at 7075-B Mission Gorge Rd San Diego, CA 92120. Committee NEEDS HELP each month to collate your Coordinator Newsletter. Approximate 1 hour of service. Come join in the fun the Wednesday after Council at Central Office at 5:30 pm. COORDINATOR OUTREACH: Heidi, reported committee has new volunteers to help to make announcements at their meetings and passing out “Being a Coordinator” brochure. There are 6 new Coordinators here tonight.
ORIENTATION & GUIDELINES Charlie, reported committee met tonight at 6:30 pm. Present: Charlie and Andrew. Absent: Juan and Susan.
1. Reviewing our committee guidelines. 2. Orientated 2 new Coordinators and
refreshed 1 past Coordinator. 3. Read Traditions 3 & 4, San Diego History
of AA, Structure of Coordinating Council, Responsibilities, what is a Quorum. New Coordinators, please come next month at 6:30pm to Church- Krausse Cove Bldg.
PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Shauna reported committee will meet in April.
1. Founder’s Day picnic will be either Saturday, June 11th, 9:30am – 1:30pm at Mira Mesa Community Park. See flyer on our aasandiego.org website.
2. Anniversary of AA in SD Breakfast will be on Saturday, November 19, 2016. See flyer on our aasandiego.org website.
PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE: Parker reported committee met on 4/4/16. 1. Upcoming Events:
a. April 30 – NAMI Walks – Liberty Station b. May 14 – Sharp Medical Resource Fair. c. May 14 – One San Diego Block Party d. May 14 – MEMO Health Fair e. July: Pride Festival & Veterans Stand Down
2. Literature Pamphlet Racks: continue to be refilled. Thank you to the assistance with rack refills. We are still need drivers. 3. Committee needs a secretary.
OLD BUSINESS: There was none.
NEW BUSINESS: 1. Andrew was elected unanimously to serve
on After-hours phone committee.
Respectfully submitted, Recording Secretary
7 San Diego Intergroup, Inc.
Alcoholics Anonymous of San DiegoStatement of Revenue and Expenses
As of March 31, 2016
7
March 16 March 15 YTD '16 YTD '15 $ Change Budget '16Ordinary Revenue/Expense
RevenueContributions Group 8,918.48 11,881.31 27,470.10 31,834.00 (4,363.90) 112,700.00 Contributions Individual 120.81 370.82 1,161.55 3,502.08 (2,340.53) 9,344.00 Contributions SDIAA 860.00 - 1,100.00 860.00 240.00 1,110.00 Interest - Cert of Deposits 2.80 4.98 7.19 10.95 (3.76) 50.00
Literature Revenue (see schedule) 1,049.74 1,159.40 3,113.02 5,089.35 (1,976.33) 18,480.00 Total Revenue 10,951.83 13,416.51 32,851.86 41,296.38 (8,444.52) 141,684.00
ExpenseAccounting & Legal 1,960.00 1,960.00 1,960.00 1,960.00 - 2,540.00 Auto/Travel/Seminar 44.00 25.50 93.25 71.91 21.34 1,500.00 Bank Service Charges 2.00 2.00 6.00 (44.00) 50.00 125.00 Cash (Over) Short (3.70) 11.55 (1.83) 21.30 (23.13) (50.00) Checks Returned - Bad Debt - - - - - - Equipment Maint & Repair 51.40 51.40 154.20 154.20 - 750.00 Equipment Purchase - - - - - 750.00 Insurance 159.00 76.00 463.00 228.00 235.00 1,100.00 Office Maint. & Repairs 25.25 - 25.25 52.50 (27.25) 500.00 Office Supplies 175.65 287.79 303.30 621.85 (318.55) 3,000.00 Rent 1,808.00 1,764.00 5,024.00 5,292.00 (268.00) 22,056.00 Taxes - - 20.00 - 20.00 75.00 Telephone 144.36 168.87 431.13 449.52 (18.39) 1,575.00 Utilities-Electricity 234.87 219.90 810.68 689.66 121.02 3,500.00 Website 40.85 20.00 101.70 113.70 (12.00) 500.00 EMPLOYEES - - Accrued Payroll Taxes 558.93 534.70 2,086.41 1,980.22 106.19 6,500.00 Employee Wages 6,258.70 6,189.95 18,600.10 18,776.10 (176.00) 79,999.00 Employee 403B Contribution 205.00 185.00 615.00 547.14 67.86 2,200.00 Employee Health Benefit 593.40 533.12 1,780.20 2,133.80 (353.60) 6,420.00 Insurance-Worker's Comp 43.00 50.00 218.00 140.00 78.00 600.00
Total Office Expense 12,300.71 12,079.78 32,690.39 33,187.90 (497.51) 133,640.00
Standing Committees Expense 474.57 1,122.37 1,182.04 1,883.71 (701.67) 8,044.00 (see schedule)
Total Expense 12,775.28 13,202.15 33,872.43 35,071.61 (1,199.18) 141,684.00
Net Revenue (1,823.45) 214.36 (1,020.57) 6,224.77 (7,245.34) -
(16000)(14000)(12000)(10000)(8000)(6000)(4000)(2000)
02000400060008000
10000120001400016000
Janu
ary
Febr
uary
Mar
ch
Apr
il
May
June
July
Aug
ust
Sep
tem
ber
Oct
ober
Nov
embe
r
Dec
embe
r
dolla
rs
months
Revenue & Expense by MonthTotalRevenueTotalExpensesNETRevenue
San Diego Intergroup, Inc.Alcoholics Anonymous of San DiegoStatement of Revenue and Expenses
As of March 31, 2016
7
March 16 March 15 YTD '16 YTD '15 $ Change Budget '16Ordinary Revenue/Expense
RevenueContributions Group 8,918.48 11,881.31 27,470.10 31,834.00 (4,363.90) 112,700.00 Contributions Individual 120.81 370.82 1,161.55 3,502.08 (2,340.53) 9,344.00 Contributions SDIAA 860.00 - 1,100.00 860.00 240.00 1,110.00 Interest - Cert of Deposits 2.80 4.98 7.19 10.95 (3.76) 50.00
Literature Revenue (see schedule) 1,049.74 1,159.40 3,113.02 5,089.35 (1,976.33) 18,480.00 Total Revenue 10,951.83 13,416.51 32,851.86 41,296.38 (8,444.52) 141,684.00
ExpenseAccounting & Legal 1,960.00 1,960.00 1,960.00 1,960.00 - 2,540.00 Auto/Travel/Seminar 44.00 25.50 93.25 71.91 21.34 1,500.00 Bank Service Charges 2.00 2.00 6.00 (44.00) 50.00 125.00 Cash (Over) Short (3.70) 11.55 (1.83) 21.30 (23.13) (50.00) Checks Returned - Bad Debt - - - - - - Equipment Maint & Repair 51.40 51.40 154.20 154.20 - 750.00 Equipment Purchase - - - - - 750.00 Insurance 159.00 76.00 463.00 228.00 235.00 1,100.00 Office Maint. & Repairs 25.25 - 25.25 52.50 (27.25) 500.00 Office Supplies 175.65 287.79 303.30 621.85 (318.55) 3,000.00 Rent 1,808.00 1,764.00 5,024.00 5,292.00 (268.00) 22,056.00 Taxes - - 20.00 - 20.00 75.00 Telephone 144.36 168.87 431.13 449.52 (18.39) 1,575.00 Utilities-Electricity 234.87 219.90 810.68 689.66 121.02 3,500.00 Website 40.85 20.00 101.70 113.70 (12.00) 500.00 EMPLOYEES - - Accrued Payroll Taxes 558.93 534.70 2,086.41 1,980.22 106.19 6,500.00 Employee Wages 6,258.70 6,189.95 18,600.10 18,776.10 (176.00) 79,999.00 Employee 403B Contribution 205.00 185.00 615.00 547.14 67.86 2,200.00 Employee Health Benefit 593.40 533.12 1,780.20 2,133.80 (353.60) 6,420.00 Insurance-Worker's Comp 43.00 50.00 218.00 140.00 78.00 600.00
Total Office Expense 12,300.71 12,079.78 32,690.39 33,187.90 (497.51) 133,640.00
Standing Committees Expense 474.57 1,122.37 1,182.04 1,883.71 (701.67) 8,044.00 (see schedule)
Total Expense 12,775.28 13,202.15 33,872.43 35,071.61 (1,199.18) 141,684.00
Net Revenue (1,823.45) 214.36 (1,020.57) 6,224.77 (7,245.34) -
(16000)(14000)(12000)(10000)(8000)(6000)(4000)(2000)
02000400060008000
10000120001400016000
Janu
ary
Febr
uary
Mar
ch
Apr
il
May
June
July
Aug
ust
Sep
tem
ber
Oct
ober
Nov
embe
r
Dec
embe
r
dolla
rs
months
Revenue & Expense by MonthTotalRevenueTotalExpensesNETRevenue
8 Group Contributions March 2016 9
Group Mar-16 Ytd 16 Group Mar-16 Ytd 1610 & 11 @ 5107 - 3023 - 176.74 Hwy 80 AA - 2722 - 120.0011th Step Journey - 2622 - 152.00 Imperial Beach Group - 79 - 85.505.45 Meditation - 3085 75.00 75.00 Imperial Mens Group - 869 72.00 72.006 O'Clock Big Book Study - 507 - 10.00 Imperial Valley Roundup - 100.00A New Way To Live - 846 - 102.83 It's In The Book - 2030 - 50.00AA By The Bay - 629 - 209.00 Jamul Open - 63 - 100.00Adams Avenue Big Book Study - 1892 - 50.00 Joy Of Living - 2787 200.00 200.00Allied Gardens Friday Lunch - 766 - 50.00 Jump Start - 2174 - 63.17Annual Grateful Meeting - 2461 528.13 528.13 La Jolla Beginners Group - 82 - 108.00Another Sober Tuesday - 1952 - 89.00 La Jolla Monday Womens - 87 - 380.90As Bill Sees It - 1788 - 15.00 La Jolla Nonsmokers Disc - 88 250.00 250.00At One With Each Other - 789 130.00 130.00 La Jolla Pump House Group - 696 170.00 170.00B.Y.O.B. (North Park) - 203 80.00 160.00 La Jolla Sunrise - 2684 150.00 300.00Back Country Meeting - 1038 - 67.78 La Mesa Beginners - 2894 50.00 50.00Back to Basics - 1026 500.00 1,000.00 La Mesa Mixed - 2136 - 10.00Barefoot - 139 150.00 150.00 La Mesa Womens Sat. Morning - 416 - 250.00Battery Chargers - 98 - 150.00 Little Apple Group - 1438 45.00 45.00Bay Park Step Study Group - 299 - 150.00 Lunchtime Friends - 964 - 52.40Beautiful Beginnings - 552 - 40.66 Lushes Lunch - 2641 - 269.68Beginners Steps To Sobriety - 1007 - 22.40 Men and Womens Monday Night - 95 - 120.00Bonita Boozers - 2179 90.00 90.00 Mens Recovery Group - 830 - 100.00Breakfast Of Champions - 2818 - 250.00 Mens Structured Step Study - 1469 50.00 50.00Carrying the Message - 2458 - 50.00 Mid-Week Mens - 560 300.00 695.98Casa De Oro Tradition Five - 503 130.00 130.00 Midnight Howlers - 1025 - 200.00Cedar Street Mens - 1698 150.00 300.00 Mira Mesa 12 Step Study - 377 - 20.00Chula Vista Friday Night - 837 50.00 50.00 Mira Mesa Early Risers - 967 - 177.86Clairemont Mens - 301 - 395.00 Mira Mesa Friday Night - 379 - 125.00Clairemont Womens Step Study - 341 - 296.90 Mission Hills Beginners - 1612 - 50.00Class Acts - 1845 - 621.05 Mission Possible - 131 - 50.00Coffee Clutchers - 2332 - 250.00 Monday At A Time - 2875 - 201.65Come Get Recovery - 2630 25.00 25.00 Monday Meditation Group - 2334 - 68.50Coronado Beginners - 344 60.00 60.00 Monday Nite Live- 643 - 137.50Coronado Cays Womens Step Study - 2995 - 60.00 Mountain Steps - 2822 - 120.00Coronado Nooners - 497 142.50 142.50 National City Maintenance - 136 - 70.00Coronado Step Study - 1523 113.50 113.50 Noon At The Grove - 628 - 200.00Coronado Sundowners - 1634 - 68.00 Noontime on the Patio - 2203 - 100.00D.D.G.T.M. - 767 180.00 180.00 Not Alone Speakers Group - 1652 - 30.00Daily Drinkers - 2953 72.00 72.00 Old Timers Group - 2037 34.00 34.00Dawn Patrol - 263 283.87 318.94 One Step At A Time At Mission Bay - 1664 - 148.20Descanso Step Study - 3010 - 40.00 Over 50 - 840 - 50.00Diamond St Mens Step Study - 569 20.00 20.00 Pacific Beach Weekend Warmup - 725 - 70.00Dignity Unlimited - 205 250.00 250.00 Pacific Beach Young Peoples - 286 - 130.00Downtown Sobriety - 1015 100.00 100.00 Pass It On Big Book Study Group -2860 296.85 296.85Drunks Only - 1605 - 1,080.00 PB Young Womens - 2187 40.00 40.00Each Day A New Beginning - 509 - 120.00 Point Loma Mens - 245 237.00 237.00Early Morning Recovery - 2688 - 106.56 Point Loma Nooners - 1606 - 120.00Eastlake New Beginnings B/B S/S - 2673 75.00 75.00 Point Loma Saturday Morning - 1240 - 100.00Easy Does It Riders - 21 - 90.00 Pt Loma Fri Afternoon Step Study - 244 - 150.00Easy Does It Speakers - 114 - 100.00 Radical Acceptance Meeting - 2961 - 466.00Easy Risers - 854 100.00 100.00 Rez Recovery - 3095 7.00 12.00El Cajon Daytime - 52 - 200.00 Rise & Shine - 2170 508.88 761.26El Cajon Nooner - 2638 280.00 280.00 Safe Sane and Sober - 1350 - 427.12El Cajon Womens Serenity - 77 73.41 73.41 Sat Mens Early Awakening - 2209 - 406.88Evening Serenity - 2305 - 79.57 Saturday A.M. Live - 782 - 77.00Eye Opener Group - 607 280.00 280.00 Saturday Night Fervor - 208 - 42.60Free At Last - 2888 - 207.50 Scripps Ranch Men's Two - 2776 - 80.00Free on Friday - 760 - 200.00 Serene-Tea - 2700 22.50 22.50Free to Be - 935 43.50 43.50 Serenity @ 5107 - 2976 - 120.00Friday Happy Hour - 2821 20.00 20.00 Serenity Seekers - 209 50.00 110.00Friday Night Gratitude - 2829 - 175.00 Sisters in Sobriety-Ramona - 25.00Friends In Low Places - 3091 150.00 150.00 Six Minutes To Sanity - 2647 - 80.00Gilman Group-Fri - 1988 79.45 79.45 Sky Hi Womens - 1633 23.00 78.40God Squad Too - 2809 - 125.00 Sober Minded Leather Folk - 1882 - 127.77Good Morning AA - 1888 63.00 367.00 Sober Nooners - 196 - 79.00Great Fact Group - 895 60.00 60.00 Sober On Sat Book Study - 2193 - 104.40Grow Or Go Big Book Study - 2978 - 32.34 Sobriety At All Cost - 3006 - 85.00Grupo Gringo - 1305 - 50.00 Sobriety Party - Ramona - 20.00Haul Your Hiney Out Of Bed - 704 112.00 112.00 Sons of God - 2789 - 154.25Hi-Nooners - 673 100.00 100.00 South Clairemont - 305 - 142.00High Bottom Drunks - 3102 - 25.00 Spiritual Awakening - 2275 415.32 1,114.34HOW @ Noon - 2998 200.00 200.00 Sunday Beach Sun-Day - 568 - 264.30How It Is Now Speakers - 390 - 76.15 Sunday Kind of Love - 429 - 205.10
8 8 Group Contributions March 2016 9
Group Mar-16 Ytd 16 Group Mar-16 Ytd 1610 & 11 @ 5107 - 3023 - 176.74 Hwy 80 AA - 2722 - 120.0011th Step Journey - 2622 - 152.00 Imperial Beach Group - 79 - 85.505.45 Meditation - 3085 75.00 75.00 Imperial Mens Group - 869 72.00 72.006 O'Clock Big Book Study - 507 - 10.00 Imperial Valley Roundup - 100.00A New Way To Live - 846 - 102.83 It's In The Book - 2030 - 50.00AA By The Bay - 629 - 209.00 Jamul Open - 63 - 100.00Adams Avenue Big Book Study - 1892 - 50.00 Joy Of Living - 2787 200.00 200.00Allied Gardens Friday Lunch - 766 - 50.00 Jump Start - 2174 - 63.17Annual Grateful Meeting - 2461 528.13 528.13 La Jolla Beginners Group - 82 - 108.00Another Sober Tuesday - 1952 - 89.00 La Jolla Monday Womens - 87 - 380.90As Bill Sees It - 1788 - 15.00 La Jolla Nonsmokers Disc - 88 250.00 250.00At One With Each Other - 789 130.00 130.00 La Jolla Pump House Group - 696 170.00 170.00B.Y.O.B. (North Park) - 203 80.00 160.00 La Jolla Sunrise - 2684 150.00 300.00Back Country Meeting - 1038 - 67.78 La Mesa Beginners - 2894 50.00 50.00Back to Basics - 1026 500.00 1,000.00 La Mesa Mixed - 2136 - 10.00Barefoot - 139 150.00 150.00 La Mesa Womens Sat. Morning - 416 - 250.00Battery Chargers - 98 - 150.00 Little Apple Group - 1438 45.00 45.00Bay Park Step Study Group - 299 - 150.00 Lunchtime Friends - 964 - 52.40Beautiful Beginnings - 552 - 40.66 Lushes Lunch - 2641 - 269.68Beginners Steps To Sobriety - 1007 - 22.40 Men and Womens Monday Night - 95 - 120.00Bonita Boozers - 2179 90.00 90.00 Mens Recovery Group - 830 - 100.00Breakfast Of Champions - 2818 - 250.00 Mens Structured Step Study - 1469 50.00 50.00Carrying the Message - 2458 - 50.00 Mid-Week Mens - 560 300.00 695.98Casa De Oro Tradition Five - 503 130.00 130.00 Midnight Howlers - 1025 - 200.00Cedar Street Mens - 1698 150.00 300.00 Mira Mesa 12 Step Study - 377 - 20.00Chula Vista Friday Night - 837 50.00 50.00 Mira Mesa Early Risers - 967 - 177.86Clairemont Mens - 301 - 395.00 Mira Mesa Friday Night - 379 - 125.00Clairemont Womens Step Study - 341 - 296.90 Mission Hills Beginners - 1612 - 50.00Class Acts - 1845 - 621.05 Mission Possible - 131 - 50.00Coffee Clutchers - 2332 - 250.00 Monday At A Time - 2875 - 201.65Come Get Recovery - 2630 25.00 25.00 Monday Meditation Group - 2334 - 68.50Coronado Beginners - 344 60.00 60.00 Monday Nite Live- 643 - 137.50Coronado Cays Womens Step Study - 2995 - 60.00 Mountain Steps - 2822 - 120.00Coronado Nooners - 497 142.50 142.50 National City Maintenance - 136 - 70.00Coronado Step Study - 1523 113.50 113.50 Noon At The Grove - 628 - 200.00Coronado Sundowners - 1634 - 68.00 Noontime on the Patio - 2203 - 100.00D.D.G.T.M. - 767 180.00 180.00 Not Alone Speakers Group - 1652 - 30.00Daily Drinkers - 2953 72.00 72.00 Old Timers Group - 2037 34.00 34.00Dawn Patrol - 263 283.87 318.94 One Step At A Time At Mission Bay - 1664 - 148.20Descanso Step Study - 3010 - 40.00 Over 50 - 840 - 50.00Diamond St Mens Step Study - 569 20.00 20.00 Pacific Beach Weekend Warmup - 725 - 70.00Dignity Unlimited - 205 250.00 250.00 Pacific Beach Young Peoples - 286 - 130.00Downtown Sobriety - 1015 100.00 100.00 Pass It On Big Book Study Group -2860 296.85 296.85Drunks Only - 1605 - 1,080.00 PB Young Womens - 2187 40.00 40.00Each Day A New Beginning - 509 - 120.00 Point Loma Mens - 245 237.00 237.00Early Morning Recovery - 2688 - 106.56 Point Loma Nooners - 1606 - 120.00Eastlake New Beginnings B/B S/S - 2673 75.00 75.00 Point Loma Saturday Morning - 1240 - 100.00Easy Does It Riders - 21 - 90.00 Pt Loma Fri Afternoon Step Study - 244 - 150.00Easy Does It Speakers - 114 - 100.00 Radical Acceptance Meeting - 2961 - 466.00Easy Risers - 854 100.00 100.00 Rez Recovery - 3095 7.00 12.00El Cajon Daytime - 52 - 200.00 Rise & Shine - 2170 508.88 761.26El Cajon Nooner - 2638 280.00 280.00 Safe Sane and Sober - 1350 - 427.12El Cajon Womens Serenity - 77 73.41 73.41 Sat Mens Early Awakening - 2209 - 406.88Evening Serenity - 2305 - 79.57 Saturday A.M. Live - 782 - 77.00Eye Opener Group - 607 280.00 280.00 Saturday Night Fervor - 208 - 42.60Free At Last - 2888 - 207.50 Scripps Ranch Men's Two - 2776 - 80.00Free on Friday - 760 - 200.00 Serene-Tea - 2700 22.50 22.50Free to Be - 935 43.50 43.50 Serenity @ 5107 - 2976 - 120.00Friday Happy Hour - 2821 20.00 20.00 Serenity Seekers - 209 50.00 110.00Friday Night Gratitude - 2829 - 175.00 Sisters in Sobriety-Ramona - 25.00Friends In Low Places - 3091 150.00 150.00 Six Minutes To Sanity - 2647 - 80.00Gilman Group-Fri - 1988 79.45 79.45 Sky Hi Womens - 1633 23.00 78.40God Squad Too - 2809 - 125.00 Sober Minded Leather Folk - 1882 - 127.77Good Morning AA - 1888 63.00 367.00 Sober Nooners - 196 - 79.00Great Fact Group - 895 60.00 60.00 Sober On Sat Book Study - 2193 - 104.40Grow Or Go Big Book Study - 2978 - 32.34 Sobriety At All Cost - 3006 - 85.00Grupo Gringo - 1305 - 50.00 Sobriety Party - Ramona - 20.00Haul Your Hiney Out Of Bed - 704 112.00 112.00 Sons of God - 2789 - 154.25Hi-Nooners - 673 100.00 100.00 South Clairemont - 305 - 142.00High Bottom Drunks - 3102 - 25.00 Spiritual Awakening - 2275 415.32 1,114.34HOW @ Noon - 2998 200.00 200.00 Sunday Beach Sun-Day - 568 - 264.30How It Is Now Speakers - 390 - 76.15 Sunday Kind of Love - 429 - 205.10
9
8 Group Contributions March 2016 9
Group Mar-16 Ytd 16Sunday Morning Eleventh Step - 1206 68.00 68.00Sunday Morning Spiritual Meeting - 1700 200.00 200.00Sunday Morning Sunshine - 407 - 40.00Sunday Night Discussion - 212 - 50.00The 1st 164 - 2760 - 43.78The Gathering Of The Goddesses - 2890 - 45.00The Hole In The Donut - 2737 - 217.00The Other Meeting - 857 170.00 350.00The Whole Truth - 3073 - 33.00Three Legacies Group - 2194 - 50.00Thurs Nite Mens Big Book S/S - 1748 39.07 39.07Thursday Campus Noon Group-2387 - 50.00Tierrasanta Morning Serenity - 2811 20.00 50.00Torrey Pines Open Disc - 94 - 400.00Torrey Pines Thurs Nite Disc - 365 10.00 10.00Tues Morning Breakfast Special - 2761 - 130.00Tues Night Mens Step Study - 1813 - 125.00Tuesday Campus Noon Group - 2544 - 50.00Tuesday Morning - 3089 - 50.00Tuesday Morning Alpine - 440 40.00 40.00Twelve To Grow On - 541 12.00 12.00Valley Girls - 2617 - 383.50Wake Up Call - 1932 - 17.41We Agnostics - 2096 - 50.00Weds Rule 62 Lunch Group - 687 180.00 180.00White Flag Outdoors - 2788 - 400.00Wholesale Miracle - 2474 - 25.00Womans Gut Level - 1701 28.00 28.00Women In Harmony - 1807 - 20.00Women In Sobriety - 697 20.00 40.00Womens Step Study - 296 96.00 96.00Womens Thursday Nite - 514 120.00 120.00Womens TLC - 2814 - 62.50Womens Way To Recovery - 838 - 50.00
Thank you to the groups for supporting Your San Diego Intergroup Central Office. Your group contributions have allowed us
to reduce literature prices.
Central Office accepts Master Card and Visa.
Each day that your Group participates in the work of our local AA services, whether
through those who "Contribute their Time" or Group Contributions, or Sobriety Contributions, something wonderful happens in AA. When a
newcomer calls us and finds your meeting, it is indeed a miracle. Your contributions show that you care about the services we
as a fellowship provide and continued hope for the newcomer that reaches out for help.
Words cannot fully express the deep gratitude about the energy that your AA Group devotes into carrying the message
of hope to the still suffering alcoholic.
Thank you to all of the AA members for their individual contributions.
Some choose to contribute $1 or $2 on their sobriety birthdays for each sober year or Faithful Fivers Individual Contributions.
Individual AA members may contribute to Central Office up to * $3000 per year.
*AA Self Support Pamphlet, pg 9 (tax deductible)
Tokens are available at Central Office:24 hr, 30, 60, 90 days, 6 & 9 month Aluminum for
50¢ each1 year - 55 year Brass Tokens for $2.00 each.
We continue to carry our San Diego Brass rectangular 90 day token for $2.50 each.
Coordinator Newsletter Archive: 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, January 2011 to present issue.
8 Group Contributions March 2016 9
Group Mar-16 Ytd 16 Group Mar-16 Ytd 1610 & 11 @ 5107 - 3023 - 176.74 Hwy 80 AA - 2722 - 120.0011th Step Journey - 2622 - 152.00 Imperial Beach Group - 79 - 85.505.45 Meditation - 3085 75.00 75.00 Imperial Mens Group - 869 72.00 72.006 O'Clock Big Book Study - 507 - 10.00 Imperial Valley Roundup - 100.00A New Way To Live - 846 - 102.83 It's In The Book - 2030 - 50.00AA By The Bay - 629 - 209.00 Jamul Open - 63 - 100.00Adams Avenue Big Book Study - 1892 - 50.00 Joy Of Living - 2787 200.00 200.00Allied Gardens Friday Lunch - 766 - 50.00 Jump Start - 2174 - 63.17Annual Grateful Meeting - 2461 528.13 528.13 La Jolla Beginners Group - 82 - 108.00Another Sober Tuesday - 1952 - 89.00 La Jolla Monday Womens - 87 - 380.90As Bill Sees It - 1788 - 15.00 La Jolla Nonsmokers Disc - 88 250.00 250.00At One With Each Other - 789 130.00 130.00 La Jolla Pump House Group - 696 170.00 170.00B.Y.O.B. (North Park) - 203 80.00 160.00 La Jolla Sunrise - 2684 150.00 300.00Back Country Meeting - 1038 - 67.78 La Mesa Beginners - 2894 50.00 50.00Back to Basics - 1026 500.00 1,000.00 La Mesa Mixed - 2136 - 10.00Barefoot - 139 150.00 150.00 La Mesa Womens Sat. Morning - 416 - 250.00Battery Chargers - 98 - 150.00 Little Apple Group - 1438 45.00 45.00Bay Park Step Study Group - 299 - 150.00 Lunchtime Friends - 964 - 52.40Beautiful Beginnings - 552 - 40.66 Lushes Lunch - 2641 - 269.68Beginners Steps To Sobriety - 1007 - 22.40 Men and Womens Monday Night - 95 - 120.00Bonita Boozers - 2179 90.00 90.00 Mens Recovery Group - 830 - 100.00Breakfast Of Champions - 2818 - 250.00 Mens Structured Step Study - 1469 50.00 50.00Carrying the Message - 2458 - 50.00 Mid-Week Mens - 560 300.00 695.98Casa De Oro Tradition Five - 503 130.00 130.00 Midnight Howlers - 1025 - 200.00Cedar Street Mens - 1698 150.00 300.00 Mira Mesa 12 Step Study - 377 - 20.00Chula Vista Friday Night - 837 50.00 50.00 Mira Mesa Early Risers - 967 - 177.86Clairemont Mens - 301 - 395.00 Mira Mesa Friday Night - 379 - 125.00Clairemont Womens Step Study - 341 - 296.90 Mission Hills Beginners - 1612 - 50.00Class Acts - 1845 - 621.05 Mission Possible - 131 - 50.00Coffee Clutchers - 2332 - 250.00 Monday At A Time - 2875 - 201.65Come Get Recovery - 2630 25.00 25.00 Monday Meditation Group - 2334 - 68.50Coronado Beginners - 344 60.00 60.00 Monday Nite Live- 643 - 137.50Coronado Cays Womens Step Study - 2995 - 60.00 Mountain Steps - 2822 - 120.00Coronado Nooners - 497 142.50 142.50 National City Maintenance - 136 - 70.00Coronado Step Study - 1523 113.50 113.50 Noon At The Grove - 628 - 200.00Coronado Sundowners - 1634 - 68.00 Noontime on the Patio - 2203 - 100.00D.D.G.T.M. - 767 180.00 180.00 Not Alone Speakers Group - 1652 - 30.00Daily Drinkers - 2953 72.00 72.00 Old Timers Group - 2037 34.00 34.00Dawn Patrol - 263 283.87 318.94 One Step At A Time At Mission Bay - 1664 - 148.20Descanso Step Study - 3010 - 40.00 Over 50 - 840 - 50.00Diamond St Mens Step Study - 569 20.00 20.00 Pacific Beach Weekend Warmup - 725 - 70.00Dignity Unlimited - 205 250.00 250.00 Pacific Beach Young Peoples - 286 - 130.00Downtown Sobriety - 1015 100.00 100.00 Pass It On Big Book Study Group -2860 296.85 296.85Drunks Only - 1605 - 1,080.00 PB Young Womens - 2187 40.00 40.00Each Day A New Beginning - 509 - 120.00 Point Loma Mens - 245 237.00 237.00Early Morning Recovery - 2688 - 106.56 Point Loma Nooners - 1606 - 120.00Eastlake New Beginnings B/B S/S - 2673 75.00 75.00 Point Loma Saturday Morning - 1240 - 100.00Easy Does It Riders - 21 - 90.00 Pt Loma Fri Afternoon Step Study - 244 - 150.00Easy Does It Speakers - 114 - 100.00 Radical Acceptance Meeting - 2961 - 466.00Easy Risers - 854 100.00 100.00 Rez Recovery - 3095 7.00 12.00El Cajon Daytime - 52 - 200.00 Rise & Shine - 2170 508.88 761.26El Cajon Nooner - 2638 280.00 280.00 Safe Sane and Sober - 1350 - 427.12El Cajon Womens Serenity - 77 73.41 73.41 Sat Mens Early Awakening - 2209 - 406.88Evening Serenity - 2305 - 79.57 Saturday A.M. Live - 782 - 77.00Eye Opener Group - 607 280.00 280.00 Saturday Night Fervor - 208 - 42.60Free At Last - 2888 - 207.50 Scripps Ranch Men's Two - 2776 - 80.00Free on Friday - 760 - 200.00 Serene-Tea - 2700 22.50 22.50Free to Be - 935 43.50 43.50 Serenity @ 5107 - 2976 - 120.00Friday Happy Hour - 2821 20.00 20.00 Serenity Seekers - 209 50.00 110.00Friday Night Gratitude - 2829 - 175.00 Sisters in Sobriety-Ramona - 25.00Friends In Low Places - 3091 150.00 150.00 Six Minutes To Sanity - 2647 - 80.00Gilman Group-Fri - 1988 79.45 79.45 Sky Hi Womens - 1633 23.00 78.40God Squad Too - 2809 - 125.00 Sober Minded Leather Folk - 1882 - 127.77Good Morning AA - 1888 63.00 367.00 Sober Nooners - 196 - 79.00Great Fact Group - 895 60.00 60.00 Sober On Sat Book Study - 2193 - 104.40Grow Or Go Big Book Study - 2978 - 32.34 Sobriety At All Cost - 3006 - 85.00Grupo Gringo - 1305 - 50.00 Sobriety Party - Ramona - 20.00Haul Your Hiney Out Of Bed - 704 112.00 112.00 Sons of God - 2789 - 154.25Hi-Nooners - 673 100.00 100.00 South Clairemont - 305 - 142.00High Bottom Drunks - 3102 - 25.00 Spiritual Awakening - 2275 415.32 1,114.34HOW @ Noon - 2998 200.00 200.00 Sunday Beach Sun-Day - 568 - 264.30How It Is Now Speakers - 390 - 76.15 Sunday Kind of Love - 429 - 205.10
10 CENTRAL OFFICE NOTES2016 Holidays – Central Office Bookstore closed
HOLIDAY DAY OF WEEK DATE Memorial Day Monday May 30, 2016
July 4th Monday July 4, 2016 Labor Day Monday September 5, 2016
Veteran’s Day Friday November 11, 2016 Thanksgiving Thursday November 24, 2016
Christmas Monday December 26, 2016
Book and Pamphlet of the Month April’s Book: “Daily Reflections” on sale: $8.25 reg. $10.25
April’s Pamphlet: “12 Steps Illustrated”: sale: 5¢ each May’s Book: “AA Comes of Age” on sale: $6.50 reg. $8.50
May’s Pamphlet: “Understanding Anonymity”: sale: 5¢ each
The San Diego AA Coordinator NewsletterBack Issues archived on our aasandiego.org website.Published by Newsletter Committee - San Diego AA Central Office.
(Contents: Sobriety stories, poems, events, financials, group contributions)50’s 60’s 70’s 80’s 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20161952 1960 1970 1980 Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan
1953 1961 1971 1981 Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb
1954 1962 1972 1982 Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar
1955 1963 1973 Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr Apr
1956 1964 1974 May May May May May May
1957 1965 1975 Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun Jun
1958 1966 1976 Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul Jul
1959 1967 1977 Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
1968 1978 Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep
1969 1979 Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct
Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov
Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec
Group Contributions 8,919.00Individual Contributions 121.00SDIAA Contributions 860.00Literature & Interest 1,053.00
Total Revenue 10,953.00
Central Office Expenses -12,301.00Committee Expenses -475.00
Total Expenses -12,776.00March 2016 Net Revenue -1,823.002013 Net Revenue 1,418.112016 YTD Revenue -1,020.00
March 2016 Financial Summary
aasandiego.org
“Calendar of
Events” page, there
is a link to a
downloadable
Flyer for
each event.
11
11
FAITH KIND TRUE
PRIDESTAGESUCCESSSUFFER
THANKFUL
GODGROWHEALINGHOPE
KEYSTONE
BESTBURDENCHANGEDEEP
DIRECTION
Daily Reflections
AMAZEDASK
BELIEVE
FEARFREEDOM
GIFT
OTHERSPEACEPOINT
ACCEPTING FALSE LOVE
♥♫★★♫♥ ★ ♫ ♪ ♫ San Diego Intergroup’s Founder’s Day Picnic
Sponsored by the Program Committee Of the Coordinating Council
When: Saturday, June 11, 2016 9:30 am – 1:30 pm Where: Mira Mesa Community Park 8575 New Salem St in Mira Mesa, CA 92126
We will have an AA Speaker. ♥ ♪ ★
Volunteers needed!
Contact information:
Program Committee: Shauna: [email protected]
Central Office: 619-265-8762
Bring a yummy dish or dessert to share.
Your happy, joyous and free self to celebrate our Founder’s Day, and a
newcomer to help carry the message!!
♥ ♪ ★
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on.
Picnic tables are limited.
Central Office has equipment for Volleyball.
There is a softball field, basketball courts, Playground for the kids!!♥ ♪ ★
Directions
• Interstate 15 North to Mira Mesa Blvd exit, make a left-hand turn onto Mira Mesa Blvd. Turn right onto New Salem St. Park on left.
• Interstate 15 South to Mira Mesa Blvd exit, make a right-hand turn onto Mira Mesa Blvd. Turn right onto New Salem St. Park on left.
12
13 13
THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO GO31st Annual Laguna Mountain
(May Day Madness)Where: Lake Henshaw 26439 Highway 76 Guajome Regional Park
Santa Ysabel, CA January 17 - 19
When: April 29, 30 & May 1Contact: Central Office 619-265-8762
Founder's Day ConferenceWhere: Akron, Ohio When: June 10 -12, 2016Contact: Central Office 619-265-8762
San Diego Intergroup's Founder's Day PicnicWhere: Mira Mesa Community Park
8575 New Salem St - Mira Mesa, CA 92126When: June 11, 2016 - 9:30 am - 1:30 pmContact: Central Office 619-265-8762
Over the Bridge Steps and Traditions WorkshopWhere: Church - 8350 Lake Murray Blvd
San Carlos, CA 92119When: July 16, 2016 8:30 am - 11:30 amContact: Central Office 619-265-876226th Annual June Lake KampventionWhere: June Lake, CAWhen: July 17,18, & 19, 2016 Contact: Central Office 619-265-8762
10th AnnualSeniors In Sobriety Conference
Where: Bahia Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Dr.San Diego, CA 92109
When: November 3-6, 2016 Contact: Central Office 619-265-8762
Alcoholics Anonymous in San diego 76th Year Anniversary Pancake Breakfast and
History of AA in San Diego Program `Where: Church (Linder Hall)
2111 Camino Del Rio SouthMission Valley, CA 92108
When: Saturday November 19,2016Contact: Central Office 619-265-8762
Have the San DiegoAA Coordinator delivered
for one year for only $15.00
Nam
e:____________
Address:
Mail to: C
EN
TR
AL
OF
FIC
E
7075-B M
ISSION
GO
RG
E R
OA
D
SAN
DIE
GO
, CA
92120-2454
The “I AM RESPONSIBLE CLUB” is a reserve fund maintained by the Blood Banks for the use of members of Alcoholics Anonymous and their families in time of need. The strength
and availability of this account is directly related to your support. If you need blood please contact
Central Office at: (619) 265-8762.
If you give blood be sure to credit the “I AM RESPONSIBLE CLUB” at the time of
your donation.
14 Let Us Count the Ways By Blaine H. Tradition Five states, “Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.” One could reasonably assume that a similar purpose could also be ascribed to the individual A.A. member, as the Responsibility Declaration states this in the first person singular. “I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that I am responsible.” How can we pursue this primary purpose? One way is the simple act of participating in an A.A. meeting! In the sharing of our experience, strength, and hope, a newcomer may find the common ground and realize that he or she is one of us. Or perhaps a simple handshake and a friendly greeting will be enough to keep that same newcomer coming back just one more time. This is all well and good for the sufferer who happens to stumble (or tip toe) into our rooms. But what of the suffering alcoholics “out there”? How can we carry the message to them? There are ways my friend, and today we will count a few of them. Imagine that you are a drunk with a hearing impairment. Realizing that Alcoholics Anonymous is your only hope, you attend a meeting but alas, you can hear nothing of what is being said! Sure, you can read the book, but most A.A.s need more than this to work the steps, etc. Well, in San Diego, we have a program which provides at least one ASL (American Sign Language) interpreted meeting every day of the week. Don’t know ASL? You can contribute to the Gold Can for this purpose, or a large group can provide interpretation from its own funds. The Sign Language program is managed by our local Area 8 Accessibilities Committee. Another service it provides is called Meetings-to-Go. This enables people who are hospitalized, or homebound to have meetings brought to them by local A.A. volunteers. It’s a great way to be of service and does not
require a regular commitment. To become a Meetings-to-Go Volunteer, you will need a valid email address and a year of continuous sobriety. Just send your full name, email address, city, phone number, and sobriety date to: [email protected] Each week an email is sent to all registered volunteers with the current needs. To go, or not to go, the Choice is yours! What about the suffering alcoholic who is confined in a correctional facility, a locked hospital ward, or a treatment center, without the freedom to attend an A.A. meeting? For them we have a program called H&I (Hospitals and Institutions). Each month our local H&I committee coordinates literally hundreds of panels made up of A.A. members who carry our message and A.A. literature into these places. Enabling someone locked up for many years to be able to experience and practice our program, and to change their life as a result…well it doesn’t get much better than that. Becoming an individual H&I volunteer requires 6 months of sobriety and attendance at a brief orientation. Particulars can be found at <sdhandi.org> Groups can carry out their primary purpose by adopting an H&I panel, with all panel members coming from one specific group. Carrying the message a little less directly are the Public Information Committee of the Intergroup (Coordinating Council) and the Area 8 Cooperation with the Professional Community Committee. The former sets up booths at public functions, gives talks to schools, and maintains racks of A.A. literature in places frequented by alcoholics (hospital ERs, etc.). The latter keeps the professional communities which deal with our kind informed as to the nature of our disease and our availability to help. Participation on either committee can be arranged. Thus it would seem that there is ample opportunity for A.A. groups and individual A.A. members to “practice” Tradition Five. It is only left for us to do it.
14
1515
Continued from page 1
My inventory had to deal, mainly, with bad habits which had to be changed by the process suggested in steps six and seven. That was the easy part of step five. However, those tormenting ghosts of yesterday were another story. These were not habits, but deeds that I had done as an adolescent kid that seemed unforgivable. No one should ever know, I would take them to the grave with me. Mustering the strength to take that risk may have been the most important step forward I've ever made. My brain had been lying to me, after all; how bad could a thirteen year old kid be? That one decision is what I credit with giving me my life back and if I hadn't done it, I don't see how I could have given a good effort to the rest of the steps from behind that facade that I used to call life.
I often hear members of the program that seem to resist looking deeper into their regrets and seem to build a wall of reasons why they don't need to, and I wonder if they might be caught in the same dilemma that I was in when I took my fifth step. I wish I could reassure them that it's not worth the mental torment that it puts us through and that it may be a good idea to revisit that step and entirely clean the slate. We can't live alone with them; we have to talk to someone about them. (Even A.A. old timers, sober for years, often pay dearly for skimping this step. 12x12 pg. 56) If, you are that person, I encourage you to try to get the strength to take that risk, and clean the slate; after all, we only live once. Let's not waste the opportunity to live a happy and peaceful life.
Rick R.
We must be entirely honest with someone?
I was very new to sobriety and not trusting of you people I heard repeatedly “honest, open minded and willing.” I did not possess these characteristics and believed I must if was to stay sober. I know now I must be willing to grow toward them. My capacity to be honest, open minded and willing has grown over my sobriety.
I also heard “get a sponsor” this did not sound right to me either but I asked someone. He had green hair, a hot
girlfriend and a cool car. I didn’t really want green hair but 2 outa 3 seemed close enough. We were immediately part of a written step study with his sponsor and some of the men he sponsored. When we got to step 4 I knew there were four things I could not or would reveal to anyone. I didn’t even write them down. I chickened out in five and then burned my forth step. On a side note; don’t be quick to burn your forth step. Turns out I needed the information to complete the steps and the man who told me to burn it was the first person on my next forth. The group dissolved in the process of 8 & 9 and I went and found another sponsor anyway.
Now he has lead me to 4 again and still I know I am not willing to be completely honest with him. As we move through 5 I reveal different truths about myself and my past. Shortly after I asked another man to sponsor me and did the same. Now I have been completely honest! Not individually but collectively they know the truth. I felt in doing this I had made it harder for someone like the Department Of Justice to get all of them together for a parole hearing. So I’m good now with the steps part of the process and I’ll just work on the unity and service part of the triangle.
This part of my path lasted a little over 2 years and was very painful. Looking back I see how crippling it was for me because I had been unwilling. People in my life would say things like “if I ever get to where you are I’m drinking.” I knew in no small part it was because I had not been entirely honest with one person. I asked another man to sponsor me. He led me through another 4th and it was time to admit to another the exact nature of my wrongs. I didn’t want too, I knew I must.
I told him everything. I found the things that kept me awake at night, the shame, the guilt, were not as big or different then his or really anyone else’s. He laughed at me and related some of his own stories to mine. This is how I take men through 5 today. As he did for me, get the big stuff out of the way right off and then moving through the rest is easier. I’m free today and as other things have come up I’ve been able to reveal them to another.
Mike SD
7075-B Mission Gorge Road San Diego, CA 92120-2454
RETURN SERVICE REQUEST
San Diego
CA
7075-B Mission Gorge Road San Diego, CA 92120-2454
RETURN SERVICE REQUEST
San Diego
CA