March 2011 the Newsletter of Pinellas County Intergroup the Pinellas County Intergroup’S Primary Purpose Is to Assist and Support the A.A
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March 2011 The Newsletter of Pinellas County Intergroup The Pinellas County Intergroup’s Primary Purpose is to assist and support the A.A. groups of Pinellas County, and surrounding areas, to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to those who suffer from alcoholism. It is responsible to the member groups of the county. The voting body consists of representatives from each group, who decide on and implement the decisions concerning A.A. in Pinellas County. It is responsible for the maintenance of Central Office which provides general information and services, maintains a 24 hour phone line, publishes meeting schedules, and makes available an inventory of approved merchandise and literature for visitors, groups, and the general public. In all of its activities and policies, the Pinellas County Intergroup practices and observes the spirit of A.A.‘s Twelve Traditions, the Twelve Concepts of World Service, and promotes unity and fellowship among all the member groups it serves. Spotlight Meeting A.A. Central Office 8340 Ulmerton Rd., Suite. 220 Largo, FL. 33771 Ph: 727-530-0415 Fx: 727-530-0416 OFFICE HOURS: Mon-Fri - 10AM-6PM Email:[email protected] Web Site: www.aapinellas.org Email: [email protected] On web site: “What’s Happening” “Plain & Straight” Back Porch Lunch Bunch Editor: Pip T. Do you want to meet a group of people form Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Submit Anniversaries: Florida and a dash of Kentucky? According to records at Intergroup 1982 could On web site: “Group Submissions” > be the year it started. However Alice S. says it was 1991 when one of the “Anniversary Information Form” group members, meeting at Central Office, suggested the name for their meeting. They decided to call themselves The Back Porch Lunch Bunch because there was a slanted porch hanging off the back of the meeting room. As time went by they relocated to their current larger home at De George Plaza 12678 Starkey Road in Largo. The group grew and they now have many Email: [email protected] On web site: “Find a Meeting” meetings. There are meetings at the original noon hour as well as 5:30 and 8:00 P.M everyday except Wednesday. There is a women’s step meeting at Add new meetings: 6:15 on Wednesday. The Back Porch is a friendly place that provides plenty of On web site: “Group Submissions” > “New Meeting Form” cookies, coffee and conversation. I would be remiss if I did not mention a tidbit told to most newcomers. Do the Jackson Five: 1) “Say please remove my Change Meetings: desire to drink in the morning” 2) Get a sponsor and speak to them if you On web site: “Group Submissions” > “Meeting Change Form” have one. 3) get a home group. 4) get active in that group and go to meetings. 5) Say “Thank you” at night. Most new people who come to The Back Porch Lunch Bunch will hear this message sooner or later. We hope to see you soon. Heard At A Meeting Email: [email protected] On web site: “Find a Meeting” > Unity I was face down in the gutter and still Speaker Meeting Unity Meeting Sign-up and Calendar: looking down on others. “Group Submissions” > “Unity Sign-Up Form” Chairperson’s Corrections Report I would like to thank Rosie and her Committee team for putting on the Anniversary Sitting in jail or maybe going through Dinner. The speaker was wonderful work release and wondering if things and I’m told the band was very good. District 1 Committee Meetings are going to be OK when you get We older folks have a tough time Archives Committee staying up so late but many of my released? Then someone from the AA younger friends said they enjoyed 3rd Saturday – 1:30pm the music and dancing. Intergroup Central Office came to hold a meeting. They 8340 Ulmerton Rd explained a little about AA and the We have finished the proof reading of Suite 220, Largo fellowship and said it was open to the Beginner’s Guide and a copy has Corrections Committee anyone. Getting to a meeting as soon been included in your packet this 2nd Monday - 6:30 PM evening. In accordance with the as possible upon release would be a motion passed last year, we will be Intergroup Central Office good step in getting out of the cycle. making them available for purchase 8340 Ulmerton Rd Suite 220, Largo Those that take that step and go to AA at $.10 a copy next month. If anyone have a good chance of getting a better sees the need for a correction, please PI/CPC life through meetings and association let us know via the contact form on Last Monday - 6:00 to 7:00 pm the web site. Intergroup Central Office with the fellow alcoholics. 8340 Ulmerton Rd Finally, I am still looking for volunteers to serve on the ad-hoc Suite 220, Largo Can you help us carry the committees I proposed last month. Special Needs Committee message? One will investigate the rotation, 1st Tuesday - 6:30 PM elections, etc. of our committee Intergroup Central Office The Corrections Committee wants chairs with the goal of bringing 8340 Ulmerton Rd members to come and help, whether forward recommendations for By-Law Suite 220, Largo changes for that purpose. The taking meetings into jail or helping second one will look into developing Treatment Committee through a commitment on the guidelines for listing meetings in our Last Saturday - 10:00 AM “Where and When” with the goal of Our Savior Lutheran Church committee. In the spirit of rotation we bringing forward recommendations to 4827 East Bay Drive, Largo always need new members to get the Intergroup body. Anyone wishing Grapevine Committee involved for their sobriety and it helps to serve on either committee should the committee. The Corrections let us know via the contact form on 2rd Saturday – 2:00 PM the website. This would not be Intergroup Central Office Committee needs members to carry to limited to Intergroup Reps because 8340 Ulmerton Rd that message. We never know if we we should be willing to draw on the Suite 220, Largo might reach one person through one wealth of experience in our group members. meeting. Whether you were in jail or not does not matter, what matters is we all share the same problem, stopping drinking and learning how to live sober. Pinellas County Intergroup has adopted We meet the second Monday of every the “Birthday Plan”. Originally month at 6:30pm in the conference conceived by the General Service Office, the plan is used by many room of Central Office. 8340 Ulmerton Road, Largo. members to support services that nd Intergroup Provides to groups across Saturday, April 2 Pinellas County. The plan is in addition Thank you everyone, to group contributions, but is used for the same purpose, to carry the AA 7-11p.m. Pinellas AA Corrections message to the still suffering alcoholic. Church of the Good Help the Grapevine stay Members wishing to express gratitude Shepherd alive! Give a subscription as for sobriety through individual 10891 102nd Ave N a raffle prize or buy a contributions might contribute one dollar for each year they have enjoyed Seminole, FL subscription for your sobriety as a member of AA. sponsor/sponsee as an Tickets: $7 in advance/$8 at anniversary gift. Envelopes are available at Central Office. the door A.A., Alcoholics Anonymous and the A.A Symbol are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Opinions expressed here are not those of Alcoholics Anonymous nor does the publication of any article imply endorsement by Pinellas County Intergroup or Alcoholics Anonymous. Page 2 Pinellas County Unity Speakers Meeting Join the AA Roadshow and bring your group to DeGeorge Plaza on Starkey Road on Saturday nights at 8:00 pm 3rd Tradition Group problem. They didn't believe that and a good job, and she could support Chairman: Dean M. they moved again. They would drink her kids. She felt she finally made it Preamble: Fred J. martinis and they had ground rules: and is grateful to be sober. How it Works: Charlie M. one was never let the kids see you Tom F Chips: Vinnie P. passed out. She says that she was a Tom started drinking because he horrible mother. She joined a church knew that he needed to be a part of Paula E group, and she prayed for money. something. He wanted to be like his Paula started experimenting with Her husband was promoted, and they parents. He says that he was an alcoholic by the end of high school. alcohol at eleven years old. She went to Hong Kong. She joined lots He went to school, played sports and drank Vermouth while babysitting. of organizations, where she could he drank. He went into the Air Force, She drank a six pack of beer. Her drink. She became a minister, and looking for a change, but he says friend never got sick, but she did. she went to bars at night. They were that he took himself. He drank continuously. There was a motorcycle She started sprouting, and she found on a boat, and she was drinking, and group in his town, and he says that out that guys would buy her drinks she stripped, and jumped into the they respected him. He was lucky and get her into the bars. She was a water, she swam on a dare. She says that he got breaks along the way; he weekend warrior. Her grades started that the water was filthy; she got an got a job in GE.