District 7 Sunbeam

Volume III Issue 9

Welcome to the September issue of the District 7 Newsletter. This month, no Step 9 particular theme, just more random gleanings from here and there. Keep in Made direct amends to such mind that some of this material is not Conference Approved and may not be people wherever possible, found in the Big Book. In those cases, please feel free to disregard it. As we say, except when to do so would take what you need and leave the rest (which is also not in the Big Book). injure them or others. Please consider writing a short (or even long) article that shares your experience strength and hope with the rest of the District 7 newsletter readers. Send your contributions, suggestions, and requests to be added to the distribution to: Tradition 9 [email protected] A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may – Jack S-O, Alcoholic Editor create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

Concept IX Good service leadership at District 7 Monthly Business Meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at Christ the King Episcopal Church, all levels is indispensable for 3021 State Route 213 East, Stone Ridge, NY 12484. If you’re a our future functioning and Group Service Representative (GSR), please plan to attend and safety. Primary world service represent your group. If your home group is not represented by a leadership, once exercised GSR, why not volunteer to be GSR? Service is gratitude in action. by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.

Mission Statement: The District 7 Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed as an e-mail in an effort to be more eco-friendly, as well as to reduce postage and printing costs. Please feel free to forward this e-mail, because we are unable to reach all our District 7 members, especially at the group level. If you want your contributions to be included in the newsletter, please e-mail us at [email protected] The District 7 Newsletter committee will do its best to make this a valuable resource for communication, and to allow the members of our District to keep in touch with each other, further strengthening the unity of our fellowship.

Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved HMB District 7 A.A. and Alcoholics Anonymous are registered trademarks® of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Some material reprinted from AA service materials with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

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District 7 Trusted Servants Bill W. and LSD

District Committee Member (DCM) One of the fascinating things discussed in the new documentary Bill W. Ritch L. was issue of Bill’s experimentation with the hallucinogenic drug LSD. I’ve heard people say in meetings that Bill took acid, making it sound like he was Alternate DCM experimenting with a street drug. I recently read the following post by Glenn Mike C. C. in an online group that focuses on AA history: [email protected] Treasurer This post answers those in the fellowship who may use the issue to criticise Dan B. our singleness of purpose, or to criticise Bill himself... – Editor Secretary

Barbara W. Many AA historians have written about Bill Wilson’s experiments in taking the Records powerful psychedelic drug LSD, beginning on August 29, 1956, and about the fact Did You Know? Every Kevin B. that Father Ed Dowling also took LSD as part of those investigations. issue of this newsletter, As you note, an often morbid fascination with this topic seems to have arisen as well as those of most Treatment because when people hear the term LSD, they all too often think primarily of the other Districts in HMB Guy K. use of that substance later on within the psychedelic drug subculture that developed Area 48, can be found during the 1960s (involving Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey, and a number of popular on the HMB web site: Cooperation with the Professional Community/Public Information rock musicians). And it is true that Bill Wilson at least seems to have been trying to www.aahmbny.org (CPC/PI) reproduce the experience of cosmic consciousness with the aid of the psychedelic William D. and click on the drug. Newsletters tab. Literature/Grapevine But the part of this story to which AA historians should be paying much Ruth more serious attention, is that a man named Aldous Huxley was also a major Back issues of the HMB participant in the earlier, more scientific LSD experiments of the 1950s. There Area Newsletter are Functions was a whole circle of people involved, including Huxley, Gerald Heard (who was also available there, Jay T. interested in many of the same things as Huxley and Bucke), the psychiatrist Sidney as well as details of Cohen, and eventually Bill Wilson, Father Dowling, and one of the Duke University upcoming Area events. Newsletter parapsychology researchers. Jack S.-O. [email protected] Aldous Huxley was the author of The Perennial Philosophy (New York: Answering Service Liaison Harper and Brothers, 1945), which was basically a more modernized version of Pat D. Richard Maurice Bucke, Cosmic Consciousness: A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind, by someone who knew more about philosophy and theology, not only in the area of Asian religions but especially in the history of Catholic mysticism: Service Opportunities: Meister Eckhart was the most quoted figure in Huxley’s book, but he also had numerous quotes from Aquinas, Augustine, St. Bernard, St. Catherine, Francis de • Special Needs Sales, John of the Cross, and the Theologia Germanica. • Bridging the Gap (The Protestant Reformer Martin Luther published two editions of the • Corrections Theologia Germanica in the early 1500s, so there are strong linkages to one District 7 Meeting Minutes 8/8/2012 important variety of Lutheran spirituality here too – remember that Frank Buchman was a Lutheran pastor.)

There are no meeting minutes for this month’s meeting. (continued on page 4)

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(continued from page 3) HMB District 7 Treasurer’s Report Father Dowling, we must not forget, was an active participant in all this. July 11, 2012 And during the latter 1950s, there was much more involved than just LSD. He and Bill Wilson were two men working together on the further reaches of spirituality: Suggested 7th Tradition reading, talking with, and engaging in radical spiritual experiments with Aldous Contributions: (40/30/30) Huxley himself, their generation’s famous equivalent to Richard Maurice Bucke. These three gentlemen were not crazed young hippies in their teens and 40% HMB District 7 twenties, with long hair and headbands and flowers in their hair, wearing love beads Beginning Balance $1,120.17 P.O. Box 1654 and riding around in old VW minibuses painted with psychedelic designs. Wilson Kingston, NY 12402-1654 and Dowling were in their late fifties and early sixties at that time, andAldous The Original 6 Steps: Huxley was in his sixties. Income But Bill W. did insist that people needed to read Buckley’s book on Cosmic 30% HMB Area Association 1. Complete deflation Consciousness if they wanted to understand what he had really experienced, not District 16 (phone bill) $107.00 Rt. 30, #114 2. Dependence and only at Towns Hospital, but also at Winchester Cathedral and the tomb of the Young & Young at Heart $40.00 118 Polar Plaza guidance from a Higher Hampshire Grenadier. And I would add to this, that one should also look at Aldous Just for Today $100.00 Amsterdam, NY 12010 Power Huxley’s The Perennial Philosophy. 3. Moral inventory Why was Father Ed Dowling also involved in this? He was clearly over 4. Confession on what was – in the Roman Catholic Church during the period before the Second 30% General Service Office (GSO) 5. Restitution Vatican Council (1962-65) – the left wing of the Jesuits. P.O. Box 459 6. Continued work with For famous examples, see the writings of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Grand Central Station other alcoholics SJ (1881-1955), a famous Jesuit paleontologist who was removed from his teaching Income subtotal $247.00 New York, NY 10163 position for his ideas about the evolution of human spiritual consciousness. – Big Book, p. 263 Also see the figure of Cardinal Jean Daniélou SJ (1905-1974), a Jesuit who These suggested wrote about figures like St. Gregory of Nyssa, who represented the same kinds of NOTE: distribution percentages ideas that Aldous Huxley was describing in his book on The Perennial Philosophy. were recently updated. See The Roman Catholic sociologist and novelist Father Andrew M. Greeley Expenses Pamphlet F-3. Self-Support: says that liberal young Catholics studying at the University of Chicago in the period Where Money and Spirituality before the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) regarded Jean Daniélou as a great Verizon $35.18 Mix, page 13. hero. He showed them how they could continue to be faithful Catholics without Answerphone July $182.04 having to buy into all of the dogmatic and authoritarian demands of the people in the Church hierarchy who were insisting on obedience to the Baltimore Catechism Answerphone August $68.81 and St. Thomas Aquinas. Father Dowling’s students in Chicago loved him too, because he was a Expenses subtotal $286.03 representative of something very much like Cardinal Daniélou’s spirituality, a spirituality based on feeling and the deepest intuitions of the heart, rather than over- rationalistic theories about the mechanical application of doctrines and dogmas. Ending Balance $1,081.14

Prudent Reserve $500.00 Available Balance $581.14

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Quote of the Week Letter to the Editor

“Sometimes you don’t realize all you need is God MY OPINION, for what it’s worth, based on other things I have read. Oh until all you have is God” my God! He actually reads something other than the Big Book? Bill was concerned that some alcoholics might turn the Big Book into a holy relic. Even after years in recovery and with all my sober experience, I’m still The book is mostly opinion. This is why he continued writing. He did not amazed by my tendency to put so many things before God. Many times intend for the BB to be the end all. How about all the other literature that I’m convinced that the new car, that perfect job, or that relationship will AAs used to help stay sober prior to Conference Approved literature? i.e. be the answer, and that my life will finally improve and I’ll be happy. Dr. Bob used the booklet The Upper Room, which is strictly religious. AA is not a program My stubborn reliance on this myth can be pretty disappointing. I’ve been How many of us got sober using Hazelden’s One Day at a Time before of self-improvement; reminded in meetings that anything I place above God will be taken from AA published their own daily meditation Daily Reflections? I hear some it is a program of self- me, and given the nature of life – how all things change – this has often groups in the South actually use the Bible at meetings. I thought AA had acceptance. proved true. It’s painful when it happens, but the good news is that it no opinion on outside issues. Whatever floats your boat and helps you always leads me back to God. stay sober. While not drinking, you may even find it helpful to go to a – My Favorite Alcoholic meeting. Just MY OPINION. – Bob L. The greatest gift I have today, and the one constant source of strength and hope in my life, is my relationship to my Higher Power. My Higher Power has the answers and solutions to the problems I face and has a deeper love and caring for me than I’ll ever comprehend. When I’m connected to God, Peter K. from Fresh Start has been doodling in Google+. Here is his A grasshopper goes into a there are no worries, no wants and no needs. When things get stripped illustration of the phrase: “It was obviously necessary to raise the bottom bar and hops on to a bar away, as they will, and all I’m left with is God, it’s then that I remember: the rest of us had hit to the point where it would hit them.” – 12 & 12 stool to order a drink. all I ever needed is God. page 23 The bartender says: “You know, we have a drink named after you.”

The grasshopper replies: Upcoming HMB Area 48 Events: “Really? You have a drink named Eddie?” 9/15 Fellowship Day 10/13 Area Assembly 11/18 Area Fellowship 10/26 -28 24th Annual Northeast Women to Women Conference

What do you think? Do you have an illustration, photo, cartoon, poem, or other art that you can share with the rest of our readers?

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HMB Area:

Hudson, Mohawk, Saturday, September 15, 2012 Berkshire 9AM – 3PM Hosted By the Eastern Cluster (Districts 1, 2, & 18) Heard in a meeting: I’m happy to be at a meeting Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church of AA, fully clothed and in 146 1st Street (at Liberty St) my right mind. Troy, NY 12180

Tentative Agenda 9-10 am: Meet and Greet (Coffee, pastries, etc)

10:00 am: Area Committee Meetings (which includes District Committee members - BTG and Grapevine will select committee chairs for 2 year terms starting January 2013) GSR Orientation for any and all GSR’s and anyone wanting to learn about “the most important position in AA” 11:15 am: Workshop on Traditions 3 and 4

12:15 pm: Lunch 1:15 pm: Area Business Meeting – Reports by Area Officers, Area Committee Chairs, DCM’s

Contact: [email protected] 518 366-5631

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AA History in August

Sept 1 1939 - First AA group founded in Chicago. Sept 11 24th Annual Northeast Woman to Woman Conference 2001 - 30 Vesey St., New York. Location of AA’s first office is destroyed during the A WORKSHOP WEEKEND BY AND FOR SOBER WOMEN IN RECOVERY World Trade Center attack. Sept 12 1942 - U.S. Assist. Surgeon General Kolb speaks at dinner for Bill and Dr. Bob. SAVE THE DATE Sept 13 1937 - Florence R, first female in AA in NY. Every happening, great and October 26-28, 2012 Sept 13 small, is a parable whereby 1941 - WHJP in Jacksonville, FL airs Spotlight on AA. God speaks to us, and the art

Sept 17 of life is to get the message. 1954 - Bill D, AA #3 dies. Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel Heard in a meeting, Sept 18 – Malcom Muggeridge to start the Serenity 1000 Spring Street 1947 - Dallas Central Office opens its doors. Prayer: Sept 19 Elizabeth, NJ 07201 1965 - The Saturday Evening Post publishes “Alcoholics Can Be Cured Despite Who made the rivers SPEAKERS * MEDITATION * WORKSHOPS AA” and saved our livers? SATURDAY NIGHT BANQUET & MORE Sept 19 1975 - Jack Alexander, author of original Saturday Evening Post article, dies. Sept 21 TO BE PLACED ON OUR MAILING LIST 1938 - Bill W. & Hank P. form Works Publishing Co. EMAIL: [email protected] Sept 24 REGISTRATION MATERIALS WILL BE MAILED MAY/JUNE-2012 1940 - Bill 12th steps Bobbie V., who later replaced Ruth Hock as his secretary in NY. Committee meets the following Saturdays at 3:00 pm at: Sept 30 New Life Christian Church - 12 Prospect Street, Bloomfield, NJ 1939 - Article in Liberty magazine, “Alcoholics and God” by Morris Markey. Other significant events which occurred in September, but for which we do not (Feb. 4 & 25, March 10 & 31, April 21, May 19, have a specific date: June 16, July 7, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 & 29, Oct. 13) 1930 - Bill wrote 4th (last) promise in family Bible to quit drinking 2012 Conference Committee Contacts: 1939 - Group started by Earl T. in Chicago. Chair: Barbara B.-R. [email protected]/973-819-5564 1940 - AA group started in Toledo by Duke P. & others. Co-Chair: Anita C. [email protected]/201-306-4960 1940 - Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases gives Big Book unfavorable review. 1946 - Bill & Dr. Bob both publicly endorsed National Committee for Education on Alcoholism founded by Marty M. 1946 - First A.A. group in Mexico. 1948 - Bob writes article for Grapevine on AA, “Fundamentals In Retrospect”. 1949 - First issue of A.A. Grapevine published in “pocketbook” size.

From http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/

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More AA History It’s Not in the Big Book!

I hear a lot of opinions in meetings. If someone offers an opinion, I feel free to take it or leave it. It may or may not support my recovery, and it may actually be contrary to the AA program as described in the Big Book.

A common slogan we hear all the time is “Easy Does It.” But does it, really? This above all: To thine What does the Big Book say? own self be true. And it must follow, as Half measures availed us nothing. Page 59 the night the day, God, if You are who You Thou can not then be say You are, please help We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the false to any man. me. Thank You. Amen past. Page 84 – Shakespeare I learned this little prayer ...a manner of living which requires rigorous honesty. Page 58 From Hamlet: Polonious in rehab from an elderly speaking to his son nun. She said this was a If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to Laertes. good place to start. I’ve any length to get it – then you are ready to take certain steps. Page 58 found it so... We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Page 58

So the Big Book suggests Easy Does it - But Do It!

Another common suggestion heard in meetings is Think the Drink Through or Remember Your Last Drink/Drunk. Do these suggestions really help avoid the next drink? Again, what does the Big Book say?

Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power. Page 43

We are unable at certain times to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. Page 24

– Editor

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The Knots Prayer The Grapevine Corner

Dear God: Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. “Our very first problem is to accept our present circumstances as they are, ourselves as we are, and the people about us as they are. This is to adopt a Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind. realistic humility without which no genuine advance can even begin.”

Erase the will nots, may nots and might nots that find a home in my heart. AA Co-Founder, Bill W., March 1962 From: “What Is Acceptance” Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct Best of the Grapevine, Vol. 1 my life. “We must never be blind sided by the futile philosophy that we are just the And most of all, dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my hapless victims of our inheritance, our life experience, and our surroundings – heart and my life all of the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, that these are the sole forces that make our decisions for us – We have to believe especially the thought that I am not good enough. Amen. that we can really choose.” – Anonymous AA Co-Founder, Bill W., November 1960 From: “Freedom Under God: The Choice Is Ours” The Language of the Heart Did you know? September Anniversaries & Celebrations Copyright © 1944-2012. AA Grapevine, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reprints by Permission Only. The words sponsor 9/2 Carl celebrates 5 years at the Breathing Easy Group, Blue and sponsorship do not Mountain Reformed Church appear in the main text of the Big Book. 9/6 Denny celebrates 20 years at New Freedom Promises Group, Daily Grapevine Quote Lomontville http://www.aagrapevine.org/ Earlier this year, Grapevine launched a new free service for the fellowship. Every 9/25 Vivian celebrates 9 years at Just for Today in Ellenville day, a new quote is published on: www.AAGrapevine.org 9/27 Andre celebrates the Big 1 at Kingston Young People’s Group and sent out as an e-mail. Each quote is drawn from the deep well of classic Grapevine stories dating back to 1944. Start your day with an inspiring passage Meeting News from Grapevine Quote. Don’t forget to tell your group and friends. Point your browser to: www.AAGrapevine.org 9/17 Monday Night Women’s meeting 20th Anniversary look for the Daily Quote box, and click on the Sign up for the daily e-mail link. St. James Methodist Church, Kingston 6:30 Eating - finger foods 7:30 Meeting Open to all!

Woodstock Womens’ Group Sundays 10 AM - 11:30 AM Needs a baby sitter. Pays $25

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The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up the group: “...and in conclusion.” –Unknown

GOD

Group Of Drunks Good Orderly Direction Great Outdoors Give Over Distress

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