Tri-County Central Office News THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE A Monthly Newsletter of the Tri-County Central Office, Inc. August, 2010 8019 North Himes Avenue Ste. 104 , Tampa, Florida 33614-2763 Phone: 813- 933-9123 E-Mail:
[email protected] Web Site: www.aatampa-area.org A tribute to my friend and my sponsor, Mrs. Darlene K. THE MEETINGS How do I try to explain the powerful influence Darlene had in my The meetings in A.A. provide a fine social outlet for the members and are a part of the valuable “group therapy” which life? Especially when my initial introduction to her was that I A.A. brings to bear upon the alcoholic problem. However certainly did not want to know anything about this woman and did there is a more important purpose of the meetings—it is there that the members, both new and old, learn and retain the not want to have her as my sponsor. Fortunately, God was doing for knowledge of and the necessity of practicing the twelve steps me what I could not do for myself and she was appointed as my of the program. So oftentimes we find members who go to meetings regularly but only for the social side. They pay little sponsor. Darlene actually gave me my first and only surrender chip attention to the talks and discussions—except to criticize—and that fateful evening on July 14, 2001. She approached me after the the talks and the discussions themselves are left exactly where they found them—in the meeting hall.