PASS IT ON NEWSLETTER June 2020

Newsletter for Mid-Island Intergroup Society THIS ISSUE: WHAT IS AA AND CENTRAL OFFICE NEWS INTERGROUP OPERATING COMMITTEE NEWS WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW? differences between intergroup rep and gsr (group service rep and DCM (District community member) DIGITAL ERA - RESOURCES AND SEVENTH TRADITION QUOTES AND GETTING TO KNOW OUR LITERATURE HOW TO GET INVOLVED

What Is A.A.? Alcoholics Anonymous is an international THE RESILIENCY OF OUR PROGRAM fellowship of men and women who have had a DURING THE LAST RECENT MONTHS drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self- OUR UNITY STATEMENT: supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere. There are no age or education requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem.

M ID ISLAND INTERGROUP CENTRAL OFFICE We are looking for new location The City of gave us notice to vacate our office on Prideaux Street, as they have alternate plans for the building we Did were in.

You We are actively looking for possible new locations with a Commercial Realtor. Know? If you have any ideas or know of any possible locations contact our office by phone or email.

Intergroup Operating Committee Th ank you to our.... Chair - Claudette H. Volunteers who are still answering our Vice chair - STILL OPEN phone lines and replying to emails Secretary - Gina T Treasurer - Theresa H AND Literature Sales are also available Website Chair - Christine C by phoning/emailing and making pick Literature Chair - Lacey up arrangments with our Newsletter Chair - Tammy M Literature Chair Volunteer Member at Large - Kari F Archives Chair - OPEN

Newsletter for Mid-Island Intergroup Society

Intended to be a ‘Meeting in Print’ THE HEART OF THE MATTER May it serve alcoholics, and all those who WHAT IS THIS NEWSLETTER care for them; both in and out of the INTENTIONS FOR THE NEWSLETTER Alcoholics Anonymous program. May it reflect the Experience, Strength This is our local Newsletter, inspired, and Hope of its members, and may it but completely separate, from the International become a part of a powerful written tool AA Publication called The Grapevine. It is a publication that reflects the full diversity of serving the Community we live in who experience and opinion found within the our areas may not have met us YET. Fellowship May it be: of Alcoholics Anonymous. interactive No one viewpoint of philosophy dominates its inspirational pages, and in determining the content, the current helpful and informative Newsletter Chair relies on the relatable a spark for discussion principles of the Twelve Traditions. portable a source of connection Articles are not intended to be statements of AA policy, nor does publication of any article constitute endorsement by Alcoholics Anonymous

QUOTES FROM OUR LITERATURE:

The Unity of A.A. is the most cherished quality our Society has. Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it. Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God. pg. 129

From the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions Copyright © 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

“The idea that somehow, someday he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.” p.30 This says it all. I remember when I read this line for the first time. Attempting to control my drinking was what I had been doing unsuccessfully for years. I didn’t realize that other people did that, or that it made me an abnormal drinker.

“Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.” p.64 This line always resonates so well with me. Alcohol was but a symptom for me. I can remember always feeling that anything I had in life was never good enough for me. I was always on the search for something – whether it was a party, a friendship, a man etc. Knowing this cause and the conditions surrounding my drinking has been transformational in my recovery.

FROM THE BOOK ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COPYRIGHT © BY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

DIGITAL ERA RESOURCES IN LIGHT OF CURRENT TIMES

During this covid pandemic the people involved in the program of AA (and other recovery groups) were affected in ways they had never been before in history.

This led our members to be asking a whole new set of questions for themselves and AA as a whole. how do I want to be with myself and what am I willing or not willing to do to stay connected to a program of recovery having the vast majority of in person meetings suspended? what is going to happen going forward with my recovery, my home group, other meetings both locally, in our districts, areas and worldwide? how will we be there for the alcoholic who still suffers? what are some of the risks and what are some of the possible benefits? how do we stay guided in our Twelve Traditions and move forward? how can I stay grounded in humility and rooted in Unity with the program of AA?

SOME ON-LINE RESOURCES ZOOM RECORDINGS IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER MULTITUDE OF TOPICS These are offered in light of Tradition 4 and AND WORKSHOPS are open to discernment if they do in fact, fit your personal or AA's primary purpose They are not endorsed, affiliated or created HTTPS://AMOTAUDIO.COM/ZOOM-CONFERENCES/ by Alcoholics Anonymous. They are offered as possibilities to add to connection and learning through and with others both in and out of the A.A

solution2recovery.com This website is for newcomers/beginners and those still suffering who want the original, undiluted 12 step program of the 1940's when recovery rates were 50-75 %. This website is also for recovered ONLINE INTERGROUP WEBSITE members who want to work with HTTPS://AA-INTERGROUP.ORG/OIAA others. We're here to share our experience, strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common ONLINE MEETING LIST problem and help others to recover from HTTPS://AA-INTERGROUP.ORG/OIAA/MEETINGS/ alcoholism (addiction)

SOME APPS - GOOGLE PLAY OR APPLE CHOICES SOME FREE - SOME PAID - WHILE SOME OF US MAY BE SEEKING OTHER RESOURCES HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS:

AA AUDIO COMPANION GOOGLE PLAY - HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.PITASHI.AUDIOJOY.AACOMPANIONFREE APP STORE - HTTPS://ITUNES.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-AUDIO-COMPANION-FOR-ALCOHOLICS-ANONYMOUS/ID1191023628?MT=8

AA BIG BOOK ULTIMATE COMPANION GOOGLE PLAY- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.PITASHI.AUDIOJOY.AABIGBOOK APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-BIG-BOOK-ULTIMATE-COMPANION/ID998807519?IGN-MPT=UO%3D4

AA SPEAKER TAPES: APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-SPEAKER-TAPES/ID1335643834

AA SPEAKER TAPES & 12 STEPS APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-SPEAKER-TAPES-12-STEPS/ID1018096090

AA SPEAKERS GOOGLE PLAY (FREE)- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.MARNISTEK.AASPEAKERSFREE&HL=EN_US APP STORE ($1.99)- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-SPEAKERS-SPEAKER-TAPES/ID898586463?IGN-MPT=UO%3D4

AA SPEAKERS BEST OF 2007 GOOGLE PLAY- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS? ID=COM.IBYTEAPPS.AASPEAKERSBESTOF2007FREE&HL=EN_US

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS- BILL W. GOOGLE PLAY- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.IBYTEAPPS.AASPEAKERSBILLWFREE&HL=EN_US

DAILY AA SPEAKERS GOOGLE PLAY- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.PITASHI.DBAASPEAKERS APP STORE- HTTPS://ITUNES.APPLE.COM/US/APP/DAILY-AA-SPEAKERS-IN-5-MINUTES/ID1000523472?MT=8

DAILY BREAD AA APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/DAILY-BREAD-AA-SPEAKERS/ID1000523472?IGN-MPT=UO%3D4

JOE AND CHARLIE GOOGLE PLAY- HTTPS://PLAY.GOOGLE.COM/STORE/APPS/DETAILS?ID=COM.IBYTEAPPS.JOEANDCHARLIEFREE&HL=EN_US APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-JOE-CHARLIE-BIG-BOOK-WORK/ID1089811749?IGN-MPT=UO%3D4

SPEAKER TAPES FROM SANDY B APP STORE- HTTPS://APPS.APPLE.COM/US/APP/AA-SANDY-B/ID1071631421?IGN-MPT=UO%3D

ALSO HAS SOME GREAT AA SPEAKER RECORDINGS CURRENT AA - DID YOU KNOW?

YES! THE GRAPEVINE HAS A YOUTUBE CHANNEL: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/AAGRAPEVINE

AND NOW MEETING GUIDE APP

Brought to you by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., Click here for meeting guide. It is a free of charge meeting finder app for iOS and Android that provides meeting information from A.A. service entities in an easy-to- access format. Meeting Guide syncs with area, district, intergroup/central offices and international General Service Office websites (some of which are listed on A.A. Near You), relaying meeting information from more than 300 A.A. service entities directly to you. Over 100,000 weekly meetings are currently listed, and the information is refreshed twice daily. This app gives A.A. service entities full control of their local meeting information while collecting it in one place, making it easy for anyone to find a meeting. Local entities provide their meeting information voluntarily. Meeting Guide users can suggest additions or corrections to meeting listings by using links provided within the app to contact the local service entity responsible for the information.New & Enhanced FeaturesSearch — Find A.A meetings by name or location, in addition to day and timeDaily Reflections — a selection of reflections by and for A.A. membersEnhanced location functionalityExpanded user interface, with a new menu bar and “Contact” feature.“News” — Learn about events at the General Service Office (G.S.O.) and Grapevine, as well as information about updates within the app.

7TH TRADITION IN DIGITAL ERA

GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE HAS A RESOURCE CLICK BELOW TO READ IT AND SHARE AT YOUR BUSINESS MEETINGS - SM F-223 HTTPS://WWW.AA.ORG/ASSETS/EN_US/SMF-223FAQONVIRTUALBASKET_EN.PDF

E AND A FEW MOR THESE ARE BUT SUGGESTIONS - PLEASE READ THE PAMPHLET ES 'ITS MY WAY TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE' RESOURC JERRY C FOR MORE INFORMATION

THE SEVENTH TRADITION STATES: “EVERY A.A. GROUP OUGHT TO BE FULLY SELF- SUPPORTING, DECLINING OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS.” WHILE CONTRIBUTIONS COVER EACH GROUP'S RENT AND OTHER EXPENSES, THE SEVENTH TRADITION IS ESSENTIAL AT EVERY LEVEL OF A.A. SERVICE. QUESTION TIME - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW?

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW Do you have a question you would like WHY WOULD A GROUP HAVE AN answered? or a discussion topic? INTERGROUP REP AND A GSR? WHAT ARE THE Please Email - [email protected] SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES?

I went to Theresa H who has many years of experience in Service who helped and provided some resources to begin to explain this. There are multiple opinions and resources available on this topic and here is a start.

It may help to start to define our District and Area We are Area 79 - Called BC/YUKON 1ST THINGS District 5, 6 & 7 are the Districts surrounding us FIRST District 5 is Lantzville, Nanaimo North District 6 is , Coombs, Lasqueti Island, , Parksville, , Qyalicum bay, , , Distric 7 is Cedar, Ladysmith, Nanaimo South and Gabriola Island

from our Archives HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION WHY INTERGROUP TOO?

THERE IS LITTLE, IF ANY, OVERLAP IN SERVICES PROVIDED BY DISTRICTS AND INTERGROUP, ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO CARRY THE MESSAGE.

ANY DISTRICT - IF THEY CHOOSE - CAN START THEIR OWN NEWSLETTER, WEBSITE, OR OTHER SERVICES. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO USE INTERGROUP SERVICES BUT DO SO USUALLY BECAUSE IT IS CONVENIENT TO HAVE INTERGROUP PROVIDE CENTRALIZED LOCAL SERVICES.

INTERGROUP HAS A PLACE IN LOCAL AA SERVICE AND ADHERES TO TRADITIONS AND CONCEPTS OF WORLD SERVICE.

AA PUTS ON AN ANNUAL GATHERING FOR INTERGROUP STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS AND MORE WILL LIKELY BE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE; ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPENING OF THE ZOOM PLATFORM MORE ABOUT DISTRICTS 5, 6 & 7 THEY HAVE LINKS ON WWW.NANAIMOAA.ORG HTTP://NANAIMOAA.ORG/DISTRICTS-5-6-7-DISTRICT-MEETINGS-2019/

MORE ABOUT MID -ISLAND SURVIVED AS A REGISTERED SOCIETY SINCE 1998 (AND TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE BELIEVE IT EXISTED INTERGROUP SINCE SOMETIME IN THE 70'S)

WHAT DOES INTERGROUP PROVIDE? WEBSITE MAINTENANCE ** SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRISTINE WHO HAS VOLUNTEERED COUNTLESS HOURS TO MAINTAIN OUR FELLOWSHIP OVER THESE LAST FEW MONTHS!! 24 TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE - INFORMATION TO MEMBERS, PUBLIC, NEWCOMER MEETING LISTS NEWSLETTER FLYER AND NOTICES DISTRIBUTION THROUGH GROUP MAIL BOXES SALES OF BOOKS, TOKENS ETC LENDING LIBRARY ARCHIVE COLLECTION ETC

BIG INTERGROUP DOESN'T.... DIFFERENCE .... directly concern itself with the annual AA conference business. The Districts participate directly by sending GSRs and DCMs to Area quarterlies and the Area delegate goes to the World Service Conference in New York. however, There is a growing realization from Areas and World Service that Intergroups would benefit from increased presence in the AA structure, i.e. workshops at quarterlies. Intergroup would not be a voting body at AAWS as that is what the GSRs and DCMs do

OVERALL, IF THERE WAS NO INTERGROUP, DISTRICTS WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ON THE SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY INTERGROUP. FROM OUR ARCHIVES

TODAY? MOVING FORWARD - AGM JUNE 2020 CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED AS AN INTERGROUP REP AND OUR ANNUAL AGM IS COMING UP FOR COMMITTEE CHAIR ELECTIONS MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE HERE