Intergroup 5 The Message July – August 2020 A Focus On the 12th Step

This months Primary article is a focus on 12th Step Work. It was researched and reprinted here. All information is from AA Recovery material. In my personal experience nothing in this world will get you more involved in your own sobriety than practicing this step.

Our Incredible Web Team has Integrated us into the AA Meeting App. which is now available in the Android and Apple Stores. This is an incredibly handy tool that will allow you to seek meetings of all forms in any section of the country you are located. It is a very functional tool and even gives the info for online, and Zoom meetings. Download it today in the app store and start attending meetings virtually or in person right from your phone. A special Thanks to Adam, Deb, and Trey for all their hard work on this project.

Got questions about how to find us? Everything you need to know about Intergroup 5 is located on our webpage at https://intergroup5.org, Monthly meeting minutes, listings of groups, this newsletter, Treasurers reports, and especially the Literature Store are all right at your fingertips. Take a peek today and see what we are up to. You can also contact any IG member or group rep. What, your group isn't listed or have a rep? Well it sounds like you need some service work! Your sponsor would be proud. Contact us and we will get you hooked up. No special th A Focus On the 12th Step The Original 12 Step requirements are necessary and we need input from all groups to keep our sober community up and running, do it today!

Would you like to receive this newsletter as soon as its published? Well just send your email to us [email protected] We are starting an email list for this sole purpose. We are hoping to restart printed editions to be distributed back out to the groups for the September/October edition based upon coronavirus status of live meetings.

Coming soon to the Website. A special History Corner will be added to the Site. Hosted by the incredibly talented Marsha T. there is a long historical record of the AA program in Tallahassee and the surrounding communities. Check it out, and help out by submitting your groups history to Marsha T. Select history articles will even be included in this little ole newsletter. A Focus On the 12th Step

“Working with Others”, Chapter 7 in the Big Book of , addresses Step 12, but covers only the second part.

“Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail. This is our twelfth suggestion: Carry this message to other alcoholics! You can help when no one else can. You can secure their confidence when others fail. Remember they are very ill. “Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship group up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives.” (p.89, Big Book) * We will be highlighting a step and its What is more, there were no women in alcoholic recovery in Bill’s and Dr. Bob’s accompanying tradition in the upcoming issues meetings when the Big Book was published in April, 1939. The of this newsletter. Please nominate YOUR first successful woman, , did not enter what was to become A.A. FAVORITES to be featured next! * Favorite until two months later, four years after Bill gave Dr. Bob his last drink on June Step/Tradition? Write about it and send it in! * 10, 1935, A.A.’s sobriety date. Suggestions/Comments: However, Chapter 7 of the Big Book did set out the important practical part of [email protected] what worked for Dr. Bob and Bill in staying sober in their day, even though it did not address the spiritual first and third parts of the “twelfth suggestion”. That had to wait for the publication of A.A.’s second book 13 years later, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Published in 1952, this was A.A.’s first conference approved book, and it included input from thousands of sober men and women members of A.A. at the time through the newly established General Service Conference service structure. Dan F., Belguim Reprinted from alcoholicsanonymous.eu with permission.

The above is reprinted from an article I read online and I believe it captures the essence of what the 12th step, especially in the early days of the program entailed. I have always found it fascinating that Bob and Bill realized early on that the key for their sobriety rested in their ability to help others recover from this dreadful disease. They would be further enlightened by going on to encapsulate this message in the Big Book and in the principle of the discovery of each drunks personal higher power. I know for me that in my own 12th step had someone tried to preach to me I would have been out probably to die a short time later. Today we have powerful tools like the internet, Zoom meetings, and all manner of recovery tools at our fingertips, yet the primary purpose of this program is to help ANOTHER Alcoholic achieve sobriety. My life is never more full than when I am doing service work and practicing the 12th step. Anyone can do it. Rep for your local group, volunteer for a Hotline position, or take the time to carry the message to a facility or institution. All of these things will help your program, I know they have made mine what it is today. Tom J., Message Editor, Lake Jackson Group.

The “Primary Purpose” of Intergroup 5 is to assist the AA groups in District 5 to carry the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Providing a 24 hour “Hotline” service is one of our most important functions. To volunteer or for more information on the AA Hotline: [email protected]