SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA May, 2008 VOLUME XXXVIII No. 5

Better Than I Deserve

I started drinking the summer before I started going to high school. I was at a friend’s house and we had been waiting all night to get some booze. By the time it got there I had to be Inside this issue: home. But I drank anyway. So I drank these two 40s very 1, 2 quickly and started skateboarding home. I remember the sky Better Than I Deserve seemed bluer that night and I had this overwhelming sense that Chapter 4—We Agnostics 3 I was going to be ok for the first time in my life. Twelve Thoughts on Sponsorship 3 It didn’t take me long until I was getting loaded daily. It 4 became more important than most things very quickly. I Step Five dropped out of school my first semester to go to a home school My Favorite Meeting 4 type program. My reasoning for doing this was so school Tradition Five 5 wouldn’t get in the way of drinking. My aunt even offered to 5 pay for me to go to a private school. I Speaker Meetings turned her down; I knew the school did a What’s Happening 6 drug test. So that chance vanished. Public Information—District 5 6 As time went on, I needed to drink 6 more and earlier. A few years went by, Central Office Activity and there were no major problems. On Meeting Changes 7, 9 the 4 th of July, 2000, I drank more than I Group Contributions 8, 9 had ever drunk before. I had to be home 9 at 11 o’clock that night. My parents no A Farewell Letter longer trusted me. Normally, I would go Sharon’s Story/Who Am I? 10 home quickly say goodnight to my mom Birthdays/Web Statistics 10 and go to bed. This night I decided I 11 wanted to talk. She very quickly realized I had been drinking. Call Forwarding/Income & Expense Report She took me to my friend’s house and started yelling at my Recovery Acrostic/We Are Not a Glum Lot 12 friends and telling them that I would never come over there again. My friends didn’t care. They just wanted us to leave. I was grounded for a while, and started sneaking out in the mid- ORANGE COUNTY CENTRAL OFFICE dle of the night to get drunk. 1526 Brookhollow, Suite 75 Later that summer, I flew to my dad’s house as I normally (Mailing address: 1526 E. Warner, Suite 75) did. My dad by this time had become a drinking buddy. He Santa Ana, California 92705 showed me how to get rid of a hangover. So I started drinking Phone (714) 556-4555 in the mornings and all throughout the day. Fax: (714) 556-7231 My mom found out how much I was drinking. As a result E-mail: [email protected] my mom took me to family counseling. We only went once Website: www.oc-aa.org because I quickly got the counselors on my side. The next few Office hours Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-9:00 PM months I put my family through hell. I started running away Sat 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and going into youth shelters. Finally, my mom put me in an South County Office: 27281 Las Ramblas, Ste.135 out-patient place. Two weeks after arriving there, they asked Mission Viejo 92691 me to leave because my drug/alcohol level was higher than Phone: (949) 582-2697 when I came in. This led me to run away again. I stole some Fax: (949) 582-2611 money from my mom and slept in the shed of my friend’s back E-mail: [email protected] yard. Surviving off fifty-cent chips and salsa from a local taco Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00AM to 5:00 PM shop I wondered how my life ended up like this. Four days before Christmas, I walked out of a movie store The Orange County Intergroup Association Meeting and came to from a black-out to alarms sounding. I realized I Wednesday, May 14th at 7:00 PM was stealing a movie. Two clerks came outside and started Kaiser Hospital, 6670 Alton Parkway @ Sand Canyon, Irvine following me. I thought to run, but I couldn’t, so they shuffled The meeting will be held in the MOBII ( New Building 5th Floor) Rooms ASN-5209 + 5210 Continued on page 2 Page 1 Continued from page 1 me back inside. The police showed up, as well as my mom. The police took me to the station to fingerprint me and my mom took me to the hospital. On the way to the hospital my mom said, “I can’t do this anymore, Ben. Every time the phone rings I think it’s the morgue telling me to come identify the body.” I didn’t want to do this to my mom; I always wanted to be a good son. I had dreams of getting good grades, doing loving things, and taking care of her when she was old. But my selfishness took those dreams away. The next morning I got into a fist fight with my father. There was a restraining order over Christmas. I stayed at a friend’s house. My mom wanted to see me Christmas morning, but she asked me to come sober. I did. That morning I either didn’t get what I wanted or she said something I didn’t want to hear and I started breaking things in her home and pushing her around. The police came shortly after and told me to leave, Compliments of www.recoverycartoons.com that I didn’t belong there. So I left and went to a grocery store and stole two bottles of booze, went behind the store and sat on an abandoned couch. That morning was the first time alco- Life isn’t tied with a bow, hol didn’t do what I needed it to do. I thought about suicide. I wondered whether I was sane or not. For the next two weeks I but every day is still a gift. continued to try to make alcohol work. I got sober on January 12, 2001. I was placed in a treat- ment facility that took us to meetings of Alcoholics Anony- mous. When I first got there, I was full of fear and had bouts of ORANGE COUNTY INTERGROUP SERVICE BOARD rage. They told me to get a sponsor. I asked a few people. They all said “I’m too busy” or “I have too many already.” Chair, Frank M. ●Vice Chair, John P. Then a woman who I respect a great deal pointed at a man and Treasurer, Ken S. ●Secretary, Beth E. said, “Why don’t you ask him?” Andy was just leaving. so I Central Office, Dave M. walked outside. He was standing two steps lower than I was, and I’m about 6 inches taller than him. But for whatever rea- Who? What? When? Where? son he seemed taller than me that night. I asked him, “Will you be my sponsor?” He didn’t say, “Call me tomorrow and we’ll Public Relations Committee, Nick N. talk.” He asked me, “Are you willing to go to any lengths for Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm Group Relations Committee, Carlos T. victory over alcohol?”, and for the first time I said, “Yes,” and Meets the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm I was willing to do whatever he asked. Lifeline Committee, Bill W. As a result of the twelve steps and twelve traditions of Meets the 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm Alcoholics Anonymous, my life has completely changed. The Special Events Committee, Debbie M. men and woman of AA have shown me a way of life I had Meetings scheduled as needed never felt I could live. The relationships that have occurred H & I Committee, Nick M. over the last seven years have been amazing. When I was Meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at the Garden Grove Alano new, there was a man who always told me his life was better Club. Institutions meet at 4:00 pm; Hospitals meet at 6:00 pm. South than he deserved. For a while I didn’t understand that and it Orange County H & I meets at the Laguna Beach Canyon Club the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm. frustrated me. Finally one day I asked what he meant. He said, “For all the people I’ve hurt, mistakes I’ve made, my life With the exception of H & I, the above committees meet at is better than I deserve.” I have come to believe that for my- Central Office, 1526 Brookhollow, Suite 75, Santa Ana, CA 92705. self, today. If you are interested in serving on a committee or would like more information please contact the above or Central Office at Ben F., Tustin 714-556-4555. Your service is appreciated!

To Carry the Message of Orange County H & I South Orange County H & I nd Alcoholics Anonymous to On the 2 Sunday of the month 3rd Wednesday of the month , 7:30 pm the Alcoholic who is Garden Grove Alano Club, 714-534-2244 Laguna Canyon Club, 949-497-1823 9845 Belfast Drive, Garden Grove, CA 20456 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach confined in a Hospital or For additional info call 714-979-8524 Institution Or Central Office: 714-556-4555

Page 2 curably stupid, I realized that it was the sum total of all the Chapter 4 -We Agnostics work that would bring about what I was searching for. And

® that promise has been kept. Number 5 of 12 articles on the Big Book A member of A.A. in Orange County

This was it! This was going to be the chapter that Text in italics re-printed from the Big Book with permission of Alcoholics solved all my problems with aversion to anything religious – Anonymous World Services, (AAWS) including God!, This chapter was going to remove all my preju- dice and contempt regarding God. Up to this point, everything I had read in the book had seemed plausible and had changed my From the April, 1977, Lifeline thinking 180° in many areas. At first, all the expectations I had TWELVE THOUGHTS ON SPONSORSHIP for this chapter were met. The very first paragraph gave me the best threshold for testing my definition of alcoholism that I had read anywhere, (still true). It also stated that I might be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience would conquer. Again, right in line with what everybody, and I mean EVERY- BODY, had told me their experience had demonstrated. I was eager for to be struck spiritual! And I identified with so much I was reading. I remember reading, “ To be doomed to an alcoholic death or to live on a spiritual basis are not always easy alterna- tives to face ”. I didn’t know why it was not an easy alternative to face, but I sure agreed with the statement. I fought the spiri- tual solution for almost a year in A.A. Why? I sure had no an- swer for that question. But now it was different, I was willing to accept spiritual help – just show me how! The chapter went on to inform me that “ Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. And - st then, the second shortest sentence in the 1 164 pages – “Obviously”. Followed by: “ But where and how are we to find this Power? Well, that’s exactly what this book is about. Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than your- self which will solve your problem”. And I missed the true sig- nificance of that statement until I had finished the chapter. After finishing the chapter and not seeing a straightforward direction to clear away the prejudice and find a concept of a Higher Power, I was once again extremely disappointed that what seemed to work for others didn’t seem to have worked for me. I com- plained bitterly to my sponsor that, once again, I was different – this thing didn’t seem to be able to work for me. I agreed and identified with so much of what the chapter contained, especially the intolerance of anything religious, but the expected change in my attitude toward God and religion had not materialized. He asked me what I had expected and I told him, just like I explained to you, the reader, when I started this writing – I expected to have all my problems with God and religion sud- - denly swept aside, and the path to a conscious contact with God - to be brightly illuminated before me. No kidding – I used words pretty close to that, (somewhat full of myself as I was at the - time). My sponsor took me back to the sentence about the “main object of the book”, about enabling me to find a Power greater than yourself which would solve your problem. He pointed out that it didn’t read that the “main object of this chapter….:” rather it stated “the main object of this book….”. He added that it was the object of the entire book, the program outlined in the 1 st 164 pages and the stories in the back, with their experience, strength and hope that would show me how to bring about the sought- after spiritual experience. Then he showed me the text in the Forward to the 12 & 12 where it was explained, “A.A.’s 12 steps are a set of principles, spiritual in nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole”. Not being in- Tom T., Birmingham, England via Bristol

Page 3 My Favorite Meeting “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another Editor’s note: We continue our new feature in the human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Lifeline this month called “My Favorite Meeting”. Become part of the publication by submitting 300 words or so telling us about Admitting “the nature of our wrongs” to God and ourselves yours. Send to [email protected]. sounds much easier than confessing to another human being. We can do the first in complete privacy. No one is listening, we say. He was always standing at the door to the meeting room, just Yet, it's not so easy that we all are able to accomplish this Step in waiting for me to show up. Week after week, without fail. I one sweeping confession. Several false starts sometimes are nec- wondered why I had started coming to the Tustin Tuesday Step essary before we find both the courage and the insight to admit 4 meeting in the first place. I’d poke my head in the door, and even to ourselves the true, unvarnished nature of our wrongs. there he was; “Wild” Bill R. with a pencil thrust out to me in his One of the obstacles to applying this Step is our deep-rooted habit right hand, and always the same greeting, “Have you done it yet, of refusing to face facts, or admit the truth even to ourselves if dummy?” and whenever the truth was unpleasant. We are grooved in the They kept talking about getting my resentments down in black pattern of glossing over, covering up, beating around the mulberry and white, yet going to this meeting was giving me one royal bush, sticking our head in the sand--or any of the other old clichés new resentment. Every week, there was “Wild” Bill nagging at which are simply an indirect and longer way of spelling “l-i-e.” me, and we had to read all of that humiliating chapter on the The truth is that during the active drinking period the patient has Fourth Step in the “Twelve and Twelve.” Talk about piling re- been doing more lying to himself than to anyone else, and even sentment upon resentment. after he has decided to turn to the truth finds the way strange and There were worksheets on how to do the Fourth Step, some with difficult to follow. After 15 to 20 years of self-deception the truth a hundred questions that were designed to extract the last bits of is not easily recognized. hidden “character defects” that I had so carefully pushed down At first, the application of part of this Step may seem to have been into my subconscious for so long. How could anyone endure achieved. The newly enlightened patient has had a heart-to-heart this torture week after week? talk with himself. He has admitted to himself the nature of his wrongs. Or, has he admitted only part of the nature of his wrongs? Then I remembered. I was eight- Has he spared himself just a little, left just a little of the varnish on een months sober, but the insom- the truth? Has he spared himself again in just a bit more self- nia from my first 90 days had deception, in just one or two self-pitying reasons or explanations returned along with the “whips of the wrongs? and jangles”. My sponsor had suggested that I had better think Frequently, a second and a third confession, or more, is needed about doing the Fourth Step. So, I before the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is had committed, finally, to a pro- brought to light. Sometimes a great deal of digging is needed to gram of action. I realized that I get beneath the many layers of self-deception that have been piled wasn’t going to achieve serenity on each other and become virtually petrified over the years. and peace of mind by osmosis. Courage implemented by searching analysis and perseverance are Then, I thanked God for this meeting. needed here, the courage to face and admit the truth as it's brought Even after I had completed the Fourth and Fifth, I continued to to the surface, and the perseverance to keep digging until it is. attend this meeting. I wanted to share the amazing relief these Usually the presence of an audience intensifies the difficulties of step had brought, and how I was now committed to sobriety and admitting self-truths, even when the audience is a sympathetic A.A. as a way of life. friend. Sometimes the mere voicing of inner secrets is a wrench- ing process, especially for anyone who for years has been hiding In the years that have followed, the meeting format has changed all unpleasant facts even from himself. Furthermore, one must to the study of the first four steps (we break Step Four into two forgive himself before he is ready to forgive the world of which parts). We have many newcomers who are sent to us by their he has been so resentful. sponsors in hopes they will get grounded in the basics of the For these reasons, many who have succeeded in the full practice program. I continue to attend, along with many other of this Step recommend that it be started with one's own con- “oldtimers”, because it is always a delight to see the awakening science as the sole audience. Better begin there, they say, first to of our new friends to the concepts of we “surrender to get well”, learn what there is to be admitted and, second, to generate the we find a power greater than ourselves and we begin to “clear courage to take another into the confidence. away the wreckage” of our past.

But, all who have practiced the Step successfully are quick to say, Phil F., Tustin too, that the tremendous relief which follows compensates richly for whatever mental pain and labor may be experienced in the beginning. Confession, of course, has eased men all through his- tory. Its rewards have not diminished and are within reach of the “Insanity isn’t doing the same thing over again expecting different A.A. who has advanced to this point in his recovery of a useful results. That’s stupidity. and happy way of life. Insanity is knowing the answer and not applying it to your life.” Anonymous The Grapevine , March 1947

Page 4 Tradition 5 SPEAKER MEETINGS Garden Grove 6/07 Glenn H., Tustin Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a Thursday Night Speaker Mtg 6/14 Jo H., Bellflower 6/21 Noreen G., Orange spiritual entity having but one primary purpose – that of carry- 8:00 pm Garden Grove Alano Club 6/28 Bob M., Irvine ing its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. – Tradition 9845 Belfast Dr 7/05 Judy S., Costa Mesa Five (long form) from the Twelve and Twelve, Page 190. Contact: John S. 7/12 Mike R. (Goose), Tustin 5/01 Robin G., Garden Grove 7/19 Charlotte B., Anaheim Why A.A. Exists 5/08 Malcolm G., Fountain Vly 7/26 John C., Tustin 5/15 Sharon B., Anaheim 8/02 Gary B., Orange 5/22 Nick R., Huntington Beach 8/09 Teri Q., Lake Forest What did the writers mean back in 1946 when 5/29 Tim V., Huntington Beach 8/16 Johnie Q., Lake Forest they wrote this Tradition? (Birthday Night) 8/23 Sharon D., Orange Specifically, what did they mean when they 8/30 Jackie Y., Tustin identified the primary purpose for the existence of Alco- Garden Grove holics Anonymous? Saturday Night Speakers Tustin 8:00 pm Participation, Speaker, Q & A Let’s check the dictionary. Primary means Garden Grove Alano Club 9:02 am—11:00 am, Sunday “first in rank, quality or importance,” Fine. But what does 9845 Belfast Dr 130 West Main Street (Hall) it mean when applied to the need to carry the message to Contact: Jon W. Contact: Mike R. the alcoholic who still suffers? Taken literally, it means 5/04 John S., Yorba Linda that we of A.A. have no greater task than the imparting of Huntington Beach 5/11 Patrick V., Tustin Saturday Night Lite Speakers 5/18 TBA the miracle of recovery to those who have yet to hear 7:00 pm 5/25 Linda O., Long Beach about it. It is the reason, once sober, for our very exis- HOW Hall, 18582 Beach Blvd tence. Behind Flower Kiosk @ Ellis Tustin I’d love to be able to say that this is the way I Contact: Kevin B. Sober & Crazy Sunday Night live my life today. But that would be a lie. I am still 5/03 Chris S., Costa Mesa Speakers 7:00 PM 5/10 Kelly K., Costa Mesa 130 West Main Street (Hall) working diligently to be free of that defect of character. 5/17 Johnny K., Huntington Beach Contact: Heather V. What I can say is that this is the way I attempt to live my 5/24 John D., Huntington Beach 5/04 Regina K., Laguna Beach life today. 5/31 John H., Huntington Beach 5/11 Ron R., Huntington Beach 5/18 Ann B., Tustin Newport Beach 5/25 Kurt H., Tustin Balboa Speaker Meeting 6/01 Allison H., Santa Ana 7:30 pm, Thursday 6/08 Mike C., Orange Newport Club, 414 East 32nd Ave 6/15 Crystal, Tustin Contact: Jim K. 6/22 Ron The A.A. Grapevine publishes a checklist so that 6/29 Joannie, Orange members, individually or as a group, can measure their Orange adherence to the Traditions. We can ask ourselves the No Puffers Speaker Meeting 8:00 pm, Friday Please submit speaker questions on that checklist and be aware of how badly we Community of Christ Church information to the are missing the mark of carrying the message. Here are 385 S. Tustin Ave editor at some of those questions that set off fireworks in my home Contact: Garry B. group a year or so ago: [email protected] “Do I ever cop out by saying, “I’m not a group, San Clemente by the 15th of the Thursday Night Big Speaker Mtg. month so this or that Tradition doesn’t apply to me”? 8:00 pm, Thursday “Am I willing to explain firmly to a newcomer San Clemente Friendship Center the limitations of AA help, even if he gets mad at me for Contact: Sean M.. not giving him a loan? 5/01 Tom W., Dana Point The listed speakers have been “Do I help my group in every way I can to ful- 5/08 Bob L., Glendale invited by the respective groups 5/15 Clancy I, Los Angeles and their message does not fill our primary purpose?” 5/22 Frank J., Ingelwood Finally, there is a phrase in the long form of this imply the endorsement of the 5/29 Surprise Guest Speaker Orange County Intergroup nor Tradition that is completely absent in the short form. The their Central Office. phrase is “… ought to be a spiritual entity … “Why Bill Tustin and the others left it out of the short form is anyone’s Saturday Night Visiting Speaker 8:00 pm guess. It really needs to be accented for all of us. St. Paul’s Church, 1221 Waas That’s because many of us with apparent short attention Contact: Glenn H. spans can easily forget who it is we’re working for in our 5/03 Kevin S., Irvine battle to reclaim the lives of men and women addicted to 5/10 Betsy S., Tustin alcohol. 5/17 Lou L., Tustin 5/24 Leslie R., Tustin George L., Westminster 5/31 Robert E., Tustin

Page 5 Sharon’s Story

My name is Sharon and I’m an alcoholic. I’ve been sober Happy Birthday!! for 20 years. I came to Alcoholics Anonymous not believing I was an al- Alicia G. Costa Mesa 2 years coholic but it wasn’t too long when I found out I was. My son- Teri B. San Clemente 4 years in-law was in the kitchen and I wanted to get a drink badly. We Jim G. Huntington Beach 4 years fought and he won. But I won, too, since I didn’t get to drink. I Paul P. Fullerton 15 years got to a meeting and my sponsor was there. He said are you at Doug P. Irvine 17 years the right meeting. I said no but what are you doing here. I still Laura C. Sun Valley, ID 18 years wanted to drink badly. Boy, was he upset with me. Judith C. Huntington Beach 23 years He told me to make three promises. I have kept all three. John C. Huntington Beach 23 years They are: Don’t drink. Keep coming back. And grow up, show Bob C. Sun Valley, ID 24 years up and sober up with the help of God, the meetings and the Big Laura Capo Beach 26 years Book, with emphasis on the Twelve Steps. Karen B. Orange 27 years My grandfather had 27 years sober. My mom was his spon- Jim S. Costa Mesa 31 years sor in the old days. They used ideas from the Big Book on Bill W. Laguna Niguel 34 years sponsorship. Today I get to help alcoholic women in jails and other insti- tutions, having been there myself a long time ago after being arrested for a DUI. Today I get to answer phones at Central Office on Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. And I also get to Help keep the doors of AA open so that new members may receive the sponsor a few women. This is what Alcoholics Anonymous has same help so many of us have already received. Make a donation of any done for me. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. amount for an AA Birthday—yours or someone else’s—and we will help celebrate by publishing their name and years of sobriety in the Lifeline . Sharon B., Santa Ana irthday celebration From the April, 1977, Lifeline … Donation enclosed for a b

WHO AM I ? NAME: I am more deadly than the shell from a howitzer, I ruin CITY: Donations of any without killing; I tear down homes; I break hearts and YEARS CELEBRATED: amount are greatly I wreck lives. I have no respect for the truth or justice, appreciated. no mercy for the defenseless. You will find me in the Please send this form with your donation to: pews of the pious, and the haunts of the unholy. I am Orange County Central Office wily, cunning and malicious. I gather strength with age. 1526 E. Warner, Suite 75, Santa Ana, California 92705 I feed on good and bad alike. My victims are as numer- ous as the sands of the sea, often as innocent. I AM GOSSIP!

Am I guilty? Sometimes! More often than I like to ad- WEB SITE STATISTICS mit, I speak of love— and then put down my brother! The first on-line issue of the Lifeline was I talk of "carrying the message" and end up carrying posted to our web site in July of 2006. How- tales! I take the age-old AA saying "some are sicker ever, when our site hosting company changed than others" and turn it from an expression servers in June, 2007, some usage statistics of compassion into an expression of con- before then were lost. Since January, 2007, the tempt. I sit in judgment on the other guy's Lifeline home page has been viewed 5,096 times. Individual sobriety, and then wonder why at times issue files have been viewed 8,194 times. my own seems to be at a standstill. Can I do better? Of course I can. If I try! One In March, there were 16,709 "visits" to www.ocaa.org . From day at a time, I will try. lf we all tried, then our way July, 2007, through March, visits average 13,988 per month. of life would be as God meant it to be, a program of love, tolerance and joy. I am sure of one thing. I have been both the perpetrator and the recipient of gossip. And I hurt more from being the perpetrator than I ever People who think they know hurt being the recipient. Am I guilty? Sometimes—but God, with Your help, I’ll try! everything are very irritating to

Filing Cabinet , Salt River Intergroup...H.A. L.T. those of us who do. -Lake Tahoe .

Page 6 WHATS HAPPENING Public Information District 5 The Public Information committee of Dis- May 16-18, 2008 June 12-15, 2008 trict 5 is looking forward to being involved in TRI-STATE 24th A.A. DESERT POW WOW the community with as many events as pos- ANNUAL ROUND-UP with Al-Anon participation Riverside Resort Hotel Indian Wells, CA sible this year. Currently serving the cities of & Casino www.desertpowwow.com Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, and Villa Park it has within in its Laughlin, NV July 3-6, 2008 boundaries many opportunities to be of service. The commit- www.tristate-roundup.com 50th ICYPAA 2008 tee will be at various public events this year giving out pam- Renaissance Marriott phlets about what AA is and what AA is not along with meet- May 20-23, 2008 Oklahoma City, OK ing directories so those who need AA will be able to find it. 3RD ANNUAL A.A. www.50thicypaa.org Current events scheduled so far are the following: The 19 th SENIORS IN SOBRIETY Annual COPS event at The Block of Orange put on by the City CONFERENCE July 3-6, 2008 of Orange Police Department on June 7, 2008. We will be Queen Mary Hotel 24th ANNUAL SOUTHBAY Long Beach, CA ROUNDUP staffing a booth for the day with AA information available for [email protected] Torrance Marriott the taking. For the kids we give out the comic book info about www.2008SISconference.org Torrance, CA AA that all children seem to enjoy. www.southbayroundup.org We look forward to assisting with Orange County Intergroup in the staffing of the booth at the OC Fair during the month of July 2008. Lastly we are reviewing the Big Books in the Public Please submit events Library project that we started last year and hope to expand to the editor at that project by placing meeting directories in the local hotels [email protected] by the 15th of the month and motels. The committee is always looking for speakers for schools and health fairs and people to staff booths at commu- nity events. Alex N. District 5 Public Information

CENTRAL OFFICE ACTIVITY-March

Total Calls Handled by Both Offices: 3023

Main and Satellite Office Volunteers

12 Step Calls 9 Meeting Information 1152 General Information 505 Walk-in Customers 324

Night Owl Volunteers 12 Step calls 6 Meeting Information 714 General Information 313

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.

There is something about a closet that makes a skeleton restless.

One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives.

When your dreams turn to dust, vacuum.

When one door closes another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us.

Page 7 MEETING CHANGES Closed name 5:00 PM (C) WOMENS STEP STUDY 27514 FULLERTON SINCE JANUARY 7, 2008 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) 6:00 PM PARTICIPATION 1115 W. SUNDAY Name change Orangethorpe @ Euclid Name change COSTA MESA WEDNESDAY 8:00 PM (C) FRIDAY NIGHT 12 & 12 STUDY 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- COSTA MESA 1145 W Valencia Mesa Dr (Church) Time port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- change ORANGE port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting GARDEN GROVE 6:00 PM CHAPTER 9 FAMILY AFTERWARD FULLERTON 6:00 PM THANK GOD FOR FRIDAY 9845 BB STUDY 250 S Prospect @ Chapman(Child 6:00 PM (C) WHERE WOMEN ARE GATH- Belfast Dr. (patio) Name change Care) Name change ERED 1115 W. Orangethorpe @ Euclid HUNTINGTON BEACH Closed SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 6:00 PM (C) MEN IN THE SOLUTION 7111 8:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo HUNTINGTON BEACH Talbert Ave c/s Goldenwest St (Huntington off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change 2:00 PM SENIORS & FRIENDS 1706 Orange Library) Address change Ave @ 17th (M E Rodgers Seniors Ctr) Address LAGUNA NIGUEL MONDAY change COSTA MESA 10:30 AM (C) FRIDAY MORNING WOMENS 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- 7:30 PM (C) ROLLING MEN'S STAG BB MEETING 30071 Ivy Glenn c/s Niguel Rd & port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting STUDY Meeting will be in HB or LongB New Alicia Pkwy (Presbyterian Church) Address 4:00 PM (C) LET GO & LET GOD 420 W meeting change 19th St.(1st Methodist Church across from Tri- SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO angle Square) Closed 7:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo 7:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo HUNTINGTON BEACH off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change 6:30 PM BOTH BOOKS STUDY 16871 Bolsa 10:00 AM (C) WOMEN'S STEP STUDY 12:00 PM OPEN DISCUSSION 27514 Calle Chica Rd. (St. Peters Church) Open 27514 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) New IRVINE (Comm Ctr) Time Change meeting 7:30 PM (C) WOMEN'S DISCUSSION 15 12:00 PM OPEN DISCUSSION 27514 Calle SATURDAY Orange Tree c/s Irvine Center Dr (Pacific Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) New COSTA MESA Church) Address change meeting 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- NEWPORT BEACH THURSDAY port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting 3:30 PM LIVING SOBER 414 E. 32nd St ALISO VIEJO 7:30 PM BIG BOOK STUDY GROUP 2040 Name change 7:30 PM JOURNEY THRU THE BIG BOOK Placentia Ave. New meeting SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 23 Journey @ Aliso Creek Rd (Office Bldg) 7:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo New meeting IRVINE 9:15 AM STEP STUDY 5101 Alton Parkway, off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change ANAHEIM @ Jeffrey (St John Neumann) Address change 12:00 PM (C) WOMEN'S DAILY REFLEC- 7:30 PM (C) MEN'S DOG ON THE ROOF TIONS 27514 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo 4421 E La Palma Ave. Address change LAS FLORES 7:15 PM MISSION SPEAKERS 26111 Anto- Rd. (Comm Ctr) Closed COSTA MESA nio Pkwy @ Oso Pkwy (Water Dist. Board Rm) 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- YORBA LINDA Address change 7:30 PM 12 STEP STUDY PARTICIPATION port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting 2505 Yorba Linda Blvd (Eastside Church, Rm 7:00 PM (C) 12 STEPS & 12 TRADITIONS SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO 123, downstairs) New meeting STUDY 183 E. Bay St. @ Orange, (St Johns 6:30 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo Church) Closed off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change 8:00 PM DISCUSSION 4861 Liverpool @ Yorba Linda Blvd (Messiah Church) Open LAGUNA HILLS 8:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo 7:00 PM (G) AS BILL SEES IT 23802 off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change TUESDAY Avenida de la Carlota (St Geroge's Church) 12:00 PM WOMEN'S JAY WALKERS 27514 COSTA MESA New meeting Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- New meeting port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting LOS ALAMITOS 7:30 PM (C) COVER TO COVER WOMEN'S 4:30 PM LIVING SOBER 27514 Calle Arroyo 6:30 PM MEN'S STAG 2214 Rutgers Dr (c/s BB STUDY 11082 Wallingsford (Church) Name off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change Wilson Dr & Fairview) Address change change 8:00 PM JAY WALKER II 27514 Calle Arroyo HUNTINGTON BEACH SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change 7:30 PM BEGINNERS MEN'S GROUP 1912 Florida St C/S Adams & Beach (Downstairs) 7:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) New name MEETING DELETIONS SINCE Non-smoking JANUARY 7, 2008 LAGUNA BEACH 12:15 PM (C) MEN'S BROWN BAG 27514 TUESDAY 7:30 PM (C,G) MEN'S STAG 429 Cypress St Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Btwn Myrtle & Jasmine (Unitarian Church, base- Closed SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ment classrm) Reestablished 5:00 PM (C) WOMEN'S TOPIC DISCUSSION 7:00 PM 12 AND 12 NEVER HAD IT SO 31882 Camino Capistrano c/s Ortega Hwy New 32261 Camino Capistrano (SJC Plaza, Back- NEWPORT BEACH meeting side of Center) 7:00 PM ON THE BEACH Balboa Pier @ THURSDAY Palm (fire ring) Time change 7:00 PM BIG BOOK WORKSHOP 27514 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) LAGUNA BEACH SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO New name 7:00 PM (C) WOMEN'S STEP STUDY 7:00 AM EYE OPENER 27514 Calle Arroyo FRIDAY (NOVEMBER - MARCH) 31872 Pacific Coast off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr) Name change Hwy (Hospital in Cafeteria) COSTA MESA 10:00 AM (C) WOMENS DISCUSSION 7:30 PM (C) WOMEN'S STEP STUDY 12:15 PM NEW LEASE ON LIFE 1545 New- 27514 Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (MARCH - NOVEMBER) 31872 Pacific Coast port Blvd c/s 15th (Lease Outlet) New meeting (Comm Ctr) Name change Hwy (Hospital in Cafeteria) 8:00 PM (C) BIG BOOK ADVENTURERS 12:15 PM (C) MEN'S BROWN BAG 27514 2114 Thurin St @ Victoria St (Grange Hall) New LAKE FOREST Calle Arroyo off Rancho Viejo Rd. (Comm Ctr)

Page 8 GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRAL OFFICE— March GROUP DONATIONS 2008 BY MONTH Th 10:00A-(W)'s BB Stdy, 18631 Chapel $60 LAGUNA WOODS ^ ^ CITY AND MEETINGS MAR YTD Th 6:00P-Ovr 40/Going Strong, 18582 Bch $100 $100 Dly 7:30A-Do It Sober, 24442 Moulton $1,098 ALISO VIEJO ^ ^ Fr 10:00A-Step Sisters, 20444 Magnolia $90 We 7:30A-BB Meeting, 2444 Moulton $120 We 1:15P-(W)'s BB Stdy, 24351 El Toro $70 $140 Journey through the BB, 23 Journey $32 $32 Fr 6:00P-(M)'s/Solution, 17461 Zeider $140 Fr 10:00A-Top/Hill Gang, 24252 El Toro $75 BUENA PARK ^ ^ Fr 7:30P-BB Stdy, 16650 Saybrook Lane $70 Fr 8:00P-HB Downtowners, 2000 Main $30 LA HABRA ^ ^ CAPISTRANO BEACH ^ ^ Sa 7:30A-Attitude Mod, 18582 Beach $120 $120 M-F 6:30A-Topic Disc, 100 W. La Habra $60 Su 9:30A-Sandy Survivors, Doheney $152 Sa 7:30A-(M)'s Stag, 18582 Beach $65 LAKE FOREST ^ ^ Fr 7:00P-Friday Knights, 25976 Domingo $91 Sa 9:30A-W BB Stdy, 18582 Beach $166 Th 7:30P-Mustard Seed SS, 23262 El Toro $252 $302 Sa 6:00P-Keep It Simple, 34381 Portola $152 Sa 7:00P-Sat Nite Live BB, 18631 Chapel $30 LA MIRADA ^ ^ CORONA DEL MAR ^ ^ IRVINE ^ ^ LOS ALAMITOS ^ ^ $1,75 Dly 6:30A-Sunrise Sobriety, 4400 Barr $1,865 We-7:30P-Ice Breakers Grp, 4111 Katella $100 Dly 7:00A-Solutions Oasis, 5th & Marg 0 M-F 12:00P-Irvine Noon Grp, 5101 Alton $400 $900 MISSION VIEJO ^ ^ M-F 6:45A-Daily Attitude Adj, 5th & Marg $700 $700 Su 10:00A-Donut Mtg., 6670 Alton Pky $100 $320 Mo 7:00P- (W)'s SS, 26051 Marg. $120 Mo 7:00P-Baywood Disc, 1601 Marguerite $100 $150 Mo 6:30P-Gypsies (W)'s, Turtlerock CC $130 We 9:30A-(W)'s, 26051 Marguerite Pky $100 Fr 7:30P-Rebels Disc, 611 Heliotrope $280 Tu 6:00P-Courage To Change, 18182 Cul $70 Th 9:30A-(W)'s 12 x 12, 26001 Blascos $80 COSTA MESA ^ ^ Tu 7:00P-(M)'s K.I.S. 12X12, 14301 Yale $70 $140 Sa 7:15P-Mission Spkrs, 24932 Veterans $160 Dly 7:00A-Daily Reflect, 2040 Placentia $100 $250 We 6:30P-B. B. Topic Disc., 5001 Nwprt $98 $258 NEWPORT BEACH ^ ^ Dly 7:30A-As Bill Sees It, 2501 Harbor $700 We 7:30P-Wild Bunch Beg's, 10 Federat $144 $144 M-F 6:30A-Balboa Round Table, 605 Bal $500 Dly 12:45P-New Lease/Life, 1545 Nwprt $315 We 8:00P-12 Solutions SS, Harvard $100 $100 M-F 12:15P-Shark@Aquatic, 1Whitecliffs $500 $1,500 M-F 6:45A-Morning Meditat, 183 E. Bay $120 $240 Th 12:00P-Irvine (M)'s Lunch, 5001 Nwprt $103 $103 M-F 5:30P-Fish Out'a Water, 414 E 32nd $150 $150 M-F 12:00P-Noon Rec, 420 W. 19th St. $116 $535 Th 6:30P-(W)'s Gypsies, Deerfield & Turtle $130 $260 Su 11:30A-Here and Now, 414 E 32nd St $50 $50 Su 10:00A-BB Over Donuts, 301 Victoria $15 $15 Fr 10:30A-Over 50 Grp, 6670 Alton $90 $252 Su 9:30A-Sandy Survivors, On/Beach $250 $250 Mo 12:00P-Clean & Serene BB, 660 Baker $40 Fr 12:00P-(W)'s Topic Disc, 5101 Alton P $100 Su 7:00P-Primary Purp Grp, Dover&16th $155 Tu 7:00P-A 11th Step Sol, 2850 Fairview $100 $200 Fr 5:30P-Topic Disc.Grp, 6670 Alton Pky $111 $309 Mo 9:00A-(W)'s Step Stdy, 414 E. 32nd $70 Tu 7:30P-Balboa Broads, 420 W 19th St $50 $50 Fr 7:00P Winning Tkt Bk Stdy, 1 Sunnyh $228 $278 Mo 12:30P-Back Bay (M)'s, 1201 Irvine $700 We 12:00P-High Noon Step, 660 Baker $40 Fr 7:30P-Boys in Sobriety, 4400 Barranca $483 Mo 3:30P-A Vision 4 U-414 E. 32nd St. $210 We 7:30P-BB Trivia (M)'s Stag, 1545 New $169 Fr 8:00P-Nite Wild Bunch, 18422 Culver $100 Mo 6:45P-Beg.&Trad Grp,1400 Balboa $469 Fr 12:00P-Bizman Stag, 660 Baker $23 $40 Fr 8:00P-Little Grp, 18422 Culver $140 Mo 8:00P-(M)'s Disc, 301 Nwprt Blvd $168 $333 Sa 9:30A-(M)'s, Charle Street $120 Sa 9:15A-SS, 6670 Alton Pky $63 $258 Mo 8:00P-(W)'s Disc., 301 Nwprt Blvd $50 Sa 9:30A-Charle St. Overflow, 2025 Charle $142 $502 Sa 11:00A-Acceptance Grp, 3 Ethel Cop $102 $236 Tu 3:30P-Disc, 414 E. 32nd St $77 Sa 9:30A-Sat Morn (W)'s Gr, 2040 Placen $140 Sa 11:00A-B.B Stdy, 1 Sunnyhill - Turtle $120 $120 Tu 7:00P-B St Bonfire-1st Fire Ring/Ocean $100 Sa 6:00P-Cover-To-Cover, 183 E Bay St $110 Sa 7:00P-Spkrs, 1 Sunnyhill - Turtle $200 Tu 7:00P-(W)'s B/Stdy, 2414VistaDelOro $67 $91 CYPRESS ^ ^ LAGUNA BEACH ^ ^ We 3:30P-SS, 414 E. 32nd Street $42 DANA POINT ^ ^ Dly 7:05A-Attitude Adj, 31872 PCH $226 $1,766 We 7:00P-Steps&Trads, 2100 Mar Vista $60 $60 Mo 5:30P-(W)'s Disc, Ensenada & DPH $125 $263 M-F 7:00A-Meets At Ruby's, 30622 PCH $16 $16 Th 7:00P-Over 40's, 414 32nd Street $70 Mo 7:00P-Promises, 34052 Del Obispo $123 Su 7:05A-Montage Grp, (Montage) $192 Fr 12:15P-(M)'s Business Disc, 414 32nd $350 Tu 9:30A-(W)'s Back to, 24642 San Juan $221 Su 6:00P-GV Stdy, 21632 Wesley Dr $158 Sa 8:30P-Hoag Hut Spkr, 301 Nwprt Ave $230 Sa 7:00P-Spkr, 33926 Calle Primavera $96 $96 Su 7:00P-TIS Spkrs, 31872 Coast Hwy $117 $279 ORANGE ^ ^ FOUNTAIN VALLEY ^ ^ Su 7:30P-Su Participation, 20456 LCR $50 Dly 7:00A-Early Birds, 812 Town&Cntry $297 $637 We 8:00P-Disc, 10280 Slater $70 Mo 6:30P-BB Stdy, 20456 LCR $53 Su 11:00A-Sun Pumprs, 705 W LaVeta $140 $350 Su 8:00P-Sun Nite Spkr Mtg, 1115 Orange $50 Mo 6:30P-(W)'s Perspect., 20456LCR $123 Su 6:00P-Chapter 9 OBS, 250 Prospect $50 GARDEN GROVE ^ ^ Mo 6:30P-(W)'s BB Stdy, Wesley $100 Su 7:00P-Spkr/Orange,1800 E LaVeta $84 Su 7:30A-Red Eye Grp, 9845 Belfast $38 Mo 7:00P-Mon Night (M)'s Stag @Pat's $50 $50 Mo 7:00P-(W)'s Step Stdy, 161 Orange $347 Tu 7:00P-Top/Key Book Stdy, 9th & Lamp $80 $160 Mo 8:00P-(M)'s Stag, 20456 LCR $150 We 7:00A-New Beg (W), 812 Town & C. $60 We 10:00A-Ovr 50 Sin/Purp, 9845 Belf $45 Tu 12:30P-Serenity-Sea (W)'s, Wesley $75 RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA ^ ^ We 12:00P-(W)'s, 9845 Belfast $15 $40 Tu 12:00P-Promises Disc, 20456 LCR $88 Su 7:00P-Old Time AA 12&12, 30605 Fl $125 Th 10:00A-Over 40 Disc. Grp, 9845 Belf $60 Tu 12:30P-(W)'s Disc, 20456 LCR $200 Mo 7:00P-(W)'sSta/Sober, 30382VCD $100 $100 Tu 7:30P-Old Time BB Stdy, 30322 VCD $180 Th 7:00P-SS, 12432 9th St. $25 We/Sat 7:00A-Whale Watch (M)'s, PCH $467 $665 We 7:30P-RSM StepStdy, 30382 VCD $150 Th 8:00P-Spkr, 9845 Belfast Dr. $20 We 8:00P-So.Coast Spkrs, 286 St. Anns $650 $650 Th 7:30P-11th Stp Spt Disc, 22521 Emp $120 Fr 10:30A-(W)'s (C)12 & 12, 9845 Blfst $36 $36 Th 6:30P-(M)'s BYOB 12& 12 SS, 21632 $140 Fr 7:30P-Roads End Part, 30322 VCD $120 Sa 10:30A-BB Stdy, 9845 Belfast $95 Fr 6:00 P-Happy Hour & Half, 20456 LCR $225 Sa 10:30A-(W)'s BB Stdy, VCD $100 $100 Sa 8:00P-Sat Nite Spkrs, 9845 Belfast $20 Fr 6:00P-Literature Mtg, 21632 Wesley $122 SAN CLEMENTE ^ ^ HUNTINGTON BEACH ^ ^ Fr. 7:30P-Surrender to Win, 20456 LCR $189 Mo 7:00P-N.O.I. (M)'s, Camino Capist $210 Dly 6:00A-Early Birds, 18582 Beach #2 $44 $44 Fr 8:00P-Here & Now, 21632 Wesley $120 $120 Tu 6:00P-(W)'s Disc, 190 Ave La Pata $132 $132 Dly 7:00A-Hggrs/Bill Sees It, 8200 Ellis $950 Sa 12:30P-Into Action, 20456 LCR $70 $70 Fr 8:00P-Aragon Spkrs, 202 Ave. Aragon $250 Dly 8:00A-Hggrs II, H.B Lifegrd Tower 11 $515 Sa 7:00P-Beginners, 31872 PCH $660 $660 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ^ ^ Su 9:00A-On/Beach, Lifegrd Tower 11 $90 Sa 8:00P-Endless Sum II, 21540 Wesley $745 $745 Dly 7:00A-Eye Opener, 27514 C Arroyo $762 $2,402 Su 7:30P-Disc, 20444 Magnolia $120 $240 Sa 8:00P-Night Spkr Mtg, 20456 LCR $900 Su 5:00P-1 Hr Top Disc, 27514 C Arroyo $60 Mo 12:00P-(W)'s Bill Sees It, 18631 Chap $90 $180 LAGUNA HILLS ^ ^ Tu 7:00P- Hear Here Part, 27514 C Arroyo $190 Mo 6:00P-Spkr/Q&A/Part, 6622 Lakeview $210 $210 Mo 6:00P-(W)'sDisc, 23802 A D Carlota $84 $174 Th 7:00P-Joy of Sobriety, 31495 E C Real $147 Mo 6:30P-Both Books, 16871 BolsaChic $50 $50 We 7:00P-Get Happy 12&12 Stdy, A D C $30 SANTA ANA ^ ^ Mo 7:30P-(M)'s BB & 12&12, 1912 Flor $120 $240 LAGUNA NIGUEL ^ ^ Su 5:00P-Two Or More, 721 Euclid $70 Mo 7:30P-(W)'s Sans, 18631 Chapel Ln. $120 $180 Mo 10:30A-(W)'s 12X12 Stdy, 30121 Nig $150 Fr 8:00P-51/50, 614 Bush Street $30 $90 Tu 7:30P-Beginners (M)'s, 1912 Florida $215 Mo 8:00P-12&12 Stdy, 30121 Niguel Rd $180 SEAL BEACH ^ ^ Tu 7:30P-(W)'s Disc., 8200 Ellis $70 Tu 6:00P-Chicks/Run SS, 2702 El Lazo $70 Mo 7:30P-Seal Bch Spkrs, 500 Marina Dr $360 Tu 7:30P-(W)'s Serenity BB, 20444 Magn $118 $118 We 6:00P-Book Stdy, 30121 Niguel Rd. $360 SILVERADO CANYON ^ ^ Tu 8:00P-Newcms (M)'s Grp, 20444 Magn $127 We 7:30P-Book Stdy, 30121 Niguel Rd. $32 $32 Th 7:30P-Fireside Disc, 17641 Silverado C $72 $72 We 7:30A-Attitude Mod, 18582 Beach $60 Fr 10:30A-(W)'s Disc., 30121 Niguel Rd. $240 $240 We 2:00P-Seniors & Friends 1718 Orng $120 Sa 6:00P-Candlelight Disc, 30121Niguel $40 Continued on page 9 Page 9 A Farewell Letter Donations continued from page 8 IN LOVING MEMORY ^ ^

Dear Chardonnay, SUNSET BEACH ^ ^ GROUP INFORMATION REQUESTED ^ ^ Su 10:00A-Sunset Bch Mtg, PCH & Warner $88 Receipt # 8953 $108 I have come to the realization that I was disil- Receipt # 9326 $20 Su 1:00P-(W)'s 12 Step Study, 16865 PCH $50 $50 lusioned with our relationship and that I will Receipt # 9340 $150 Su 7:00P-11th SS, 16865 PCH $120 no longer be sharing my time or my body with Mo 7:00A-Disc, 16865 PCH $60 Receipt # 9389 $60 you. I was vulnerable when you seduced me Tu 7:00A-Disc, 16865 PCH $50 $50 Receipt # 9787 $175 as you sparkled through the crystal cut glass. Tu 6:00P-Disc, 16865 P.C.H. $30 Receipt # 9772 $396 You appeared so elegant, classy and sexy with Receipt # 9774 $210 the light radiating Th 7:00A-Disc, 16865 PCH $60 Fr 12:00P-Disc, 16865 PCH $40 Receipt # 9838 $422 $422 through your transparent TOTALS $14,935 $53,597 body. Nothing could Sa 7:00P-Rule 62 Spkrs, 16865 PCH $100 hold me back in my weak- TUSTIN ^ ^ ened state and I reached Dly 6:00A-Foothill Early Risers, 19211 $200 for your taste. It was Dly 6:00A-Attitude Adj, 14662 Nwprt $100 warm, buttery and invit- Dly 6:00A-Attitude Mod, 130 W. Main $239 ing to my palate. The Dly 12:00P-Brown Baggers, 130 W. Main $380 $668 sensations you gave me as Dly 5:30P-Rush Hour, 130 W. Main. $607 $1,867 you slithered down my M-F 12:00P-Alkies Winners, 555 W.Main $186 $655 body were tantalizing and I grew to only want Su 9:02A-Spkrs, 130 W. Main $190 more of you. You brought comfort to me in Su 7:00P-Sober & Crazy Spkrs, 130 W my loneliness, washing away all my pain. Main $831 $831 However brief these moments lasted, you Mo 7:30P-(M)'s Disc, 130 W Main $112 enabled me to feel beautiful when all else Tu 8:00P-Steps 1-4, 1201 Irvine $60 looked dim. I thought I loved you. We 7:00P-Lucky Stiffs (M)'s, 18542 Vander $85 $85 We 7:00P-(W)'s Solutions, 19211 Dodge $142 We had many a good time together despite the Th 9:00A-(W)'s SS, 14402 Prospect $70 Meeting Changes continued from page 7 mornings after when you slapped me along Th 12:00P-(W)'s 12 & 12 BB, 19211 Dodge $102 side the head and made my legs weak and Th 6:15P-(W)'s Living Sober, 1201 Irvine Bl $190 7:00 PM (G) HERE & NOW 24601 Ray- mond Way #9 @ El Toro Rd hands tremble. I knew then something was Fr 7:30P-Turning The Corner, 1221 Wass $48 terribly wrong but felt maybe I could some- Sa 8:00P-Visiting Spkrs, 1221 Wass $105 SATURDAY how fix it by not being so needy of you. In- VILLA PARK ^ ^ CORONA DEL MAR stead of spending an evening with you I would Dly 7:30A-24 Hour Book Grp, 17855 Santia $397 6:00 PM BEGINNERS TOPIC DISC. 5th & decide to go and take a Yoga class or see a WESTMINSTER ^ ^ Iris (Community Youth Center) movie, anything to keep my mind off of you. Mo 7:30P-12&12Beginners, 15750 Mag $81 RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA These proved to become futile attempts as I WHITTIER ^ ^ was already trapped by your spell, becoming UNLISTED GROUPS ^ ^ 7:30 PM RSM IN DEPTH BIG BOOK STUDY 30322 Via Con Dios c/s RMS Pkwy (Church) increasingly obsessed with my desire and Dly 12:15P-Lse Outlet, 1545 Nwprt, CM cravings for you. Nothing could replace you (UL) $385 now. I was trapped in your web, powerless. Su 5:30P-H.B. Creative Sharing, 18582

(UL) $210 But now I am free of your grip as I have sur- rendered this relationship to God and His Tu 5:30P-BB Tape Stdy (UL) IR $80 $166 Grace has melted this unhealthy obsession We 8:00P-Beginners (UL) GG (13472Gilbert) $30 into nothingness. Your jealousy built a wall Th Joe Quinn BK Stdy, (UL) LB $20 $20 between me and my God. My love for you Fr 8:00P-Family Afterward (UL) Sunset B $70 $170 was just an illusion that for someone like me could only prove deadly. I do not miss your Sa-HB-Camel (UL) $60 taste or how you made me feel by your touch Campfire Girls UL $59 for I now can taste a much more fulfilling and Mo 7:00P YL (M)'s Surrender UL $20 joyful experience by being fully present and WANDERING GROUPS ^ ^ facing whatever life may bring my way with Sa 8:00P-Orange County Wandering Grp $20 $20 God at the helm. He is my love and He must MISC. DONATIONS ^ ^ Higher Power, My inventory has come first. OCCO Change Can $10 $10 shown me who I am, yet I ask Satellite Office Change Can $5 $18 I’m sure your initial intensions were innocent, Intergroup Meeting $80 $256 for Your help in admitting my but you and I are a poisonous combination. AOCYPAA $334 wrongs to another person & to Others who are wired a bit differently than 4th Step Workshop, Laguna Beach $265 You. Assure me, and be with me me can now enjoy your fruit. I just ask that PERSONAL DONATIONS ^ ^ you please show mercy and quell your seduc- Anonymous/January $30 in this Step, for without this Step tive nature from other unsuspecting vulner- Anonymous/March $37 $37 I cannot progress in my recov- able sots. Anonymous/March $250 $250 ery. With Your help, I can do B. H, Dana Point $20 this and I will do it. Au Revoir, Crystal B, Rancho Santa Margarita $70 David S, Fountain Valley $100 Sharon June L, Irvine $75 $125 Linda L, Lake Elsinore $200 $200

Page 10 BE OF SERVICE!! ORANGE COUNTY

“ALCOHOLICS INTERGROUP ASSOCIATION OF AA ANONYMOUS, Statement of Income and Expenses for Period Ending 2/29/08 HOW MAY WE HELP YOU?” FEBRUARY YTD

CALL FORWARDING: INCOME The call forwarding program, instituted by Group Donations 16,613.15 38,601.24 Orange County Central Office, insures that Individual/Fellowship 108.00 288.00 our help line phones are answered by volun- Literature Sales 15,559.27 25,848.51 teers 24/7. During hours when the Central Birthday Donations 218.65 622.65 Office is closed, calls to the Central Office In Memoriam 0.00 0.00 are forwarded to a call forwarding volun- Intergroup Donations 84.85 176.10 teer’s home or cell phone, where the volun- Special Events 0.00 0.00 teer answers the calls just as if he or she were sitting in the Central Office. This ser- Interest Income 270.13 503.87 vice allows the Central Office to realize a Misc. (Repaid Bounced Checks) 0.00 266.83 significant costs savings because we do not need to contract with a phone answering TOTAL INCOME: 32,854.05 66,307.20 service. Even more vital, when a call is

placed to Alcoholics Anonymous in Orange County, the caller will be talking to an Al- EXPENSES coholics Anonymous member, not a phone Audits/Accounting 0.00 4,000.00 service! This truly is “front-line” 12 th Step Auto (All Managers) 46.56 117.86 work and we would appreciate any time you Bank Charge 0.00 0.00 can give. Cash/Invoices OverShort -9.32 18.75

SHIFTS: Insurances 2,510.00 5,796.25 Monday thru Friday shifts are 9pm to 6am Intergroup Expense 89.97 325.47 and 6am to 9am. Saturday shifts start with Lease Expense 389.07 778.14 the 6am to 9am. The Central Office opens Maintenance & Repairs 0.00 152.46 and covers from 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. Volunteers Coffee + Water 26.01 74.78 The phones are then forwarded to volun- Offices' Supplies 311.24 855.82 teers to cover from 1pm to 4pm, 4pm to Pension Fund 166.68 333.36 7pm, 7pm to 10pm and 10pm to 6am. Sun- day and Holiday shifts are 6am to 10am, Postage 119.12 119.12 10am to 2pm, 2pm to 6pm, 6pm to 10pm P/I, Donated Literature 0.00 1,016.98 and 10pm to 6am. Rent Main/Satellite Offices 3,620.71 7,173.42 Salaries 10,256.21 20,472.31 VOLUNTEERING: Payroll Tax Expense 784.61 1,566.15 In order to volunteer for this service it is suggested that you have two years of sobri- Taxes & Licenses 28.00 28.00 ety. You must also arrange with the Central Telephone Expense 426.66 884.30 Office manager in Santa Ana or the Satellite LIFELINE Expense 1,222.95 2,441.45 Office Manager in Mission Viejo for a brief Cost of Literature Sold 12,217.19 20,296.05 orientation session which will be held at one Special Events 129.00 431.00 of the offices. Shifts are available. Please Misc. (Returned Checks) 0.00 447.63 call the Central at (714) 556-4555 or the Satellite Office at (949) 582-2697. TOTAL EXPENSES: 32,334.66 67,329.30

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! INCOME/(LOSS): 519.39 -1,022.10

THE LIFELINE, 1526 BROOKHOLLOW DR., SUITE 75, SANTA ANA, CA 92705- Published monthly by the Orange County Intergroup Association Purpose: The Orange County Lifeline Committee is a committee of volunteer A.A. members, charged with the responsibility of producing and dis- tributing the Orange County Lifeline, (a publication of the Orange County Intergroup Association). The Lifeline is published monthly and is supported solely through contributions from the A.A. groups and members of Orange County. The Lifeline is published to meet the following needs of the Orange County A.A. membership: to inform the A.A. membership regarding A.A. service, A.A. events and A.A. announcements; also to share experience in recovery, unity and service; to keep the A.A. membership informed regarding the actions, finances and meetings of the Orange County Intergroup Association and other Central Office committees.

Lifeline Committee: Meets the 1 st Thursday of each month at the Central Office. Join us @ 7PM. Bill W., (Chair); Jim S.‚ Phil F., Nick M., George L., Cecil W., Tarcy H. (Editor) Mail submissions to the above address or send email to: [email protected]

Page 11 A NEWCOMER to alcohol- RECOVERY WORD SEARCH ics anonymous informed his group that things were begin- A WORD SEARCH, like all the others you've seen: words can ning to get better since he be up, down, across or diagonal. Have fun, and win a few min- started asking Howard to utes of free sobriety! help him. When asked who Reprinted from the Ventura County Tradition , with thanks. Howard was, he replied, There are also 12 AAs. Can you find them all? “The person in the prayer A A Y T I N A S P R A A Y A A S you taught me: 'Our Father, who art in heaven, Howard T D D R N E A S R E Y A R P G R be thy name'... February 1986 T M G M O A D E I M S I R E R E

R I R E I A A N D F R E E D O M

T S U R T S R L E R E O M R W I A WIFE ASKED her husband, “How come you don’t play golf with Harry any more?” R U A A C E S L A D V I O N T T “Would you play with somebody who puts down the wrong score and moves the ball when you’re not looking?” U N N D A O E I A O O F R O H D “I most certainly wouldn’t,” she said firmly.” N I C I R A M I O L R R S I U L “Well, neither will Harry.” July 1970 O T O N T A D P R N T E E T M O A BEGINNER WAS ASKED what had been his favorite drink. I Y N V T Y T I L I N E A O I A “Brother,” he said, “I didn’t have any favorite drink. I’d drink T D T E A E G O L A O D A M L A anything that was too thin to chew.” February 1949 O F R I D A D M I A C O L O I P

M R O T N D E C I V R E S R T E A DRUNK POPPED HIS HEAD into the Hollywood AA group meeting at the writer’s roundtable in the Hollywood Ho- O E V O I A P R A Y E R N P Y A tel.“Is it true,’ he hiccupped, that you guys ain’t got any names?” June 1946 R E E R T I S E R V I N G C O C

A D M I S S I N V E N T O R Y E OVERHEARD AT SEA: In the dining room of an ocean liner, a lady asked, “Who is Bill W. anyhow?” Admission Growth Prayer Sanity “I don’t know,” replied her friend, “but I’ve been on six cruises, and he’s been on every one!” October 1994 Attraction Humility Pride Service Complacency Illness Peace Trust Controversy Inventory Promotion Unity Freedom Oldtimers Remorse

“Of course, you’re the only one who can say whether or not you’re an alcoholic.”

Copyright ©1944-2008 The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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