2017 December 12 Joy Out of Chaos 8 I Don’t Have to be Fixed 10 Concept 12 11 Anonymity is Spiritual 13 Rebel in the Rye Cover illustration by Anonymous December 2017 The Point | 1 December 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY Persons requiring reasonable accommodations at Intergroup meetings, Intergroup committee meetings or service events sponsored by the preceding entities, including ASL interpreters, assistive listening devices or print materials in alternative formats, should contact Central Office at (415) 674-1821 no less than five business days prior to the event. 3 4 5 6 FIRST SUN FIRST MON FIRST WED Archives Committee Presentation Technology Committee Meeting Intergroup Meeting Early A.A. in San Quentin & Folsom Prisons Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., San Francisco First Unitarian Universalist Center Mission Fellowship, 2900 24th St., San Francisco 6pm 1187 Franklin St., San Francisco 4-6pm Orientation 6:15pm Meeting 7pm 10 11 12 13 SECOND SUN SECOND MON SECOND TUE SECOND WED Golden Gate Young People in AA SF Public Information / Cooperation with the Marin H&I Marin Bridging the Gap Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., San Francisco Professional Community (PI/CPC) Marin Alano Club, 1360 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael Marin Alano Club, 1360 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael 12pm Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., San Francisco Orientation 6:15pm Orientation 6pm (even months at Central Office; odd months at Speaker Workshop 6pm Business Meeting 7:00pm Business Meeting 6:30pm Marin Alano Club) Business Meeting 7pm SF General Service 1111 O’Farrell St., San Francisco New GSR Orientation / Concept Study 6:30pm Business Meeting 7:30pm 17 18 19 20 THIRD SUN THIRD MON Archives Committee Meeting Marin General Service Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., San Francisco 9 Ross Valley Rd., San Rafael 2pm Orientation / Concept Study 6:45pm Business meeting followed by work day Business Meeting 7:30pm SF Teleservice Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., San Francisco Orientation 6pm 24 25 26 27 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FOURTH TUE Central Office closed Marin Teleservice Marin Alano Club, 1360 Lincoln Ave., San Rafael Orientation 7pm Business Meeting 7:30pm 31 2 | The Point December 2017 THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 FIRST SAT Golden Gate Young People in AA Discotheque a Go Go vol. II Soul Night at Park Gym 1960 Harrison St. San Francisco 7pm to midnight DECEMBER 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 8 9 Calendar 2 SECOND SAT Meeting Changes 4 The Point Committee Meeting Central Office, 1821 Sacramento St., From the Editor 5 San Francisco 12:30pm My First Sober Christmas 6 Twelfth Step Support 7 I Don’t Have to be Fixed 8 14 15 16 Many Forms of Service 9 THIRD SAT Concept 12 10 SF H&I 2900 24th St., San Francisco Anonymity is Spiritual 11 Orientation 11am (odd months have a business meeting) If God Spoke to A.A. 12 CNCA Meeting 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma 10am Rebel in the Rye 13 Intergroup Meeting Summary 14 21 22 23 Group Contributions 16 Revenue & Expense Report 18 Treasurer’s Report 18 Balance Sheet 19 Sometimes Quickly 19 28 29 30 “How privileged we are to understand so well the divine paradox that strength rises from weakness.” ~ Bill W., 1944 December 2017 The Point | 3 Meeting Changes New Meetings: Mon 7:30pm Inner Richmond Stepping Stone, 255 10th Ave. / Clement St. Mon 7:30pm Pt. Reyes Station Esperanza y Fe, Dance Palace, 503 B St. (Spanish; 90 minutos) Fri 7:30pm Pt. Reyes Station Esperanza y Fe, Dance Palace, 503 B St. (Spanish; 90 minutos) No Longer Meeting: Tue 7:00pm Laguna Honda Open Door Recovery, 501 Laguna Honda Blvd. / Woodside PLEASE NOTE: We occassionally receive reports that meetings listed in our schedule are missing or no longer active. Sometimes these reports turn out to be mistaken, and sometimes not. If you know anything about a meeting that has relocated or disbanded ― even temporarily ― please call Central Office immediately: (415) 674-1821. This helps us direct newcomers, visitors and sober, local alcoholics alike to actual meetings and not to rooms that housed a meeting once upon a time. Thank you for contributing to the accuracy of our schedule! Joe Y. ― Tuesday Beginners Sobriety Date: August 1995 4 | The Point December 2017 Joy Out of Chaos Faithful Fivers are A.A. members Who graciously pledge to contribute at least $5 Knowing its full worth and purpose, An inventory is useful: “Even if our each month toward the support of Central we can no longer fear adversity, we part is 1% and the other person’s part is Office. Faithful Fiver contributions go a have found prosperity where there 99%, we take responsibility for our 1%, was poverty, peace and joy have and then we are free.” James M. sees long way in helping make our vital services sprung out of the very midst of chaos. Concept 12 as the final word on what possible. We thank the following members: Great, indeed are our blessings. our fellowship is about, “taking care Alan R. Don L. Laura B. ~Bill W. that [A.A.] never becomes the seat of Alejandro D. Don N. Lauren H. perilous wealth or power.” Alex R. Ed K. Lavon T. Alex L. Eileen M. Layne S. Greg F.’s father invited acquaintances Allison M. Erin S. Layne Z. without family to his house for holiday Forrest P.’s review of Rebel in the Rye Ami & Nick H. Fiona B. Lelan & Rich H. encourages readers to write the books Amy Mc. Forrest F. Leo G. dinner—almost like their own private Andy F. Forrest P. Leslie G. Alkathon. On his first sober December, they want to read, reminiscent of a Andy Z. Frederick D. Linda L. Bay Area broadcaster who used to say, Barbara M. Gabrielle J. Linda R. he repeated his dad’s 12th Step work at Barbara L. George S. Lisa Mc. a recovery house in Hollywood. Claire “If you don’t like the news, go out and Becca M George S. Lisa T. A. also found making coffee, sponsoring make some of your own.” Michael W. Ben H. Gerardo G. Liz M. Ben W. Hank B. Lucy T. people, and writing can all help support remembers his sponsor’s instructions Bharani A. Herman B. Lucy & Dennis O’C. 12th Step concepts in action. in early recovery to get a service Blu F. Hilary M. Lynn D. commitment, arrive early and go to any Brian C. James P. Mabel T. Brian & Diane C. Jane B. Mac E. Rick R. recalls when he didn’t want lengths to help others stay sober. Bruce S. Jane K. Mana F. anybody to know that he was checking Bruce K. Janelle P. Marc F. These directions work during holiday Bruce Z. Jason B. Marcus W. out A.A. He was afraid he would be Caroline A. Jeanne C. Marin Fellow- ridiculed and he wasn’t sure it would chaos, too. If we stay in the spirit of Caroline A. Jeffery K. ship service to others without expecting Cathy P. Jerry M. Marit L. work for him. Judy G. shows how we Charley D. Jim H. Mark A. don’t have to be “fixed” if we sit with anything in return, we receive peace Chip G. Joanne S. Mark O. the discomfort of life on life’s terms. and joy every time. Chris L. John B. Mary C. Chris B. John C. Mary L. Chris S. John G. Mary Christopher Mc. Julie P. Maryellen O’C. Claudia C. Karen C. Matt S. Clayton M. Karen K. Matt S. Constance C. Karla S. Michael F. Craig S. Kathleen C. Michael P. Curtis V. Kevin C. Michael W. Dan D. Kim S. Michael Z. Danielle G. Kim D. Mike M. David S. Kurt P. Mily T. David J. Kurt C. Nancy N. EDITORIAL POLICY Dianne E. Lance S. Nicholas P. The Point is published monthly to inform A.A. members about business and meeting affairs of (Continued on Page 19) the Intercounty Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition, The Point publishes original feature articles submitted by local A.A. members that reflect the full diversity of experience and If you would like to become a Faithful Fiver, please opinion found within the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. No one viewpoint or philosophy download a pledge form from our website. You dominates its pages, and in determining the editorial content, the editors rely on the principles will receive a complimentary subscription to of the Twelve Traditions. The Point. And remember, individual This statement is a summary; for the full editorial policy, please go to www.aasf.org. contributions are 100% tax deductible! To contact The Point committee directly, write to [email protected]. December 2017 The Point | 5 My First Sober Christmas I used to call in sick on Christmas Day by Gregory F. invited to my home for dinner, carols Wood crackled. We drank apple cider and Midnight Mass if you’d like.” and eggnog. There was a strong cin- I love this time of year. I feel as if I’m namon scent in the air with palpable smiling from deep within. It was so He loved putting this on. He’d start love. Precious moments in time when much better than my last drunken preparing days in advance. There was each of us was present. Sober together, holiday when I missed my family’s ac- much to be done and my parents and thus a success. Fighting for our lives— tivities. I called in “sick” on Christmas I collectively prepared our home. I did together. Day. I told mom I was ill. This was not not quite grasp the kindness of this act.