Volume XXVII June 2016 Number 2 Interested in contributing Chairperson’s Report you have a NicA event you would like to to Seven Minutes? post, it can be done. Send letters, articles, stories, poems, artwork, or other material to: Audio files from the 2016 Conference will Seven Minutes Hello everyone. It has been a really c/o NAWSO crazy year for me and a busy one for soon be available through the website - 6333 E. Mockingbird Lane Nicotine Anonymous World Services. As don't forget to order those for your col- #147-817 you know by now, pamphlets were lection. Dallas, TX 75214 or email to: added and edited, and some new ones SevenMinutesEditor@nicotine were brought to the conference for con- If you have never been a WSO board •anonymous.org sideration. We have also edited Nicotine member, don't be afraid to serve. You All submissions may be edited as Anonymous: The Book. Our website was will have more help and support than necessary for grammar and content. you ever would believe. Thank you for completely overhauled and the 2016 Subscription requests, circulation WSO Conference is now past. everything you do for our organization - additions and deletions may be sent keep up the great work! by mail to the address above, or go online to: Gwynn A has resigned as Meeting List www.nicotine-anonymous.org Coordinator after many years of service, Andy A so if you see or talk to Gwynn, be sure out-going WSO Chairperson All articles accepted for publication may be reprinted in outside publi to thank her for her dedicated years of cations in their entirety at the discre- service. Gwynn served a longer term tion of the chair and editor. Your trusted servants, than ever expected of anyone. We want More about Conference 2016… Lynne M - Publisher to recognize her for that. As the 2015 Chris H - Editor The Conference was a wonderful and Teresa I - Subscriptions Conference in California so eloquently stated, "Service, A Pearl of Recovery." productive success. Ohio’s conference ARTICLES & FEATURES committee gets a standing ovation for an “Being Proactive” By Aimee C….………………….Pg. 3 Regarding the new WSO officers, Checko outstanding organizing job, and the Sat- “Step One” M will serve as our Chairperson. I feel he urday night festivities were “fun-tastic.” By Joseph W…………………..Pgs. 3-4 will deliver a great deal to this organiza- The following is a summary of the six Seven Minutes Meditation….Pg. 4 tion. Other Active officers are Treasurer, workshops held during the Conference. “But I’m Not a Writer” Annette A and Secretary, Nancy O. Serv- By Ken M…………………………Pg. 4 ing in the Elect positions are Chair Elect, Daily Meditations - Members learned Quote Corner…………………..Pg. 4 Chick P, Secretary Elect, Maria S and about the format to use and wrote drafts “Joy, a Light in Darkness” Treasurer Elect, Alicia R. of meditations. Ken M agreed to serve as By Melissa R…………………….Pg. 5 the new Daily Meditations Coordinator. “Just for Today” A lot of new ideas are being presented to He will coordinate with the Literature By Margie..……………………...Pg. 6 Coordinator to edit and compile member “A Seventh Step Prayer” revitalize existing meetings and build By Anonymous………………...Pg. 6 new face-to-face meetings as well as drafts donated to World Services toward “Allowing” phone and internet meetings. Please feel the goal of publishing a second book. By Aimee C….…………………..Pg. 6 free to offer suggestions, as we will need Members can submit their formatted In Memoriam…………………...Pg. 6 them. Keep your eye on the website for writings to dailymeditations@nicotine- “We’re the Cream of the Crop” new Nicotine Anonymous events, and if anonymous.org. By Jan S………………………….Pgs. 7-8 continued on page 5 The Twelve Steps of Nicotine Anonymous 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation 1. We admitted we were powerless over nico- these defects of character. of all our traditions, ever reminding us to tine—that our lives had become unman- 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our short- place principles before personali- ageable. comings. ties. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics than ourselves could restore us to and became willing to make amends to Anonymous sanity. them all. 1. Our common welfare should come first; 3. Made a decision to turn our will and 9. Made direct amends to such people where- personal recovery depends upon A.A. our lives over to the care of God, as we ever possible, except when to do so unity. understood Him. would injure them or others. 2. For our group purpose, there is but one 4. Made a searching and fearless moral 10. Continued to take personal inventory, and ultimate authority--a loving God as he inventory of ourselves. when we were wrong, promptly admitted may express Himself in our group 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to it. conscience. Our leaders are but another human being the exact nature of 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to trusted servants; they do not govern. our wrongs. improve our conscious contact with God as 3. The only requirement for A.A. mem- bership is a desire to stop drinking. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove we understood Him, praying only for 4. Each group should be autonomous all these defects of character. knowledge of His will for us and the except in matters affecting other 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our short- power to carry it out. groups or A.A. as a whole. comings. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening 5. Each group has but one primary purpose 8. Made a list of all persons we had as the result of these steps, we tried to --to carry its message to the alcoholic harmed, and became willing to make carry this message to other alcoholics and who still suffers. amends to them all. to practice these principles in all our af- 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, 9. Made direct amends to such people fairs. finance or lend the A.A. name to any wherever possible, except when to do so related facility or outside enterprise, lest would injure them or others. The Twelve Traditions of Nicotine Anonymous problems of money, property and pres- 1. Our common welfare should come first; 10. Continued to take personal inventory, tige divert us from our primary pur- personal recovery depends upon Nico- pose. and when we were wrong, promptly tine Anonymous unity. 7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self- admitted it. 2. For our group purpose there is but one supporting, declining outside contribu- 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to ultimate authority - a loving God as tions. improve our conscious contact with He may express Himself in our group 8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain God as we understood Him, praying conscience. Our leaders are but trusted forever nonprofessional, but our ser- only for knowledge of His will for us servants; they do not govern. vice centers may employ special work- and the power to carry it out. 3. The only requirement for Nicotine ers. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the Anonymous membership is a desire to 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organ- result of these steps, we tried to carry this stop using nicotine. ized; but we may create service boards message to other nicotine users and 4. Each group should be autonomous ex• or committees directly responsible to those they serve. to practice these principles in all our cept in matters affecting other groups or 10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion Nicotine Anonymous as a whole. affairs. on outside issues; hence the A.A. name 5. Each group has but one primary pur• The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ought never be drawn into public con- pose - to carry its message to the nicotine troversy. reprinted and adapted here with the permis- addict who still suffers. 11. Our public relations policy is based on sion of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 6. A Nicotine Anonymous group ought attraction rather than promotion; we Permission to reprint and adapt the Twelve Steps and never endorse, finance, or lend the need always maintain personal ano- Twelve Traditions does not mean that A.A. is affiliated Nicotine Anonymous name to any nymity at the level of press, radio and related facility or outside enterprise, films. with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery lest problems of money, property, 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation from alcoholism-use of the Twelve Steps in and prestige divert us from our pri- of all our traditions, ever reminding us to connection with programs and activities mary purpose. place principles before personalities. which are patterned after A.A., but which address 7. Every Nicotine Anonymous group ought Our Preamble other problems, does not imply otherwise. to be fully self - supporting, declining outside contributions. Nicotine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 8. Nicotine Anonymous should remain women helping each other to live our lives free of forever non-professional, but our ser- nicotine. We share our experience, strength 1. We admitted we were powerless vice centers may employ special work- and hope with each other so that we may be free over alcohol-that our lives had become ers. from this powerful addiction. The only requirement unmanageable. 9. Nicotine Anonymous, as such, ought for membership is the desire to stop using nico- 2.