PASS IT ON Eastside Intergroup Newsletter

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1 PASS IT ON Eastside Intergroup Newsletter Issue 23 November 2018 From Fear to Freedom Page 1 From Fear to Freedom Anonymous Page 2 Eastside Intergroup Holiday Book Sale Flyer Page 3 Upcoming Sober Events Page 4 Information Corner Page 5 Office Report Page 6 Birthday Club Faithful Fivers Pink Can Contributions Page 7 Office Information Newsletter Volunteers Hotline Volunteers Contributions Page 8-10 October Group Donations Page 11 October Intergroup Meeting Attendance My sister had been discharged from a treatment center and asked me to go to her first AA meeting with her. Of course, I would go support her, I love my sister! That was in January of 1988 which I didn t know would become my AA birthday. My sister never returned to AA and I have never stopped going. While I was at that first AA meeting, I heard something in the reading of How It Works I hung onto every word and even though I couldn t explain what I had heard, it got my attention. And, I believed them when they read the promises and said that my fear of people would leave me. My panic disorder appeared in my life at age 15 and hearing the promises gave me hope. When I began having panic attacks as a teenager, I was prescribed valium to help me cope. At the age of 17 I found alcohol would also take away the fear. By my early 20 s I was addicted to Xanax and was drinking alcohol around the clock to take away my fear. I continued in AA praying that my fear would go away while hiding in the rooms and never saying I was new or that I had 30, 60, or 90 days, not even when I had a year. I made sure you didn t know my name or see me as I hid out in the back of the rooms. I would leave right after the meetings because I was terrified and I couldn t let anyone see my fear. I might have a panic attack and what would they think? I believed you when you said God would help you, but I didn t believe there was a God that would help me. And yet, I continued to pray to the ceiling to take away this fear. After being in the rooms and listening for more than a year, a kind woman called me by name and asked me to chat after the meeting. Linda would soon become my sponsor and would take me through the book and the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. My fear of people continued and it was terrifying to share in meetings and I continued to plead with a God that I didn t understand to take away my fear, but it remained. At two years of sobriety, still feeling terrified in meetings one day I changed my prayer. Instead of asking for God to take away the fear I said, God if there s a reason for me to have this fear, please help me through it. That was in 1990 and I haven t experienced the terrifying fear or panic since that prayer. My faith had changed and I had become hopeful. I was experiencing the promise of a new freedom and a new happiness. I could work the steps and share in meetings. My fear of people began to leave me. My fear would stay at bay if I remembered to turn my will and my life over to the care of my Higher Power. I have still felt anxiety sharing in meetings but it has lessened over the years and I am happy to say that today I experience nearly every day the promise that fear of people will leave us. The gifts I have received from my fear are enormous. It has given me a faith in God that I know is always available for me. I am also able to recognize the new frightened women in the rooms and greet them before they quickly leave. I m able to share my experience and encourage them to say they are new and be proud of their sobriety from the beginning as I wish I would have. Letting them know that we only want to help and welcome them to Alcoholics Anonymous and our wonderful new way of life. Alcoholics Anonymous has taken me from Terror to Trust and from Fear to Faith and I will be forever grateful to God, AA and to the fellowship. -Anonymous 1

Spiritual Growth Collection drop the rock

Wrapped AA History Collection Pass It On Dr.

2 ESIG Holiday Gifts Eastside Intergroup Holiday Gift Books The Book That Started It All The Original Working Manuscript of Alcoholics Anonymous $65 Gift Wrapped Spiritual Growth Collection drop the rock drop the rock the ripple effect $30 Gift Wrapped AA History Collection Pass It On Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers $25 Gift Wrapped Please Reserve Your Copies Early Order Online Order by Phone

3 Meeting Updates Eastside Intergroup Meeting November 7:30 pm 8:30 pm Bellevue Christian Reformed Church, ` th Ave NE Bellevue, WA District 36 Gratitude Dinner November 5:00 pm Si View Community Center, `400 SE Orchard Dr. North Bend, WA District 34 Gratitude Dinner November 6:00 pm North Bellevue Community Center, th Ave NE District 38 Gratitude Dinner November 5:00 pm Eastside Foursquare Church, ` th Ave NE Bothell, WA District 35 Gratitude Dinner (with childcare) November 5:00 pm 9:30 pm Pine Lake Covenant Church, ` th Ave SE Sammamish, WA District 39 Gratitude Dinner November 6:00 pm 9:30 pm Pine Lake Covenant Church, th Ave NE Bothell, WA NEW LOCATION & NEW NAME YOUNG PEOPLES BIG BOOK STUDY Monday 7:30pm-8:30pm Sno-Valley Senior Center 4610 Stephens Ave. Carnation, WA CANCELLED MEETING: KIRKLAND THURSDAY NITERS Thursdays 7:30 pm 8:30 pm Kirkland Congregational Church 106 5th Ave. Kirkland, WA DISTRICT 34 MEETING MOVES 1st Tuesday of the month 7:00pm Grace Lutheran Church 9625 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, WA PSYPC MEETINGS 3rd Sunday each month 4:30pm Eastside Intergroup Office Bel Red Rd. Suite B6 PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOUR MEETING MOVES, CHANGES TIME OR CLOSES We need this information in order to update our schedule, the Seattle schedule & both online schedules. 3

4 Information Corner: A VISION FOR YOU STEPS 2-12: WRAPPED UP IN A SINGLE PARAGRAPH Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. May God bless you and keep you until then. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 164 Steps 2 & 3: Steps 4&5: Steps 6-10: Step 12: Abandon yourself to God as you understand God Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. Observe the phrase;...trudge the Road of Happy Destiny. - Why the capitalization of road, happy, and destiny? - Is the Road of Happy Destiny a place? - Is it the so-called Heaven some speak of? - Perhaps Heaven is not a destination for those who live principled lives. - Perhaps, instead, our journey in this life IS Heaven, and IS a Road of Happy Destiny, when we live by the Spiritual principles presented to us in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous. Things to ponder May God bless you and keep you until then. 4

5 NOVEMBER 2018 ESIG OFFICE REPORT Thank you Cindy S. for overseeing another great ESIG event ~ the Open House on October 19th & 20th. It was a big success with more than 20 groups and nearly 100 people coming through the Intergroup office! What a fun community event! Our ESIG volunteers helped to get ready and were also there to greet members, answer any questions, and help with sale of merchandise. We had a drawing from the names that attended and George from the Nameless Bunch of Drunks won the replica book of the original A.A. manuscript while NBD was also the most represented group attending and they won the Eastside Intergroup $50 gift certificate. Congratulations to George and to the Nameless Bunch of Drunks! NBD DONATED THE GIFT CERTIFICATE BACK TO US TO HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ANY NEW GROUPS THAT NEED HELP WITH LITERATURE. THANK YOU! How thoughtful! Thank you to all of our fabulous office volunteers which for the month of October were: Al F., Cindy S., Cyndy F., Jill M., Karen M., Leslie G., Lisa B., Sharon R., Steve H., Susan H., Ted W., Sheriff Tim Q., Ulf W. and Wallene D. Also a big thank you to my part-time assistant Kathy S. who is making my life much easier! Rick F. picked up the- Seattle schedules. Thank you everyone! WE OUR VOLUNTEERS!!! November is GRATITUDE MONTH and I hope you all have an opportunity to enjoy food, fun and fellowship at one of the District Gratitude dinners which are on the following dates: District 34: 11/17/2018 District 35: 11/17/2018 District 36: 11/03/2018 District 38: 11/03/2018 District 39: 11/10/2018 HOLIDAY BOOK SALE Do you want to support ESIG while doing some holiday shopping for your sponsor, sponsee or friends? ESIG is having a Holiday Book Sale with sets of books wrapped and ready to go. We also have the original A.A. manuscript replica which is a beautiful coffee table book to display. We ll have it wrapped and ready to go too! Come see us for some fun holiday shopping! For anyone keeping track of how many Big Books we ve sold we sold 84 more Big Books during October bringing our YTD total to 1,451 Plus we ve sold 25 of the Big Book Study Editions (not included in the total). Last years total YTD was 1,276. December 8th from 10:00am to 11:30am(ish) is our quarterly Hotline and Phone training at the Intergroup office. Please call and let me know if you plan to attend. It s a good workshop for people volunteering in the office and/or on the after hours hotline. As always, thank you for letting me be of service. Nancy Osborn, ESIG Office Manager 5

6 How Can You Support Your Intergroup in Addition to the 7th Tradition at Your Meetings? Join the Faithful Fivers What are Faithful Fivers? Faithful Fivers are AA members who graciously pledge to contribute $5.00 each month to support Eastside Intergroup in its efforts to carry the AA message of hope and recovery to those alcoholics who still suffer in the Eastside area. As a Faithful Fiver, your contribution can and will make our vital services possible. The Faithful Fiver idea came about when we remembered that we wasted much more than $5 each month during our drinking days. Contributions to Eastside Intergroup from AA members are limited to $3,000 per member per year and are tax deductible under Internal Revenue Code: 501(c)3. THANK YOU OCTOBER FAITHFUL FIVERS! Mary B. Susan M. Howard D Bob C. Sherre P. Don M. Barbara M. Garret V... Nancy O Dave W. Virginia M. Yes! Please enroll me as a Join the Birthday Club Eastside Intergroup Birthday Club! Many of our members contribute to ESIG $1, $2 or $5 per year during their AA Anniversary month. We ll print your name, sobriety date and home group in our Newsletter. Your Birthday Club contributions directly support your Eastside Intergroup Office which provides a 24 hour phone line, literature, coins and more! Birthday Club! Name Home Group Sobriety Date Contribution $ Get your name & home group in the newsletter! OCTOBER BIRTHDAY DONATIONS Jan W. Sharing the Legacy 11/16/17 Terry O. Pine Lake Stag 11/12/88 Faithful Fiver! Here is my contribution of $ for months Name Address City State Zip Return this form to: Eastside Intergroup NE Bel-Red Rd. Suite B6 OCTOBER PINK CAN CONTRIBUTIONS Nooners Kirkland Sobriety Headquarters Seven & Sober Eastside Women Friday Night Firehouse Fresh Start Wake Up Eastside Beginners 6

7 Office Information Thank You Hotline Volunteers! NE Bel-Red Rd., Suite B6 Phone: Anne W. Carmen A. Carrie W. Ginny K. Jessica D. Leslie G. Sheldon A. Stephanie S. Syrianah V. BACKUPS: Travis S. Sheree P. Bill J. 24-Hours a Day esig@eastsideintergroup.com Website: Office Hours: Monday-Friday 10 am-6 pm Chuck M. Cindy S. Elton B. Fred M. Mark B. Mark J. Mike S. Richard J. Ted W. Tracy A. Travis S. Eric C. Syrianah V. Nancy O. Coordinator: Travis S. Office Manager: Nancy O. Nancy@eastsideintergroup.com Newsletter Contributors Thanks Office Volunteers! Intergroup Representative Meeting First Thursday of each month 7:30 pm-8:30 pm at: Bellevue Christian Reformed Church th Ave NE All members welcome! Publisher...Steve B. Editor...John M. Personal Story...Anonymous Office Report..Nancy O. If you want to write your story for the newsletter, send it to: newsletter@eastsideintergroup.com Al F. Cindy S. Cyndy F. Jill M. Karen M. Leslie G. Lisa B. Sharon R. Steve H. Susan H. Sheriff Tim Q. Ted W. Ulf W. Wallene D. Group Contributions Group Contributions, District, GSO & Area Info Thanks to the following Groups for sending contributions to the Eastside Intergroup office in the month of October Group contributions enable us to pay the rent and bills for your Intergroup Office, maintain our phone lines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, publish a monthly newsletter, provide a meeting directory, and carry AA information and literature. Bellevue Group Seven and Sober Better Odds Sober Sharing the Legacy Heretics Haven Secular Tons of Grace Lifeline Tuesday Night Starters Maximum Service Wake Up Nameless Bunch of Drunks Serenity Break The Nooners Woodinville Wed Fellowship Redmond Recovery Eastside Intergroup Eastside Intergroup NE Bel Red Rd. #B6 Western Washington Area Kentucky St. #535 Bellingham, WA General Service Office (GSO) P.O. Box 459 Grand Central Station New York, NY ESIG District Addresses: District 34 Bellevue, Redmond, East Lake Sammamish, Mercer Island PO Box Bellevue, WA District 35 Issaquah P.O. Box 442 Issaquah, WA District 36 Snoqualmie Valley, Duvall, North Bend P.O. Box 1963 North Bend, WA District 38 Kirkland P.O. Box 322 Kirkland, WA District 39 Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville P.O. Box 1695 Bothell, WA

8 ESIG YTD GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS OCTOBER 31, 2018 NAME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT YTD 59 Minutes At Pine Lake Minutes in Preston A Gift Grows with Time Anchor Group Anonymous Any Lengths Group Bel-East Lunch Bel-Kirk Saturday Breakfast Bellevue Group Bellevue New Group Better Odds Sober Beyond Sobriety Big Book Stag Big Book Step Study Bill's Kitchen Came to Believe Clyde Hill Step Study Coal Creek Study Group Come as You Are Part District 34 Treatment District Downtown Stag Duvall Big Book Study Eastside Beginners Eastside Open Breakfast Eastside Women Essentials Five & Dime Fresh Start Friday Night Firehouse From the Hat Grace Rules Happy Destinies Heretics Haven Secular Home Group HOW Juanita Triangle Joy of Living Kenmore Big Book Kenmore Friday Nighters Kirkland Men s Group

9 ESIG YTD GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS OCTOBER 31, 2018 NAME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT YTD Kirkland Sobriety Headquar Ladies Step Study Lifeline Living Sober , Main Street Saturday Maximum Service Mercer Island Thursday Monday Mumblers Moss Bay Nameless Bunch Of Drunks , Newcomers Newport Daytimers The Nooners , North Bend Group OSAT , Overlake Path to Serenity Pocket of Enthusiasm Raging On The River Recovery Through Honesty Redmond Recovery Reflections Sammamish Sober Sisters Serenity Break , Serenity on Sunday Sermon on the Mount Seven & Sober , Sharing the Legacy , Snoqualmie Friday Night Sober at Cottage Lake Sober on the Ridge Sober Seniors Sober Women Sobriety Life Line Southside Breakfast Steppin Up

ESIG YTD GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS OCTOBER 31, 2018 NAME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT YTD Steps to Freedom 20.00 20.00 Sunlight of the Spirit 150.00 150.00 That 12 & 12 Meeting 80.00 150.00 230.

10 ESIG YTD GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS OCTOBER 31, 2018 NAME JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT YTD Steps to Freedom Sunlight of the Spirit That 12 & 12 Meeting Tons of Grace Totem Lake Tuesday Issaquah B Tuesday Night Solutions Tuesday Night Starters Wake Up , Woodinville Wed Fellowship Women's Big Book Women In Recovery Women in Sobriety Women's Saturday Share Women's Saturday Steps TOTAL 57, Eastside Intergroup Hotline / Phone Training Did you know.. When someone calls the number for A.A. they reach us at Eastside Intergroup. This workshop is training to be on the after hours Hotline for the greater eastside of Alcoholics Anonymous. It also covers training for answering the phones during office hours and is a good opportunity for anyone wanting to volunteer. Anyone is welcome to attend please RSVP so that we have enough materials. SATURDAY DECEMBER 8TH 10:00AM TO 11:30AM(ISH) 10

11 October Intergroup Meeting Attendance Thank You! Andy G. Core Relations & District 35 PI Ann K. Seven & Sober Aaron H. Pocket of Enthusiasm Aysen R. ESIG Grapevine & Literature Chair & Seven & Sober Ben F. (Po) - ESIG Accessibility Chair & Juanita Triangle Bett A. Women of Worth Bob C. ESIG Board & Eastside Men s Group Brenden O. 59 Minutes at Pine Lake Carrie S. ESIG Treatment Chair Charisse B. Eastside Women Christine P. North Creek Study Group Cindy S. ESIG Events Co-Chair & Mercer Island Serenity & Mercer Island Sunday Conor O. ESIG Board Secretary Dave Y. Wake Up David S. ESIG Corrections Chair Derek B. ESIG Board Co-Chair & Sermon on the Mount Este Millennium Garret V. ESIG Chairman of the Board Janine B. -ESIG P.I. Chair Jill M. Overlake Group John K. ESIG Board Jon S. ESIG Board Kathleen F. Women s Saturday Steps Karen M. Women s Saturday Share & Sammamish Big Book Study Ken T. Redmond Recovery Kim B. Kirkland Sobriety Headquarters Liesa S. Women s Way Linda W. Sunrise Lisa J. Any Lengths & Joy of Living Maggie S. Sober Seniors Mary B. ESIG Board & Eastside Beginners Michael EMG, IBC & Issaquah Big Book Stag Mike C. The Shack Nancy O. ESIG Manager Peter D. From the Hat Phil K. Tuesday Night Solutions Steph K. Issaquah Tuesday Night Steve B. ESIG Newsletter Publisher Steve E. Maximum Service Steve P. North Creek Study Group Sue Ladies Step Study Ted W. Heretics Haven Secular Todd G. District 38 Intergroup Rep Vicki J. Pine Lake Speakers Meeting Virginia M. ESIG Tresurer What does an Intergroup Representative do? An Intergroup Rep is elected at his/her Home Group and attends the Eastside Intergroup Meeting on the 1st Thursday of each month from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. You represent your home group at the monthly meeting and hold a vote for your group. Because Eastside Intergroup covers five Districts and is a central clearinghouse for local AA activities and information, you become a vital link between the Intergroup office, the Districts, and your home group. The Intergroup Rep keeps his or her home group informed about work being done, activities going on, etc. You become a part of the networking between Eastside Intergroup and the groups. 11

PASS IT ON Eastside Intergroup Newsletter

PASS IT ON Eastside Intergroup Newsletter COINCIDENTLY SOBER October 2016 Issue 25 January 2019 Page 1 Story: COINCIDENTLY SOBER Page 2 Upcoming Sober events Meeting Updates Page 3 Information Corner Page