Pass It On Eastside Intergroup Newsletter September 2015

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Cathleen McDonald
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Page 5 Birthday Club Faithful Fivers Pink Can Contributions Page 6 Why Should I Work the Steps We hear many folks say in meetings... my life changed for the better when I worked the Steps or.

1 Pass It On Eastside Intergroup Newsletter September 2015 Page 1 Why Should I work the Steps by John M. Page 2 Why Should I work the Steps by John M. Page 3 Upcoming Sober Events and Meeting Updates Page 4 Aug Office News by Nancy O. Page 5 Birthday Club Faithful Fivers Pink Can Contributions Page 6 Why Should I Work the Steps We hear many folks say in meetings... my life changed for the better when I worked the Steps or... working the Steps relieved the insanity in my life or... all the excess baggage was eliminated when I worked the Steps. These are all profound statements of big results from working the Steps. Yet, are they specific enough to reach the alcoholic who still suffers and is dubious about the Steps or fearful of what they might reveal? Here is my experience. With Step 1 I admitted I was powerless over alcohol. It took working the next 4 Steps before I acknowledged that my life had been unmanageable. Step 1 addresses the alcohol part in being an alcoholic. What s left though is the ic part. Ic is our excess baggage, a deterrent to personal growth, or just plain yuck. Therein lies the key to what I have received from working all 12 Steps... addressing the ic of this alcoholic. It started with discovering self awareness, which led me to learning what the specific ic was in my life: how unhappy I was how angry I was Notes from the Archives by David C.. Page 7 Tradition 9 by Bill W. Page 8 Office Information Newsletter Volunteers Hotline Volunteers Contributions Page 9 ESIG Meeting Attendance how depressed I was at times how negative I was in my thinking how unreliable I could be how detached I was how egocentric I had become how little of my potential I had tapped how blind to my weaknesses I was how little passion I had for the important things in my life how much I wanted help how immature I was how little self discipline I had how prejudice I was especially with spirituality (cont d on pg. 2) 1

2 Why Should I Work the Steps By John M. continued from page 1 I was truly clueless that all of this was my alcohol(ic) reality. Without the self discovery and addressing these conditions/defects of character through the 12 Steps I would have been sober, period. Every one of these things would have continued to be a part of me, preventing me from experiencing the growth and joy that define my life today. That s what a dry drunk looks like. My solution to ic Go to meetings as many as I can Have a sponsor Work the Steps with my sponsees Do other service work Live my life by the Golden Rule treat others the way I would like to be treated I am a very grateful alcohol(ic). Attention District Gratitude Dinner Committees LET US HELP YOU! Please send your Gratitude Dinner flyers to us as soon as you have them made so we can post them on our website. Please send in pdf format to nancy@eastsideintergroup.com Thanks! 2

from Oakland, CA (childcare available) September 12th: Wit s End Warriors Summer Outdoor Potluck and BBQ from 5 to 7:30 pm at Haller Park in Arlington, WA.

3 Meeting Updates September 12th: Alcoholics Anonymous Hotline Training from 10 to 11:30 am at Eastside Intergroup Office in Bellevue. September 12tht Live at Pine Lake Speakers Meeting at 7 pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church th Ave SE, Sammamish. Doors open at 6:30pm. Speaker is Tom W. from Oakland, CA (childcare available) September 12th: Wit s End Warriors Summer Outdoor Potluck and BBQ from 5 to 7:30 pm at Haller Park in Arlington, WA. The outdoor meeting takes place in the covered area. September 18th: Open Mic Jam Night at 8 p.m. at the Alano Club of the Eastside in Bellevue. A $5 donation requested from the musicians. September 19th: Relationship in Sobriety Workshop at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Issaquah from 1 to 4 pm. September 20th: S More Sobriety at Carkeek Park in Seattle from 6 to 9 pm.. Hosted by WSCYPAA. Bring your own sticks. Fixings provided but S More s better. September 26th: Whidbey Island Women s Luncheon at First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor rom 11:30 am to 2 p.m. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Cost is $25. September 26th: Everett Conference Salmon Bake & Speaker Meeting at the Tulalip Tribal Center from 5 to 10 p.m. Adults are $15, Couples are $25 and Children are $5. Balloon animals and hot dogs for the children. September 29th: The Heart of AA Sponsorship Workshop at the 12 & 12 Fellowship Hall in Bothell from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. October 10th: Eastside Intergroup Open House Saturday 1pm to 5pm Bel Red Rd. #B-6, Bellevue Food & Fellowship. Come see your new Intergroup Office! October 2nd to October 4th: 4th Annual Wenatchee Valley Round Up 2015 at the Red Lion in Wenatchee. The theme is Thoroughly Followed Our Path Journey Through the 12 Steps AA &Al-Anon. October 16th to October 18th: Pilgrim Firs Spiritual Retreat in Port Orchard at the Pilgrim Firs Spiritual Retreat Center. The cost is $50 and hosted by PSYPC. NEW MEETINGS! AA Tradition Study Meeting Every third Monday 7:30pm-9:00pm Valley Foursquare Church Main St. NE #102 Duvall, WA Wednesday Willingness Wednesday evening at 7 pm Lake Washington Christian Church th Ave. Kirkland SUPPORT NEEEDED Steps to Freedom Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. St. Judes th Ave NE, Redmond VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Eastside Intergroup Openings answering phones during office hours 10am-6pm 6 months sobriety required Call for info Live at Pine Lake Held the second Saturday of every month. Service positions available. For further information, please contact commitee@liveatpinkelake.org 3

At the beginning of August I told my husband Terry not to plan on seeing me much until September and that s been accurate as of this writing.

4 February August Office News Report Thank you Volunteers! Leah W, Ted W, Maisey B, Leslie G, Michelle W, Don D, Kristi G, Beth L, Rick L, Travis S,Sandy B, Betsy N, and Mary B all volunteered i Eastside Intergroup Office in August. What a month! At the beginning of August I told my husband Terry not to plan on seeing me much until September and that s been accurate as of this writing. On August 10th we held a 12th Step Workshop with about 20 people in attendance. Rather than a panel or a training for the 12th Step call, this was an interactive workshop with those in attendance being involved in the discussion around each topic. We had several people sign up to be on our 12th Step call list and feel more comfortable about it. Thanks everyone that attended. If there is more interest in another workshop, let me know and we ll get one scheduled. Next on August 15th we held the annual Eastside Intergroup Picnic which was a totally fun day! Thank you Kristi G. from the Issaquah Tuesday Night meeting for chairing this event. Kristi did a fantastic job on planning, shopping, delegating, running the raffle and even sun shine for the day! We had around 150 or so people and there were over 20 raffle prizes donated this year. Thank you everyone that participated. Thank you Wake Up Group for setting up in the morning and thank you Living Sober for cleaning up at the end of the day! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP DURING OUR MOVE! Scott H, Aaron M, Charlie L, Jeff L, Gerry Z, Shaun R, Richard B, Anne C, Betsy N, Sandy B, Molly D, Dave T, Shannon T, John M, John N, Bobby N, Shelly N, Terry O, Maisey B, Jon S, Willy H, Pat A, Mike O, Wade S, Mike S. David B, Ted W, Leah W, Bob B. & Me And a very special thanks to DOLENE B. who cleaned our old office! My sincere apologies if I missed anyone! HOW TO FIND US: We are on Bel Red Road at 134th, but of the three stucco buildings, we are in the middle in suite B6. Our office is on the south side of Bel-Red Road across the street from Sherwin & Williams and Habitat for Humanity which are both on the north side of Bel Red Road. FROM EITHER DIRECTION ON BEL-RED ROAD YOU CAN TURN SOUTH ON 134TH AND TURN RIGHT INTO THE FIRST DRIVEWAY. THEN FOLLOW THE PARKING LOT AROUND TO THE 2ND BUILDING AND GO HALF WAY UP. WE ARE IN B-6 ON THE EAST SIDE. Find is at: NE Bel Red Rd. #B-6 Bellevue, WA We ve sold 1,184 Big Books since January 1st! Thank you for the opportunity to be of service, Nancy O. ESIG Office Manager 4

How Can You Help Support Your Intergroup in Addition to the 7th Tradition at your Meetings? Become a Faithful Fiver! Or Join Our Birthday Club! What are Faithful Fivers?

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.

The Faithful Fiver idea came about when we remembered that we wasted much more than $5 each month during our drinking days.

5 How Can You Help Support Your Intergroup in Addition to the 7th Tradition at your Meetings? Become a Faithful Fiver! Or Join Our Birthday Club! 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. Barbara M. Colin R. Beth L. Pam Z. Thank You August 2015 Faithful Fivers! Nancy O. Pat A. Dave W. Ulf W. Yes! Please enroll me as a Faithful Fiver! Here is my contribution of $ for months Name Address City State/Zip Return this form to: Eastside Intergroup NE Bel Red Rd. #B-6, Bellevue, WA 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! August 2015 BIRTHDAYS Graham S: 8 years, Wake Up Laura C: 3 years, Wake Up Tom V: 2 years; Eastside Sunday Breakfast Leah W: 3 years; Bill s Story PINK CAN CONTRIBUTIONS Living Sober Issaquah Big Book Study Seven & Sober Anchor Group Sober Seniors Women of Worth Mary A: 4 years 5

Archives Workshop at the end of the month. I will be attending the Workshop and presenting a two hour presentation on Preservation of paper.

6 Notes from the Archives By David C., District 38 Archivist Hello from the vaults of the District 38 Archives this month I want to let you know about my upcoming trip to Cleveland and Akron for the National Alcoholics Anonymous Archives Workshop at the end of the month. I will be attending the Workshop and presenting a two hour presentation on Preservation of paper. While I am there I will also be going on a tour of Akron and Dr. Bobs House. This will be my second trip to the birthplace of our Fellowship, and I am looking forward to re-visiting all those historical sites once again. What it must have been like in 1935 when Bill met Dr. Bob, and the two of them, struggling alcoholics who knew that they needed help. Just like all of us. Bill Wilson and Dr. Smith sought to develop a simple program to help even the worst alcoholics, along with a more successful approach that empathized with alcoholics yet convinced them of their hopelessness and powerlessness. They believed active alcoholics were in a state of insanity rather than a state of sin, an idea they developed independently of the Oxford Group, which both men belonged to. During the summer of 1935, both cofounders worked tirelessly to maintain their own sobriety while trying to help others. The first success was with Bill Dotson. He was a lawyer, who had been in the hospital six times in the preceding four months. He went completely out of his mind when drinking, and he had just roughed up a couple of nurses. Bill D. s sobriety date was June 26, As the two men continued to find new prospects in Akron, our Fellowship began to grow and the first principals of AA were established. With the help of Sister Ignatia, over 5,000 alcoholics were saved from the clutches of alcoholism. I wish I could turn back the pages of time and view those early times and the challenges our founders must have faced. They had no written material other than the Bible and other Christian books to go by. There were no treatment centers and only a small handful of men in two cities, Akron and New York to hold the new Fellowship together. But they did succeed and I for one am eternally grateful to those early people who brought this movement to fruition. More will be revealed. P.S I hope to tell you next time of my travels and adventures in the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous. Till next time Bill Dotson Sister Ignatia 6

7 Tradition Nine A.A. as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. A.A. Grapevine Editorial by Bill W. on August 1948 "Each A.A. Group needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is the best. The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and the groups of a large Metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary. The Trustees of The Alcoholic Foundation are, in effect, our A.A. General Service Committee. They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our A.A. General Service Office in New York. They are authorized by the groups to handle our overall public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our principal newspaper, "The A.A. Grapevine." All such representatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness." The least possible organization, that's our universal ideal. No fees, no dues, no rules imposed on anybody, one alcoholic bringing recovery to the next; that's the substance of what we most desire, isn't it? But how shall this simple ideal best be realized? Often a question, that. We have, for example, the kind of A.A. who is for simplicity. Terrified of anything organized, he tells us that A.A. is getting too complicated. He thinks money only makes trouble, committees only make dissension, elections only make politics, paid workers only make professionals and that clubs only coddle slipees. Says he, let's get back to coffee and cakes by cozy firesides. If any alcoholics stray our way, let's look after them. But that's enough. Simplicity is our answer. Quite opposed to such halcyon simplicity is the A.A. promotor. Left to himself he would "bang the cannon and twang the lyre" at every crossroad of the world. Millions for drunks, great A.A. hospitals, batteries of paid organizers and publicity experts wielding all the latest paraphernalia of sound and script; such would be our promoters dream. "Yes sir," he would bark "My two year plan calls for one million A.A. members by 1950!" For one, I'm glad we have both conservatives and enthusiasts. They teach us much. The conservative will surely see to it that the A.A. movement never gets over organized. But the promoter will continue to remind us of our terrific obligation to the newcomer and to those hundreds of thousands of alcoholics still waiting all over the world to hear of A.A. We shall, naturally, take the firm and safe middle course. A.A. has always violently resisted the idea of any general organization. Yet, paradoxically, we have ever stoutly insisted upon organizing certain special services; mostly those absolutely necessary to effective and plentiful 12th Step work. If, for instance, an A.A. group elects a secretary or rotating committee, if an area forms an intergroup committee, if we set up a Foundation, a General Office or a Grapevine, then we are organized for service. The A.A. book and pamphlets, our meeting places and clubs, our dinners and regional assemblies -- these are services too. Nor can we secure good hospital connections, properly sponsor new prospects and obtain good public relations just by chance. People have to be appointed to look after these things, sometimes paid people. Special services are performed. But by none of these special services, has our spiritual or social activity, the great current of A.A. ever been really organized or professionalized. Yet our recovery program has been enormously aided. While important, these service activities, are very small by contrast with our main effort. As such facts and distinctions become clear, we shall easily lay aside our fears of blighting organization or hazardous wealth. As a movement, we shall remain comfortably poor; for our service expenses are trifling. With such assurances, we shall without doubt, continue to improve and extend our vital lifelines of special service; to better carry out our A.A. message to others; to make for ourselves a finer greater society, and, God willing, to assure Alcoholics Anonymous a long life and perfect unity. 7

Office Information Mailing Address 13401 NE Bel-Red Suite B6 Bellevue, WA 98005 Phone: 425-454-9192 Email: esig@eastsideintergroup.com Website: www.eastsideintergroup.com Office Hours: Mon.-Fri.

Email: Nancy@eastsideintergroup.com Directions to ESIG Office www.eastsideintergroup.com Thank you August Hotline Volunteers! Bob B. Carmen A. Carrie W. Chuck M. Elton B. Eric C, Fred M. Ginny K.

8 Office Information Mailing Address NE Bel-Red Suite B6 Bellevue, WA Phone: Website: Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-6:00 pm Intergroup Meeting First Thursday of each month 7:30-8:30pm All members welcome! Bellevue Christian Reformed Church th Ave NE, Bellevue Office Manager Nancy O. Directions to ESIG Office Thank you August Hotline Volunteers! Bob B. Carmen A. Carrie W. Chuck M. Elton B. Eric C, Fred M. Ginny K. Guy P. Jim R. Joe M. Newsletter Contributors Publisher...Alma O. Editor...Sandy B. Archivist.. David C. Personal Story.. John M. Office News. Nancy O. John K. John R. Keith S. Leslie G. Matthew M. Merrill G. Mike S. Sara K. Sheree P. Susan M. Ted W. Thank you to our office volunteers too! They ensure that when someone reaches out for help by calling Alcoholics Anonymous, the caller always reaches a real person! Leah W. Ted W. Leslie G. Bob B. Tim B. Tina B. Travis S. Hotline Coordinators: Eric C. & Bill J. Backups: Bob F. Pat A., Bill R., Sheree P. Maisey B. Kristi G. Michelle W. John M. Thank You!!!! Group Contributions Thanks to the following groups for sending contributions to the Eastside Intergroup office in the month of August 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. Nameless Bunch of Drunks Beyond Sobriety Anchor Group Bel-Kirk Saturday Breakfast Moss Bay Sharing the Legacy Clyde Hill Step Study Kenmore Big Book Lifeline 12 & 12 Fellowship Hall The Nooners Up the Creek That 12 & 12 Meeting Pine Lake Stag Living Sober Steppin Up Came to Believe (Bothell) Bellevue Group Redmond Recovery Duvall Big Book Study Tiger Mountain Stag District, GSO & Area Info Eastside Intergroup: District 35 Please note new address: Issaquah Eastside Intergroup District NE Bel Red Rd. #B-6 P.O. Box 442 Bellevue, WA Issaquah, WA Western WA Area 72 District Kentucky St., #535 Snoqualmie Valley, Duvall, Bellingham, WA North Bend District 36 General Service Office (GSO) P.O. Box 1963 P.O. Box 459 North Bend, WA Grand Central Station New York, NY District 38 Kirkland District 34 District 38 Bellevue, Redmond, East Lake P.O. Box 322 Sammamish, Mercer Island Kirkland, WA District 34 P.O. Box District 39 Bellevue, WA Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville 8

Thank you Intergroup Reps! The following Intergroup Representatives and Committee Representatives were in attendance at our Thursday, August 6 meeting. Thank you! Andy G.

ESIG Picnic Chair/Issaquah Tuesday Night Eileen L. Bellevue Group Lisa S. 59 Minutes at Pine Lake Ellen G. Redmond Friday Night Study Group Margaret H. Eastside Women Chris P.

9 Thank you Intergroup Reps! The following Intergroup Representatives and Committee Representatives were in attendance at our Thursday, August 6 meeting. Thank you! Andy G. ESIG PI Chair, Core Relations & Dist. 35 PI Jon S. ESIG Board & District 39 Rep Betsy N. Women of Worth/Sober Women Kathy H. Sober Seniors Brian G. Living Sober Kristi G. ESIG Picnic Chair/Issaquah Tuesday Night Eileen L. Bellevue Group Lisa S. 59 Minutes at Pine Lake Ellen G. Redmond Friday Night Study Group Margaret H. Eastside Women Chris P. ESIG Board & North Creek Study Group Mary B. Eastside Beginners Dan H. ESIG Corrections Chair, Pine Lake Stag Mike O. ESIG Board David B. ESIG Board Mike S. ESIG Board Eric C. ESIG Hotline Coordinator Nancy O. ESIG Manager Erin A. ESIG CPC Chair Pam Z. Sharing the Legacy Holly F. A Woman's Way Pat A. ESIG Board James D. District 35 Alternate PI Phil K. Area 72 Corrections Chair Jane L. ESIG Accessibility Chair Sandy B. ESIG Newsletter Editor/FSHQ Jeff B. Issaquah Big Book Study Shelly N. ESIG Board Jerry B. Anchor Group Vicky C. Any Lengths Group Joel M. Dist. 39 Lifeline Willy H. ESIG Board John K. Sammamish BB Study/Live at Pine Lake What does an Intergroup Rep do? An Intergroup Rep is elected at his/her Home Group and attends the Eastside Intergroup Meeting on the 1 st Thursday of each month from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. 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. 9

PASS IT ON Eastside Intergroup Newsletter

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