THE GROUP SCOOP. Spring is Sprung. In This Issue: Service Concepts of the Month. District 10 Annual Fundraiser Recap

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1 THE GROUP SCOOP The Al-Anon Information Services Newsletter March/April 2017 Here in the Northwest it is starting to feel like springtime. A time of renewal, and here lots of rain. Spring reminds me that the steps are the path to spiritual awakening culminating in the twelfth step which tells us Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. As rain is necessary for the spring plants to thrive, so working the steps is essential for our growth in the program. The Portland metro area has some great opportunities for fellowship and carrying the message of Al-Anon this spring: Spring is Sprung On Saturday, March 25th you can attend the OAC Potato Bar Fundraiser. OAC is the Oregon Alateen Conference that is held annually in August. This is a great opportunity for teens from all over Oregon and even as far away as California to get together and have fun while sharing their experience, strength and hope. This fundraiser will raise funds for scholarships to OAC. There will be Alateen, Al-Anon and AA Speakers. (See page 5 for more information) District 17 invites you to their Spring Fling. Held on Saturday, April 22, this will be a morning of fun and fellowship, There will be a panel highlighting the Portland Al-Anon Information Services (AIS) and a continental breakfast will be available. In addition there will be raffles and a white elephant sale and all proceeds benefit AIS. (See page 2 for more information) ~Beth McQ, Editor District 10 Annual Fundraiser Recap Service Concepts of the Month Concept Three The right of decision makes effective leadership possible. Concept Four Participation is the key to harmony. In This Issue: District Meetings, 6 Service Opportunities, 2 Another great fundraiser in the books! District 10 moved their annual fundraiser back to February after last year s turnout was lower than expected in April being the first beautiful day of spring. Well, we know how to plan them because this year our February fundraiser landed on the first (and one of the only) beautiful days of the year thus far. That being said many of you came out to enjoy the fun, fellowship, potluck, Bingo and AMAZING speakers. Thank you so much for making this a great event. The theme Blossoming into Recovery fit both the day and the speakers so well. A big thanks to all the groups who donated gift cards to disperse as Bingo prizes. Due to time there were 6 gift cards remaining. District 10 was able to donate the remaining 6 gift cards to the OAC committee. After expenses, this year s fundraiser raised just under $600. See you next year! Focus on Alateen, 6 Meetings & Events, 1, 2, 3. 6, 7 AIS office, 2, 5, State Speaker Meeting, 7 Public Outreach, 4 Al-Anon Information Services Office, serving the Greater Portland Area The Group Scoop 1

Opportunities for Service AIS Service Board Positions Available The AIS Service Board is looking for an Alateen Liaison, chairs for Health Fairs, Office Volunteers, Media, and Group Ways and Means.

2 Opportunities for Service AIS Service Board Positions Available The AIS Service Board is looking for an Alateen Liaison, chairs for Health Fairs, Office Volunteers, Media, and Group Ways and Means. Descriptions of the positions are on the AIS website. Please consider this service opportunity for the Portland metro area. For more information, contact the AIS office at AIS Office Please consider volunteering at the Al-Anon Information Services (AIS) Office. There is a staff member there to help you and you can do it according to your own schedule. Call (503) for more information. Alateen Sponsors Alateen needs more sponsors in the Portland metro area and beyond. There is a training program and shadowing for at least six months. Call AIS (503) for more information. Meetings in New Locations The Group Scoop 2

(AA meets here too) *SUNDAY NIGHT WINNERS* Meetings is seeking new members.

3 Men Recovering Al-Anon Family Group We are the only men s meeting on the east side. We meet Thursday nights 6-7 PM at Church of St. Joseph the Worker 2310 SE 148th Avenue AND NOW THEY HAVE A MEETING IN AURORA Please come and support us. EVERY Sunday night from 7:00 8:00 pm. (AA meets here too) *SUNDAY NIGHT WINNERS* Meetings is seeking new members. THEY WANTED A MEETING THEY NEEDED A MEETING CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH nd Street, SE Aurora, OR For more info call Love & Service Meeting Sundays, 5:00 6:00PM SW Davis Road, Beaverton Desiree C. (503) Deena T. (503) Babysitting Available The Group Scoop 3

Public Outreach: Bus Campaign How can we put the word out there that there is this wonderful program that helps family members of alcoholics while keeping within our tradition?

4 Public Outreach: Bus Campaign How can we put the word out there that there is this wonderful program that helps family members of alcoholics while keeping within our tradition? The Portland metro districts will be banding together on a public outreach project to do just that. The plan is to run a bus campaign near the end of summer that will cover the entire Portland Metro Area. Our wonderful squiggly road sign ( When you don t know where to turn because someone drinks too much ) will be posted on the back of around 37 busses. This will be the in your face 22 x 42 sign that is located in the center of the back of busses. Each bus is estimated to leave 23,000 impressions. They will travel for 4 weeks (potential of 8 weeks depending on money raised) around our area reaching from Forest Grove to Gresham and from North Portland to Wilsonville. The 50% discounted cost is estimated at $6000-$7000. Would you or your group like to be a part of this new campaign to help friends and families of alcoholics? Maybe your group has some extra funds available and/or someone could pass an envelope around your group and take up a collection If so, please send a check to your district earmarked for the Bus Campaign or to the District 10 treasurer earmarked for the Bus Campaign. Please contact the address below for the District 10 mailing address. The District 10 Public Outreach Coordinator Heide will be heading this project. If you have any questions feel free to her at PO-PDX@oregonal-anon.org. Many questions that have been asked: Will we have our local phone number on the campaign? No, our Al-Anon World Service Office (WSO) creates the artwork and they have placed the WSO phone number on it. The wonderful thing is when you call this number it is a key prompt system in which you choose English/Spanish but the best part is you type your zip code what day you want to go to a meeting and it will give you the closest meeting address. If you have not yet called do it; if nothing else make sure it has the correct information for your home group. Will there be a Spanish version? We believe the answer is no, but will work with the agency to see what the cost would be to have two different signs. To keep is simple the English version will most likely be used for this entire campaign. When do we need the money by? The hope would be to run the campaign in about August. To do this we would need the money by about June 1. How much money does each district need to come up with? There is no answer to this question for this is a wide spread campaign, what we want is for all districts and groups to be a part of the campaign. Too much money is not a concern either (ha ha). The more money we have the longer the campaign can run, which will make our initial investment on the signs spread the word more. Thank you for your time and support on such an exciting public outreach project. ~District 10 Public Outreach Al-Anon Information Services Office, serving the Greater Portland Area The Group Scoop 4

Literature Pick-Up Option Is your group having trouble getting to the AIS Office during regular business hours to pick up more books and pamphlets?

5 Literature Pick-Up Option Is your group having trouble getting to the AIS Office during regular business hours to pick up more books and pamphlets? Your group s ISR or GR can pick up literature on the third Thursday of the month prior to the AIS Board or Service Committee Meeting. Please call in your order during office hours and plan to come by the AIS office by 6:30PM at the latest. AIS Office Info Visit the Al-Anon Information Services office, conveniently located in Portland at the intersection of SW Skyline Boulevard and the Sunset Highway (Rte. 26). In addition to the outstanding staff and volunteers, you will find a large selection of Al-Anon literature to consider and you can save any shipping fees by picking up your order. The AIS office also offers an excellent selection of Alateen, large print and Spanish language publications. Thank You AIS Office Volunteers and Group Contributors Volunteers & Calls Volunteers Jan 2017 Joan B. Caralynn W. Calls Al-Anon 131 Alateen 4 AA 1 Other 2 Business 54 Total 192 Volunteers Feb 2017 Joan B. Fran P. Caralynn W. Judi W. Cheryl F. Val V. Calls Al-Anon 98 Alateen 10 Other 2 Business 53 Total 163 Group Contributions Year-to-Date The Group Scoop 5

Focus on Alateen DISTRICT MEETINGS District 9 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8 pm at the Alano Club, 909 NW 24th Avenue, Portland District 10 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:00-8:30 pm, Calvin

6 Focus on Alateen DISTRICT MEETINGS District 9 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8 pm at the Alano Club, 909 NW 24th Avenue, Portland District 10 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7:00-8:30 pm, Calvin Presbyterian Church, SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard District 11 3rd Monday of the month, 6:30-7:30 pm, St Paul Lutheran Church, 3880 SE Brooklyn St. Portland (Enter at the door to the right of the main entrance and downstairs; ring bell if door is locked) 1st floor library room/ wheelchair accessible. District 12 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm, Providence Hospital, 4805 NE Glisan St, Portland, Room 2E District 17 1st Thursday of the month; 7:00 pm - 8:30pm; Faith on Hill Church, 3615 SE Hill Rd, Milwaukie AIS Meetings 3rd Thursday of the month; 7:00 pm - 8:30pm, 1750 SW Skyline Boulevard, Portland Conference Room Service Committee (ISR) (odd months) Service Board (even months) The Group Scoop 6

The State Speakers Meeting is a weekend of fun for Al-Anon & Alateen members across Oregon.

If you re interested in participating or donating to the State Speakers meeting please contact us at the address below.

Your Oregon Al-Anon State Speakers meeting will be April 20 th -22 th, 2018 in McMinnville at Patton Middle School. Our theme this year is Filling our Recovery Toolbox.

7 The State Speakers Meeting is a weekend of fun for Al-Anon & Alateen members across Oregon. This is also a great service opportunity for all Al-Anon members, including Al-Anon members that are also members of AA. The SSM acts as a fundraiser for the Oregon Area Al-Anon. If you re interested in participating or donating to the State Speakers meeting please contact us at the address below. The 2018 State Speakers Meeting, hosted by District 10 (Washington County) and District 15 (Yamhill County), is moving along. Your Oregon Al-Anon State Speakers meeting will be April 20 th -22 th, 2018 in McMinnville at Patton Middle School. Our theme this year is Filling our Recovery Toolbox. Save the date and plan to come fill your recovery toolbox with fellowship, experience, strength, and hope from our in state and out of state speakers. Fundraising is an important part of executing an Oregon State Speakers Meeting. After review of the 2016 SSM we saw the largest donations came in from the individual members via the top hat cans. The 2018 SSM committee will be implementing their own twist to the top hats. We are calling it a Give It Up Campaign. Can you give up a cup of coffee, bottle of water, candy bar and donate the funds to the State Speakers Meeting? Your Group Representative will receive a travel mug at the March Assembly. If you will not have a representative at the March Assembly please and we will work out a way to include your group in this service/support opportunity. We ask that you pass this around your group a couple times each quarter or more to help fund the SSM. A big thank you to Saturday Sanity in District 11, they donated a wonderful gift basket to the SSM to raffle off during the November Assembly and it brought in a whopping $125. District 1, District 5 and District 10 have sent in cash donations that are also very much appreciated. ssm@oregonal-anon.org 2018 State Speaker Meeting Update Please mail donations to: SSM P.O. Box 921 Tualatin, OR Hope to See You at the SSM, Deanna M SSM Chairman The Group Scoop 7

alanonportlandoregon.org ais@alanonportlandoregon.

8 Contact Us Al-Anon Information Services 1750 SW Skyline Blvd., #133 Portland, OR (503) Al-Anon Information Services Office, serving the Greater Portland Area With Conference Approved Literature (CAL) in English and Spanish Open Monday Friday; 9:00AM 5:00PM Spanish Information: (503) Monday Friday; 9:00am 5:00pm Saturday Sunday; 10:00 am 5:00PM Reflections Speaker Meetings Greetings Reflections Family! We, the current Reflections Committee, wanted to take a moment to thank each and every person who made Reflections a part of their story of recovery for the past 29 years. We are grateful that so many people showed up on January 20 th and 21 st, to help us celebrate and to help us say goodbye. As you know, we have been announcing the closure of Reflections for several months. Despite the great turnout last weekend, and a brief spark of new enthusiasm for continuing, we were not able to overcome our final hurdle having enough interested Al-Anon members for a healthy rotation of leadership on the committee. We want to keep you informed while we finish the last few necessary tasks. Please note the following: All proceeds beyond expenses will be distributed to Portland AIS, Vancouver Public Outreach, and WSO. The reflections address will no longer be active after February 14, With love & gratitude, Alison, Charlotte, Greg, Kait, Libby, and Theresa The Group Scoop 8

THE GROUP SCOOP. Upcoming Bridge Walk & Annual AIS Fundraiser! In This Issue: Service Concepts of the Month

THE GROUP SCOOP. Upcoming Bridge Walk & Annual AIS Fundraiser! In This Issue: Service Concepts of the Month THE GROUP SCOOP The Al-Anon Information Services Newsletter September/October 2016 Upcoming Bridge Walk & Annual AIS Fundraiser! September is Recovery Month. A time for us to consider the state of our