When I am willing to do the right thing

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Pass It On A publication of the mid-island intergroup society of Nanaimo Read online: NanaimoAA.org May & June 2017 Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

1 Pass It On A publication of the mid-island intergroup society of Nanaimo Read online: NanaimoAA.org May & June 2017 Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. When I am willing to do the right thing I am rewarded with an inner peace no amount of liquor could ever provide. When I am unwilling to do the right thing, I become restless, irritable, and discontent. It is always my choice. Alcoholics Anonymous p.317 We're not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. -Alcoholics Anonymous p. 85 Inside this issue: Article written by local member: The Answer to Long Term Sobriety Annual General Meeting (AGM) announcement Event details for Area 79 Announcements, Central Office Contributions, Cake/Milestone celebrations, Central Office Manager message For meeting times and more AA news visit

Pass it On 2 What is Intergroup? Mid-Island Intergroup is a registered nonprofit organization and is responsible for the operation of the Intergroup/Central office located in Nanaimo.

2 Pass it On 2 What is Intergroup? Mid-Island Intergroup is a registered nonprofit organization and is responsible for the operation of the Intergroup/Central office located in Nanaimo. An Intergroup/Central office is an AA service office committee that involves partnership among groups in a community just as AA groups themselves are partnerships of individuals. The office exists to aid the groups in their common purpose of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that I am responsible. Intergroup Meetings Intergroup meets on the second Sunday of each month, unless it falls on a holiday weekend, with the exception of July and August. If you are the Intergroup Representative for your home group, please ensure that you, or your alternate, attend the general meetings of the Mid-Island Intergroup Society. Meetings are held 100 Chapel Street in downtown Nanaimo. Pass It On is the newsletter of the Mid-Island Intergroup Society. The content of the newsletter is for information only and does not imply endorsement. Service work Our Intergroup has many service opportunities. You can find out more about them by attending Intergroup meetings, speaking with your home group s Intergroup Rep, or by contacting central office. Some of our service positions are posted in the Pass It On newsletter. Intergroup Office Update Hi Fellowship, I want to give heartfelt thanks to everyone for their support and contributions to Intergroup Office the past month! I finally have labeled all of the group mailboxes, and I m hoping it s been easier for everyone to find their mail folders. Here s to a long and fun summer! Totals for the month of March 2017: 133 Visitors, 67 calls for info, 92 s, 2-12 step calls, 4 referrals. Totals for the month of April 2017: 91 Visitors, 31 calls for info, 66 s, 1-12 step call, 2 referrals. Love & Service, Corinne Contact Intergroup Office: NanaimoAA@shaw.ca # Prideaux St. Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

3 Pass it On 3 Nanaimo & Area 79 Events & Announcements Nanaimo Intergroup s Annual General Meeting When: Sunday, June 25th at 1:30pm Where: St. Paul s Anglican Church, 100 Chapel Street What: Election to vote in Operating Committee members Positions Available: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Website chair, Archives chair, Newsletter chair, Public Information chair, Telephone Answering Service chair & Literature chair. BC/Yukon Area 79 July Quarterly in Langley, BC July 14th-16th. More bcyukonaa.org District 1 # ALERT BAY Rally MAY 26-28, Alert Bay Big House Friday 6 pm Registration & Speaker Saturday 9 am Registration/Meetings/Speaker Sunday 9 am Breakfast & Speaker Closing Prayer at Noon Accommodations: Ferry schedule:

00 after April 30, 2017 Registration $20.00 (Includes all except Banquet) Sunday Breakfast $5.00 (Not included in above) 2017 Co

4 Pass it On 4 SPEAKERS Michael H., Chilliwack Jeff V., Parksville Kathy M., Comox 2 Al-Anon Speakers - TBA DANCE to LIVE BANDS Friday Anela Kahiamoe Saturday The Fabulous Mutts featuring Sue Medley TICKETS Advance Full Package $40.00 until April 30, 2017 Full Package $45.00 after April 30, 2017 Registration $20.00 (Includes all except Banquet) Sunday Breakfast $5.00 (Not included in above) 2017 Comox Valley AA Rally Native Sons Hall, 360 Cliffe Ave., Courtenay, B.C. MAY 19, 20 & 21 FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP Friday Night Ice Cream Social Saturday Pot Luck Lunch AA Workshop Safety in AA Saturday Evening Banquet catered by The Beez Kneez Coffee by Donation AA Meetings Al-Anon Meetings More Information and Tickets: Derek Marilyn FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS VISIT: BCYUKONNAA.ORG

5 Pass it On 5 The Answer to Long Term Sobriety Many of you have heard the formula for how you get to be an A.A. old-timer: Don t drink and don t die! True enough, but not always as easy as it sounds. Nevertheless, there are means to improving your odds of fulfilling the former of these conditions, if not the latter. I once attended an A.A. meeting at which the topic was achieving long-term sobriety, and the room was heavily over-weighted with what they now call long-timers. It was interesting to hear the variety of beliefs and behaviours to which each attributed their sober success: belief in a higher power, good sponsorship, strong group membership, regular attendance at meetings, talking about feelings, positive thinking, being sensitive to others, not being too sensitive to others, daily meditation, daily reading of the Big Book, practising humility, accepting responsibility, living life based on some combination of faith, hope, and charity the list goes on. I listened attentively, but it was obvious that, however much these beliefs or practices might enhance an individual s sobriety, they were neither necessary nor sufficient conditions for sobriety in general. There were older members there who did not believe in a higher power, who had never had a sponsor, who rarely shared their feelings, who never read the Big Book, who (in my humble estimation) were not particularly humble, faithful, hopeful or charitable (though I hope a little less judgmental). We are not Saints! Still, these people (including me) continue to be sober. I forget what invaluable advice I offered on the subject at that meeting, but the topic caught my imagination and I ve continued to ponder the question of long-term sobriety. What is there in common with all the old-time members present at that meeting, and all the others I ve encountered throughout many years in the program? For my money, the answer is commitment, commitment to life in the A.A. fellowship. Whatever those old-timers failings, whatever mine we were there for that meeting, we are there for the duration. Our commitment to the A.A. fellowship is not contingent upon current feelings or future whims, or an unvarying set of beliefs or practices. We are, as they say in poker parlance, all in! In part, perhaps because we have nowhere else to go, but even more because we recognize that there is no better place for us. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health...it s that kind of commitment, and one that I ve never regretted. Unlike similar vows I ve made, this one I m confident I ll keep. -A.A. Long-timer (Please note this article may be edited grammatically. Opinions expressed belong to the author.)

6 Pass it On 6 GROUP/INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS Previous Total 30 April YTD 7 AM Pass It On $ $ pm Candelight $ $ Back to Basics Group $ $ Departure Bay Step Group $ $ $ Friday Freedom Found $ $ Gratitude Jar $ $ 1.00 $ Ladysmith- Men s Discussion Group $ $ Ladysmith Reflections $ $ $ Ladysmith Steps & Traditions $ $ Let it Begin with Me $ $ Mustard Seed Group $ $ Nanaimo Step Group $ $ One Step at a Time Ladysmith $ $ S.O.S. Sober or Sorry $ $ Serenity in Sobriety $ $ Step Sisters 1,2,3 $ $ $ Sunday Morning Breakfast Group $ $ $ Sunday Night Living Sober $ $ Sunday Serenity $ $ The Way Out $ $ Tsow-Tun Le Lum AA Meeting $ $ Wednesday Women s Noon $ $ $ Personal Contributions $ $ Wednesday Night Big Book $ $ Women s Noon Staying Sober $ $ Hope Downtown Core $ $ Monthly Totals: $ 3, $ 1, $ 5, If you would like to make a donation to the Intergroup/Central Office to help support its vital services feel free to drop by Monday to Friday between 9-5. We also have a literature lending library, literature and medallions for purchase, service information and much more!

7 Pass it On 7 Sober Milestones Member Sobriety Date # of Years Meeting Mooney K. 05-May 1 Departure Bay Step Group Pat S. 18-May 21 Sunday Serenity Kendra S. 20-May 1 Back to Basics Barry C. 21-May 23 Sunday Serenity Graeme O. 07-June 1 Back to Basics Josh N. 23-June 2 Departure Bay Step Group Please speak to the individual celebrating the milestone to ensure the exact date of the celebration Talk to your Home Group s Intergroup Representative so he or she can bring your milestone information to the monthly Intergroup meeting so that it can be published in the Pass it On Newsletter.

Pass it On 8 Operating Committee Executive Chairperson Theresa H. Vice Chair Vacant Treasurer Darren H. Secretary Vacant Members at Large: Donna A. Vacant Vacant Central Office Manager Corinne D.

Committee Chair Tracy P. Districts 5 & 7 DCM District 5 Cathi N. Alternate DCM D5 Joe M. CPC Chair Riley G. Corrections Chair Bev C. Corrections Co-Chair Vacant DCM District 7 Fiona S.

8 Pass it On 8 Operating Committee Executive Chairperson Theresa H. Vice Chair Vacant Treasurer Darren H. Secretary Vacant Members at Large: Donna A. Vacant Vacant Central Office Manager Corinne D. Central Office Auxiliary Debby B. Committee Chairs Archives Chair Leslie T. Website Chair Patricia B. Newsletter Chair Candice H. Literature Chair Claudette H. Public Information Chair Ryan J. T.A.S. Committee Chair Tracy P. Districts 5 & 7 DCM District 5 Cathi N. Alternate DCM D5 Joe M. CPC Chair Riley G. Corrections Chair Bev C. Corrections Co-Chair Vacant DCM District 7 Fiona S. Alternate DCM D7 Lorelei L. Remote Communities Chair Lyla M. TFC (Detox) Co-Chair Vanessa L. TFC (Detox) Co-Chair Ashley S. Treatment Facilities Chair Leslie T. The next Intergroup meeting is Sunday, May 21 th at 1:30pm at St. Paul s Anglican Church, 100 Chapel Street. Intergroup s Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held Sunday, June 25 th at 1:30pm at St. Paul s Anglican Church, 100 Chapel Street. The Pass it On Newsletter is now online! Find this publication on NanaimoAA.org

Sometimes we are disappointed with ourselves

Sometimes we are disappointed with ourselves Pass It On A publication of the mid-island intergroup society of Nanaimo Read online: NanaimoAA.org March & April 2017 Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.