TRADITION 10 THE STEPS & THE TRADITIONS

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1 Scaan SOUTH COUNTY AA NEWSLETTER South Palm Beach County Intergroup Association, Inc. Serving A.A. Groups in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Lantana 32 Years of Service ~ The Hand of AA Hours a Day Volume 32, Issue 10 OCTOBER 2016 TRADITION 10 Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues: hence the A.A. name, ought never be drawn into public controversy. After the end of World War II, Bill and Dr. Bob asked each group to send them their requirements for membership. At this time there were not many groups A.A. was still growing. The requirements they received from the individual groups surprised and shocked both Bill and Dr. Bob. One group in Seattle began each meeting by having a beer rationalizing it is only one beer. The group quickly vanished. In Los Angeles, they threw a woman out for having lose morals she drank herself to death. In Jacksonville, FL the only requirement was you needed to be a white male. All in all Bill and Dr. Bob realized that neither one of them would be able to join these groups. And they decided that if the Fellowship was to survive, there needed to be structure and the Traditions were born. An anonymous letter sent to Bill urging him to learn about the Washingtonian Temperance Society (formed in the 1840). This movement began in Baltimore as a Fellowship looking for a spiritual solution to the drink problem. There were in excess of 100, 000 members. But then the politics of the time seeped in. Some of the members picked up on Abolition of Slavery Reform others wanted to reform the American drinking habits. The members started to pull each other apart. The Washingtonians quickly disappeared all members died drunk. Tradition Ten insures Alcoholics Anonymous avoids that trap. Members of Alcoholics Anonymous have been given a primary purpose to stay sober and help another get sober. That in and of itself is difficult enough. The thing that makes Alcoholics Anonymous so special is our unity. What s more powerful than one alcoholic helping another? For it is in our weakness, we find strength. It is our brokenness that makes us whole. Alcoholics Anonymous is the greatest society ever. But you cannot explain it, you have to experience it. When a person attends a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, they feel the love, they hear the laughter and they witness unity in action. Alcoholics Anonymous is a lighthouse for drunks lost in a sea of alcohol and misery. They see the light they head straight for it and once there, they find the answer they have been searching for. The Alcoholics Anonymous Fellowship must have one primary purpose, one goal, one focus. Together we make sure that the lighthouse stands and the beacon shines brightly so the alcoholic who still suffers can find their way. We must stand and live together or we will surely die separately. Love and service, Tommy B. THE STEPS & THE TRADITIONS STEP 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. TRADITION 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

2 AA Prayer Our Father, we come to you as a friend. You have said that, where two or three are gathered together in your name, there you will be in the midst. We believe you are here with us now. We believe this is something you would have us do, and that it has your blessings. We believe that you want us to be real partners with you in this business of living, accepting our full responsibility, and certain that the rewards will be freedom, and growth, and happiness. For this, we are grateful. We ask you, at all times, to guide us. Help us daily to come closer to you, and grant us new ways of living our gratitude. Amen. SPBCI Archives Mike B. Written by Larry Jewel of Houston, Texas Where it was used to open meetings - April 1, 1940 Sober Voices Group Phone Meeting Alcoholics Anonymous Open/Discussion Phone Meeting All are welcome to attend! Seven days per 12:00 PM EST DIRECTIONS 1. Dial Enter access code # 3. MUTE is on 4. Press *6 to unmute 5. Press *6 to mute SPBCI OFFICE CLOSED COLUMBUS DAY Monday, October 10, 2016 Page 2

3 South Palm Beach County Intergroup - Profit & Loss - August 2016 New Intergroup Reps. Easy Does It ~ Angela R. Five Time Losers ~ John N. Just For Now ~ Drew C. Living In Sobriety ~ Brandon W. Spiritual Awakenings ~ Peggy D. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ~ Joe L. West Boca Friendship ~ Arlene P. Women with a Solution ~ Kay D. Office Volunteers Charlie, Dennis, George, Hunter, Jim, Joe H., John B., Josh, Linette, Marianne, Mike, Sarah R., Stan, Tommy and Cecilia. THANK YOU! Intergroup Activity Log Aug 16 12th Step Calls 1 First Call to AA 7 Meeting Inquiries 71 Business Inquiries 89 Walk-Ins 261 QB Sales Receipts 257 Page 3

4 GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS: AUGUST 2016 AND YEAR-TO-DATE 2016 Page 4

5 AA HOTLINE RELAY PHONE The Hand of AA is Available 24 Hours a Day! October - Women With A Solution November - Spiritual Awakenings December - Drunk Squad January - Thursday Men s Solution February - New Beginnings March - Boca Women s Group April - Boca Boyz FAITHFUL FIVERS With Gratitude for their support: Michael G. and Linda P. BIRTHDAY CLUB SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY INTERGROUP CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY! Your donation goes to help the valuable services provided by Intergroup including the AA hotline, meeting schedules, 12 step work, literature inventory, SCAAN newsletter and hospital/institution meetings. Name Anniversary Date Home Group Contribution* $ *Recommended contribution is $1 for every year of sobriety. If you would like a reminder notice next year, please fill out the address portion below or provide an address. Address State/Zip BIRTHDAY CLUB Jim M. - We Are Not Saints - 9/10/94 Congratulations on 22 years of sobriety! Linda P. - West Boca Friendship Group - 10/28/77 Congratulations on 39 years of sobriety! AA EVENTS October 7-9 South Florida Area 15 - General Service Assembly Fort Lauderdale Marriott North quarterlychair@district9aa.org November 3-6 Intergroup/Central Office/A.A.W.S./Grapevine Seminar Kansas City, MO November National A.A. Technology Workshop (NAATW) Winston, Salem, NC December 2-4 Southeast Regional Forum Lake Mary Marriott - Lake Mary serfnfac2016@gmail.com City OTHER EVENTS The Other Events listed below are presented solely as a service to SCAAN readers, not as an endorsement by SPBCI. October 22-7:30 PM Delray Central House Group Halloween Costume Talent Show andrewberzak@gmail.com October Promises in Paradise - St. Thomas November 5-6:30 PM No Matter What Group Gratitude Dinner Advent Lutheran Church Gymnasium - $25 per ticket (Frank) (Scott) November 24 Delray Central House Group Thanksgiving Day Feast Anniversary Meeting moved to the 7:00 PM andrewberzak@gmail.com May 11-14, 2017 Big Book Seminar, Boca Raton Intergroup Business Meeting Minutes August 31, 2016 Chair: Cheryl S.: The meeting opened with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer. Cheryl called for approval of last month s minutes, John made a motion to approve the July 27, 2016 minutes; motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Cheryl welcomed new group reps. Vice Chair: Billy R: Excused absence. Welcome letters were sent out to Committee chairs. Treasurer: Gary K.: Thank you to John S. and Jeannie for their assistance in helping me transition in as treasurer. Though our financial status is strong, keep in mind that we are planning to make a large distribution and need continued support of the groups to maintain our favorable status. Just a reminder that we are transparent in our financial reporting. The P&L statement and group contributions will continue to be included in the SCAAN, are available online and members may stop into the Intergroup office anytime to review the reports. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime should you have any questions or suggestions. This is your Intergroup. Thank you for the opportunity to be your Treasurer. A detailed report is in the SCAAN. Secretary: Jay W: Thank you to Sarah B. for all her help in the adjustment to Secretary! Pleasure to be of service. Office Manager: Jeannie G.: THANK YOU to the Office Volunteer Staff, the newly elected Committee Chairs and the Steering Committee Officers. The Where and When October 2016 flash drive has been delivered to the printer. Please note the office will be closed Saturday, September 3 and Monday, September 5 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. New Group Reps: West Boca Friendship Group, Arlene P.; Just for Now, Drew C.; Five Time Losers, John N.; League of Extraordinary Gentlemen s Group, Joe L.; Living in Sobriety, Brandon W.; Easy Does It, Angela R.; Women With A Solution, Kay D.; Spiritual Awakenings, Peggy D. Committee Reports: Archivist: Michael G.: No report. Excused absence. Archives: Open position. Bridge the Gap: Bari W. (women): I m thinking of ways to make Bridge the Gap more viable. Open (men): Page 5

6 General Service Liaison: Maria L.: No report. Unexcused absence. Group Information: Open position. Public Information: Dan M.: I m trying to gather data and information from my past chair. North County Chair person and I have spoken twice on the phone and we plan on meeting to discuss leads and coordinate efforts for the coming year. I phoned the following institutions: Delray Beach Police, Delray Beach Library (private & county), Pride DUI-So. PBC, Pride DUI-Services, Metro Traffic-Delray, Boynton Beach Library, and Boynton Beach Police. With the direction of Cheryl S., we worked a table at the Wayne Barton School in Boca late August. We had the assistance of two great volunteers, Taylor & Chris. My biggest takeaway this month is I need to make direct, in person contacts. I will begin this new approach in September. Hospitals and Institutions: Natasha V. (women): Reported s are received requesting men s meetings. Looking for volunteers to run meetings. Reformatting list of current meetings being run. Working to expand the list of people interested in picking up commitments. Open (men): SCAAN: John T: No report received. Excused absence. Articles are always welcome and can be submitted to the Intergroup office. Telephone Relay: Tony C.: The relay phone is covered through June If your group is interested in a month commitment with the phone please see the Relay Phone chair at the monthly business meeting, or contact Jeannie at the Intergroup Office during regularly scheduled business hours. Where & When: Sheryl M.: With the help of the intergroup office and Jeannie, changes were made to Where & When. Changes were submitted to printer. Will be using up old where & whens before new ones go out. New information needs to be in by February. changes to Jeannie. 12th Step Committee: Emily L. (women): Still accepting women s numbers to be added to the 12th step list. Women can feel free to call to have their numbers added. Steve J. (men): I called the entire 12 step list top to bottom. The vast majority of members on the list were enthusiastically still available and interested in remaining on the list for 12 step calls. It was humbling to talk to so many responsible AA s. There were 8 people who are yet to get back to me. I had planned to give those members on the list the benefit of one more call and text and if there s no response at that point I will remove them from the list.. I also have 10 additions to the list which I am planning on adding this month. Liaison to North County Intergroup: Kendall C.: My name is Kendall and I am an alcoholic. Thank you for allowing me to be of service. I am very excited to take on this new position. But unfortunately I will not be able to make it today being that I am going out of town. With that being said I do have a few things to report:-the North Palm Beach office manager is in the hospital but hopefully should be getting discharged very soon. All of his responsibilities have been picked up by the members of the office with the help of volunteers. Old Business: Annual Intergroup Donations: As mentioned in the past two business meetings, the Steering committee has a donation recommendation for Intergroup s surplus funds. Based on the current year to date with a conservative projection on year end, the steering committee recommends to donate $25.000, without putting the SPBCI in financial jeopardy; this is separate from the $28,000 prudent reserve. As suggested by our literature, the donation breakdown would October Service Meetings October 16 District 8 General Service Business Meeting - Triangle Club 4:00 PM: GSR/DCM SHARING 4:40 PM DISTRICT 8 BUSINESS MEETING October 19 SPBC Intergroup Steering Committee Meeting Wednesday, 5:30 PM - SPBCI Office October 26 SPBC Intergroup Monthly Business Meeting Wednesday, 7:00 PM - Delray Central House be: 40%/$10,000 to District, 30%/$7,500 to Area, and 30%/$7,500 to GSO. This is only the recommendation from the Steering committee. Bari W. made a motion to donate Intergroup s excess funds of $25,000 according to the recommended guidelines from our AA literature, the pamphlet, Self Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix in the amounts of 40%/$10,000 to District, 30%/$7,500 to Area, and 30%/$7,500 to GSO. Motion was seconded. Discussion followed. A vote was taken: 35 for and 15 against. Minority opinion given. Re-vote: 29 for and 21 against. Motion was passed. Serenity Scramble: Due to no volunteer to Chair, the Serenity Scramble will not be held this year. Committee Elections: Chair Cheryl S., facilitated the elections. Here are the results: Bridge the Gap (men): no one stood. Position remains open. Group Information: no one stood. Position remains open. New Business: The following committee chairs have stood down, these positions will be open for election in September: Archives Chair, H&I (men). Fall Event: Chair brought to the body the idea of hosting a Fall picnic or other event in lieu of Serenity Scramble and Gratitude Dinner. A Gratitude Dinner: Frank J. announced that a Gratitude Dinner is being planned and will be hosted by the No Matter What Group in November. Further details to come. Next Business Meeting: September 28, 2016 Closed meeting with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully, Jay W. South Palm Beach County Intergroup Association, Inc South Federal Highway Building C, Suite Delray Beach, FL hours: southcountyaa@comcast.net Website: Office Hours Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday: 10am - 1pm STEERING COMMITTEE Chair - Cheryl S. Vice Chair - Billy R. Treasurer - Gary K. Secretary - Jay W. Office Manager - Jeannie G. COMMITTEES Archives OPEN Archivist Michael G. Bridge the Gap - Men OPEN Bridge the Gap - Women Bari W. General Services Liaison Maria L. Group Information OPEN Hospitals & Institutions Natasha V. Liaison to North County Intergroup Kendall C. Public Information Dan M. SCAAN John T. Telephone Relay Tony C. Twelve Step Committee - Men Steve J. Twelve Step Committee - Women Emily L. Where & When Sheryl M.

TRADITION 11 THE STEPS & THE TRADITIONS

TRADITION 11 THE STEPS & THE TRADITIONS Scaan SOUTH COUNTY AA NEWSLETTER South Palm Beach County Intergroup Association, Inc. Serving A.A. Groups in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach and Lantana 32 Years of Service ~ 1984-2016 The Hand