TRADITION THREE CHECKLIST

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1 EAST TENNESSEE INTERGROUP UNITY NEWSLETTER MARCH 2018 Volume 41, Issue 3 TRADITION THREE CHECKLIST The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. 1. In my mind, do I prejudge some new AA members as losers? 2. Is there some kind of alcoholic whom I privately do not want in my AA group? 3. Do I set myself up as a judge of whether a newcomer is sincere or phony? 4. Do I let language, religion (or lack of it), race, education, age, or other such things interfere with my carrying the message? 5. Am I overimpressed by a celebrity? By a doctor, a clergyman, an ex-convict? Or can I just treat this new member simply and naturally as one more sick human, like the rest of us? 6. When someone turns up at AA needing information or help (even if he can t ask for it aloud), does it really matter to me what he does for a living? Where he lives? What his domestic arrangements are? Whether he had been to AA before? What his other problems are? DISTRICT MEETINGS District 1 meets the second Saturday of the month at 11am at the Renaissance Center. District 2 meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:30pm at the Mountain Home VA, Johnson City. District 3 meets the first Sunday of the month at 12:30pm at the Morristown Group. District 4 meets the first Sunday of the month at 2:00pm at Happy Destiny. District 50/51 meets the first Monday of the month at 6:30pm at the Intergroup Office. District 6 meets the first Saturday of the month at 10:00am at the Serenity Club. SERVICE COMMITTEES Intergroup Committee meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at the Intergroup Office at 12:30pm. District 50/51 Treatment Committee meets the 2nd Thursday at Park 40 at 7pm; includes Bridging the Gap.

2 UNITY NEWSLETTER A monthly publication of East Tennessee Intergroup. About, by, and for members of AA. Opinions herein are not to be attributed to Alcoholics Anonymous. Except when indicated, this publication does not imply endorsement by either AA or the Newsletter. Third Step: We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Third Tradition: The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. Third Concept: To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees and executives with a traditional Right of Decision. Third Step Prayer: God, I offer myself to Thee To build with me & to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy love & Thy way of life. Delegates to the General Service Conference, April 24, 1972, agreed that the use of full names and addresses could improve communication within the Fellowship. We may use full names for AA service members. To assure anonymity, it is requested that the Newsletter be kept within the Fellowship. We are on Facebook. ETIAA has a private FB group. If you would like to join, call the Intergroup Office at and we will add you. 2

3 INTERGROUP MOBILE EVENTS General Service Pre-Conference Report March 10, 2018 Johnson City Appalachian Regional Roundup March 23-25, 2018 Johnson City Second Quarterly Area 64 Assembly April 6-8, 2018 Gatlinburg Colonial Heights Gratitude Dinner April 12, 2018 Kingsport Is there an AArelated event you would like Intergroup to attend? If so, please contact us: or 3 MEETING ANNOUCEMENTS No Longer Meeting 6:30am Flat Iron (South Knoxville), West Knox Group, James Gang (Downtown Knoxville), 8pm Thursday Rockford. Tellico Village A new closed women s 12x12 meeting, Sisters in Sobriety has started at Community Church of Tellico Village on Fridays at 11:30am, Room 1A Kingsport Serenity Improvement Monday Night meeting has moved to 7:30pm and is a 12x12 study. South Knoxville Recovery Central has opened at 808 Sevier Avenue and has multiple meetings. Lenoir City A new open discussion is starting at 11am on Saturday s at the Christian Church of Loudon County. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. INTERGROUP SERVICE NEEDS Office Volunteers: Run the Intergroup office, answer the phone, sell big books and answer general questions. Intergroup Reps: Attend the monthly Intergroup meetings at 12:30pm on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Bring back the information to your groups. 12-Step Volunteers: Respond to calls from alcoholics in need. us at manager@etiaa.org; visit the website at ETIAA.org, or call us at to serve.

4 How can groups participate? To help support A.A. s essential services, the General Service Conference suggests that individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan tailored to meet the group s financial situation. Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of, for example: (rent, refreshments, A.A. literature, Grapevine literature, local meeting lists, G.S.R. travel expenses to attend service functions), and a prudent reserve has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities. The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the area delegates and the G.S.R.s. The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference; holds area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information at all levels of service. The local intergroup or central office, which may provide phone service for Twelfth Step calls and other inquiries; coordination of group activities; A.A. literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the professional community activities. A.A. s General Service Office, which functions as a storehouse of A.A. information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes A.A. s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and others interested in A.A. (Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix, en_us/f-3_selfsupport.pdf) 4 7TH TRADITION SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTIONS Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. CONTRIBUTION ADDRESSES ETIAA East Tennessee Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous 5833 Clinton Highway Suite #202 Knoxville, TN General Service Office Grand Central Station P.O. Box 459 New York, NY Area 64 Assembly PMB # Murfreesboro Rd Nashville, TN District 1 Treasurer Stephanie H Pendragon Rd Kingsport, TN District District 2 Treasurer PO BOX 1872 Johnson City, TN District 3 Treasurer John H Darbee Dr. Morristown, TN District 4 Treasurer PO Box 264 Alcoa, TN District 6 Treasurer Richard B. 105 Mariner Point Clinton, TN Districts 50/51 Treasurer PO Box Knoxville, TN 37917

5 JANUARY GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS If you belong to one of the groups that is able to contribute to the Intergroup through your Seventh Tradition, would you check on your group s contribution at your next business meeting? If your group has any concerns that need addressing, let us know. We would love the chance to address those and possibly attend your business meeting if Jan 18 Jul '17 - Jan 18 4TH DIMENSION 1, , Group AMOR Y SERVICO BACK TO BASICS- OAK RIDGE BACK TO BASICS- SWEETWATER BIG BOOK RECOVERY BLOUNT COUNTY GROUP COLONIAL GROUP CONCORD GROUP CONTRIBUTION JAR COOKIE GROUP COURAGE TO CHANGE COVER TO COVER DISTRICT 50/ FIRST THINGS FIRST-P FLATIRON FOUNTAIN CITY SERENITY FREE AT LAST GROUP WITH NO NAME HAPPY DESTINY HAPPY HOUR HIGH NOONERS-P ICYPAA Individual JEFFERSON CITY UNITY KODAK - BIG BOOK STUDY KODAK - STEPS AND TRADI- TIONS KODAK GROUP LAFOLLETTE-THERE IS HOPE Jan 18 Jul '17 - Jan 18 LOUDON LUNCH BUNCH- GREENEVILLE MARYVILLE 12 STEP MEMORIAL RECOVERY METRO GROUP MONROE COUNTY MORRISTOWN GROUP NEW BEGINNING- LOUDON NEWPORT GROUP NORRIS CLINTON GROUP NORTH GATLINBURG GR PHOENIX GROUP PRIME TIME RIVERSIDE GROUP ROCKFORD SATURDAY MORNING SERENITY SERENITY IMPROVEMENT SERENITY SEEKERS SERENITY SISTERS SEYMOUR SHARING SOBER PRIDE STEPS FORWARD TELLICO VILLAGE TRI-STATE GROUP TRUDGING THE ROAD TURNIP PATCH WEST KNOXVILLE GROUP WORKING WITH OTHERS , ,244.25

6 BIRTHDAYS PRIMARY PURPOSE OAK RIDGE Tom S., 41 yrs Thomas W., 7 yrs Doug M., 2 yrs Carl D., 1 yr AVAILABLE MEETING SPACE Steps House Recovery Central Clubhouse at 808 Sevier Avenue has open meeting space for any 12 step fellowship or events. Call Don $25 per month. Tillery Ridge Apartments near Clinton Highway and Merchants, would like to offer free meeting space. If you are interested, call Stacy at Morningside Garden Apartments on Linden Avenue in East Knoxville by the old Intergroup Office has a community room available. Call Tonda at if interested. The new location of Ridgepoint Church in Joyner, TN has space available. Please contact Chris at chris@ridgepointchurch.net if interested. COLONIAL Frankie R., 8 yrs Rebekah R., 8 yrs FIRST THINGS FIRST Fawn L., 26 yrs Pete L., 26 yrs SEYMOUR SHARING Shawn P., 3 yrs Barbara S., 5 yrs Louise S., 5 yrs 4-WAY GORUP Denver F., 42 yrs 6

7 JANUARY INTERGROUP MINUTES Intergroup Minutes February 11, 2018 Open with serenity prayer Attendees: Joni Q, Rebekah R, Lisa F, Bob W, William B, David C, Mark R, Shelly M, Jacque H, Nick T, Fawn L, Annie B, Marilyn M, Robert G, Michelle M, Prior Meeting Minutes: Accepted January Minutes Intergroup Manager Report: Rebekah R New Refrigerator Clean up day after Intergroup meeting in March Training for to man the mobile Appalachian Regional Roundup Sharing room for the second quarter assembly Online store live, photos need updating, Bob s wife will take the pics Sale items not moving New chips on the way, resentment and visitors chip New bookmarks available Grapevine renewal needed, $50.00 per year. Accountant update, W2 and W3 done, meeting again next month Square payroll not going to it, but need Tennessee number and we can t get on so staying with updated Quickbooks. $50.00 for upgrade and $44.80 per month Colonial Heights wants a mobile intergroup table for their gratitude dinner April 12, 2018 at 6 pm. We will be there. Treasurer Report: Fawn L Accountant Update See Reports Want to move $ we used in January back to savings In pretty good shape Paying insurance monthly, will pay off when we can afford it Hotline: Jacque H Still updating phone list Will meet with Rebekah to talk about hotline workshop, April 14, 2018 at 2 pm Office Service Workers: Annie B Need more volunteers, one year sobriety, 4 hour shifts 9-1 and 1-5. Need help every third Thursdays 1-5 and Friday 1-5 with Nick Website: Shelley M Updating meeting list and putting new meetings in announcements App is up to date Flyers need to be in PDF format and will be posted as soon as possible, usually 24 hours Archives: Annie B Got a call from Ray, he is doing archive work with a group in Fountain City. Going to meet with him and Rebekah to talk about cost to put archives on CD s Accessibilities: Trent W Not here Spanish Speaking Liaison: Need Chair Treatment: Michelle M Went to district 50/51 meeting with a rep from District 3. They would host a workshop on how to start a treatment committee for District 3. Questions about Tennova, sent, no response yet. CPCPI: Robert G Went to assembly and attended workshop. Distributing pamphlets, Sent a sample letter to Anderson County student services office. Need to hear anyone s story before sending them out. Make announcement to get volunteers, numbers if interested call or Corrections: Lisa F Jails going well, Cocke County weekly, will be allowed in Jefferson County jail as soon as sheriff can arrange it. Outreach: Nick T Been out to several meeting, nothing negative about intergroup. Emphasize we are here to help them, the groups. Old Business: Bylaws Revision New Business: Motion to renew Grapevine, $29.00, without online access Passed Motion to move $ taken from prudent reserve back to prudent reserve Passed Motion to continue to provide $ to Corrections Chair to visit jails Passed District wants to continue the GSA Public Service Announcement. Motion to table until next month. Passed Close with Prayer Next meeting: 11 March

8 SECOND QUARTER ASSEMBLY INFORMATION SUBMIT Would you like to submit something for the newsletter? We encourage all appropriate submissions. us at 8

9 DISTRICT 4 MINUTES District 4 Meeting Minutes -February February 2:00pm Happy Destiny II 325 Whitecrest Road, Maryville TN Attendees: Debbie H., Charlie C., Sharon S., Leslie O., Toby W., Al H., Susan N., Mary Ann C., John B., Eric L., Johnny H. Debbie H. opened the meeting with The Serenity Prayer 2nd Traditions was read. Secretary s Report: Johnny H. Reported January 2017 District meeting minutes. Treasurer s Report: Toby W. Reported the District 4 account is currently $3, Prudent reserve is fully funded. Toby paid the cost of P.O. Box in Maryville: $76.00/year. P.O. Box address is District 4, 264 Alcoa TN DCM and Treasurer each hold a key for the P.O. Box DCM Report: Debbie H. attended the first Quarter Assembly in Manchester TN. Debbie communicated up to date details of the forthcoming second Quarter Assembly to be host by District 4 in Gatlinburg April 6-8 th. John P., our district delegate from Area 64 is conducting a Pre-Conference Report meeting, March 17 th at the Intergroup Office: 5833 Clinton Hwy Knoxville TN. District are hosting this meeting. Time is currently TBD Debbie attended the Grapevine Workshop. FYI The Grapevine now has a U Tube channel There are 664 active groups in the State of Tennessee; 167 voting groups. Voting for standing committees occurred. Group Reports: Debbie H. sitting in for Mike T. GSR- Happy Destiny II Group 7am, noon and 5:30 meetings are doing well; 7pm speaker meeting is doing better than usual. Ed H. The Riverside Group - Steady attendance. The topic of funding coffee was discussed at their group conscious meeting. Upon further discussion at the District meeting, there was general consensus that most groups pay for coffee with a mix of 7 th tradition funds and coffee donations. Sharon S. GSR- Rockford Fellowship Group Sharon reports attendance is up quite a bit at the noon meeting. 10am and 5:30 meeting attendance is improving as well. Rockford will hold a Chili Cook-off Sunday 2/11. There is a $2.00 fee for all you can eat chili; $5.00 fee for entering your chili in the cook -off. Al H. GSR with John B. Alt GSR Down on the River Group Alan reported attendance for the Sunday meeting was 30 people. The meeting is doing well every week. Leslie O. North Gatlinburg Group - attendance is down but the core group remains strong. Also, Libby says Hi! Susan N. GSR Daily Reprieve Group - The group meets on Monday at 5pm at the First Baptist Church in Maryville. The new meeting meets at 7pm at the Rockford Fellowship Club building. Attendance at both these Big Book meetings are good. The group plans to assist with food service at the Assembly in Gatlinburg. Eric L. GSR Colonial Group Attendance is running about 20 people at their Tuesday evening meeting. Mary Ann, the Alternate GSR for Colonial Group was also in attendance. Old Business: Second Quarter 2018 Spring Assembly will be held in Gatlinburg Dates: April 6,7,8 ALL groups are asked to volunteer to support meals for the April Assembly in addition to financial support. New Business Rebekah R. one Spanish translator will attend the Assembly. Ideally a second translator is needed. Also, Rebekah will have signs for outside meeting rooms. It is suggested that all GSRs are encouraged to suggest group members assist in the Second Quarter Assembly Registration area and in the Hospitality Room Don Rush will be doing an audio recording of all speakers at the Assembly If anyone makes reservations at the Assembly, they will be charged for one night. The 7 th tradition basket was passed around Johnny H made a motion to adjourn. Sharon S. second the motion. None opposed. Meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Next meeting will be Sunday 04 March 2018, 2pm at Happy Destiny 2 Respectfully submitted, Johnny H. District 4 9 Secretary

10 DISTRICT 6 MINUTES February 3, 2018 In attendance: Robert G., Kathy M., Richard B., Sandy W., DCM, Tara H., Joan S. Sandy W. opened the meeting with the Serenity Prayer. Tara H. read the Twelve Traditions With the passing of Susan S., Secretary, those present bought each other up to date on past meeting and what was discussed. It was agreed that a few people would alternate to visit district groups once a month to encourage participation in the district and see how district can be of service to the individual groups. The Norris-Clinton group was visited on January 22 at their regular 7:00 pm meeting. Treasurer Report: Richard B. reported that the current balance is $ The district received $45 in contributions in January. Joan S. made a motion to accept the Treasurer report as submitted. Sandy W. seconded. Motion passed. Group Reports: Primary Purpose - Robert G. reported that Monday nights are well attended, while Tuesday and Thursday attendance is lower. Good turn out on last Friday, open speaker, Birthday night. Happy, Joyous & Free - Tara H. reported that Wednesday usually has the largest attendance. Having refreshments on Friday on a rotating basis has been discussed with hopes to improve attendance. They would like to put out a flyer soon and this will be discussed at next business meeting. Norris-Clinton Group Tara H. reports attendance is stable with people attending. (Monday 7:00 pm) Intergroup: Robert G. reported a discussion whether Corrections Rep is spending too much money. Robert is now PI Rep and has picked up both PI & CPC packets. A committee is being formed to possibly rewrite the policies. The meetings are better attended. Archives: Tara H. is working on possibly having an Archives workshop. The group history forms are not being returned. Sandy W. will pass her Archives information to Tara. Area 64 has a new committee workbook and it is also on the Area 64 website and can be printed. Treatment: Sandy W. reported there is some negativity in regard to Treatment Centers. The web committee talked at the past Assembly about how to set up a group site for Treatment Reps for East, Middle and West TN to be able to obtain more accurate information. Public Information: Robert G. visited 2 schools. He would like to concentrate bringing information to medical offices and facilities. Several medical practices were mentioned. Sandy W. commented that there is a need in Senior Centers as well. DCM- 2 new pamphlets being considered, The Word God and one for Agnostics & Atheists. She will receive pre-conference report soon. Big Book has been voted as one of the most influential books. Service Manual is being revised. There is discussion of reorganizing the General Service Board. Old Business: Archives rep to take group history to groups. Archivist at Assembly reported there are only 206 group history forms, with about 400 groups in Area 64. Discussion to day trip to Archives. Next group visitation with be to Back to Basics on Feb. 13 at 7:00 pm. New Business: Sandy W. made a motion for Kathy M. to serve as Grapevine Rep. Robert G. seconded. Motion passed. Richard B. made a motion for Joan S. to stand as District Secretary to replace Susan S., deceased. Tara H. seconded Motion passed. Richard B. made a motion for Joan S. to stand as Alternate Treasurer to replace Susan S., deceased. Tara H. seconded. Motion passed. Robert G. made motion to adjourn. Seventh Tradition - $14. Next District meeting will be on March 3 at 11:00 am at the Serenity Club in Oak Ridge Respectfully submitted, Joan S. 10

11 EVENTS

12 EAST TENNESSEE INTERGROUP UNITY NEWSLETTER 5833 CLINTON HIGHWAY SUITE 202 KNOXVILLE, TN PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE 24/7 HOTLINE ETIAA.ORG NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION If you would like the newsletter mailed to your home, please fill out the form to the left and mail it to the address shown below. Include $5.00 for a one-year subscription. ETIAA 5833 Clinton Highway Suite 202 Knoxville, TN Or sign up at ETIAA.org for a free ed copy. MARCH 2018 Name Address City State Zip Phone number

EAST TENNESSEE INTERGROUP UNITY NEWSLETTER

EAST TENNESSEE INTERGROUP UNITY NEWSLETTER June 2018 Volume 42, Issue 6 Sixth Step: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Sixth Tradition: An AA group ought never endorse,