Scaan Volume 32, Issue 9 SEPTEMBER 2016 STEP 9 AA NEWSLETTER. of AA SOUTH COUNTY

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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 9 SEPTEMBER 2016 STEP 9 I hear in the fellowship all the time I asked a friend to read the Promises. The problem with this is there are hundreds of Promises throughout the book, Alcoholics Anonymous. The Promises referenced are the Promises of the Ninth Step. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through the Ninth Step is about making amends, not just saying I m sorry but to make right our wrongs. We will be amazed before we are half way through this amends process. Our families begin to trust us old feuds are settled we start to make a host of new friends life starts to get good. Or, as the Promises state, we are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past, nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. This promise is when your windshield becomes bigger than your rear view mirror. That marching band in your head stops playing. You can now be in a room alone, be still, relax, and find you can live in the moment. WOW! No matter how far down the scale we have gone we will see how our experience can benefit others I came in a homeless, insane drunk; now I sponsor men through the big book, Alcoholics Anonymous. I am also asked to speak at meetings sharing my experience, strength and hope. And I am not alone there are thousands of people just like me blessed by the grace of God. So, of course, I wish every alcoholic to experience the happiness and freedom I enjoy as a result of the 164 pages of Alcoholics Anonymous. That feeling of uselessness and self pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things, and gain interest in our fellows. Self seeking will slip away. This one s easy I am selfish and self centered so if I am not thinking about me all the time, odds are that I am not going to be depressed. How do I do this? Step Nine tells me my real purpose is to be of maximum use to others. All I have to do is stop thinking about me and start thinking of how I can be of service to others. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and economic insecurity will leave us I know what you are thinking economic insecurity will leave me sorry this does not mean you are going to be wealthy rich or poor you will feel secure and happy. To me, the big one is fear of people for I am no longer a slave to what others think of me. I do not have to think less of myself I only need to think of myself less. Finally, We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. God is now directing my life I have my power back Steps Four and Five allowed me to take personal inventory and confess my handicaps to God, myself, and another human being. Six and Seven - became willing to have God humbly change me. Now in Step Nine I begin to clear the wreckage of my past. The amends process teaches me I no longer need to feel guilty and ashamed. I want to be of service to others to live in the sunlight of Steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve. I have a future in Step Nine because I have cleaned up my past. God s grace has no limitations. It is given evenly to everyone. This in not my opinion, this is my experience. Love and service, Tommy B. THE STEPS & THE TRADITIONS STEP 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. TRADITION 9 - A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

2 Gratitude is the Heart s Memory Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, and confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Anonymous SPBCI Archives Mike B Committee Chairs Steering Committee Officers THANK YOU! LABOR DAY OFFICE CLOSED Saturday, September 3rd Monday, September 5th Page 2

3 South Palm Beach County Intergroup - Profit & Loss - July 2016 New Intergroup Reps. Drunk Squad ~ Maria B. From Steerage to Captain s Table ~ David M. Happy Hour (Alternate) ~ Bret S. Safe Haven ~ Jim S. Serenity Hour ~ Linda V. Step Into the Solution ~ Jason W. Tradition Three Group ~ Andrew C. Spititual Awakenings ~ Peggy D. Office Volunteers Charlie, Dennis, George, Olivia, Hunter, Jim, Joe H., John B., Josh, Linette, Marianne, Mike, Olivia, Sarah R., Stan, Tommy and Cecilia. Intergroup Activity Log July 16 12th Step Calls 3 First Call to AA 3 Meeting Inquiries 71 Business Inquiries 117 Walk-Ins 218 QB Sales Receipts 249 Page 3

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

5 AA HOTLINE RELAY PHONE The Hand of AA is Available 24 Hours a Day! September - Sobriety for Breakfast October - Women With A Solution November - Spiritual Awakenings December - Drunk Squad January - Thursday Men s Solution February - New Beginnings March - Boca Women s Group FAITHFUL FIVERS With Gratitude for their support: Michael G. and Linda P. OTHER EVENTS The Other Events listed below are presented solely as a service to SCAAN readers, not as an endorsement by SPBCI. September 17-7:30 PM Delray Central House Group Bingo Night andrewberzak@gmail.com October Promises in Paradise - St. Thomas May 11-14, 2017 Big Book Seminar, Boca Raton 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 BIRTHDAY CLUB Intergroup Business Meeting Minutes July 27, 2016 Margaret - Women in Recovery - 8/23/86 Congratulations on 30 years of sobriety! Betty H. - Delray Central House Group - 9/24/84 Congratulations on 32 years of sobriety! AA EVENTS September th Annual National Archives Workshop Concord, Ca 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 Chair: John S.: The meeting opened with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer. John called for approval of last month s minutes, Bari W. made a motion to approve the June 29, 2016 minutes; motion was seconded and passed unanimously. John welcomed new group reps. New Group Reps: Drunk Squad: Maria L.; From Steerage to Captain s Table: David M.; Happy Hour :Renee S.,(Alt): Bret S.; Safe Haven: Jim S.; Serenity Hour: Linda V.; Tradition Three: Andrew C. Treasurer: Elizabeth B.: excused absence, Jeannie read report: According to the 7th tradition baskets were passed. Intergroup finances are doing very well. Intergroup had a net revenue of $ for the month of June. Year to date net revenue $9,113.00, comparable figure for 2015 is a net revenue of $5, A detailed report is in the SCAAN. Office Manager: Jeannie G.: Thank you to the Office Volunteer Staff and all fellow AA s who to carry the message. Thank you to the Committee Chairs and Steering Committee members who will be rotating out this evening. Your willingness to do service for Alcoholics Anonymous is appreciated. All updates/revisions for the upcoming Where & When (October 2016) should be submitted no later than August 15, Meeting updates/revisions are welcome via southcountyaa@comcast.net. Committee Reports (submitted but not read during the meeting): Archivist: Michael G.: No report. Archives: Open position. Bridge the Gap: Emily L. (women) and Gary K. (men): This past month we did not receive any requests to Bridge the Gap. We remain forever grateful for the opportunity to be of service this past year and look forward to transitioning our work to the next trusted servants. General Service Liaison: Andrea D.: No report. Group Information: Maria L.: No report. Public Information: Juan P.: No report. Hospitals and Institutions: Carla S.: This was an amazing position for me hold for this year. I want to thank each & every one of you for your help and faith in me. Currently, we have 51 meetings per week in 17 facilities. There have only been a few minor changes since last month s report with the changing of chairpersons at different facilities. I must take a moment to thank everyone. We have received an overwhelming amount of support from individuals who are requesting to serve as Trusted Servants on this committee. As soon as a position is emptied, it is filled. If I have not been able to put anyone in a position please be patient and send me continued s or text messages. The H & I has not scheduled a meeting for our sub-committee at this time. If any- State/Zip Page 5

6 one should have any questions or concerns that I cannot answer, I will definitely contact our intergroup Office in Delray. To carry the message in this committee anyone with 1 year or more of sobriety that is interested in being of service please contact myself or Intergroup. SCAAN: John T: Articles are always welcomed and can be ed to the Intergroup office by the 15th of the month. We are in need of material, so if you or a friend have a story to tell please submit. Telephone Relay: Taylor G.: The relay phone is covered through April 2017 with the exception of September If your group is interested in a month commitment with the phone please see the Relay Phone Representative at the monthly business meeting, or contact Jeannie at the Intergroup Office during regularly scheduled business hours. Where & When: Dave R.: So far, there have been six requests for Where & When changes received since the April printing; these changes will be included in the next W&W printing. Three additional changes have been requested since my June report. The next printing of the Where&When is expected for fall publication in October. All meeting update submissions should be communicated through the Intergroup office. 12th Step Committee: Bari W. (women): Women s list up to date. Enjoyed this committee, thank you for letting me serve. Stephen J. (men): The entire 12 step list has been contacted. 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 plan to reach out a second time before removing, or have the next chair contact again. There are 10 new additions to the list. Liaison to North County Intergroup: Laura K.: The North County Intergroup meeting took place on July 13, Ed, the office manager is still recovering from surgery. He is expected back part time next week. Mark, the chairman, purchased a tablet for the office to start accepting credit card payments. The Intergroup by-laws have not been updated in several years. An ad hoc committee is being formed to revise the bylaws. The advisory committee is looking to get short term and long term disability insurance for the office staff. Volunteers are needed for the following: The Annual Big Book Ball; South Bay Correctional; H&I Committee; and Bridge the Gap committee. There is an H&I orientation at 4:30pm the first Sunday of each month for anyone interested. Thank you for this opportunity to serve. Old Business: Annual Intergroup Donations: Due to excellent support over the past few years the Intergroup finances are in good standing, and we are in a position to donate. As mentioned last month the committee has a donation recommendation. 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 be: 40%/$10,000 to District, 30%/$7,500 to Area, and 30%/$7,500 to GSO. This is only the September Service Meetings September 11 District 8 General Service Business Meeting - Triangle Club 4:00 PM: GSR/DCM SHARING 4:40 PM DISTRICT 8 BUSINESS MEETING September 21 SPBC Intergroup Steering Committee Meeting Wednesday, 5:30 PM - SPBCI Office September 28 SPBC Intergroup Monthly Business Meeting Wednesday, 7:00 PM - Delray Central House recommendation from the Steering committee, all reps will need to discuss with their groups, and in August a vote will be held to determine how the body chooses to donate the funds. Please contact the Intergroup office with any questions you may have prior to the August vote. Serenity Scramble: Announcement was made that Intergroup needs a chair for the Serenity Scramble Golf Tournament. No one stood for the position. New Business: Committee Elections: Vice Chair, Cheryl S., facilitated the elections following Robert s Rules; here are the newly elected trusted servants: Steering Committee: Chair: Cheryl S.; Vice Chair: Billy R.; Treasurer: Gary K.; Secretary: Jay W. Committee Chairs: Archivist: Michael G.; Archives Chair: Linda V.; Bridge the Gap Women: Bari W.; General Service Liaison: Maria L.; H&I Women: Natasha V.; H&I Men: James T.; Public Information: Dan M.; SCAAN: John T.; Telephone Relay: Tony C.; Where & When: Sheryl M.; 12th Step List Women: Emily L.; 12th Step List Men: Steve J.; Liaison to NPBC Intergroup: Kendall C. The following positions remain open: Bridge the Gap Men and Group Information; please attend next month s business meeting to stand for the position. Next Business Meeting: August 31, 2016 Closed meeting with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Sarah B. 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