Suffolk Intergroup Association
of A.A. Bulletin September 2004
113-8 Bay Avenue Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 654-1150 FAX (631) 654-1110
Mail: P.O. Box 659 Patchogue, NY 11772 email: WWW.SUFFOLKNY-AA.ORG
The
Bulletin
is published monthly by the Suffolk Intergroup Association of Alcoholics Anonymous, PO Box 659, Patchogue, NY 11772. "Alcoholics Anonymous" and "AA" are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Quotes from AAWS literature are used with permission.
MY HIGHER POWERS GIFT
IT WAS NOT THAT LONG AGO I FOUND MYSELF DESPERATE AND OUT OF CONTROL SPINNING RAPIDLY DOWN THE SPIRAL TOWARD HELL ON EARTH.
AS I WAS ONCE CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE A PILLAR IN SOCIETY, I NOW WAS CONSIDERED AT LEAST BY ME AN OUTCAST. I HAD NO DESIRE TO GO ON IN LIFE AND CONSIDERED IT ALMOST VIRTUOUS TO COMMIT SUICIDE.
MY FATHER DID THAT AND HAD LIVED IMMORTALLY IN MY HEAD EVER SINCE. THAT IS HOW SICK I WAS. TO EVEN CONSIDER SUCH A WASTE OF MY HIGHER POWERS GIFT IS DEPLORABLE TO ME TODAY. WELL WHAT HAPPENED IS I SIMPLY HAD TO ASK THE QUESTION MANY OF US HAD TO ASK.... PLEASE HELP ME! THAT WAS FIRST REAL PRAYER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE THAT WAS SINCERE.
WHAT HAPPENED IS MY HIGHER POWER DECIDED TO GRACE ME WITH A GIFT IMMEDIATELY AND BROUGHT ME TO THE ROOMS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. IT IS INSIDE THESE ROOMS WHERE I HAD LEARNED I WAS GIVEN A GIFT FROM MY HIGHER POWER AND IT IS UP TO ME WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THIS GIFT. A FRIEND SAID TO ME THE BEST GIFT I COULD POSSIBLY GIVE MY HIGHER POWER IS ONE DAY AT A TIME CONTINUOUS SOBRIETY AND PLENTY OF SERVICE TO OTHERS
IN AND OUT
OF THE ROOMS OF AA.
SO I BEG OF YOU BEFORE YOU GO OUT AND DRINK AGAIN ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION: WHAT KIND OF GIFT DO I WANT TO GIVE
MY
HIGHER POWER?
-HIGHER POWERED
third legacy service letter - write articles
Looking for Lost Groups
There are roughly 360 groups in Suffolk County. Of that number, Intergroup has a mailing address, and therefore regular contact with about 180. Meeting List Chair Alan S. and Corresponding Secretary Jon H. are determined to reach out to those "lost" groups. Why?
First, we often hear from newcomers that the group they first tried to go to was not meeting where or when the list said. How many suffering alcoholics have given up because they couldn't find a meeting we'll never know, but one is too many. So we have to keep the meeting list accurate and up-to-date. Second, the meeting list has grown as large as it can in its current format. To add more groups, we'd have to switch to a more expensive booklet format. If we can eliminate "dead" groups, we can avoid this expense. And third, it is the purpose of Intergroup to serve the A.A. groups in Suffolk County. We can't do this if we can't tell you what we're doing and get your feedback.
Alan and Jon have printed up business reply cards, one for each group on the meeting
Hey Suffolk A.A.s
You've Got Mail
with a narrative of my prodigious service work. I want to tell you about a service job that is difficult. It's held by Walter S. He's the SIA Office Manager. Besides his other duties, he's responsible for getting the people to fill the shifts at the office. There are the regulars who normally take a shift; there are a few more that can be called in as fill-ins. And that's the problem. There are too few people who can be called on.
If any of you reading this has ever had the Hotline commitment, "the phones," you have a taste of how difficult it can be getting someone to take the call. I don't know about all the volunteers at the office, but in my own case, and a few of the office regulars that I know, we're retired, so we can fit this into our schedules. So that's why it's important for the Bulletin to reach as many members as possible. No doubt, a percentage of our membership would probably be available to take a three hour shift at the office during the day. Out of the 300 plus A.A. groups in Suffolk, only 40-70 reps show up each month at the SIA meetings. I'm hoping that the group secretaries who get the Bulletin read this in their groups.. To grab their attention, mention that after almost 70 years of research, a way has been found to arrest alcoholism. That information will be in the last sentence. -
Dear Readers continued on page 4
Dear Bulletin Readers:
Heh, Heh, heh. A little joke there. Actually I'm trying to address this to more than the hundred or so people who actually read the SIA Bulletin; more than the hundred or so involved in service at the Intergroup level. I'm hoping that the group secretaries of the A.A. groups in Suffolk read this (letter) to their groups. If this should happen in half the groups in Suffolk, it will probably be an all-time high in the numbers of alcoholics who read or hear the news from Intergroup.
Here's the thing. I've filled in occasionally at our SIA office in Patchogue. There are two shifts each day - 9am to 12pm and noon - 3pm. I like the earlier shift myself. I pick up two eggs w/bacon on a roll at the deli, and when I get to the office I turn on my favorite cable news station and enjoy my sandwich and coffee. Life is good. It's a little annoying when the phone rings occasionally, disrupting my after-egg meditations. But hey, service is service. Ir has something to do with the 12th Step or something,. But I'm not here to regale you
Read All About It
The Third Legacy Is Service -
And You Ask
"How Can I Be of Service?"
Well I'm glad you asked. Our 12th
Step - carrying the message - is the
basic service that our Fellowship
gives; this is our principal aim and
the main reason for our existence. Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of
alcoholics in action, to quote Bill W.
What is service? Anything that
helps us to reach a fellow sufferer -
- an actual 12 Step call, a ride to
a meeting, a phone call - or -
how about writing an article
sharing your expeience,
strength and hope with
others. Your words, might be
just what a fellow alcoholic, in or
out of the rooms, needs to read. So
to answer your question- send us
your message of hope to pass on in
the Bulletin. This is our legacy.
- Yours' in Service the Editors
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