intergrouper july - alcoholics anonymous · 2019-08-02 · history’s corner july, 2017 tradition...

8
Intergrouper July 2017 Office Hours Central Florida Intergroup Services, Inc. P (407) 260-5822 9-4 M-F 283 Live Oaks Boulevard, Building 6 F (407) 260-5604 10-2 Saturday Casselberry FL 32707 Closed Sunday email: cfi@embarqmail.com 24 Hour Hotline web: http://www.cflintergroup.org (407) 260-5408 No Tears Leſt to Cry by Eric A - Orlando I am not really sure if this is my story or the story of all the people who were in my life that I harmed with NO MORE TEARS TO CRY. To say I was a no good son of a B_ _ _ _ would be a gross understatement. I alienat- ed everyone who ever came in contact with me and I could care less until I heard my mother say I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING OR ANYONE ON EARTH, BUT PLEASE GO SOME PLACE ELSE TO DIE. I guess I had not realized how mean and hurtful I was to people when I had drugs and alcohol in my system. I had what I considered a normal upbringing with the usual - don’t do this and don’t do that rules for kids. However, when I went to high school, it seemed like a total metamorphosis - a change that would lead me down a path of self-destruction. I never completed high school. I was thrown out for a variety of school infractions which included fighting with students and teachers. I leſt high school and began drinking on a daily basis. Along with getting sick on a regular basis, I also got arrested on a regular basis. A suggestion from one judge was that I should join the military before I wound up in jail for the rest of my life. I joined the army, and almost as if it was ordained, I was arrested for fighting and I was thereby dishonorably discharged. I came back to my hometown and picked up where I leſt off. I continued drinking, getting arrested and getting sick. I got married to a woman who was 12 years older than me who drank just as much as I did and did not back down from fights. Well, it wasn’t long before we would be writing each other from our jail cells. I forgot to mention that all this took place while I lived with my mother. When I could no longer afford drugs I started drink- ing 24/7. I also started getting sick every day, and then I started getting hospitalized on a regular basis. My mother stopped me one day and asked what if anything she could do to help me, and I said to just leave me alone. I am fine. My younger brother one night told me that our Mom waited up every night for me to come in so she would know that I was safe. He said many a night he saw her sitting by the window crying and praying for God to keep me safe. I confronted my mother the next day and told her that God hates me and that I hate Him. at was the day my mother told me to go someplace else to die. I leſt the house and aſter two days of living on the streets, I decided to seek help. I went to a detox and was offered a scholarship to a long-term program. I fought my demons tooth-and-nail for six months until I heard a speaker from AA say SURRENDER TO THE RE- COVERY, NOT THE DISEASE. I have been sober ever since that day and will be celebrating my 17th year of being HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE, and I owe it to that lovely lady who threw me out of her house and told me to return to GOD’s BOSOM

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Page 1: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

Intergrouper July 2017

Office Hours Central Florida Intergroup Services, Inc. P (407) 260-5822 9-4 M-F 283 Live Oaks Boulevard, Building 6 F (407) 260-5604 10-2 Saturday Casselberry FL 32707 Closed Sunday email: [email protected] 24 Hour Hotline web: http://www.cflintergroup.org (407) 260-5408

No Tears Left to Cry by Eric A - Orlando

I am not really sure if this is my story or the story of all the people who were in my life that I harmed with NO MORE TEARS TO CRY. To say I was a no good son of a B_ _ _ _ would be a gross understatement. I alienat-ed everyone who ever came in contact with me and I could care less until I heard my mother say I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING OR ANYONE ON EARTH, BUT PLEASE GO SOME PLACE ELSE TO DIE. I guess I had not realized how mean and hurtful I was to people when I had drugs and alcohol in my system. I had what I considered a normal upbringing with the usual - don’t do this and don’t do that rules for kids. However, when I went to high school, it seemed like a total metamorphosis - a change that would lead me down a path of self-destruction. I never completed high school. I was thrown out for a variety of school infractions which included fighting with students and teachers. I left high school and began drinking on a daily basis. Along with getting sick on a regular basis, I also got arrested on a regular basis. A suggestion from one judge was that I should join the military before I wound up in jail for the rest of my life. I joined the army, and almost as if it was ordained, I was arrested for fighting and I was thereby dishonorably discharged. I came back to my hometown and picked up where I left off. I continued drinking, getting arrested and getting

sick. I got married to a woman who was 12 years older than me who drank just as much as I did and did not back down from fights. Well, it wasn’t long before we would be writing each other from our jail cells. I forgot to mention that all this took place while I lived with my mother. When I could no longer afford drugs I started drink-ing 24/7. I also started getting sick every day, and then I started getting hospitalized on a regular basis. My mother stopped me one day and asked what if anything she could do to help me, and I said to just leave me alone. I am fine. My younger brother one night told me that our Mom waited up every night for me to come in so she would know that I was safe. He said many a night he saw her sitting by the window crying and praying for God to keep me safe. I confronted my mother the next day and told her that God hates me and that I hate Him. That was the day my mother told me to go someplace else to die. I left the house and after two days of living on the streets, I decided to seek help. I went to a detox and was offered a scholarship to a long-term program. I fought my demons tooth-and-nail for six months until I heard a speaker from AA say SURRENDER TO THE RE-COVERY, NOT THE DISEASE. I have been sober ever since that day and will be celebrating my 17th year of being HAPPY, JOYOUS AND FREE, and I owe it to that lovely lady who threw me out of her house and told me to return to GOD’s BOSOM

Page 2: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

Happy Anniversary !

2

Altamonte SpringsBill R - 41Marc F - 8Mike F - 7

Central Orlando GroupBrad F - 32Mike S - 30Frank V - 23Danny S - 17Victoria R - 17Matt K - 10Charlie M - 8Michael M - 6Frank T - 5Morgan A - 4Mike C - 2Robin M - 1

Clean AirJay W - 42John M - 35Cindy W - 30Brian R - 20Patty G - 15Deborah K - 11Guy Y - 7Joel O - 4Robert T - 4

College Park TriangleChet P - 33

CrossroadsNancy L - 11Kathy W - 10Tiffany S - 3

Dr. PhillipsRichie N - 28Mike M - 28Mark B - 11Valerie F - 9Scott E - 5Robert H - 5Larry H - 4Peter M - 3Clarke S - 2Joe H - 2Lionel O - 2Dana L - 1Paige B - 1Bob L - 1

First Things FirstCorrine G - 7Rick F - 1

From the HeartLiz W - 24Angel C - 14Liz T - 4

GreenhouseJae T - 31Tass T - 10Lance M - 7

Happy HourJudy S - 11John H - 5

High NoonLake MaryBud R - 33Bob M - 26Allan O - 8Patrick J - 5

Alisa H - 3Cheryl D - 3Bill K - 3Debbie S - 1Al P - 1

JaywalkersLisa L - 24D.J.F. - 9Kristen P - 6Joe A - 1

Just Do ItMary Fran S - 12Bill K - 3

Our Mostly AgnosticGroup of DrunksHolly D - 7Victor B - 2Lou Lou R - 1Alane V - 1

OviedoFred S - 22Carol C - 15Christian - 5Duane S - 5Vicki B - 5Barney B - 4Tom S - 4Bill D - 2Dean D - 2Chris - 1Frank K - 1Michelle C - 1Mike R - 1

Pine Hills GraceCarol C - 33Roy H - 26Willie R- 22Trish W - 22Mark P - 20Don B - 19Darrell S - 18Edith A - 12Megan H - 7Patrick B - 6Mack P - 5Laura T - 4Rob S - 3

The Decisions GroupRob M - 19Andy R - 8Chuck N - 8Cindy G - 6Richard C - 5Christian C - 5Austin S - 1

The Herd InstinctChris M - 6

The Home GroupMary Fran S - 12Brenda C - 5

Wekiva BasicsAlan K - 8

Winter ParkJimmy G - 33Norman D - 33Julie C.- 29Carole M - 27Susan W - 24Heather E - 23John - 17William F - 14Julie C - 12Barbra D - 10Bill C - 10James S - 9Christine D - 8Tim D - 8Vicki O - 8Blake F - 6Diana J - 6Mandi - 6Nick T - 6Donna W - 5Alex D - 5Amanda M - 4Beth P - 4Curt S - 4Daphne G - 4Dock - 4Nick O - 4Steve G - 4Steve B - 4Ronnie M - 4Jeff F - 3

Page 3: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

3

History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited)

The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without unity and anonymity, it would almost be im-possible to survive as a movement to help alcoholics recover from our addiction to alcohol. Anonymity takes on the problem of our ten-dency to inflate our egos to a point where alcoholics can literally destroy themselves in their own self-centered personalities. It also addresses the collective ego of the society to curtail the belief that Alcoholics Anony-mous can solve some or all of the problems in our world. The heart of the effort lies in the 5th Tradition, helping alcoholics to recover from alcoholism. The 5th Tradition is our heart, our mission, our objec-tive, and anonymity is the limit by which we dare not go further to en-sure our survival. We cannot solve all the problems of either the alcoholic or the world’s many problems. Below is Bill’s message to the society written in the Grapevine in November, 1948

Victor L. Decisions Group, Winter Springs, Fl

ZZZZZZZZZ

One may say that anonymity is the spiritual base, the sure key to all the rest of our Traditions. It has come to stand for prudence and most im-portantly, for self-effacement. True consideration for the new comer if he desires to be nameless; vital pro-tection against misuse of the name Alcoholics Anonymous at the public level; and to each of us a con stant reminder that principles come before personal interest — such is the wide scope of this all-embracing principle.

In it we see the corner stone of our security as a movement; at a deep-er spiritual level it points us to still greater self-renunciation.

A glance at the Twelve Tradi-tions will instantly assure anyone that “giving up” is the essential idea of them all. In each Tradition, the indivi dual or the group is asked to give up something for our gener-al welfare. Tradition one asks us to place the common good ahead of personal desire. Tradition Two asks us to listen to God as he may speak in the group con science. Tradition Three requires that we exclude no alcoholic from AA membership. Tra-dition Four implies that we abandon all idea of centralized human author-ity or government. But each group is enjoined to consult widely in matters affecting us all.

Tradition Five restricts the AA group to a single purpose, carrying our message to other alcoholics.Tra-dition Six points at the corroding in-fluence of money, property, and per-sonal authority; it begs that we keep these influences at a mini mum by separate incorporation and manage-ment of our special ser vices. It also warns against the natural temptation to make alliances or give endorse-ments. Tradition Seven states that we had best pay our own bills; that large contributions or those carrying obli-gations ought not to be received; that public solicitation using the name Alcoholics Anonymous is positively dangerous. Tradition Eight forswears professionalizing our Twelfth Step work but it does guarantee our few paid service workers an unques-tioned amateur status. Tradition Nine asks that we give up all idea of expensive organization; enough is needed to permit effective work by our special services — and no more. This Tradition breathes democracy;

our leadership is one of service and it is rotating; our few titles never clothe their holders with arbitrary personal authority; they hold authorizations to serve never to govern. Tradition Ten is an emphatic restraint of seri-ous controversy; it implores each of us to take care against committing AA to the fires of reform, political or religious dissension. Tradition Elev-en asks, in our public relations, that we be alert against sensationalism and it declares there is never need to praise ourselves. Personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and film is urgently required, thus avoiding the pitfall of vanity, and the temptation through broken anonymity to link AA to other causes.

Tradition Twelve, in its mood of humble anonymity, plainly enough comprehends the preceding eleven. The Twelve Points of Tradition are little else than a specific application of the spirit of the Twelve Steps of recovery to our group life and to our relations with society in general. The recovery steps would make each individual AA whole and one with God; the Twelve Points of Tradition would make us one with each other and whole with the world about us. Unity is our aim.

Our AA Traditions are, we trust, securely anchored in those wise pre-cepts: charity, gratitude, and humili-ty. Nor have we forgotten pru dence. May these virtues ever stand clear before us in our meditations; may Alcoholics Anonymous serve God in happy unison for so long as he may need us.

Written By Bill Wilson, November,1948

Page 4: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

The Greenhouse

JULY BIRTHDAY

NIGHT

Due to July 4 Holiday the Birthday Night

scheduled for

Saturday, July 1st has been moved to

Saturday July 8th

7pm Pot Luck 8pm Speaker

Open Meeting – All Welcome!

MEETING UPDATE

Gay Friendly Meetings

Beginning Saturday, July 1

Saturday Night Hour

LOCATION The Center

946 North Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32803

LITERATURE SCHEDULE

First Saturday: The Big Book Second Saturday: Twelve and Twelve

Third Saturday: As Bill Sees It Fourth Saturday: Living Sober

Fifth Saturday: Grapevine (if applicable)

SATURDAYS 7:00 PM

(formerly 6:00 PM Beginners Meeting)

4

Pasta Cook-Off

Sponsored and supported by your local Intergroup!!

Saturday, August 12, 2017 2-5 PM

Asbury Methodist Church 220 W. Horatio Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751

Speaker @ 4 PM

$5.00 wristbands at the door

Bring your favorite pasta dish, (Hot, cold, vegetarian…) salad, desert, or bread to share

Prize awarded for best pasta dish!

50/50 Raffle

Coffee and water provided

All proceeds go to your local Intergroup

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL INTERGROUP AT 407-260-5822

Page 5: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

Beth H. Cary NC

Chuck H. Cary NC

C

Cindy S. Helotes TX

John S. Helotes TX

Cushing P. Montgomery AL

Heather G. Powell TN

Billy N. Atlanta GA

Teresa F. Van Nuys CA

Pat Y. Palm Desert

CA

5K Run/Walk Golf Tournament

Pool Parties Dance

“Service Manual: The Musical” Karaoke

Yoga Meditation

AA Al-Anon

Young People LGBT

Spanish Archives

Corrections Old Timers Meeting

Rule 62 The (Higher) Power of Prayer We Agnostics & Free-Thinkers

Our Primary Purpose The History of AA

Relationships in Sobriety Meditation

Corrections – We are Responsible

WWW.FLORIDASTATECONVENTION.COM 5

Page 6: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

6

THE WINTER PARK GROUP WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO A PICNIC TO CELEBRATE THE

Where : Maitland Community Park When : Saturday the 8th of July 1400 Mayo Ave Maitland Fl. Off of 17-92 by the overhead walk way

from 10am till 4pm

We ask that if you would like to, please bring a side dish, All meat will be provided by The Winter Park group.

Come one come all have some food, fun and fellowship

Speaker @ Noon

Thank you and come enjoy Food, Fun and fellowship

With The Winter Park Group

The Central Orlando Group Presents

A Workshop on the 4th STEP

a ‘Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory’ I’m resentful at: The Cause Affects my: Mr. Brown

His attention to my

wife.

Sex relations Self-esteem (fear)

Told my wife of my mistress

Sex relations Self-esteem (fear)

“We went back through our lives. Nothing

counted but thoroughness and honesty. When we were finished we considered it carefully.” Big

Book p. 65

Saturday, July 15, 2017 2PM-5PM

AlcoAn Clubhouse (Central Group) 310 East Colonial Drive

Orlando, FL 32801 (407-420-9008)

Me

eti

ng

Ne

ws New Location

Apopka Big Book Monday Night andApopka Fresh Start Meetings

have moved to to another building.The new address is 124 E 2nd St. Apopka, Fl 32712 effective immediately. The white house. Can’t miss it.

Apopka Speakers for JulyJuly 6 Ann K. College Park TriangleJuly 13 Carolina T. LongwoodJuly 20 Melanie E. AA Way of LifeJuly 27 Terri Lynn S. College Park Triangle

Time Change

Maitland Beginners Tuesday Meetingfrom 8 pm to 7 pm beginning in July 2017

Page 7: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

7

MAY 2017 CONTRIBUTIONS

226 Men’s $97.00Apopka Big Book $82.00Azalea Park $50.00Central Orlando $1,103.19Conway $40.00Decisions $200.00 First Things First $225.00 H. P. Group $30.00 Happy Hour $50.00 Made A Beginning $413.66 New Hope $164.00 Oviedo Group $425.00 Oviedo Women’s $100.00 Pass It On $179.44 The Herd Instinct $150.00 The Home Group $200.00 The Hope Group $184.68 Three Legacies $200.00 Winter Park $150.00 TOTAL GROUP CONTRIBUTIONS: $4,043.97 INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Anonymous/Anniversary $17.00 Anonymous $5.00 Anonymous $50.00 Anonymous $7.32 Anonymous $100.00 TOTAL INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $179.32

TOTAL MONTHLY CONTRIBUTIONS $4,223.29

Intergroup Abbreviated Profit & Loss StatementJan Actual

JanBudget

$ Over/Under

Gross Revenue $ 44,123 $ 47,600 ($ 3,477)Cost of Goods Sold 18,768 17,500 1,268Gross Profit 25,354 30,100 ( 4,746)Total Expense 31,391 37,031 ( 5,640)Net Ordinary Income ( 6,036) ( 6,931) 894Net Fundraising/Activities

513 1,500 ( 987)

Net Income $ 5,523 $ 5,431 $ 92

AA’s Twelve Steps are principles for personal recov-ery. The Twelve Traditions ensure the unity of the Fellowship. The Twelve Concepts for World Service provide a group of related principles to help ensure that various elements of A.A’s service structure remain responsive and responsible to those they serve. Step Seven: “Humbly asked Him to remove our short-comings” Tradition Seven: “Every A.A. group ought to be fully self supporting, declining outside contributions.” Concept Seven: “The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments: that the trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous.”

About the Intergrouper

The Intergrouper’s primary purpose is to connect alcoholics to local AA resources, specifically to give priority to office news and events, group information, committees served by Intergroup, highlights of the Service Committee minutes, and financial statements. The trustees and the editor have editorial authority over all newsletter content. Submissions in the Intergrouper are encouraged and appreciated. Submissions may be edited for clarity and grammar. Reasonable efforts may be made to contact the author in the event substantial changes need to be made. Please email submissions by the 10th of the month before publication to [email protected].

Page 8: Intergrouper July - Alcoholics Anonymous · 2019-08-02 · History’s Corner July, 2017 Tradition 12 Anonymity (Revisited) The early founders of our soci-ety realized that without

cde JULY 2017 cde

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 4CFI Office/Bookstore Closed

5 6 7 ** North FL Area ConferenceGainesville** FYCPAA St.Augustine

8** North FL Area ConferenceGainesville** FYCPAA St.Augustine

9** North FL Area ConferenceGainesville** FYCPAA St.Augustine

10 11District 186:30 pmLongwood

12 13 14 15** 4th Step Workshop Orlando 2 p.m.

16 17District 117:00 pm Orlando

18 19Service Committee, 6:30 pm CFI

20 21 22

23 24 25District 96:30 pm Orlando

26 2761st FL StateConvention, Jax

2861st FL StateConvention, Jax

2961st FL StateConvention, Jax

30 61st FL StateConvention, JaxDelegates Meeting 11:30 amOrlando

31District 106:30 pmWinter Park

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!

Save the Date

24 Hour Hotline (407) 260-5408

** indicates details of the event are in the newsletter announcement pages.

** Pasta Cook-Off, Aug. 12th, Maitland Central Florida Intergroup, Gratitude Banquet Orlando, Nov. 11th

Dist. 9 meets at 6:30 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday at Crossroads Group, 5205 S. Orange Ave, Ste. 204, Orlando Dist.10 meets at 6:30 p.m. the last Monday at the Winter Park Group, 5407 Lake Howell Rd., Winter Park Dist.11 meets at 7:00 p.m. the 3rd Monday at East Side Club, 2017 N Golden Rd., Orlando Dist.18 meets at 6:30 p.m. the 2nd Tuesday at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2140 W. S.R. 434, Longwood Delegates meet at 11:30 a.m. the last Sunday at Central, 310 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando Service Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. at Intergroup on the Wednesday 10 days before the Delegates’ meeting.