District 33 - Area 72Freedom From BondageNovember 2013 Volume 11/13

What's Happening?

District Meeting EVERY MONTH Second Tuesday, 6:00pm. ALL Members Welcome. Maple Valley Presbyterian Church, Room 200, 22659 Sweeney Rd SE, Maple Valley* NO RESERVATIONS: Speaker Meeting, 12/7, 7:pm Swinomish Gym, 17311 Reservation Rd, La Conner, WA Alateen and Child Care available* North Mason Group's 23rd Anniversary, 12/13, 6:30pm Dessert Potluck / Speaker Meeting 2710 N Madison, Tacoma* WSCYPAA Ugly Sweater Party, Speaker meeting then Dance, 12/14 7:pm South King County Alano Club* Holiday GALA, 12/14 7:pm, $10/$15 Prime Rib Dinner, Dessert Potluck & SPEAKER Meeting. (Vegetarian Choices). Christ Church, 310 North 'K' Street, Tacoma* 12x12 Fellowship CHRISTMAS ALCATHON, Round The Clock Meetings, 12/24 7:pm - 12/26 10:30pm 23732 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. **Potluck Dinner 12/25, 1:30-3:30pm (Side Dishes only) Meat provided.* Eastside Alano Club CHRISTMAS DINNER, Food Served from 2:30pm-5:pm. Meetings from Christmas Eve all through Christmas Day. 12302 NE 8th Street, Bellevue* End of Year Roundup, Seaside, 12/27, 28, 29 www.soberinseaside.com, $25* Old School Skate Party (Dist 36), 12/29, $5 - $6 + Skate RentSkate King, 2301 140th Ave NE, Bellevue, Last Saturday of each month.* 12x12 Fellowship NEW YEARS ALCATHON, Round The Clock Meetings, 12/31 7:pm - 1/2 10:30pm 23732 Bothell-Everett Hwy, Bothell. **Potluck Dinner Jan 1, 1:30-3:30pm (Side dishes only) Meat provided* New Years Eve GALA: First Things First, $10, 7:pm 12/31 Prime Rib Dinner, Dessert Potluck & SPEAKER Meeting. 2710 N Madison St, Tacoma. Dance to follow* Coulon Beach Bonfire Meeting, Jan 5, 2:-5:pm Gene Coulon Beach, Renton > .4 miles past entrance to the second left, @ North Shelter.* Winter Holidays 2014, $25, Seattle Marriot Waterfront Jan 31-Feb 2, Information on the web at psypc.org

When anyone anywhereReaches out their hand for help

I want the hand of AA always to be there.

For that I am responsible.

This Newsletter is strictly a product of the members of AA. We won't have a Newsletter if we don't get your submissions. For anyone willing to share your experience, strength and hope in this Newsletter please see the Submissions info below. In order to continue we need to have your Story; Cartoon; Photograph or Poem for the Newsletter.

When you give folksrides to meetings

or A.A. events.WE CALL THIS THE MEETING

BEFORE THE MEETING.

Try it. You'll like it.

MEMBER'S CARTOON CORNER:

WANTED:N NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Your Newsletter Editor has bought a house in North Bend and needs to turn this opportunity over to the next willing and able A.A. Member.

Our Current Editor will step down toAlternate Newsletter Editor in order to support the transition as long as the NEW Newsletter

Editor wants the help.Contact: Newsletter@District33aa.org

or just show up at the next District Meeting

SUBMISSIONS: Please include your name and phone number in case there is a question. All submissions subject to gentle editing to fit the space, insure we honor and keep to the Principles of AA and stay within our AA Traditions.

To Submit Your Work or Ask Questions: eMail to: newsletter@district33aa.org

Or - Call 206 909-3941Once your submission is used the file you submit will

be destroyed and not used elsewhere by us.

Member's Story:(What? Wait! There's nothing here…

(Sorry. Nobody submitted a story this time…)

"Suggested Steps"

Our twelfth step also says that as a result of practicing all the Steps we will have each found something called a spiritual awakening…A.A.'s manner of making ready to receive this gift lies in the practice of the Twelve Steps in our program.

 - Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, p 106

I remember my sponsor's answer when I told him that the Steps were "suggested". He replied that they are "suggested" in the same way that, if you were to jump out of an airplane with a parachute, it is "suggested" that you pull the ripcord to save your life. He pointed out that it was "suggested" I practice the Twelve Steps, if I wanted to save my life. So I try to remember daily thagt I have a whole program of recovery based on all Twelve of the "suggested" steps.

- From the book Daily Reflections, 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

A heartfelt "Thank You" to the member who provided us with such a nice collection of

Recovery Cartoons.

DCM 2013 REFLECTIONS

MESSAGE FROM YOURDISTRICT SERVANTS:

All of us at District 33 have completed a year of opportunity for growth, do you feel it? If anyone out there has never been of service in the district you are really missing a fantastic experience, in service to A.A. and yourself.

Your, District Committee Member (DCM) and home Group Service Representatives (GSR) have continued to be a vital link to groups and activities in our district, Area 72, and AA as a whole. We hosted a GSR workshop in January, a Pre-Conference in March, a Delegate Report in July and a Pre-Assembly in August. Your DCM has participated in three Quarterlies and the annual Assembly in October. We are now looking forward to our District 33 Inventory in 2014. All will be welcome to attend once we set the time and place.

We hosted a booth at Maple Valley Days and Covington Days thanks to the efforts of our PI chair, along with volunteers who made themselves available. They answered questions about AA and provide pamphlets for those interested.

Come to the District Committed meeting on the second Tuesday of every month at 6pm and find out what you’re missing. We also offer information on our website at www.district33aa.org.

We had our Annual Gratitude Banquet early inNovember, which was a huge success. In the past eight years our District 33 Groups, friends and their families have enjoyed sponsoring this event through potluck, food donations and raffle items, and all the hard work put on by those volunteers who make it happen

As DCM, I have also attended three Area 72 Quarterlies and brought back information to our GSRs so that all the home groups will have information about changes in AA. I have been on two panels, one for our GSR workshop and the other at our annual Assembly; sharing my experience in AA.

DCM continued…At every event I have attended there are always people I’ve come to know. It is true, we do get to “…meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.”! My experience coming into AA was fear of not knowing anyone and scared to let anyone know me. Today I am someone who looks forward to meeting new people. I have a sponsor and learned what that is. I am honored to sponsor and learn what that is. I have a service sponsor, have written a service resume and continue to seek opportunity for growth.

Our District archives are traditionally on display at the Burien Little Assembly March 22nd, 2014 so please come and join us as we usually have a panel in the workshops. What is the BLA? It is an annual event put on by a group of Districts and Greater Seattle Inter Group. You can learn more about it by attending a planning committee meeting the second Sunday of each month at noon at Seattle Intergroup. Come and see how you can help. Call GSIG for more information or go here http://www.burienlittleassembly.org/index.html.

We go to meetings as individuals so we no longer isolate. Our home groups have Representatives (GSR) who attend District meetings so our groups aren’t isolated. Our District Representative (DCM) goes to Area 72 Business meetings so our District is not isolated, Our Area votes a Delegate to go to NY so that our Area is not isolated.

“Only Alcoholics find the solution to loneness through Isolation” and it is through isolation that we are driven to the first drink. This is a We Program, and we have found we can do together what we cannot do alone. Steps teach me about how to live with me, Traditions teach me how to live with you and Concepts teach me how we all can function together in this crazy world. Learn these 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts of our program. The Principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Beautiful!

Thanks to all our GSR’s who have participated in making a District 33 meeting happen: Jim R. for Bambi, John W. for Covington Roundtable, Xavier R. and Alternate Bob M. for Covington Study, Roy R. for Diamonds in the Rough, Marcie Thorson and Alternate Jim R. for Hogan’s Heroes, Druanne H. for Know God, Know Peace, Bob A. and Alternate Dan S. for Lake Sawyer Men’s Acceptance, Joy E. for Maple Valley Friday Night, Jim P. and Alternate Gys H. for Maple

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT AA IN OUR AREA PLEASE CONTACT

YOUR HOME GROUP'S GSR OR ANY ONE OF OUR "DISTRICT 33 TRUSTED SERVANTS".

THEY WILL SEE TO IT YOU GET ANSWERS OR THE HELP YOU NEED.

YOU WILL FIND OUR TRUSTED SERVANTS AND THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AT:

www.district33aa.org

Contact AA for HELP by calling:206-587-2838 (24 Hours, 7 days)

Members Photo:

We are not a glum lot!

We absolutely insist on enjoying life!!

DCM continued…Valley Men’s Group, Dev D. for Rush Hour Sobriety, Roy R. for Sobriety in Greater Hobart, Fred M. and Alternate Doug W. for Sobriety in the sticks, Okkie A. for Sweet Surrender, Jim G. for Wednesday Night of Your Life, Doris W. and Alternate Dee L. for Upon Awakening, Ruth G. for Women in Action,

Last, I want to thank all of our AA members who have participated in the ebb and flow of AA, and our GSR’s and Committee Members who continue to suit up and show up to keep us visible in the world of AA. Our past Alternate Sharon S., Our Treasurer Paul B and Alternate Ruth G., our Secretary Susan P., our Registrar Barbara N., our Past Archivist Sharon S. and Alternate Sandy F., Our Cooperation with the Professional Community Xavier R., our Corrections Chair Fred M. and Alternate Roy R., our Web Alan B., our Literature/Grapevine Jim H., our Newsletter Editor Pam B., our Public Information Mark H. and Alternate Fred M., our past GSIG Representative Shannon B our Past Workshop Chuck G., and our Recent Gratitude Banquet Chair Heidi D. and Alternate Barbara R.

Love & Acceptance,Michelle L.DCM District 33

While in AA I've learned the value of following the directions…

...people in Recovery replace the bottle with a Rootbeer or Fanta.