ourprimarypurpose · 12 step coordinator (caterina c) [email protected] spring conference (brian...

OURPRIMARYPURPOSESTORIES, NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

Happy New Year From Ottawa Area Intergroup

Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous January 2018

Ottawa Intergroup hours are 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday (subject to volunteer availability). When purchasing literature, chips or medallions, please remember to bring a cheque payable

to "Ottawa Area Intergroup of AA", cash not accepted.

CHANGINGPERSPECTIVEPAGE 5

FELLOWSHIPREVIEWPAGE 10

May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.

I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or

live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year,

you surprise yourself.- Neil Gaiman

January 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, Canada

OTTAWA GENERAL SERVICE DISTRICTS AND COMMITTEESDistrict 54 - Ottawa East (Bartosz W) M [email protected]

District 58 - Ottawa Centre (Michel D) M [email protected]

District 62 - Ottawa West (Mike B) M [email protected]

Cooperation with Professionals (Karl B) M [email protected]

Public Information / Media Contact (Nigel L) M [email protected]

Corrections Facilities and Treatment (Kevin A) M [email protected]

Archives (Bruce C) M [email protected]

LM CONTACTS OTTAWA AREA INTERGROUP

Chair (Jean F) M [email protected]

Vice-Chair (Sandy K) M [email protected]

Secretary (Anne D) M [email protected]

Treasurer (Steve C) M [email protected]

Website and Email (Carolyn O) M [email protected]

Telephone Answering (Mickey R) M [email protected]

Newsletter (Rick B) M [email protected]

Literature (Chris J) M [email protected]

12 Step Coordinator (Caterina C) M [email protected]

Spring Conference (Brian L) M [email protected]

OTTAWA INTERGROUP OFFICE211 Bronson Avenue, Suite 108

Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 6H5Open for Literature Sales

Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 4:00 pm(Subject to volunteer availability—

Call in advance)

GENERAL INFORMATIONTelephone: 613.237.6000

10 am - 10 pm, 7 days a weekEmail: [email protected]

NEWSLETTER [email protected]

Article submission deadline is last day of previous month

for following month

INSIDEMH

SERVICE CALENDAR ....................................................... 3NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION ............................................ 4CHANGING MY PERSPECTIVE ....................................... 5SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR ..................... 6DISTRICT 62 OPEN HOUSE ..............................................7THE FELLOWSHIP (ARTWORK) ..................................... 8ARCHIVES CORNER .......................................................... 8SAFETY CARD .................................................................... 9FELLOWSHIP REVIEW ....................................................10BRING A PROFESSIONAL ............................................... 12

Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous

"Our Primary Purpose" publishes articles that reflect the full diversity of experience and opinion found within the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. In determining content, the editor relies on the principles of the Twelve Traditions. "Our Primary Purpose" values the shared experience of individual AA members working the AA program and applying the principles of the Twelve Steps. Seeking neither to gloss over difficult issues nor to present such issues in a harmful or contentious manner, "Our Primary Purpose" tries to embody the widest possible view of the AA Fellowship.

The editor of "Our Primary Purpose" reserves the right to accept or reject material for publication, based on the AA traditions. (We note that this policy is consistent with that of the AA Grapevine.)

Articles are not intended to be statements of AA policy, nor does publication of any article constitute endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or Ottawa Area Intergroup. Submissions are always welcome.

EDITOR'S STATEMENT

SERVICECALENDAROTTAWA INTEGROUP MONTHLY MEETING ..............................................................................................Second Wednesday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Mac Hall)

DISTRICT 54 MEETING ................................................................................................................................................ First Thursday (7:30 pm) (Overbrook Community Centre, 33 Quill Street)

DISTRICT 58 MEETING ........................................................................................................................................... Second Monday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 106)

DISTRICT 62 MEETING ........................................................................................................................................... Second Monday (7:30 pm) (All Saints Church, 347 Richmond Road - rear entrance)

CORRECTIONS FACILITIES AND TREATMENT .................................................................................................. Fourth Tuesday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Intergroup Office)

PUBLIC INFORMATION ...............................................................................................................................................Third Monday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)

COOPERATION WITH PROFESSIONALS .................................................................................................................Third Monday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)

OTTAWA ARCHIVES ............................................................................................................................................... Third Wednesday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)

ALKATHON COMMITTEE .........................................................................................................................................................Sunday (1:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Intergroup Office) Dec 17

Is your AA Group's meeting information correct on ottawaaa.org? Please send all updates as well as temporary closures to Ottawa Intergroup at [email protected].

If your group needs insurance, please contact Ottawa Intergroup at [email protected] to discuss.

No matter how much sobriety you have, find out how you can help and be a part of the greater whole. All AA members are welcome to attend any of the following committees:


Mohini was a regal white tiger who lived for many years at the Washington D.C. National Zoo. For most of those years her home was in the old lion house—a typical twelve-by-twelve-foot cage with iron bars and a cement floor. Mohini spent her days pacing restlessly back and forth in her cramped quarters. Eventually, biologists and staff worked together to create a natural habitat for her. Covering several acres, it had hills, trees, a pond and a variety of vegetation. With excitement and anticipation they released Mohini into her new and expansive environment. But it was too late. The tiger immediately sought refuge in a corner of the compound, where she lived for the remainder of her life. Mohini paced and paced in that corner until an area twelve by twelve feet was worn bare of grass.

The above story appears in a wonderful article entitled Accepting Absolutely Everything by the Buddhist educator Tara Brach. Mohini’s story must be poignant for anyone reading it, but I think it must be especially so for recovering alcoholics. My alcoholism was very much a twelve-by-twelve cage. I used to sit in my basement with the door locked, thinking I was keeping the world out when I had really built a cage for myself. I even paced in my cage like Mohini.

The program of Alcoholics Anonymous gave me the tools to tear down that cage and I did. So it’s sad to realize the extent to which I remained trapped in my small confined headspace when I had gone through all the work to remove the bars that prevented me from stepping out into the world. This mostly manifested in my life when I resorted to fear- and resentment-based living, just as I had in the depths of my alcoholism. I lashed out rather than reached out; I hid rather than connected. I remained apart from others, neither letting them into my life nor trying to be a part of theirs.

Even now, having been sober a good long while, I still see this behavior in myself on a regular basis. But these days I understand where it’s coming from. There’s something safe and familiar about the cage. Life is simpler there. But being there I miss all the beauty and all the possibilities that life offers me. As Ms. Brach says in that same article:

Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns...We may want to love other people without holding back, to feel authentic, to breathe in the beauty around us, to dance and sing. Yet each day we listen to inner voices that keep our life small.

Let’s all resolve this year to step outside the confines of these cages we’ve built for ourselves and walk out into the trees and hills and enjoy all the beauty around us. That beauty can be nature or art or just the joy of being in the lives of our fellow recovering alcoholics. It’s all right there waiting.

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONBY THE EDITOR

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost


I often hear fellows in the rooms saying “I had no idea I was an alcoholic until I got sober”. I on the other hand knew for 10 years that I had a problem with drugs and alcohol, what I couldn't figure out was why. I can ask myself a million times why I can’t stop drinking, and every day I will find a different excuse. I truly believed that self-medicating was helping me manage my disastrous life, and that I just needed to learn how to be tougher. So when I stumbled into AA for the first time, I never really thought I wanted to get sober. I just wanted to learn how to manage my life. Step One for me was as easy as changing my perspective on my problems. The first time I remember starting to see a true glimpse of serenity was when the question I had obsessively asked myself for years started to shift. I spent so long trying to figure out WHY I had a problem, I forgot to ask myself what I could do to CHANGE it.

I had a rather fortunate childhood, my family was far from perfect, but I wanted for very little. I have a mom who pushed us to be our best selves through some unconventional ways, sweetened with love. I have a father who was more often than not travelling to some distant country for work, but always made a solid effort to connect with us when he was home. I used to focus on what I felt was missing from my childhood, and held my parents partially responsible for my addictions. But the result of their parenting style was 3 siblings who grew up striving for success, and the baby who never figured out how to grow up at all. My 3 older sisters matured into inspiring women who created beautiful families with unconditional love, and managed to build successful careers

simultaneously. I have always insisted on going against the grain, learning the hard way, and never accepting life on life's terms. Blame and resentment fed my ego, but did nothing in the way of making me feel better.

For as long as I can remember I felt different, less than. I was the rainbow sheep of my family, obnoxious and emotional, hard to take seriously. As with most babies, I was the favourite subject of teasing among my family. I was also bullied by my few friends in school. My brain said “I like these people” and my heart said “these people hurt me”. It confused me, so I simply decided not to face it. The thing is, life lessons have a way of repeating themselves until we learn how to handle them differently, so a major pattern in my life has been finding myself in abusive relationships. By the age of 16, I was drinking regularly to mask my fear and shame. From ages 22 to 26, not once did I have a sober day. Never realizing that what I perceived as the solution was really a major part of the problem. I just coasted through life yearning to be noticed, and afraid to be seen, masking my pain with substances.

Admitting I am powerless over alcohol, and that my life is unmanageable wasn't the hard part for me. Admitting that I am powerless over everyone, and everything, has been a daily struggle. Thankfully, I have a power greater than myself, who has my back. Although I strongly hope that at least one person can relate, or is possibly even inspired by this article, I must admit I wrote it in an attempt to once again find some serenity in that which I am powerless. Now, as my life is painfully shifting and rearranging, I find myself once again struggling to accept the things I cannot change. The one thing I can choose to change in any situation is my perspective. Fighting to have a sense of control leaves me feeling desperate and hopeless, but letting go and letting God gives me peace and strength.

CHANGING MY PERSPECTIVEBY LEE S.

Nothing burns like the cold.

-George R.R. Martin


Some Thoughts for the New Year

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing

your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry

that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.Whatever it is you're scared of doing, do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

-Neil Gaiman

And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.

-Oscar Wilde

New Year’s Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

-Mark Twain

A new year ... a fresh, clean start! It's like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on! A day full of possibilities! It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy ... let's go exploring!

-Bill Watterson

District 62Open House

January 8, 20186:30 PM

All Saints Church347 Richmond Road

WestboroParking at the rear of the

church on Madison Avenue

Pot LuckMeet & Greet

Please bring a small dish to sharefollowed by Annual General Service

Representative Interactive WorkshopArea 83 Guest Facilitator

All Members are welcome!


Hull Liberty Group celebrates 49th Anniversary Hull Liberty is a functioning member of Area 83 District 58, and

has regularly provided a General Service Representative at the District Table and also an Intergroup Representative at the monthly meetings of the Ottawa Area Intergroup, and regularly participates in service commitments on behalf of both those organizations.

Hull Liberty Group started out as part of the Hull Gatineau Group but split off in November 1968 into 2 separate groups: Hull Liberty and Gatineau Freedom. There was a desire to correct the name due to location as Hull and Gatineau were separate locations and the joint name no longer pleased everyone. At the first anniversary “2by4 Henry” (Henry S.) is credited with starting the group and also has the same anniversary as the group.

Elaine B. who continues to be a stalwart supporter began coming to Hull Liberty at the third iteration of St. James Church in 1975 . John. K had already been at the group about 2 years when Elaine joined. Some of the early members included Morris M.; Conrad G. (deceased); John M. (deceased); Pat S.; John K. and Raymond Q.

During the 90s the group moved temporarily to another location at Cushman Memorial Presbyterian Church on Montcalm Street. When Cushman’s parish amalgamated with St. Giles in Ottawa in 1995, and complaints about the cold rooms continued, by 1997 the group had moved back to St. James Church following its major renovations.

When the Anglican congregation left St. James in 2006, the handwriting was on the wall for Hull Liberty too. Although a heritage site, the church didn’t have long to continue and it was really no surprise during 2009 – 2010 when the Anglican Diocese in charge of the St. James Church sold the property. Independent of that event, the group had been finding water on the floor of their basement meeting room for some time, so Elaine B and two other volunteers had already begun hunting for a new location for the meeting. Many churches refused to host an AA group, but persistence paid off and the Église Sacre-Coeur was finally found.

However, what had for so many years been their regular meeting night on Wednesday was not available at Sacre Coeur so the Group was forced to accept Monday night instead.

And so there they are, 49 years later: an open speaker format, English-speaking meeting in a French neighbourhood, still going strong and still meeting regularly, thanks to the pioneering and courageous early members who saw this area as a viable option for a weekly meeting.

BY THE ARCHIVES COMMITTEE

ARCHIVES

CORNER

THE FELLOWSHIPBY RON M.


SAFETY CARD FOR A.A. GROUPSThe following language has been approved by The New York Office Of Alcoholics Anonymous. Cards with this language are available from the Intergroup Office. Several groups are reading part or all of this text at every

meeting. We urge all groups to discuss the topic of safety at their next business meeting.

Suggested Statement on SafetyOur group endeavors to provide a safe meeting place for all attendees and encourages each person here to contribute to fostering a secure and welcoming environment in which our meetings can take place. As our Traditions remind us, the formation and operation of an A.A. group resides with the group conscience. Therefore, we ask that group members and others refrain from any behavior which might compromise another person’s safety.Also, please take the precautions you feel are necessary to ensure your own personal safety, for example, walking to your car in a group after a meeting. If a situation should arise where someone feels their safety is in jeopardy, or the situation breaches the law, the individuals involved should take appropriate action. Calling the proper authorities does not go against any A.A. Traditions and is recommended when someone may have broken the law or endangered the safety of another person.

Our Common WelfareEach member of Alcoholics Anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. A.A. must continue to live or most of us will surely die. Hence our common welfare comes first. But individual welfare follows close afterward.—Tradition One (Long Form)

It is hoped that our common suffering as alcoholics and our common solution in A.A. will transcend most issues and curtail negative behaviors that could jeopardize the safety of anyone attending an A.A. meeting. Nevertheless, Alcoholics Anonymous is a microcosm of the larger society we exist in. As such, problems found in the outside world can also make their way into the rooms of A.A. For this reason, groups and members discuss the topic of safety — to raise awareness in the Fellowship and to seek through sponsorship, workshops and meetings, to create as safe an environment as possible to carry A.A.’s message of hope and recovery to the still-suffering alcoholic.

GENERAL ANNOUCEMENT

Welcome Home Group temporary closure:

The Welcome Home Group that meets on Tuesday evenings at Bells Corners, United Church, 3955 Old Richmond Rd. will be temporarily closing as of January 1, 2018 as we seek to acquire a new meeting place.

When a new meeting place has been acquired, Intergroup and District 62 will be informed.

FELLOWSHIP REVIEW OF INTERGROUP IN 2017 As we neatly tie a bow around another year at Intergroup, we wanted to share how you, "the fellowship", thought we did this year and what you identified as Intergroup's Opportunities and Challenges moving forward in 2018. Thanks again for your input, support, dedication and indeed direction over this past year. Wishing you and your family much Peace, Love, Friendship and Health. 2017 Board of Directors, Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous The statements below, specific to how Intergroup was servicing the Ottawa area, in 2017, were rated by 31 Intergroup Representatives using the following scale: 1= STRONGLY DISAGREE 5 = SOMEWHAT AGREE 10 = STRONGLY AGREE ? = UNSURE

To see what strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities were identified by your Intergroup Reps please visit www.ottawaaa.org

Statement Average Rating

1 The Intergroup office is widely used by the AA members in Ottawa. 5.7

2 Intergroup services (ie., newsletter, telephone answering, website, literature) are widely used by AA members in Ottawa. 7

3 Intergroup is aware of how it can best help groups carry the AA message. 7.4

4 Intergroup listens to group representatives in a respectful and open-‐minded way. 8.2

5 Intergroup adequately prepares representatives and officers for Intergroup meetings and service commitments. 8.0

6 The monthly Intergroup meeting starts on time and ends on time. 7.7

7 The monthly Intergroup meeting adequately covers the important business of AA in Ottawa. 8.6

8 Adequate time is allotted at the monthly Intergroup meeting to allow reps to fully participate in the meeting. 7.8

9 Intergroup executive reports are communicated effectively. 8.5

10 Intergroup allows time at the business meeting for group representatives to openly share and/or communicate concerns. 7.5

11 Intergroup material ie., minutes, are effectively communicated and distributed. 8.0

12 Intergroup provides and develops materials and services that help groups properly carry the AA message. 8.4

13 Intergroup attracts individuals with abilities commensurate with the responsibility AA entrusts to them to fulfill their service positions.

7.5

Statement Average Rating

14 The Intergroup Election process is fair and equitable, following GSO guidelines. 9.1

15 Intergroup is able to retain volunteers. 6.3

16 Intergroup provides comfortable and accessible office space. 8.8

17a Intergroup ... Responds to and coordinates 12 step calls; 7.5

17b Intergroup ... Serves as a central resource for medallions, books, and AA information. 8.9

17c Intergroup ... Provides internet access to meeting information and other AA information links; 9.2

17d Intergroup ... Coordinates information on AA activities; 8.7

17e Intergroup ... Keeps Intergroup representatives involved and informed about steering committee decisions etc. 8.0

17f Intergroup ... Adequately trains office volunteers to handle calls and provide customer service; 7.5

17g Intergroup ... Publishes up-‐to-‐date meeting lists; 8.9

17h Intergroup ... Provides a good stock of AA literature; 9.6

17i Intergroup ... Has operating procedures for service positions; 8.7

17j Intergroup ... Provides a regular newsletter; 9.8

17k Intergroup ... Provides regular financial updates; 9.4

17l Intergroup ... Provides good stewardship over its assets; 8.8

18 Intergroup executive board suggests rather than dictates. 7.8

19 Intergroup executive board sets realistic short and long-‐term goals. 8.6

20 Intergroup executive board meets regularly. 9.2

21 Intergroup treats all groups within its service area the same. 8.7

22 Intergroup facilitates the hearing and resolution of minority appeals. 8.2

23 The Intergroup executive is transparent and thorough in reporting business activities. 8.5

24 The authority of Intergroup is defined. 9.1

25 Intergroup provides detailed financial monthly reports. 9.6

26 Intergroup does not endorse any outside organizations. 9.8

27 Intergroup does not express opinions on outside issues. 9.5

28 Intergroup follows the 12 Traditions of AA. 9.5

29 Intergroup follows the 12 Concepts of AA. 9.5

30 Intergroup submits to the recommendations provided from GSO. 9.3

Average Overall Rating: 8.4

COOPERATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE

PRESENTS

Monday, February 12, 2018 at 6 p.m.

All-‐Saints Church, 347 Richmond Rd. Members of AA – Bring your doctor, lawyer, accountant, dentist, your co-‐workers, any professional you know who may come into contact with someone who has a problem with alcohol or has been affected by someone’s drinking – To a special meeting aimed simply to educate professionals to what AA is, and what it is not.

Please RSVP [email protected] “Our Twelfth step – carrying the message – is the basic service that the A.A. 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 for alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who have not been given the truth may die.”

The A.A. Service Manual “A.A.’s Legacy of Service” p. 51 CPC is supported by Ottawa Districts 54, District 58 and District 62

Ottawa https://ottawaaa.org/about/cpc.php

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

Information Night

BRING A PROFESSIONAL

mailto:[email protected]

https://ottawaaa.org/about/cpc.php

ourprimarypurpose · 12 step coordinator (caterina c) [email protected] spring conference (brian...

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