the bondage of self - washington area intergroup … · the bondage of self history of a.a. ... the...

Digital New Reporter

VOLUME 53 NUMBER 08 AUGUST 2016

The Bondage of Self

History of A.A.

The Key to Forgiveness



The Recovery Program

The relative success of the A.A. program seems to be due to the fact that an alcoholic who no longer drinks has an exceptional faculty for reaching “and helping an uncontrolled drinker.” In simplest form, the A.A. program operates when a recovered alcoholic passes along the story of his or her own problem drinking, describes the sobriety he or she has found in A.A., and invites the newcomer to join the informal fellowship. The heart of the suggested program of personal recovery is contained in Twelve Steps describing the experience of the earliest members of the society: 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become un-manageable. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sani-ty. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. 6. We entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. 7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people, whenever possible,except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly ad-mitted it. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.



Newcomers are not asked to accept or fol-low these Twelve Steps in their entirety if they feel unwilling or unable to do so.

They will usually be asked to keep an open mind, to attend meetings at which recovered alcoholics describe their personal experienc-es in achieving sobriety, and to read A.A. liter-ature describing and interpreting the A.A. program. A.A. members will usually emphasize to newcomers that only problem drinkers themselves, individually, can deter-mine whether or not they are in fact alcoholics.

At the same time, it will be pointed out that all available medical testi-mony indicates that alcoholism is a progressive illness, that it cannot be cured, in the ordinary sense of the term, but that it can be arrested through total abstinence from alcohol in any form.

Reprinted from: The A.A. Fact File, General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, page 13, 1956



The Key to Forgiveness

I’ve got two children, Ali and Erin, ages sixteen and sev-enteen, whom I love very much. When they were little, they gave me the unqualified love that children give to a parent, but as they grew older my drinking began to take its toll. I looked up one day from the fog I was in and I was alone. My wife divorced me, taken the kids, and moved away. Everything I’d ever worked for was gone. I was as low as I’d ever been in my life, and I thought I was going to dies somehow, by the Grace of God, I was able to stop drinking.

Erin, my youngest, seemed to forgive me as I went along. But Ali was different. She’d look at me with steely eyes. Anything I tried to do to make it better only drove her farther away. I tried to act like this cool, hip dad to her friends but I on-ly ended up making a fool of myself.

After I was sober for about a month I thought things would get better, but they didn’t. Whenever I saw her, it was as if I was this ugly creature that had just walked in the room. I tried to change that but nothing worked. Finally I just gave up and prayed that time and my not-drinking would change her mind about me.

One day I was at her mother’s house getting ready to leave and I heard a voice: “Dad?” It was Ali, calling from upstairs. I couldn’t imagine why she wanted to talk to me. She said, “Come here.” As I walked up the stairs my mind reeled. What had I done now? What could she possibly want with me? She was in her bedroom, her private place. As I neared the door I could see she was holding something in her hand. It was an old skeleton key. As we stood there it was as though the key was the center of the universe and we were swirling around it.

She looked down at it, back at me, and said, “You don’t remember, do you?” Her look was on I hadn’t seen since she was a little girl. Her eyes were warm and soft. She said, “Before we moved out, you gave me this key. You said it was the key to your heart and that if I could ever forgive you, I should give it back.” She held her hand out and gave me the key.



75 Years-Ago This Month—The regular Thursday Night A.A. meeting in Washington establishes an Executive Committee for A.A. with Bill A as its chair. Later Executive Committee minutes reflect a concern that A.A. entry for newcomers was too lax and that perennial slippers abounded.

Pass It On [p. 265] notes: For Alcoholics Anonymous as a

whole, this was hardly a “quiet time.” In 1941, the Fellowship could be likened to a noisy, robust infant, to extend the metaphor, an infant in the “terrible twos.” It called for limitless energy, constant feeding, and uninterrupted overseeing to ensure that it not only survived but thrived.

And coincidentally records [p. 264]: The year 1941 appeared to mark a turning point in the…lives [of Bill W. and Lois.] They had a house; they had enough money to support themselves; and the Fellowship finally seemed assured of a future. Now, as they settled into a more permanent routine, some of the temporary quality of their lives seemed to disappear.

Now this rowdy ride astride a bucking bronco foreshadows Bill W.’s opening the books for the folks in Ohio in early 1942 to allay fears of a great swindle. The fledging Fellowship requires the full at-tention of Lois and Bill. These early days hammer out our forthcoming Traditions on the anvil of our experience.



50 Years Ago This Month---

25 Years-Ago This Month—Labor Day weekend commences in August. That weekend in San Francisco, the WAIA Bid Committee--bidding to host the ICYPAA annual convention in Washington--agrees to team up with the Balti-more Bid Committee to host the convention in our region. Meanwhile, at Be-thesda’s Hyatt Regency, Washington hosts the nineteenth annual North Ameri-can Hispanic A.A. Convention. [For this national Hispanic Convention, Washing-ton continues to be a popular site. Of its 44 annual conventions through this year, 2016, the Washington Area hosts six or 13.6 percent. The next two most popular sites are New York (five; 11%) and Chicago (four: 9.1%). The Washing-ton Area General Service Assembly witnesses great participation by the His-panic community. During the last twenty-five years we are graced by the ser-vice of two Hispanic heritage delegates (about 16 percent) to the General Ser-vice Conference—Enna R. (2003-4) and Ricardo C. (2011-12). Early on WAIA is supportive of Hispanic groups. Now there are Hispanic intergroups providing similar services in addition to WAIA’s Where & When listings.] At the August 13, 1991 WAIA Monthly Board of Directors’ Meeting CPC chair Sue H. reports on the functions and the service opportunities of the Coopera-tion with the Professional Community (CPC) Committee.



25 Years-Ago This Month (continued) In 1970, the General Service Board had formed the CPC Committee as a spin-off from the Public Information Committee out of the perceived need to reach professionals (clergy, doctors, court personnel, etc.) having contact with alcoholics. The Committee's purpose is simply to carry the message to the professional community, being sure to cooperate, but not affiliate. The effort is to establish friendly cooperation, relying on traditions 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. [Currently, WAIA has merged the CPC and PI Committees into one commit-tee. WAGSA has each of the two committees.] At the same WAIA Board Meeting, the NEW REPORTER Committee chair, Lynda N., reports: The budget is not sufficient to cover costs through the end of the year. Since the majority of Reporters are given free and since many people are unaware the newsletter exists, she proposes those present take to groups they attend this message: subscriptions are available. An increase in individual subscriptions could offset the deficit. Lynda moves an increase in the budget by $500 to buy paper for forthcoming issues. The motion is second-ed and approved. At the same WAIA Board Meeting, the H&I Committee Chair, Ron McM. Reports: The "hungry box" had received a much appreciated donation of used books and pamphlets. It can use anything that is conference ap-proved; the items go to prisons, jails and psychiatric hospitals. Ron thanks the Andrews Group for two bags of donations the preceding month. Ron moves to increase the budget $1,000 to pay for the literature carrying the message since the current budget’s residual covers only the costs for printing and mailing out the monthly schedule. The motion is seconded and approved. [Currently, the WAIA Board Meeting does not convene in August.]



A Member Writes on 13th Stepping Recently, one of the guys I allegedly sponsor was in a very uncomfortable sit-uation. This ugly mess was so severe that restraining orders were issued, a home almost broken, and repair damages was in the hundreds of dollars, also jail time threatened by judges. All of this wreckage was caused by two A.A. members that have been dry for over 15 years. The action between these two people cannot be called the behavior of sober people that are living by our Twelve Steps. There is a reason that A.A. suggests men with men and women with women. A.A. is not a sexual playground. It is a beautiful thing when two people, with long sobriety, meet, become friends, date, and marry. Then, together they be-come an example of God’s power and an asset to the fellowship. We come to A.A. damaged people. The majority of us have, at best, a sordid sexual inventory. We get dry, we clean-up our act, a little. Right away, we think we are ready for a relationship. Basically, we change one addiction for another. Back in the early ‘80’s, I was one of a handful of pioneers that started Sexaholics Anonymous in the Cleveland area. If I never learned anything else, I learned lust kills love. In my many years in A.A., I have witnessed both successful and unsuccessful relationships. More often than not, broken hearts, hurt feelings and worst of all people leaving the fellowship. We must remember A.A. is the last defense against alcoholism. Excuse the pun, let’s not screw it up. Anonymous



BONDAGE OF SELF EXPOSED

When I asked God to relieve me of the BONDAGE OF SELF, I wasn’t sure what I was asking for—it was just part of the Third Step Prayer, but my sponsor instruct-ed me ask God’s help for writing down where I had been resentful, fearful, etc. This was done in a spontaneous manner without mind-filtering. This allowed hon-est and unchangeable information for use in my Fourth and Fifth Steps. Conse-quently, on Steps Six and Seven, there it was: the bare and exposed ingredients of THE BONDAGE OF SELF! I was surprised how many hidden little devils (defects, shortcomings) existed deep in my subconscious and how they had unknowingly influenced my con-scious mind. Although I felt confident that I would never drink again, those invis-ible demons continued to chant louder and louder: “The day may come when we can drink again—and it may be tonight!” . . . and at one point I almost did! Thank God I didn’t, but at that point I began to realize that the BONDAGE OF SELF was separating me from the truth in drink. No wonder I couldn’t stay sober before coming to A.A.! Although, dramatically weakened, it still chatters to this day. However, page 55, speaks of: “. . . a Great Reality deep down within us” (God). Dr. Carl Jung tells us that we have both demons and angels competing for control of our sub-conscious (He calls them archetypes). Luckily, a vital spiritual experience (p. 27) can allow the angels to become dominant! This is what Steps Ten and Eleven are all about! Even so, I can still hear those aggressive little devils (committee) down there just chattering away. They say: “Ain’t it awful!” Aren’t they awful!” “Aren’t you awful!” . . . and like that. They are too smart to suggest drinking at this point but I know that is what they are leading up to. The BONDAGE OF SELF is no longer a solid wall denying the truth to pass through (I cannot drink on the truth), but has become so porous that taking a shot of whiskey no longer occurs to me. I believe I have been awarded “a per-sonality change sufficient—just enough—to bring about recovery from alcohol-ism (p. 567). Thank you God! Bob S., Richmond, IN



A baby can drink a bottle, Fall asleep and people say it’s cute. If I do it, I’m an alcoholic .


VOLUME 01 NUMBER 10 DECEMBER 2014

FAITHFUL FIVERS Faithful Fivers are AA members who in grati-tude pledge to contribute at least five dollars each month toward the support of WAIA in its quest to carry the AA message of hope and recovery to those alcoholics who still suffer in the Washington, D.C. area.

The Faithful Fiver idea came about when we remembered that many of us wasted many times that amount each month during our drinking days. Your contribution (which is tax deductible) will help WAIA get through the money problems we are always facing.

If you are able to join this worthwhile cause, please fill in the form and send it along with your first contribution.

WAIA 4530 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 111

Washington, DC 20008


THE BIRTHDAY PLAN

Many AA members across the country are currently sharing their Anniversary Celebration with others, by giving a dol-lar or two for each year of their sobriety to WAIA. This ensures that the same help that they received will be available to others that are new to the Fellowship. Start this year and make it an annual event. It is not how much you give that's important. It's thinking of others on your special day, that makes it so special. If you are truly grateful for your sobriety, this is really a wonderful way to express your gratitude by helping others receive the blessings of sobriety. Thanks.

Cardholder Name Email Address Phone # MasterCard Visa Credit Card # Expiration Date Billing Address (if different than subscription address) I authorize WAIA to charge my credit card in the amount of $ Signature: __________________________________

WAIA H&I Newsletter: July 2016 What We Do The WAIA Hospitals and Institutions Committee (H&I) serves to coordinate with local area hospitals and institutions to ensure that the hand of AA is always available when needed. Specifically, we:

1. Communicate with hospitals and institutions to assess whether there are any ways that WAIA can help further their mission,

2. Locate AA groups that are able to bring

meetings in to requesting hospitals and institutions,

3. Help local AA groups find opportunities for

their members to get involved in 12th step work with area hospitals and institutions, and

4. Provide groups with literature for hospitals

and institutions. We provide soft-cover Big Books and pamphlets. We also have a box of donated literature that AA groups can help themselves to at the WAIA office.

We are happy to speak to groups (upon request) to talk about the committee’s mission, service, and opportunities for groups to get involved. Please email us if you’d like a representative from the H&I committee to come talk to your group. News The H&I newsletter is available online at: http://www.aa-dc.org/HnI. We are looking for volunteers to help coordinate H&I meetings in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County.

Open Area Meetings: Looking for Groups or Individuals to Be of Service! We are looking for AA groups that can commit to bringing meetings to these institutions. Where days or times are missing, the institution is open to scheduling at a time that works for the AA group. Interested groups can contact us at: [email protected]. District of Columbia • 801 East Men's Shelter, SE; Saturday 8pm • Adams Place Day Center, NE; Tuesday or

Thursday, 10am or 11am • Adams Place Men’s Shelter, NE; Friday 8pm • Bread for the City (shelter), NW; Tuesday

5pm • DC Dept. Corrections Central Detention

Facility, SE; days and times flexible, requires background check, drug test, and TB test

• Greater Southeast Community Hospital, SE; days and times TBD

• Nativity Women's Shelter, NW; Friday 8pm • New York Avenue Men’s Shelter, NE;

Thursday 8pm • St. Elizabeth’s Solution Center, SE;

Wednesdays 9am • Transitional Recovery Program (Men’s

Rehab), SE; Saturdays 8pm Montgomery County • Montgomery County Correctional Facility

(MCCF) General Population, Clarksburg; 5th Tuesday 7:30pm

• More men for the weekly MCCF JAS program; MWF 7:30 pm - several dates available. Requires background check to attend with a badged member. Requires application and orientation to get badge.

• Randolph Hills Nursing Home, Silver Spring; every other Tuesday, 6pm

Prince George’s County • St. Thomas Moore Nursing Home, Hyattsville;

Weeknights 7pm • Vesta Mental Health Services, Forestville, Tue-

Fri, 11am, 1-2 times per month

H.O.W. Women’s Retreat October 7-9, 2016 A Non-Denominational Spiritual Retreat for Women in A.A. Washington Retreat House 4000 Harewood Rd., NE Washington, DC 20017 (Next door to the Pope John Paul 2 Cultural Center) Retreat Theme: “God Chooses Recovery for Me” (From DAILY REFLECTIONS, August 24th) Retreat Leader: Sister Maureen Murphy Schedule: Registration begins Friday at 5:00PM Retreat begins Friday with dinner at 6:30 PM Retreat closes after lunch on Sunday at 1:00PM Activities Include: General Sessions with the Retreat Leader, Maureen Murphy Saturday Evening Speakers Meeting, Ice Cream Social and Raffle Small Group Discussions 11th Step Prayer and Meditation Meetings Time for Fellowship All Meals Complimentary On-Site Parking Costs: Full Weekend - $210.00 (Includes all activities and private room with shared bathrooms for 2 nights) Saturday Only - $110.00 (Includes all activities, excluding overnight accommodations) Email – [email protected] Or call, Deborah at 301 570 3525 or 301 906 0919

mailto:[email protected]



No regular monthly board meeting in August.

Finance Committee Meeting

Aug. 9, 7:00 PM Appliance Builder’s Ware-

house 8951B Brookville Rd Silver Spring, MD

WAIA Monthly Meeting of the

Board of Directors

WAGSA The 58TH ICYPAA

OPRYLAND HOTEL

NASHVILLE, TN

September 1-4, 2016

Register at:

58TH.ICYPAA.ORG

THE 58th ICYPAA

Events are updated regularly!

If you would like to

submit an event, send an email to events@aa-

dc.org. A pdf flyer may be attached

CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR

2nd Monday, 7:30 pm

August 8, 2016

(New DCM & GSR Orien-tation—6:30-7:30 PM)

Silver Spring Presb.

Church 580 University Blvd. East Silver Spring, Maryland

Info or directions

Sunday, August 14, 2016 1:00 PM-6:00 PM

Cheverly Town Park

6401 Forest Rd Cheverly, MD 20785

Meeting 2:00 PM

Food, picnic and fun immediately after

Raffle! Line-Dancing!

Games!

The Cosmopolitan Group will be hosting Speaker Meetings during the month of September and every other month there-after: anniversaries will take precedence over speaker meetings.

Mondays, 8:00 PM 7750 16th St, NW Washington, DC

Cosmopolitan Group Hosting Speaker

Meetings

LITTLE HOUSE GROUP 43rd Anniversary Picnic & Cookout


540 College Park 313 Cosmopolitan Count Me In Crapshooters Creative Arts Crossroads of Recovery 629 Daily Reflections, NW 80 Daily Reflections, Bowie Darne Good Big Book Day by Day 120 Deanwood Step DC Steps 88 DC Young People 817 Del Ray 81 DCC Beginners DCC DCC Men’s Rap 200 DCC Noon 19 Del Ray Acceptance 60 Divine Intervention 720 Dunn Drinking 600 Dunrobbin 960 Epiphanies 566 Ex Libris 240 Eye Opener, Potomac 60 Faith Group Festival 270 Foggy Bottom 71 Fourth Dimension 60 14 Promises 420 Free Spirits Friday Night Fun Too Fri Night Gay Women’s 107 Friendly Bunch 300 Friendship Gaithersburg Beginners Gaithersburg Young People Garrett Park Stag 309 Gateway 64 Gay 18 New Castle Gay Group 100 Gay Women 62 Georgetown Germantown Yacht Get It Off Your Chest 377 Get Lit Glen Echo 420 Glenarden 168 Goldsboro

360 Good News Beginner 60 Grace 129 Grace Road Growing Group Happy, Joyous & Free Harmony Head to the Sky Help Wanted 300 High Noon High on the Hill 896 Hill Lunch Hyattsville Discussion Hyattsville Hope 100 Informed Group 900 Into Action 360 Investment 174 Irreverent Women 438 Jaywalkers 1200 Just Before Noon Kensington Big Book Kensington YP Step Study Kensington Young People Kid Friendly Big Book Kingman Park 25 Kitchen Table Lafayette Square Landover Discussion 246 Language of the Heart 160 Lanham-Seabrook 104 Last Chance Laurel All Ages 1221 Laurel Recovery Lawyers Legacies 21 Leisure World Big Book 360 Leisure World Noon 10 Let Go Let God Liberty 60 Life Saver 40 Little Falls 240 Little House 117 Living Sober 10 Living Sober by the Book 180 May Day 64 Men in Recovery 2114 Men of Dupont 480 Men’s BS Session 163 Messengers Mideast

JANUARY 01— JULY 22, 2016


150 AA at CUA 524 A Vision for You A Way of Life 20 Addison Road 401 All Are Welcome 89 Among Women Anacostia 760 Andrews 207 As Bill Sees It 200 As We Understood Him Aspen Hill 5th Chapter 23 Aspen Hill Phoenix 211 Attitude & Action 284 Attitude Adjusters Avery Road Back to Basics Barnesville 100 Beginners & Winners Beginnings@S Harper Hse Beltsville 30 Bethel Bethesda Noon 88 Big Book Thumpers Brandywine 195 Brightwood 405 Broad Highway 90 Brookland Brown Bag 2500 BYOL BYOL Non-Smoking 854 Burtonsville Big Book 160 Campus Noon 150 Capitol Heights 1000 Capital Hill 300 Carmody Hill Group 507 Cedar Lane Women 125 Change of Life Chairman’s Choice Cheltenham 194 Chestnut Lodge group Choir Cleveland Park Clinton 45 Plus 75 Clinton Day Clinton 6:30 Clinton Sunday Night Coffee & Donuts Colesville Sunday Nite


360 Progress Not Perfection Promises Promises Prospect 195 Quince Orchard 607 Radicals 120 Reaching out for Life Read & Speak 141 Riderwood Bills 38 Rockville 240 Room with a View Rosedale Rush Hour 115 Saturday Afternoon 80 Sat Morn Fire Barrel 536 Saturday Morning Steps Saturday Night Alive 210 Saturday Night Happy Hour Saturday Night Special 120 Scaggsville 71 Second Chance Serendipidy 661 Serenity 105 Serenity House Serious Business 240 7 Ups 120 Sheepherders 260 Silence is Golden 306 Silver Spring Beginners BB 1500 Silver Spring Simplicity 100 Simply Sober Singleness of Purpose 643 Six & Seventh Step Soapstone Sober & Alive Sober Sat Matinee Sober Words 250 Sobriety Sisters Southern Sobriety 4300 Spiritual Awakening 10 St. Barnabas Women 151 St. Bart’s 287 St. Camillus St. Mary’s Gay 79 Starting Over Gaithersburg Step Sisters Step Forward Step II

Steps To Sobriety Sunday Afternoon 226 Sunday Morning Breakfast 536 Sunday Morning Joy Sun. Morning Reflections 1155 Sunshine Sunrise Sobriety 135 Sursum Corda 234 Takoma Park Necessity 21 Takoma Park Rush Hour Takoma Park Women 1681 Tenley Circle There is a Solution TGIF 666 Triangle Club-Sun 11AM 55 Triangle Club-Sat. 7:15PM 1002 Trusted Servants Tues Night BB Tuesday Night Speakers Turning Point 120 Twelve Point Bucks 358 Twelve & Twelve Unity Place Sat. Afternoon 25 Upper Marlboro Big Book Upper Marlboro Step 354 Uptown 79 User Friendly 1680 Vermont Avenue 25 Wandering Souls 108 War is Over We Agnostics (SE) 480 We Care Wed. Night Big Book 113 Wednesday Nite Winners Welcome 314 Westside West Side Beginners Westmoreland Women 50 What’s Happening Now 120 White Oak Steps &Traditions Wilson Room 742 Yacht Club Yeas & Nays 460 Birthday 120 Faithful Fivers 435 Individuals 2100 Memorial

JANUARY 01—JULY 22, 2016


720 Midtown Miracles Mitchellville 240 Monday Winners 190 Mo.Co. Women More Peace of Mind 120 Moving into the Solution 360 Mt. Rainer 430 Nativity Neelsville Beginners Never Look Back 174 Never Too Late Never Walk Alone 120 New Beginners New Beginnings (NW) New Beginnngs (Pools) 463 New Beginnings (SE) New Unity Gay 264 No Hard Terms Non Smokers Noon Noon Reflections 50 Norbeck Women Fri 154 Norbeck Women Wed NE New Hope NE Sunrise 260 Nuts & Bolts 10 Old Fashion 60 Old Town Bowie Stag 600 Olney Farm 330 Olney Stag Rap 600 Olney Women’s group 420 On the Circle 60 One Day at a Time 192 180 Group 180 Open Arms 1977 P Street 60 Petworth 23 Phoenix Possum Pike 80 Poolesville Pot Luck Potomac (OLOM) 420 Potomac Eye Openers 240 Potomac High Noon 220 Potomac Oaks 300 Potomac Village Potomac Women 731 Primary Purpose Gay


Date _______ New _______ Renewal ________

Name _______________________________________

Street _______________________________________

City ______________________ State ___ Zip _______

Cardholder Name Email Address Phone # MasterCard Visa Credit Card # Expiration Date Billing Address (if different than subscription address) I authorize WAIA to charge my credit card in the amount of $ Signature:

SUBSRCIBE If you would like to receive to the hard copy of New Reporter, you use the form above to send a check or credit card infor-mation.

A free digital copy of the New Reporter is posted every month to our website at: www.aa-dc.org/NewReporter

To receive an email with the link each month, send a request to [email protected]

Have a story about your re-covery in AA? Why not share it with all of us? If you’d like to contribute to the New Reporter, please send in your ma-terial to: [email protected]


Mail to: New Reporter 4530 Connecticut Ave, NW Suite 111 Washington, DC 20008

$7.50 Year $14.00 Two Years $6.00 Group Rate


The NEW REPORTER is a monthly publication of the W.A.I.A., Inc., 4530 Connecti-cut Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008. Printed Subscriptions are $7.50 per year and Digital Subscrip-tions are FREE. Articles and event information are en-couraged from members of the Fellowship and its friends. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Washington Area In-tergroup Association or A.A. as a whole. (Exceptions are: Quotations from ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, TWELVE STEPS and TWELVE TRADITIONS and other A.A. books and pamphlets are reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.) Art and other articles are reprinted with permission of the A.A. GRAPEVINE, Inc. and are subject to the GRAPEVINE copyright.

Day Years

July 6TH Donald T. Class Act Group (MA) 20 years August 25th Arris T. Glenarden 2 years August 29th Ron B. Living Sober 1 year

VOLUNTEER Guess who it really

Helps? Call 202-966-9783

Anniversaries should be called into WAIA (202) 966-9783 as early as


THINGS WE CANNOT CHANGE

Jerry Kyle, June 16, 2016, 33 Years Sober, 12 Point Bucks Group

Kenneth Johnson, July 4, 2016, 30 Years Sober, Potomac Village Group

Doug Kowalski, June 29, 2016, Aspen Hill Phoenix


If you have a new meeting starting up, or changes to an existing meeting, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 202-966-9115 to let us know! www.aa-dc.org MISERY IS OPTIONAL, Big Book Study, Wednesday, 7:30 PM, St,. Andrew’s Episco-pal Church, 4512 College Ave, College Park, MD 20740 FRIDAY NIGHT PROMISES, Men’s Promises, Friday, 7:30 PM, First Baptist Church, 1328 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20036 CHINATOWN,MEN’S Wednesday, 7:00 PM, St. Mary Mother of God, 727 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20007 VICTORY LIGHTS, Tuesday, 7:30 PM, Our Lady of Victory Church. 4835 MacArthur Blvd, NW, Washington, DC 20007 AA and FAMILY ISSUES, Tuesday, 6:30 pm, St. James Church, 222 8th St NE, Wash-ington, DC 20002 ONE DAY AT A TIME, Wednesday, 8:30 PM, St. Patrick’s Parish Center, 4101 Nor-beck Rd, Rockville MD 20853, Rm 111


New meetings are not listed in the Where & When or on the website until they have been in existence for 6 months. If you’d like to let the A.A. community know about a new meeting, we will gladly list it.

We ask that you please remember to inform us when the meeting has been meeting continually for 6 months, so we can update the Where & When and website accordingly


VOLUME 01 NUMBER 02 FEBRUARY 2015

AUGUST 2016

the bondage of self - washington area intergroup … · the bondage of self history of a.a. ... the...

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