Annual Step 2 Business Meeting
A dozen men attended the special online annual business meeting on Friday, October 30. On the agenda was the status of our return to St. Francis, money matters including donations, the GSR report, and Officer elections.
Surprisingly, Tom W. and Dan Mc. were re-elected as General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, and George T was not voted out as General Service Representative mid-term!
Donations to the church at Saint Francis were agreed to for both Thanksgiving and Christmas once again in generous sums.
Grant Miller Award Goes to George T!
The Grant Miller award is presented annually in memory of Grant Miller, long time member of the Step 2 Men’s Group, to a member who has demonstrated over time, the same dedication to sobriety, humility, courage and grace and to the well being of the group, both individually and collectively as Grant did. Grant developed lung cancer which was incurable. He fought it for as long as he could, never whining, complaining, or wallowing in self pity. He fought cancer with the same courage and grace with which he lived his life.
He is missed but not forgotten and this award is the group’s tribute to that courage and grace.
Congratulations to George T for being selected the 2020 Grant Miller award.
Contributed by Mike T.
DIGGING DEEP TO FIND THE BOTTOM TO GET ON TOP
By John M.
I think it’s a difficult thing that the 11th month is themed with the 11th Step. So many distractions. So many memories. The drinking ones often painful.
When I am asked about my consciousness, I think of table tops as an example of my depth of thinking. God can only stay in contact if I can keep the table level. Otherwise, things slip off.
Step Two Men’s Group is unique amongst AA groups I have come to know, in that it is a group of men who tolerate listening through most of my random thoughts so long as I don’t speak or opine for longer than five minutes, thirty seconds.. maybe less depending on the audience. And as I come to find out, rarely more.
It’s okay though. Good practice for contact with God, who seems to have even less time. With whom I have limited knowledge of his will for me, other than
- Not Drinking
- Doing all it takes, meetings, readings, talking to sponsor and meditation to accomplish A.
The latter, meditation is not as easy as it looks for me. If I walk in a meditation class cold, that is without thinking of what I am going to do there, then more times than not after about 6 minutes I am no longer chanting but mind wandering. As an example, can the 49ers cover the minus 3 in Seattle and with all the injuries to both teams isn’t the Under more logical? What will the parlay pay?
I know, complex formulations for genius plus love, right? How can one meditate thinking of that?
I need improvement in this Step. Where to go to find it on a very limited budget.
I have found some relatively cheap, as in Time is the only cost, but visiting You Tube. I know crazy right?
But underneath the historical videos, the replays of the hysterical journalists, and recaps of great plays of the day, I have found videos such as this :
and who could not use this?
and there is a ton of them.
I am a real You Tube junkie. And I am also committed to staying in AA. Even though, I freely admit that I am not a perfectionist in my practice of AA. In fact, I often look for short cuts. Who doesn’t?
Come to a Step Two Men’s Group meeting. What is one of the chief characteristics? Efficient.
And that is what I find with You Tube Videos.. If you are like me, and your mind wanders when reading or living or meditating these things can help. If you are a beginner search in You Tube for AA. I did a lot when first starting this journey and I learned a lot.
Contributed by John M.
Pass the Basket… please?
As we enter the umpteenth week or so without meeting in person…there’s a big elephant in the room! You guessed it…revenue from our contributions. Our trusted servants, Step 2 Men’s Group Treasurer Dan Mc. and General Secretary Tom W. are asking our help.
In fact, we’re all asking each of you and us…to make a contribution to the group. Please make your check or money order payable to “Dan McKinley” and mail direct to: Dan McKinley P.O. Box 221756 Sacramento, CA. 95822.
While an amount of $50 is ideal, we understand this may not be possible for all or even desirable. Any amount is much appreciated, any amount is thoughtful. As always, it is an entirely voluntary contribution. There will be no judging! Well…not much anyway. Just kidding, no one share whether or if you assisted.
Please give what you can. Our group remits a great deal to Central Office, St. Francis Church (both rent & causes) and other expenses. Thank you in advance all of you…you guys are awesome!
THE LITERARY CORNER:
“Bartender,” she said to an invisible person, “a Jeremy special.” She grabbed two plastic cups. “Coming right up,” she replied to herself.
The Jeremy special ended up being an elaborate mix of fruit juices and vodka, and wasn’t half bad.
“i think you have a successful bartending career ahead of you,” I said as we made our way into the living room.
“Later I’ll make you the Sebby special,” she said. “It’s used to remove paint from cars.”
― Kate Scelsa, Fans of the Impossible Life
“Ever since, in the U.K. they banned smoking in public places, I’ve never enjoyed a drinks party ever again. And the reason, I only worked out just the other day, is when you go to a drinks party and you stand up and you hold a glass of red wine and you talk endlessly to people, you don’t actually want to spend all the time talking. It’s really, really tiring. Sometimes you just want to stand there silently, alone with your thoughts. Sometimes you just want to stand in the corner and stare out of the window. Now the problem is, when you can’t smoke, if you stand and stare out of the window on your own, you’re an antisocial, friendless idiot. If you stand and stare out of the window on your own with a cigarette, you’re a fucking philosopher.”
― Rory Sutherland
“Like alcohol and poverty, a heartbreak has the power to make a man do something he wouldn’t normally do and to make a woman do someone she wouldn’t normally do.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
“Sometimes you see English people going out to pub, bar or disco with friends, standing awkwardly together drinking beer or gin and tonic and waiting for something ‘romantic’ to happen. Usually nothing happens apart from everybody getting drunk, which is hardly romantic. So, typically, instead of meeting Mr or Miss Right they meet Mr or Miss Right Now, which lasts as long as there is enough alcohol circulating in the blood vessel.”
― Angela Kiss, How to Be an Alien in England: A Guide to the English
“LLL”iza hated alcoholic liquors with an iron zeal. Drinking alcohol in any form she regarded as a crime against a properly outraged deity… When Liza was about seventy her elimination slowed up and her doctor told her to take a tablespoon of port wine for medicine. She forced down the first spoonful, making a crooked face, but it was not so bad. And from that moment she never drew a completely sober breath. She always took the wine in a tablespoon, it was always medicine, but after a time she was doing over a quart a day and she was a much more relaxed and happy woman.”
― John Steinbeck
From an idea by George T.
Our Trusted Servants Remain:
Monday: Tim C.
Tuesday: Dick M.
Wednesday: John M.
Thursday: Book & Step Study w/ Bob R.
Friday: Dan Mc.
Saturday: “LIVE” In Person at McKinley Park w/ David K.
Sunday: “LIVE” In Person at McKinley Park w/ Mark C.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, Tom W., Treasurer Dan Mc. or any Monday through Sunday Secretaries and let them know!
“Mouse’s Corner”
A.A. member Dave Mc. curates a few selected readings from a variety of A.A. related publications each month. Dave is a life long friend of the editor and has been sober 34 years. His childhood nickname was “Mouse!”
“I was always able to see the flaw in every person, every situation. And I was glad to point it out, because I knew you wanted perfection, just as I did.”
Acceptance Was the Answer, page 417, 4th edition, Alcoholics Anonymous
“Our understanding of surrender may change over time, but our need for it does not. In the beginning, surrender might just be about not using drugs or drinking. As time goes by, we start to see other ways our addiction plays out in our lives. We become willing to surrender other behaviors , sometimes one by one. We come to understand that using…whatever we were using…is just a symptom of our problem, which is spiritual in nature.”
Living Clean, page 227
Contributed by Dave Mc.
First Wednesday… November 4th
John M. reviews Step 11 on November 4th (First Wednesday). “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.“
John reviews the step corresponding to the number of that month on each first Wednesday. It’s a rewarding meeting with John outlining the step of the month, how he was challenged by it and how we tackle it ourselves, with and without success! Look for his monthly contribution in this edition!
THURSDAY ‘Book & Step Study’
Bob R. takes the reigns to take us through Grapevine, Twelve Steps and Big Book readings to start the meeting every Thursday. Each missive is packed with fine prose, fascinating insights and challenging reading. The floor is open to everyone’s thoughts on how they may have been influenced or impacted by that writing. It’s really fun to be a part of and members are enjoying it.
Get on in here and show Bob your support and contribute something to the newcomer. Every Thursday at 11:30.
We’ll try to make readings available ahead of time on the website.
November Birthdays …IF They Make It!
- Jon B celebrates 6 years on November 3rd!
- Bob A celebrates 39 years on November 15th!
- Dick M celebrates 11 years on November 23rd!
- Josh W celebrates 6 years on November 26th!
If your birthday has been missed, please use this form to add it to our growing list.
We really want to celebrate your AA anniversary because your birthday made ours possible!
Thanks everybody and apologies to you if you were missed or incorrectly noted.
Alcoholics Anonymous ‘Daily Reflection…’
November 1
I CANNOT CHANGE THE WIND
“It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.”
Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85
My first sponsor told me there were two things to say about prayer and meditation: first, I had to start and second, I had to continue. When I came to A.A. my spiritual life was bankrupt; if I considered God at all, He was to be called upon only when my self-will was incapable of a task or when overwhelming fears had eroded my ego.
Today I am grateful for a new life, one in which my prayers are those of thanksgiving. My prayer time is more for listening than for talking. I know today that if I cannot change the wind, I can adjust my sail. I know the difference between superstition and spirituality. I know there is a graceful way of being right, and many ways to be wrong.
Joke Box
Definition of an alcoholic bottom? When things get worse, faster than you can lower your standards!
An alcoholic is a person who, from a single tree, creates a great forest in which he immediately gets lost!
If you want to have the last word in an argument, try saying, “I guess you’re right!”
A sponsor is someone who sees through you and still sees you through!
Save on booze by drinking cold tea instead of whiskey. The following morning you can create the effects of a hangover by drinking a thimbleful of dishwashing liquid and banging your head repeatedly on the wall!
“The Joke Box” features narratives, anecdotes and jokes from the AA publication “A Rabbit Walks Into a Bar”. Available at the AA Central Office, it contains the best material from the historic AA Grapevine. You can learn more at aagrapevine.org. Thanks to Anthony S. for picking up a copy and suggesting it!
My First Meeting
At 11:20 on March 11th my wife Georgia dropped me off in front of the Step Two Men’s Group meeting at the mid town Church location. The preceding week involved searching for rehab options at various locations. A close friend had connected me with Steve Larson who counseled me to look around for an AA meeting. My house by McKinley Park made K street very convenient.
Mark C was the first to welcome me. I remember Colusa Dan and others sharing on the topic of anonymity. I shared a brief description of my alcoholism.
As I think of this first meeting two things stick out.
1) I immediately felt welcomed and at ease, almost a sense of relief that I had taken a first step.
2) Mark W. spoke with me after the meeting to say that my story was one he had heard many times. That made me feel like I was in the right spot.
After that meeting the Covid curtain came down. Thank God that Mark C put together the google meetings, it has literally saved my life.
I am grateful I found Step 2.
By Brad W.
Please be “of service.” If you’ve never contributed a “My First Meeting”, please help to keep this column going…we need you! What do you remember most of your first meeting? It can be one sentence; it can be up to two paragraphs. Could be funny, poignant or strickly “clinical”. Write what you want…you might have enjoy writing it! It’s as easy as filling out a form!
Memory Lane… Remember the FUN We Had?
Funny Papers
Step 2 Men’s Group Believes…
“Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”
We’d never presume that the 12 Steps are not clear. Nor would we imply that they need ‘improvement’. However…for purposes of assisting to keep the meeting pointed in an important direction each day, the ‘Step 2 Men’s Group statement is read as follows:
Step 2 Men’s Group is founded on the belief that spirituality is essential to our sobriety. Our group is non-religious, but we do not oppose anyone’s religious beliefs. We believe that respect for others and their beliefs are essential to our spiritual development. Accordingly we ask that avoid criticism of others or of their religion or lack of religion, their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance, trade or profession, length of sobriety, or personal beliefs. Our goal is to further our spirituality, our sobriety and our personal development, not to confront or belittle others. Always remember to be kind to others.
Extra Special Thanks Dept:
Thanks to both George T. and Mark C. for taking over together the Editor’s desk the last three editions. Great job gentlemen, I needed you.
Thanks to our ‘GSR’ George T. for “The GSR Says”. Thank you John M. Thanks to Mark C. for your contributions in making our online meetings a reality, managing our secretaries and guiding members through the process. He also wrote “Step2mensgroup.com.” Thanks to Dave Mc. for “Mouse’s Corner.” Thank you Anthony S. for the ‘Joke Box’. We’re still waiting for YOU gentle reader…Why YOU don’t contribute a short “something?” Any length, most any AA related topic. Reply now and it will get included next month!
Men’s Gazette – October 2020
Men’s Gazette – December 2020