SEPTEMBER 1
WILLINGNESS TO GROW
If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on.AS BILL SEES IT, p. 8
Sobriety fills the painful “hole in the soul” that my alcoholism created. Often I feel so physically well that I believe my work is done. However, joy is not just the absence of pain; it is the gift of continued spiritual awakening. Joy comes from ongoing and active study, as well as application of the principles of recovery in my everyday life, and from sharing that experience with others. My Higher Power presents many opportunities for deeper spiritual awakening. I need only to bring into my recovery the willingness to grow. Today I am ready to grow.The GSR Says!
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people…wwhhaaaa???
Tell me if you have heard this lately: “why don’t they leave things alone”. Sound like something you might have said? I’ve said it. Recently there has been a lot of grumbling about the nefarious they who changed the wording in the preamble. Most of us assume they is the General Service Office, or The Grapevine Board. Here is the content of a General Service Office Report from 2020:
In 2018 and 2019, AA Grapevine received six requests to revise the AA preamble.
And where did these requests come from? One from a group in Brooklyn New York. Another from a member, Sue T. Another from General Service Reps in Area 13, in Washington D.C. One from a group in Maryland. One from an alcoholic who writes, My name is Jackson S, and I am GSR from my home group, Happy, Joyous, and Free and we would like to propose an agenda item for the upcoming conference.
So, who are they? We are. The idea to consider changes to the Preamble grew from individual members and groups who were participating in the ongoing efforts of Alcoholics Anonymous to bring the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. And so while it seems decisions are being made by outside forces, intent upon imposing willful correctness on the rest of us, the truth is that common, everyday, regular members of Alcoholics Anonymous are the folks who start the conversations.
Got one you want to start?
Thank you for allowing me to be of service.
George T.
ps. for a little history of changes made to the preamble over the years :
TRADITION NINE;
AA as such, must never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- Do I try to “boss” things in AA
- Do I ever resist formal aspects of AA because I see them as authoritative?
- Do I try to understand and use all elements of the AA program–even if no-one makes me do so—with a sense of personal responsibility?
- Do I exercise patience and humility in any AA job I take?
- What has rotation to do with anonymity? Humility?
Annual Business Meeting
Clear your calendar on Friday, October 1 and join us in shaping the future of the Step 2 Men’s Group.
THURSDAY ‘Book & Step Study’
Tom W. takes us through a selection of AA literature to start the meeting every Thursday. Each missive is packed with fine prose, fascinating insights and challenging reading. Following the read (about 10 minutes)… 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 Tom 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.
That Time of Year Again
Damn…..Damn…….Damn……Damn
I thought of this really good idea for a column. Three weeks ago. I told myself I should write it down right there. But of course, my logic took ahold, and I thought that I would never forget such an idea as that.
I’m sorry. I did.
There, is that an amend?
September is such a hard month to write.
When I got out of rehab the last and final time, had decided to turn to AA as my method to retain my sobriety, it was May. I had plenty of months to figure out what I was going to say to folks. Before you could say Labor Day, September was here.
I was told in rehab, that sobriety was going to be about setting and completing goals.
Get to meetings right away – check.
Find a sponsor — check
Read the book cover to cover – check
4th Step – check
Make a list –check.
Go to the people on the list and say I was sorry and make amends —- Che……
It was not easy.
I had to chase one of my daughters down a hallway, only to have her close her bedroom door in my face. She didn’t want to hear it.
Others, were skeptical. One fellow asked, “Like say, don’t do it again? Haven’t I said that before?” He had, and I did it again.
Others just weren’t around. My parents, whom I buried and eulogized while drinking, were gone. Saying I was sorry to a patch of grass just wasn’t the same.
Most, however, don’t care. They have their own problems to deal with. They have heard promises, mea culpas, and taken gifts from their own family, friends, politicians (well, some),church goers and the like, only to be disappointed again. Their skin is alligator thick and whatever I do, remember their long memories, wide jaws and sharp teeth.
Do you all remember this guy, Vance Johnson. He was a wide receiver out of U of Arizona and played for the Broncos. He was a good player, won a Super Bowl with John Elway and beat the Raiders in the last minute at least 3 times. He later admitted he did so drunk and high.
Eventually he got sober. Turned the spigot off in wasting all his money and instead founded a rehab center out in Colorado. Yeah, he is one of us. He wrote something once that I think sums it up pretty good. At least for this month.
Vance said, keep moving. No, not literally, spiritually. The best amends we can make. is to stay in recovery. Keep sober and keep working to be better.
Contributed by John M.
September Birthdays… IF They Make It!
September 15th… Michael L. celebrates 8 years
September 18th… Jeff B. celebrates 3 years
If your birthday has been missed…. fill out the birthday form.
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.
Our Trusted Servants Continue to Be:
The current Step 2 Men’s Group meeting schedule is Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday online with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at the park. The Thursday meeting is a “Book/Step Study” format. Saturday is “Daily Reflections”. Each of the gatherings is one hour. Great job men!
- Monday: Tim C.
- Tuesday: Mark W.
- Wednesday: John M.
- Thursday: Tom W.
- Friday: Brad W.
- Saturday: David K.
- Sunday: Mark C.
Want to add your name to the “Back-up-Help-Substitute Secretary List”? Just contact Group GS, Tom W., Treasurer Mark W. or any Monday through Sunday Secretaries and let them know!
First Wednesday… September 1st
Come join us in the park for a review of Step 9 on September 1st (First Wednesday). “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
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!
Funny Papers
Some 9th Step Humor
THE LITERARY CORNER:
“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.””
― Ernest Hemingway
“I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom.”
― Edgar Allan Poe
“Drinking is an emotional thing. It joggles you out of the standardism of everyday life, out of everything being the same. It yanks you out of your body and your mind and throws you against the wall. I have the feeling that drinking is a form of suicide where you’re allowed to return to life and begin all over the next day. It’s like killing yourself, and then you’re reborn. I guess I’ve lived about ten or fifteen thousand lives now.”
― Charles Bukowski
“A lady came up to me one day and said ‘Sir! You are drunk’, to which I replied ‘I am drunk today madam, and tomorrow I shall be sober but you will still be ugly.”
― Winston Churchill
“
Death: “THERE ARE BETTER THINGS IN THE WORLD THAN ALCOHOL, ALBERT.”
Albert: “Oh, yes, sir. But alcohol sort of compensates for not getting them.”
― Terry Pratchett
“First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
― Frank Sinatra
“There are two kinds of people I don’t trust: people who don’t drink and people who collect stickers.”
― Chelsea Handler
“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!”
“The minute I figure I have got a perfectly clear pipeline to God, I have become egotistical enough to get into real trouble. Nobody can cause more needless grief than a power-driver who thinks he has got it straight from God.” As Bill Sees It, Bill W.
“Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the ‘educational variety’ because they develop slowly over time.” A Member Eye View of AA pamphlet, page 19
” I have found this new life and I know as long as I do the few things that God requires me to do, I will never take another drink.” Experience, Strength & Hope, Alcoholics Anonymous 1st edition, page 139
Contributed by Dave Mc.
Online Meeting Stats
August, 2021 Meeting Data
Here’s the connection info for joining the meeting, in case anyone missed it.
Contributed by Mark C.
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 is 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 our ‘GSR’ George T. for “The GSR Says” , Mark W. for the Funny Papers and Literary Corner, and thank you John M. for “That Time of Year Again”. 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 don’t YOU contribute a short “something?” Any length, most any AA related topic. Reply now and it will get included next month!
The GSR Says!
GENERAL SERVICE REPORT FOR February
From George T.
REPORT GOES HERE
Thank you for allowing me to be of service.
George T.
The GSR Says!
GENERAL SERVICE REPORT FOR February
From George T.
REPORT GOES HERE
Thank you for allowing me to be of service.
George T.
Men’s Gazette – August 2021
Men’s Gazette – October 2021