Step 2 Men’s Gazette

The GSR Says!

GENERAL SERVICE REPORT FOR OCTOBER

General Service. Is that all there is? No. There are many opportunities for us to be of service outside the needs of our group.

How about being a group representative at the Central Office? What would that entail? Attending a meeting once a month on a Saturday. Why do that?

Because Step 2 Men’s Group would have more contact with groups in our area, and be more aware of activities going on in our area that might be of interest to folks. Perhaps there is a need for volunteers to take phone calls, put together the Central Office newsletter. Or maybe just go and hear what is going on with other groups. That is one idea. How about getting involved with H&I? What is that? Hospitals and Institutions. You know, the Pink Can (which we do not pass at our meeting…do we want to?) Hospitals and Institutions takes literature and meetings into recovery facilities, jails, and the like. the H&I meeting for our Area is also held once month on a Thursday evening. Perhaps a member of our group would like to attend to find out what service opportunities might be available for folks to get involved with. If nothing has appealed to you yet, how about PI/CPC, Public Information/Cooperation with the Professional Community. Members involved with PI/CPC meet with schools, businesses, and other organizations to help inform the general public about the general-purpose of AA, and what it can and can not do for alcoholics. In these meetings we are not telling our individual stories, rather, we are telling the story of AA to help inform in the hopes that some of these folks who hear the story of AA might choose to recommend AA as a possible solution for a troublesome employee, an acting out teenager in school or college, a patient in a medical office, a therapy client, a legal client, anyone where alcohol seems to be contributing to their current difficulties. Examples might be giving a talk to a business roundtable group or an attorneys group; perhaps an inservice meeting of school counselors, medical students. If any of this piques your interest, the PI/CPC meetings for our area are held once a month on Fridays. So, in closing, ask yourself what little bit more you might be willing to do for the alcoholic who still suffers.

Thank you for allowing me to be of service.

George T.

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 20 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.

Build Back Better

I was told in my early experiences with AA, that the authors of the Steps constructed them around the calendar year. Overtime I have come to think that if true, then that was one more incidence of their brilliance.

Consider Step 10. Coinciding with October, the 10th month, so much that we have no control over in the present comes to fruition. It is the time when hope can turn to despair and that lead to triggers and temptation. And conversely, something we started at the beginning of the year may be cause for celebration if the year has been.

It’s time for self-reflection and caution either way.

I once had a relapse afters years of sobriety, in part because I was not a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, but more because I had become too confident after a couple of years of prosperity. I felt that a sip here and there was no big deal and I could handle it. Before I knew it, my addictions and alcoholism were worse than before I quit.

I go crazy sometimes thinking of the what if’s. What if I had been committed to AA back then and was able to say I have 30 years of sobriety instead of today when I can say 8 again. How much better would I be or accomplished.

It can and does get me talking to myself.

I can and do admit that in making assessments, I can get depressed over the things I have done to me, my family and others. I try not to dwell but there they are like St. Peter’s Book of Accounts. I’ll have to pay unless a weak Plenary Indulgence from my early innocent youth at Catholic School gets me some credits.

That I take this time of year, aside from writing to you about the 10th Step, I am reminded that this type of reconciliation has been going since the Dark Ages. It was customary to gather after the Harvest to commiserate, complain or celebrate. It’s why we have Thanksgiving but also Revolutions, all in the Fall.

So, I take my inventory. A pre inventory, so to speak. ls the year going to end on a positive? Am I a better person than I was this time last year. Yikes, that measurement could be very marginal. Is it an accomplishment if I can say I am not any worse?

I can be thankful, grateful that I am keeping myself from the torture of addiction and alcohol. I can be wary and deathly afraid of temptation and relapse. I should also be cognizant of the history around me. Realize that nothing was the same after Nintendo came out with the 64 bit chip. Money became a digit with Mastercards and Visa. Every year the rules change.

And for me to adapt, to succeed, to keep sober and right, I need this Fellowship. I need this Group. So thank you.

Contributed by John M.

October Birthdays… IF They Make It!

Mike B celebrates 15 years on October 15th!

Mike F celebrates 10 years on October 19th!

Ed D celebrates 36 years on October 19th!

Mike M celebrates 3 years on October 20th!

Scott Y celebrates 3 years on October 23rd!

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.

“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!” 

“Why do AA’s keep on going to meetings after they’ve been cured.”
A Newcomer Asks, pg 7 World Services Pamphlet

“I ask a higher power to help me be free”
The Twelve Steps Illustrated, pg 7 World Services Pamphlet

“ I need that regular conscious contact with the Fellowship to keep me
sober, one day at a time.”
The God Word, pg 8 World Services Pamphlet

“Most of our experiences are what the psychologist William James calls the
“educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time.”
A Member’s Eye View of Alcoholics Anonymous, pg 19 World Services Pamphlet

Contributed by Dave Mc.

Funny Papers

THE LITERARY CORNER:

“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” 
― Ernest Hemingway

“It helps if you imagine auto correct as a tiny little elf in your computer who’s trying so hard to be helpful but is in fact quite drunk.” 
― Anonymous

“The fact that there’s a highway to hell but only a stairway to heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers.” 
― Anonymous

First Wednesday… October 6th

Come join a review of Step 10 on October 6th (First Wednesday). “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

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!

Acronyms

PUSH – Pray until something happens

SLIP – Serenity loses its priority

WAIT – Why am I talking?

NUTS – Not understanding the steps

QTIP – Quit taking it personally.

Step2MensGroup.com

September, 2021 Meeting Data

Here’s the connection info for joining the meeting, in case anyone missed it.

Contributed by Mark C.

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!

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” and thank you John M. for “Build Back Better”. 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!