The Beacon

July-August 2014

From the Editor:

The Huntsville Area Intergroup Association is

looking for an Alternate Intergroup Chairper-

son. The position requires two years of sobri-

ety. The primary duties of the Alternate

Chairperson are to fill in for the Chairperson

in his/her absence and to perform an audit

once a year of Intergroup financial accounts.

Please check with your “Higher Power” to

see if you should place yourself in that posi-

tion. Willingness is the key.

Bill P., Ed.

The Beacon Statement

The Beacon is published to foster unity, facilitate

communication among AA members and groups

within the North Alabama area, and present the

experience and opinions of individual members of

Alcoholics Anonymous on the disease of Alcohol-

ism and recovery from it. Opinions in The Beacon

are not those of Alcoholics Anonymous as a

whole, nor does publication of any article imply

endorsement by Alcoholics Anonymous or the

Huntsville Area Intergroup Association. We aim to

be an instrument of carrying the A.A. message,

and to publish AA related material, including per-

sonal stories of experience strength, and hope—as

well as what we feel to be important information

about what is happening in this area. All material

is reviewed by the Beacon editor and the Hunts-

ville Area Intergroup Association.

The Beacon on the Web!

For those who have access to the “Web”, The Beacon is avail-

able via the internet. Just visit the AA District 20 web site at:

http://www.aahuntsvilleal.org and click on the “NEWS” menu

entry. Each issue will be posted (in PDF format) for download

directly after publication.

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Beacon Submissions

To reach the editor with article suggestions, feedback, contri-

butions and ideas: Email to: beacon@aahsv.org. Or drop off

at The Beacon mailbox inside the Central Office, 3322 S. Me-

morial Pkwy, Bldg 600, Suite 603, or call 256-885-0323.

Special Literature Orders from the

Central Office

If you want something ordered from GSO that

is not normally stocked at the HAIA Central

Office, please contact Dottye P. at 256-509-

6209 or leave a note in the Resources distribu-

tion box at the Central Office, 3322 S. Memori-

al Parkway, Suite 603

Riverside Roundup XXXI

Rogersville, AL

October 23-26, 2014

$20 registration ($25 at door)

PO Box 2384

Huntsville, AL 35804

The revised 2014 Treatment Center Visitation Schedule is shown below. A telephone discus-

sion with Debbie Snow revealed that the October/November blocks were intentionally left

blank — which will allow individual AA groups to decide which treatment facility they wish to

visit during those months. Harvest and Youngtimers groups have already asked for those two

treatment centers in December.

Bill P., Editor

Note to the Beacon reader: Included on the reverse side of this page is a schedule of PREA classes. The classes are

sponsored by the Chaplain at Limestone Prison and are required for ANY volunteer wishing to enter either Limestone

Correctional Facility or the Alabama State Work Release program facility. AA has no control over this requirement.

ALABAMA/NORTHWEST FLORIDA AREA ASSEMBLY

2014 Calendar

September 26-28 Southeast Regional Forum- Verdanza Hotel 8020 Tartak Street

Isla Verde, Puerto Rico 00979 (787-253-9025 Reservations only)

reservations@verdanzahotel.com. There is no Registration Fee.

October 10-12* AREA ASSEMBLY- Clarion Inn & Suites University Center 1577 South College St, Auburn, AL • www.Clarion.ReservationCounter.com Call 334-821-7001. Be sure to mention Area 1 Assembly.

Assembly may be moved one week earlier/later if Auburn Football schedule conflicts

2015 Calendar

January 9-11 AREA ASSEMBLY- Clarion Inn & Suites University Center

1577 South College St, Auburn, AL • www.Clarion.ReservationCounter.com Call 334-821-7001. Be sure to mention Area 1 Assembly.

April 10-12 AREA ASSEMBLY- Clarion Inn & Suites University Center

1577 South College St, Auburn, AL • www.Clarion.ReservationCounter.com Call 334-821-7001. Be sure to mention Area 1 Assembly.

July 10-12 AREA ASSEMBLY- Clarion Inn & Suites University Center

1577 South College St, Auburn, AL • www.Clarion.ReservationCounter.com Call 334-821-7001. Be sure to mention Area 1 Assembly.

“Why We Were Chosen”

God, in His wisdom, selected this group of men and women to be the purveyors of His goodness. In selecting them through whom to bring about this phenomenon He went not to the proud, the mighty, the famous or the brilliant. He went instead to the humble, to the sick, to the unfortunate. He went right to the drunkard, the so-called weakling of the world. Well might He have said to us, “Unto your weak and feeble hands I have entrusted a power beyond estimate. To you has been given that which has been denied the most learned of your fellows. Not to scientists or statesmen, not to wives or mothers, not even to my priests or ministers have I given this gift of healing other alcoholics which I entrust to you. It must be used unselfishly; it carries with it grave responsibility. No day can be too long; no demands upon your time can be too urgent; no case be too pitiful; no task to hard; no effort too great. It must be used with toler-ance for I have restricted its application to no race, no creed, no denomination. Personal criticism you must expect, lack of appreciation will be common: ridicule will be your lot; your motives will be misjudged. You must be prepared for adversity, for what men call adversity is the ladder you must use to ascend the rungs toward spiritual perfection, and remember, in the exercise of this power, I shall not exact from you beyond your capabilities. You are not selected because of exceptional talents, and be careful always, if success attends your efforts, not to ascribe to personal supe-riority that to which you can lay claim only by virtue of my gift. If I had wanted learned men to accomplish this mission, the power would have been entrusted to the physician and the scientist. If I had wanted eloquent men, there would have been many anxious for the assignment, for talk is the easiest used of all talents with which I have endowed man-kind. If I had wanted scholarly men, the world is filled with better qualified men that you who would be available. You were selected because you have been the outcasts of the world and your long experience as drunkards has made or should make you humbly alert to the cries of distress that come from the lonely hearts of alcoholics everywhere.” “Keep ever in mind the admission you made on the day of your profession in A.A., namely that you are powerless and that it was only with your willingness to turn your life and will to My keeping that relief came to you.” Author Unknown

ALABAMA/NORTHWEST FLORIDA AREA ASSEMBLY AGENDA FOR October 10-12, 2014

FRIDAY, October 10, 2014 7:00 p.m. EARLY REGISTRATION - Grand Ballroom AGENDA COMMITTEE MEETING - Grand Ballroom 8:00 p.m. EARLY WORKSHOP MEETING – Grand Ballroom

Voting Procedures Chaired by: Linda Westcott Alt. Delegate

9:30 p.m. NITE OWL DISCUSSION MEETING Grand Ballroom Chaired by___________________________

SATURDAY, October 11, 2014 8:00 a.m. REGISTRATION - Grand Ballroom

8:30 a.m. GSR WORKSHOP: Grand Ballroom Elec-tion Procedure- The 3rd Legacy Chaired by: Kevin Hawkins, Structures & Procedures, Chair

9:45 a.m. ELECTIONS- Grand Ballroom Chaired by: Jim Stone, Panel 63 Delegate 12:00 Noon LUNCH 1:30 p.m. RESUME ELECTIONS- Grand Ballroom 2:45 p.m. COMMITTEE MEETINGS- Archives- Tomy Gamble, Chair Grand Ballroom West Correctional Facilities – Debra Baublis, Chair Grand Ballroom South Convention- Lou Petrosino, Chair Gardenia CPC- Craig Debski, Chair Magnolia Grapevine- David Lea, Chair Lower Ballroom East Intergroup/Central Offices – James Dunlea Azelea Literature – Jay Kirby, Chair Lower Ballroom South Pre-Conference- Linda Westcott, Alt Delegate Breakfast Room Public Information – Alice Fordham, Chair Grand Ballroom East Treatment- Jean Price, Chair Grand Ballroom North Stuctures & Procedures- Kevin Hawkins, Chair Lower Ballroom North 4:00 p.m. WORKSHOP - Grand Ballroom ____________________________________________ Chaired by:____________________________ 5:00 p.m. DCM Committee – Linda Westcott, Alt Delegate Grand Ballroom 7:45 p.m. AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS - Grand Ballroom 8:00 p.m. OPEN SPEAKER MEETING - Grand Ballroom

______________________________________ Chaired by:_____________________________

9:30 p.m. NITE OWL MEETING – Grand Ballroom Chaired by:_____________________________ SUNDAY, October 12, 2014 8:00 a.m. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING - Magnolia 8:15 a.m. ROLL CALL SIGN IN - Grand Ballroom 9:00 a.m. AREA SERVICE MEETING – Grand Ballroom Secretary report Alt. delegate report Committee Reports Treasurer report Registrar report District Reports Delegate report Chair report Old/New business Adjourment **All workshops, committee and area service meetings are CLOSED meetings. Hospitality room is in Room 126