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Trusted Servants LSCO STEERING COMMITTEE

Chairperson Mike H.

Vice Chair Nancy S.

Past Chair Joe H.

Secretary Cathy H.

Treasurer Mike A.

Members at Large Catherine R. & Greg M.

LSCO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

12 Step Chair/ Speaker Exchange Mark H.

Merchandise Deb W.

Newsletter Liz and Lee S.

Birthday Vacant

Service Rhonda H.

Web Chair Vacant

Unity Chair Vacant

Tech Committee Chair Alicia R.

CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE

Chairpersons Jim M. & Lee C.

Secretary Katie F.

Treasurer Patti D.

DISTRICT 7

DCM 7a Julia H.

DCM 7b Lee C.

Registrar Alicia R.

Secretary Pam B.

Treasurer Bill C.

DISTRICT 7 CHAIRS

Accessibilities Patsy O.

Archive Staci S.

CPC/PI Vacant

District Liaison Pam M.

Finance Vacant

Grapevine Vacant

Literature Rhonda H.

Treatment Joe H.

Webmaster Ron O.

Where to Send

Contributions The following is a suggested guideline of how to

divide your group’s donations and where to send.

50% Lake-Sumter Central Office

2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg, FL 34748

Please include group name on check.

NEW: Donate Electronically

Look for the donation button at

aalakesumter.com

10% District 7 Treasurer

1576 Bella Cruz Dr., Suite 321 The Villages, FL 32159

Please include group name on check.

10% NFAC—Area 14

PO Box 10094 Jacksonville, FL 32247

Please include Group Service Number and “District 7” on check.

30% GSO

PO Box 459 New York, NY 10163

Please include Group Service Number on check.

Pink Can Donations

Lake/Sumter Corrections c/o Patti D.

2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg FL 34748

Please include group name on check.

Self-Support: Where Money

and Spirituality Mix 1

Serenity News SEPTEMBER 2020

Lake-Sumter Central Office

2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg, Florida 34748

www.aalakesumter.com aalakesumter@gmail.com

Phone: 352-360-0960

Inside this issue:

LSCO Financial Reports & Corrections Report

2-3

Special Events & Notes 4-5

Central Office Activities 6

By The Way... 7

AA History 8

Just for Fun 9

District 7 10

Birthdays 11

Where to Send Contributions

12

Trusted Servants 12

*A.A. Newsletters have blanket permission to use AAWS content provided credit is given. As such, Conference

approved literature contained in this newsletter is reprinted with permission of AA World Services, Inc.

WE NEED YOU LSCO is in urgent need of:

Office Volunteers

12 Step Call Volunteers

Webmaster

7th Tradition Donations

Tech Team Volunteers

Group Meeting Updates—Zoom, In-Person, Contact phone number,

etc. We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from ship-wreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captain’s table. ...The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element of the powerful cement which binds us.

-A.A. Big Book pg. 17

2

Central Office Detailed Financial Report Is Available For Viewing At:

aalakesumter.com

AUGUST GROUP DONATIONS

Name of Group $ Name of Group $

Came 2 Believe $ 153.00 Step Sisters $ 20.00

Daily Reflections Discussion $ 250.00 Summerfield Group $ 75.00

Each Day a New Beginning $ 41.58 Sunday at Seven $ 217.00

Happy Hour-Eustis $ 71.75 The James Club $ 40.00

Mascotte Happy Hour $ 200.00 Without Reservation Group $ 142.50

Monday Night 11th Step $ 20.11 TOTAL $ 1,230.94

LSCO - AUGUST FINANCIAL REPORT

Beginning Balance Ending Balance

CHECKING 1 $ 2,729.78 $ 2,108.27

CHECKING 2 $ 7,407.74 $ 9,450.32

MONEY MARKET $ 20,047.17 $ 20,047.34

TOTAL IN ACCOUNTS $ 30,184.69 $ 31,605.93

INCOME: AUGUST YTD

Group Donations $ 1,230.94 $ 15,805.87

Private Donations $ 108.36 $ 2,798.26

Sales $ 878.69 $ 11,240.48

Other - $ 1,988.22

Events $ 300.00 $ 2,495.52

Interest on Money Market $ 0.17 $ 9.08

Total Income $ 2,518.16 $ 34,337.43

Total Expenses $ 1,111.91 $ 41,808.52

Net Income $ 1,406.25 $ (7,471.09)

11

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

5 years 20 years

Erin __. Sep 06 Willie R. Sep 15

Christina N. Sep 13 25 years

David C. Sep 14 Sophia M. Sep 17

Taylor G. Sep 18 Bobbie S. Sep 20

10 years Robert M. Sep 28

Lee A. Sep 01 30 years

Steven J. Sep 03 Michele E. Sep 01

Ron C. Sep 06 Michael R. Sep 12

Carol S. Sep 12 Ron M. Sep 12

Jeannie G. Sep 15 Lisa S. Sep 17

Larry M. Sep 21 Larry C. Sep 24

Jean G. Sep 26 35 years

Scott S. Sep 29 Patti D. Sep 03

15 years 40 years

Grimes J. Sep 23 Laura T. Sep 15

Marie Z. Sep 23 Laura T. Sep 18

Robert B. Sep 23 45 years

Ronald L. Sep 01

Dianne D. Sep 13

10

District 7 for Lake & Sumter is your connection to the whole world of AA!

Archives Committee The Archives Committee is tasked with the job of documenting and preserving the history of A.A. in Lake and Sumter County Florida (Area 14 District 7). We record either by oral history or written testimony from long standing members or their families. We have a wonderful display of items donated by past and present mem-bers. We can come to your group and set up our display. If you are interested in our Archives and would like to enhance your sobriety to more than just going to a meeting; please join me on the Archives committee. If you have any questions send them to me at archives@lakecountyaa.com In Love and Service, Staci S.

District 7 Financial Reports:

https://www.lakecountyaa.com/uploads/3/4/4/1/34415702/mayl_2020_financials.pdf

https://www.lakecountyaa.com/uploads/3/4/4/1/34415702/may_2020_donations.pdf

SPOTLIGHT

3

The Corrections Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous has been in communication with members who have been bringing AA meetings to inmates across the nation. We have been learning solutions that others are implementing. We are in the pro-cess of emailing all the Corrections Administrators we work with in the 5 Institutions in Lake and Sumter, so that during this time of Covid we can continue to deliver the AA message. Some of the ideas we’re considering: 1. Informing inmates of AA Form - F-73 to Request a Correspondent, and Form F-163 To request a Pre-Release contact.

2. Sharing what AA materials are available on the National Corrections Library Database. Groups are working to get the Big Book of AA added to the list, so those with tablets can continue on their recovery journey.

3. Requesting of Correctional Administrators in Lake and Sumter as to what Books and literature are needed and delivering to the facilities.

4. There are some National groups working to create the “Joe and Charlie” se-ries which is an 11 session (1 hour each) Big Book Study. We will work with each institution to see if this can be a viable option.

5. The AA Grapevine is the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in print. The Grape-vine organization is looking into converting the articles pertaining to correc-tions to media.

Yours in Service, Lee C., Jim M., Patti D., Your Corrections Committee

CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT

4

Please call or email for any special event posted online that you are in-terested in or have registered for to confirm … as many are cancelling or postponing due to COVID-19.

SPECIAL EVENTS & NOTES

Volunteer Opportunity!!

Please consider being a part of the new LSCO Technology Committee!

We have a need in Lake Sumter Central Office for AAs with Tech-nology or Information Technology skills. If you are interested in helping LSCO as we become more and more digital, or just interested in helping a fellow alcoholic to under-stand how to use available technology to stay better connected to AA, then we could use your help! Volunteer now! For questions or to sign up,

Email: aalakesumterzoom@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER AREA ASSEMBLY 9/25 - 9/27

This Assembly will be a virtual assembly and is a very important meeting, as we vote in our new officers. Please join us for all or part. Click on the attached link or go to the area web site https://aanorthflorida.org to see what topics are available, when and zoom details.

https://www.aanorthflorida.org/assembly_agenda.asp.

District 7 was tasked with finding the September Area Assembly Saturday Night Speaker. Through a friend of a friend of a friend, we have a speaker lined up – Susan F. from Jacksonville. We are excited to hear her story and how her journey has in-volved her with Service. We hope to see you all on the zoom at one time or another during the weekend.

Yours in service, Lee C DCM 7B

9

JUST FOR FUN

ACROSS 4. treated alcoholics with Dr. Bob at St Thomas Hosp in Akron 7. Bill W’s brother-in-law also had a link to the Rockefellers 8. disease is mentioned once in the Big Book, illness 14 times and this 7 times DOWN 1. Medical Director at a prominent hos-pital in NYC 2. Hospital Where Bill W. was separated from alcohol for the last time 3. Proctologist and co-founder of AA 5. The action of alcohol on chronic alco-holics is a manifestation of this 6. Told Rowland H. “you have the mind of a chronic alcoholic”

CALL THE DOCTOR

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS - How it Works

Across– 5. rarely 6. steps 7. honest

Down— 1. sanity 2. balked 3. rigorous 4. progress

A drunk staggers into a Catholic Church, enters a confessional booth, sits down, but says nothing. The Priest coughs a few times to get his attention, but the drunk continues to sit there.

Finally, the priest pounds three times on the wall.

The drunk mumbles, “Ain’t no use knockin, there’s no paper on this side either.”

8

AA HISTORY

Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, a psychiatrist, was an early pioneer in coupling the principles and philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous with psychiatric knowledge of alcoholism. A strong supporter of A.A. throughout his life, he consistently worked for acceptance of his views concerning alcoholism the medical and psychiatric professions. He served on the Board of Trustees for A.A. from 1957 to 1966, and was chairman of the National Council on Alco-holism in 1950.

THE 12 STEPS AS EGO DEFLATING DEVICE What does Surrender Mean? For reasons still obscure, the program and the fellowship of AA could cause a surrender which in turn would lead to a period of no drinking. It became ever more apparent that in everyone's psyche there existed an unconquerable ego which bitterly opposed any thought of defeat. Until that ego was some-how reduced or rendered ineffective, no likelihood of surrender could be anticipated. AA, still very much in its infancy, was celebrating a third or fourth anniversary of one of the groups. The speaker immediately preceding me told in detail of the efforts of his local group—which consisted of two men—to get him to dry up and become its third member. After several months of vain efforts on their part and repeated nose dives on his, the speaker went on to say: "Finally, I got cut down to size and have been sober ever since," a matter of some two or three years. When my turn came to speak, I used his phrase "cut down to size" as a text around which to weave my remarks. Before long, out of the corner of my eye, I became conscious of a disconcerting stare. It was coming from the previous speaker. It was perfectly clear: He was utterly amazed that he had said anything which made sense to a psy-chiatrist. The incident showed that two people, one approaching the matter clinically and the other relying on his own intuitive report of what had happened to him, both came up with exactly the same observation: the need for ego reduction. It is common knowledge that a return of the full-fledged ego can happen at any time. Years of sobriety are no insurance against its resurgence. No AA's, regard-less of their veteran status, can ever relax their guard against a reviving ego. The function of surrender in AA is now clear. It produces that stopping by causing the individual to say, "I quit. I give up on my headstrong ways. I've learned my lesson." Very often for the first time in that individual's adult career, he has encountered the necessary discipline that halts him in his head-long pace. Actually, he is lucky to have within him the capacity to surrender. It is that which differenti-ates him from the wild animals. And this happens because we can surrender and truly feel, "Thy will, not mine, be done." Unfortunately, that ego will return unless the individual learns to accept a disciplined way of life, which means the tendency toward ego comeback is permanently checked. This is not news to AA members. They have learned that a single surrender is not enough. Under the wise leadership of the AA "founding fathers" the need for continued endeavor to maintain that miracle has been steadily stressed. The Twelve Steps urge repeated inventories, not just one, and the Twelfth Step is in itself a routine reminder that one must work at preserving sobriety. Moreover, it is referred to as Twelfth Step work—which is exactly what it is. By that time, the miracle is for the other person. -Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, M.D.

5

SPECIAL EVENTS & NOTES

BIKE WEEK

“FRIENDS OF BILL”

NOVEMBER 13-15, 2020

105 East Main Street

Leesburg, FL

(Beacon College—Left side entrance)

Meeting times

Fri & Sat 10am 12 pm 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm & 8 pm

Sunday at 12 pm

Hospitality & Merchandise room open

Fri & Sat 9 am—10 pm

Sunday 10 am—2 pm

For additional information call: 352 504 1953

GRATITUDE 2020!

Hosted by District 7 - Lake and Sumter

Join us Saturday November 7th, 2020 7:00 PM

...Hear a Powerful Message...

ZOOM Details coming soon!

All will be posted on the District Website and the Central Office Website

Rose E. from Brooksville FL

Our purpose: 7th Tradition funds for GSO.

Each year we have hosted the Gratitude Dinner with the intent to donate all

proceeds to support GSO.

DONATE Button will be available during the Meeting

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For your 7th Tradition Contributions.

6

AUGUST CENTRAL OFFICE REPORT

# of Meetings ___31___

# of Literature Sold _34__

# of Visitors __7__

# of 12 Step Callls __2__

Other _20__

CENTRAL

OFFICE

ACTIVITES!

LAKE SUMTER CENTRAL OFFICE

NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS

TUESDAY-THURSDAY-FRIDAY-SATURDAY

10:00 AM — 2:00 PM

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO ANSWER PHONES

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY

10:00 AM—2:00 PM

Contact Central Office at 352-360-0960

7

DONATION ENVELOPES CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE

Have any comments or questions relating to the SERENITY NEWS?

Please email us at:

aalakesumterSNL@gmail.com,

and we will get back with you soon!

BY THE WAY….