The San Diego AA Coordinatoraasandiego.org/coordinator/coord-jun20.pdf · 2020-05-28 · SAN DIEGO...

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Published Monthly by the Central Office of the San Diego County Groups of Alcoholics Anonymous

“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Reprinted from AA Big Book, page 59

The San Diego AA Coordinator

e JUNE 2020 VOL. LXVIII NO.6

““CCaarrrryy tthhee AAAA MMeessssaaggee”” Join the fun and

submit an article! JULY Integrity… (due 5/24/20) AUGUST Do something about it… (due 6/25/20) SEPTEMBER Strength and direction to do the right thing… (due 7/26/20) Submit 27 to 1,000 word story to Newsletter Chair at: [email protected]

IINNSSIIDDEE .. .. .. Meetings in Motion, p. 4 Coordinating Council

Minutes, pgs. 5-6 Financial Statements, p. 7 Group Contributions,

pgs. 8 - 9 Central Office Notes, p. 10 Word Search p.11 Upcoming Events p. 13

PANDEMIC PARADOX As alcoholics (I am assuming that this newsletter does not have a large normie following), we are the victims of a progressive and ultimately fatal illness for which medical science has yet to find a cure. The agent involved in this disorder is a simple molecule made up of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms which, in the hands of the alcoholic, is a killer. However, there is way to achieve remission in this disorder and that is through the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, which teaches us that there is a spiritual solution achieved through the Twelve Steps. Other parts of the solution involve gathering in groups with others who share our disease and reaching out our hands, both physically and metaphorically, to others who are similarly afflicted, but areunaware of the existence of the solution we have found. Currently the world is in the grip of another illness which is also progressive and can be fatal to many. In a few short months COVID-19 has spread to 212 countries, afflicting more than 4,000,000 individuals, and killing nearly 300,000 as of this writing. While this corona virus particle is larger than the ethanol molecule, it is still quite small, visible only by the electron microscope. It is unable to “live” on its own but must attach itself to a host cell to reproduce. Unlike alcoholism, it might be possible to acquire this disease from a toilet seat, particularly if the practicing alcoholic were to spend

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Submit Your Stories, Photos, Art and More! The Grapevine, "your meeting in print" is also your meeting on

the Web. Why not share? We're always accepting submissions of art or text, and you need no prior publishing experience. All it takes is a little willingness and a desire to

share. Read the guidelines for submitting, check our editorial calendar for upcoming special topics, and then use

our upload form.

AAGRAPEVINE.ORG

SAN DIEGO CENTRAL OFFICE 24 HOUR PHONE (619) 265-8762 OUR WEB PAGE www.aasandiego.org E-MAIL: [email protected] FAX: (619) 265-2954 OFFICE & BOOKSTORE Mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9 am – 1 pm Central Office Manager: Connie L. Administrative Assistant: Judi T.

The San Diego “AA Coordinator” is a monthly newsletter published by the San Diego Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole, nor does publication of any article imply endorsements by Alcoholics Anonymous or San Diego Central Office, except when Conference approved publications are quoted.

Contributions from A.A. members are welcome and will be printed as space allows and as they are relevant to the upcoming topic(s) (see page 1, bottom left).

Submissions may be emailed to the newsletter chair at [email protected]. They may also be typed or neatly handwritten and mailed to Central Office or delivered in person to the committee before the fourth Thursday of the month at 6PM, Central Office. Submissions must include contact information and a name (your name and last initials only). The editors reserve the right to edit contents for length, clarity, and their relation to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. An effort will be made to contact the author regarding content changes.

Phone Volunteers, 12th Step Calls, meeting

information, group and individual contributions, book and literature sales, Coordinating Council and Intergroup Information can be obtained at the Central Office.

Please contact Central Office at 619-265-8762 for Officer’s phone numbers.

Coordinating Council Officers: Council Chair

Pete [email protected]

Council Assistant

Wayne [email protected]

After Hours Phones

Tom [email protected]

Business Committee

Jerry [email protected]

Program Committee

Neely [email protected]

Public Info James [email protected] Newsletter Mike SD [email protected] Area Officers: Delegate Jerry [email protected] Alternate Delegate

Monty [email protected]

Area Chair Blaine [email protected] Archives John [email protected] H & I Chair Gerry [email protected]

Contributors: Rick R, Blaine H, Mike SD April Theme: Willingness… Collate: Wed. July 15, 2020 5:02 pm, at Central Office All are welcome

Committee Anouncement : The Newsletter Committee has openings for

members to prepare newsletter pages, to write articles, write poems, and to fold and collate the newsletter once a month. We also need submissions from the AA population at large! Ask for participation in your meetings so everyone has a chance to carry the message. If you have something to say, write it down and email it to: [email protected]

Following Coordinating Council Standing Committees need members.

Are you available to serve Alcoholics Anonymous? Availability is about; do I have the suggested sobriety? If there are other suggested qualifications, do I have those qualifications and to the best of my knowledge, do I have no scheduling conflicts to serve in the commitment? If my answers to all of those questions are yes, I should make myself available and let my Higher Power decide if that is the position I should be in.” Also, please talk to the members in your group about serving on the Council. Members at large may be elected to positions. It is not required that you are a Coordinator to serve on a committee.

Poets Wanted Here Your Newsletter Committee invites you to participate in a monthly AA Poem feature.

Please submit your original poems to: [email protected] – 200 words or less.

The Stage of Fear and Insecurity

Shakespeare said the world’s a stage, and we each play our part.

My stage was in a bar room and that's where I got my start.

It was the place where I felt safe to dream of things to be.

“I think I'll be an astronaut,” it all made sense to me. Where fear and insecurity where words you'd never

hear. For they were safely locked away, behind a keg of

beer. But this can only last so long and the Piper we must

pay. The fallacy was ripped away, and I had to face the

day. I had to find a different stage and play a different role, To face my insecurities and fears would be my goal. Instinctive fear is not a fault that I need to replace, for it saves me from recklessness and falling on my

face. Irrational fear is where I falter whenever I'm in

doubt, while doing shameful things that I don't like to talk

about. In later years I changed my role to acting like a clown. My drinking used to mask these things, that weighed

my conscience down. Desperation was the final roll that brought me to my

knees. My conscience told me “Call AA and deal with your

disease”. It's in the program that I learn the habits of right

living. Abandoning all the taking and replacing it with

giving. AA has been the answer and I go there every day,

now acting like I’m a grown-up, knowing God directs the play

By Rick R.

Total Calls 1,363

Central Office Phone Calls and Website Hits

Meeting General 12 Step

Daytime 902 89 48 9am-9pm Nighttime 226 66 32 9pm-9am Website

Hits April Total

106,262 6,967,787

Many A.A. members celebrate their birthday by sending a donation of one or two dollars for each year of sobriety to Central Office. If you would like to carry on this tradition,

please fill out the form below.

HHaappppyy BBiirrtthhddaayy ttoo AAllll!! Arlene J. 5-9-1969 Beth A. 2-7-1985

Chris A. 6-17-1985

In MemoryMike Mc

Friends of Bill W. April 12, 2020

Birthday Gratitude

Name City/Home Group Sobriety Date Amt. Enclosed Please mail to:

San Diego Central Office 7075-B Mission Gorge Rd San Diego, CA 92120-2454

All birthdays submitted will be published the month following submission. Please contact the newsletter chair if a birthday has not been published for two

months following submission.

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Big Book page 86"We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle."

Came to Believe, page 27"In the late stages of our drinking,

the will to resist has fled. Yet when we admit complete defeat and when we

become entirely ready to try A.A. principles, our obsession leaves us and

we enter a new dimension - freedom under God as we understand Him."

Bill W., Letter, 1966Reprinted with permission from

A.A.W.S.

Big Book; There Is a Solution, page 25"There is a solution. Almost none of us like the self-searching, the leveling of

our pride, the confession of shortcomings which the process

requires for its successful consummation. But we saw that it

really worked in others, and we had come to believe in the hopelessness and futility of life as we had been living it. When, therefore, we were approached

by those in whom the problem had been solved, there was nothing left for

us but to pick up the simple kit of spiritual tools at our feet. We have found much of heaven and we have

been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even

dreamed."Reprinted with permission from

A.A.W.S.

Big Book; "He Sold Himself Short", pages 266 - 267"This latest part of my life has had a purpose, not in great

things accomplished but in daily living. Courage to face each day has replaced the fears and uncertainties of earlier years.

Acceptance of things as they are has replaced the old impatient champing at the bit to conquer the world. I have

stopped tilting at windmills and, instead, have tried to accomplish the little daily tasks, unimportant in themselves,

but tasks that are an integral part of living fully.Where derision, contempt, and pity were once shown me, I now enjoy the respect of many people. Where once I had

casual acquaintances, all of whom were fair-weather friends, I now have a host of friends who accept me for what I am. And over my A.A. years I have made many real, honest,

sincere friendships that I shall always cherish."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

A Member's Eye View of A.A., P-41, page 10"I am personally convinced that the basic search of every

human being from the cradle to the grave, is to find at least one other human being before whom he can stand

completely naked, stripped of all pretense or defense, and trust that person not to hurt him, because that other person

has stripped himself naked, too. This lifelong search can begin to end with the first A.A. encounter."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

Big Book; Into Action, pages 83 - 84"If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are

going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will

comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish

things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could

not do for ourselves.Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being

fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them."

Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.Big Book page 132

"But we aren't a glum lot. If newcomers could see no joy or fun in our existence, they wouldn't want it. We

absolutely insist on enjoying life."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

Experience, Strength and Hope, "His Conscience", page 165

"Right from the start of my attending A.A. meetings, I heard various speakers give all

credit to a Power greater than themselves. One morning as I was walking to work, from

seemingly nowhere at all, there came a thought that there was a possibility that I might never

drink again. I have had no desire to drink since that time. It was certainly nothing that I myself

could have done that brought this newfound peace. There was only one answer. This Power greater than myself had, as to so many others,

restored me to sanity."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

A Member's Eye View of A.A., P-41, page 13"There is yet a fourth factor in A.A. which I feel

can be found nowhere else, and that is the recovered alcoholic's omnipresent, bottomless,

enthusiastic willingness to talk about alcoholism -its ins and its outs, its whys and its wherefores, its

becauses and begats. Without the newcomer's ever becoming fully aware of it, his fascination with alcohol, his thirst, his desire, yea, even his need for a drink is literally talked to death. It has

always seemed exquisitely fitting to me that people who once used their mouths to get sick

now use them to get well."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

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Alcoholics Anonymous of San Diego County Central Incorporated as San Diego Intergroup, Inc

7075 Mission Gorge Road, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92120

March 31, 2020

Dear San Diego Fellowship,

As a regular member of two local groups I, like most of you, have seen the traditional structure of face to face Alcoholics Anonymous meetings transition to online and video conferencing formats. In what seems like an unfathomably short period of time groups and group members are inventing new methods of doing what we’ve always done, solve our common problems and help each other recover from alcoholism.

The San Diego Central Office is adapting during this transitional period by posting and updating lists of local meetings that now meet by teleconferencing or telephone communications and important anonymity guidelines for those meetings. Please send meeting information to [email protected].

Although the bookstore is closed 7th Tradition contributions can continue to be made by check or by bill pay service through your bank or credit union. Contributions can be mailed to 7075‐B Mission Gorge Rd, San Diego, 92120. Your 7th Tradition contributions are used to support the activities of the San Diego Central Office including phone services for 12th Step calls and coordination of group activities. In order to acknowledge the contribution and send a receipt please include an email address with your contribution.

Best regards,

Tom M.

SD Intergroup Business Committee Treasurer

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Share Your Experience Greetings from your San Diego Central Office. During these difficult times we are still working hard to serve the Fellowship.

Our telephone continues to be answered 24/7. Newcomers continue to call, along with members whom need to just talk.

We continue to maintain our aasandiego.org website – which we rely on more than ever.

Please submit your email address to be included on our email list. It is a current form of communication, along with receiving our Coordinator Newsletter. We also respond to several emails daily.

The Book Store is still closed as we devise a plan of safety for staff and members.

We are interested in what is going on with your meetings. We are hopeful to share your experiences with other members and meetings. Please take a moment to answer a brief questionnaire and give us your comments. E-mail them back to [email protected] so we may know your group's experience during this unprecedented pandemic.

1. Is your group still meeting? 2. Are you doing Zoom or other electronic meetings? 3. Success with Zoom meetings; How is it working for you? 4. Is the Central Office Zoom http://aasandiego.org/zoomhelp.html helpful? 5. How have you worked with Newcomers and electronics? 6. "Zoom Bombers". How have you handled them? 7. Does your Zoom or Telephone Meeting have a method of providing “proof

of attendance”? 8. How are you doing 7th tradition?

Please give us your comments on other successes or issues. We would like to share them with other groups. We are all in this together. Peace be with you during this time. Thank you. Sincerely,

Connie L., Manager

San Diego Central Office

San Diego Intergroup, Inc.Alcoholics Anonymous of San Diego

Schedule to Statement of Revenue and ExpenseAs of April 30, 2020

April 20 April 19 YTD '20 YTD '19 $ Change Budget '20Ordinary Revenue/Expense

RevenueContributions Group 4,018.13 8,018.32 31,792.51 37,440.36 (5,647.85) 122,440.00 Contributions Individual 3,066.00 157.76 4,832.66 1,429.76 3,402.90 6,857.00 Contributions SDIAA - - 1,100.00 1,040.00 60.00 1,040.00 Interest - Cert of Deposits 192.73 4.58 810.13 15.58 794.55 2,700.00

Literature Revenue (see schedule) 0.39 1,065.23 2,673.18 3,836.19 (1,163.01) 12,500.00 Total Revenue 7,277.25 9,245.89 41,208.48 43,761.89 (2,553.41) 145,537.00

ExpenseAccounting & Legal - - 1,960.00 1,960.00 - 2,540.00 Auto/Travel/Seminar 19.50 66.50 108.75 148.50 (39.75) 1,500.00 Bank Service Charges - 2.00 84.24 8.00 76.24 50.00 Cash (Over) Short 64.86 5.40 160.21 (4.08) 164.29 (50.00) Checks Returned - Bad Debt - - - - - - Equipment Maint & Repair 51.36 191.41 205.44 345.49 (140.05) 750.00 Equipment Purchase - 205.00 - 467.77 (467.77) 500.00 Insurance 57.06 57.06 228.24 228.24 - 900.00 Office Maint. & Repairs - - 40.00 126.44 (86.44) 500.00 Office Supplies 36.70 211.05 573.95 930.27 (356.32) 2,400.00 Rent 1,900.00 1,948.00 7,600.00 7,792.00 (192.00) 23,120.00 Taxes - - 20.00 - 20.00 80.00 Telephone - 142.37 494.87 683.66 (188.79) 1,731.00 Utilities-Electricity 211.96 293.60 1,429.89 1,325.07 104.82 3,800.00 Website 20.85 20.85 55.65 41.70 13.95 200.00 EMPLOYEES - - Accrued Payroll Taxes 610.48 544.04 2,625.22 2,561.86 63.36 6,900.00 Employee Wages 7,132.20 6,214.20 27,132.30 24,862.30 2,270.00 79,999.00 Employee 403B Contribution 159.00 366.00 1,124.00 1,121.00 3.00 2,372.00 Employee Health Benefit 800.37 746.98 3,201.48 2,987.92 213.56 9,600.00 Insurance-Worker's Comp 43.25 43.25 173.00 173.00 - 500.00

Total Office Expense 11,107.59 11,057.71 47,217.24 45,759.14 1,458.10 137,392.00

Standing Committees Expense 89.99 574.35 1,911.82 2,659.55 (747.73) 8,145.00 (see schedule)

Total Expense 11,197.58 11,632.06 49,129.06 48,418.69 710.37 145,537.00

Net Revenue (3,920.33) (2,386.17) (7,920.58) (4,656.80) (3,263.78) -

(16000)(14000)(12000)(10000)

(8000)(6000)(4000)(2000)

02000400060008000

10000120001400016000

Janu

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Febr

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Mar

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April

May

June July

Augu

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Sept

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

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months

Revenue & Expense by MonthTotalRevenue

TotalExpenses

NETRevenue

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8 Group Contributions April 2020 9Group Apr-20 Ytd 20 Group Apr-20 Ytd 20

11th Step Journey - 2622 - 75.00 I. B. Steps & Traditions - 3003 - 40.0012 X 12 Happy Hour Step Study - 111 - 25.00 I. B. Up - 2565 - 339.053 O'Clocker - 2201 - 292.98 IB Sober - 3161 15.00 15.004077 Mash Step 11Read-Medita-Share - 180.00 Improving Conscious Contact - 3108 - 60.009 30 Everynighters - 2997 68.75 159.75 Jaywalkers - 3100 - 117.00A Sense Of Belonging Womens - 1205 - 100.74 Jump Start - 2174 - 50.53A Womens Meeting -1717 - 651.00 Kick Start Your Heart - 2430 45.00 95.00AA By The Bay - 629 - 75.00 Knuckleheads - 3182 - 234.00Alpine Group - 6 - 100.00 La Jolla Monday Womens - 87 60.00 409.00B.Y.O.B. (North Park) - 203 117.00 369.00 La Jolla Nonsmokers Disc - 88 60.00 60.00Bay Park Step Study Group - 299 - 60.00 La Jolla Pump House Group - 696 - 200.00Bonita Boozers - 2179 - 50.00 La Jolla Sunrise - 2684 500.00 1,000.00Breakfast Of Champions - 2818 - 125.00 La Jolla Thursday Night - 90 - 75.00Butts Out - 1764 - 40.00 La Mesa Mens - 106 - 150.00BYOB Book Study (Ramona) - 3094 - 23.00 La Mesa Step Study Workshop - 1621 - 112.40Cake & Eat It Too - 50.00 La Mesa Womens Sat. Morning - 416 - 250.00Carrying the Message - 2458 - 50.00 Living Free - 477 550.00 550.00Casa De Oro Tradition Five - 503 - 200.00 Lunchtime Friends - 964 - 131.00Cedar Street Mens - 1698 - 250.06 Lushes Lunch Tuesday - 2641 57.16 128.11Chula Vista 4 Min Speakers - 1568 - 50.00 Mens Focused Step Study - 3217 - 277.00Chula Vista Friday Night - 837 - 50.00 Mens Step Study - 965 - 75.00Clairemont Mens - 301 - 132.00 Mid-Week Mens - 560 - 400.00Clairemont Mixed Discussion - 338 - 215.00 Midnight Howlers - 1025 - 50.00Clairemont Womens Discussion - 340 50.00 50.00 Mira Mesa Friday Night AA Discussion - 60.00Clairemont Womens Step Study - 341 - 286.23 Mira Mesa Sunday Morning Mens - 693 - 58.00Class Acts - 1845 - 128.33 Mission Hills Lunch Bunch - 2675 - 600.00Coffee Clutchers - 2332 - 500.00 Mission Possible - 131 - 54.00D.D.G.T.M. - 767 - 110.00 Mountain Steps - 2822 - 120.00Dawn Patrol - 263 - 341.94 Newcomers Rise & Shine - 2702 - 198.00Descanso Step Study - 3010 - 116.83 Noon At The Grove - 628 - 100.00Dignity Unlimited - 205 - 117.00 Nooners Anonymous - 1164 - 150.00Downtown Discussion - 1665 - 32.05 North Clairemont - 1102 - 200.00Each Day A New Beginning - 509 75.00 75.00 North Clairemont Sat Nooners - 2572 - 16.00Early Morning Recovery - 2688 - 122.27 North Park Mens - 465 - 113.04Early Risers (PB) - 264 60.00 60.00 Old Town Speakers - 321 - 400.00Eastlake New Beginnings S/S - 2673 - 89.50 On The Corner - 2384 - 120.00Easy Does It Speakers - 114 - 100.00 One Step Ahead - 715 - 140.00El Cajon Nooner - 2638 - 470.01 One Step At A Time At Mission Bay - 1 540.00 540.00El Cajon Womens Serenity - 77 - 150.00 Over The Bridge - 2689 - 234.75Evening In Harmony - 2864 - 25.00 Pass It On Big Book Study Group -2860 321.75 321.75Eye Opener Group - 607 - 559.68 Poinsettia Group - 2210 - 131.25Fairmont Park Discussion - 2832 - 31.00 Point Loma Nooners - 1606 - 130.00First Mira Mesa Mens - 300 - 146.00 Porter Hall Structured S/S - 97 - 90.00Fishermen In Recovery - 2863 - 150.00 Pt Loma Womens Discussion - 1608 - 150.00Fletcher Hills Smokeless - 59 - 50.00 Radical Acceptance Meeting - 2961 - 550.00Friday Happy Hour - 2821 49.11 99.11 Resentment and A Coffee Pot - 2561 - 135.00Friday Morning Step Study - 3216 - 27.50 Riding Sober - 3054 - 175.00Friday Night Gratitude - 2829 - 209.32 Right Turn Group - 1900 - 60.00Friday Sobriety Party - 3078 - 75.00 Rise & Shine - 2170 - 324.00Garnet Group - 1129 - 307.50 Rule 62 - 2947 - 175.00Good Morning AA - 1888 - 410.00 Safe Sane and Sober - 1350 - 605.00Grape Street Sunrise - 1293 - 80.00 Santee Mens Group - 2972 - 112.50Great Fact Group - 895 - 210.00 Sat Mens Early Awakening - 2209 132.50 332.50Grupo Gringo - 1305 - 50.00 Saturday A.M. Live - 782 - 272.89GSDYPAA 147.42 147.42 Scripps Ranch Men's Two - 2776 - 164.00Harmony Group - 585 - 320.00 Serenity @ 5107 - 2976 - 207.00Haul Your Hiney Out Of Bed - 704 - 300.00 Sky Hi Womens - 1633 - 72.00Hi-Nooners - 673 - 30.00 Smokefree La Mesa Womens - 635 - 161.50Hwy 80 AA - 2722 - 120.00 Sober Nooners - 196 - 172.00

8 8 Group Contributions April 2020 9Group Apr-20 Ytd 20 Group Apr-20 Ytd 20


8 Group Contributions April 2020 9Group Apr-20 Ytd 20

Sober Roses Womens Step Study - 2946 - 20.00Sons of God - 2789 - 200.00Sorrento Valley Nooner - 544 - 1,354.53South Bay Mixed Discussion - 36 - 86.80South Park Sobriety - 1015 - 60.00Spiritual Awakening - 2275 67.05 1,598.87Spiritual Awakenings Step Study -3174 - 50.00Steps To Recovery Group - 1169 - 80.00Strength In Women - 2955 - 50.00Sunday Kind of Love - 429 - 374.00Sunday Midday - 161 - 120.00T.G.I.F. - 1658 - 87.50The 1st 164 - 2760 - 52.47The Common Solution - 3007 42.00 73.39The Gift - 2954 - 300.00The Hole In The Donut - 2737 - 552.93The Language of the Heart - 3066 45.15 93.15The Other Meeting - 857 - 137.50The Promises - 3058 - 25.00Tierrasanta Morning Serenity - 2811 - 68.00Torrey Pines Thurs Nite Disc - 365 - 20.00Tues Night Mens - 2123 - 40.00Tues Night Mens Step Study - 1813 - 250.00Tuesday Morning Alpine - 440 - 80.00Tuesday Morning Group - 3089 - 100.00Two A's Over Easy - 2106 - 100.00Two Bit Speakers - 201 - 90.00University City Disc.- 368 - 57.00University City Womens - 369 98.00 98.00War Fever - 880 - 17.05Water Walkers Too - 1946 - 300.00We Agnostics - 2096 - 150.00Wednesdays Winners Circle - 496 - 210.00Weds Rule 62 Lunch Group - 687 - 150.00Welcome Home - 2318 - 100.00White Flag Outdoors - 2788 - 69.76Wholesale Miracle - 2474 - 16.00Womans Gut Level - 1701 - 80.00Women's Joy Of Living - 2636 150.00 390.17Women In Sobriety - 697 - 20.00Womens Step Study - 296 - 172.00Womens Steps & Traditions Study - 392.00Womens TLC - 2814 - 153.42

Faithful Fivers is an expression of our 7th Tradition which is "Every A.A. Group ought to be

fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."

Some members have chosen to participate by contributing $5 per month to Central Office as an individual contribution in its efforts to carry the

A.A. message of hope and recovery to alcoholics

who still suffer in the San Diego area. Thank you for your

individual contributions.

Contributions are limited to $5,000.00 per member, per year *AA Self Support Pamphlet, pg 9 and are

tax deductible as we are a 501C3. For further information contact Connie L.

at Central Office at 619.265.8762

"Suggested methods of financing a central office: A.A. members may make individual contributions,

on a pledge or voluntary basis, directly to the service office."

Reprinted from A.A. Guidelines - Central or Intergroup Offices from General Service Office,

Thank you for supporting your San Diego Intergroup Central Office in

carrying the message to the suffering alcoholic.As of April 30, our current net revenue loss is -7,921

Thank you to the members that sent Individual Contributions to support your San Diego Intergroup Central Office in carrying the

message to the suffering alcoholic. If you wish to credit your group, please note in memo.

Thank you to all of the AA members for their individual contributions.

Some choose to contribute $1 or $2 on their sobriety birthdays for each

sober year or sending your 7th tradition directly to Central Office.

FREE Digital Access to 2020 Grapevine Magazines during this time.

9 8 Group Contributions April 2020 9Group Apr-20 Ytd 20 Group Apr-20 Ytd 20


10 CENTRAL OFFICE NOTES

2020 Holidays – Central Office Bookstore closed HOLIDAY DAY OF WEEK DATE

Memorial Day Monday May 25 Independence Day Saturday July 4

Labor Day Monday September 7 Veterans Day Monday November 9 Thanksgiving Thursday November 28

Christmas Wednesday December 25

Central Office is very grateful for our phone volunteers and their desire to be of service by

answering OUR phones 24/7 by Call-Forwarding during this time.

The 27th of each month is an OPEN night for Group Commitment.

Contact Connie or Judi at Central Office 619-265-8762.

Group Contributions 4,018.00Individual Contributions 3,066.00SDIAA Contributions 0.00Literature & Interest 193.00

Total Revenue 7,277.00Central Office Expenses -11,108.00Committee Expenses -90.00

Total Expenses -11,198.00April 2020 Net Revenue -3,920.002013 Net Revenue -7,921.002020 YTD Revenue -7,921.00

April 2020 Financial Summary

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ALLERGY FELLOWSHIP PASSWORDSAWAKENING FOUNDER PHRASESBODY GREAT SCENESCOMPELS HALLUCINATING SCIENCECONDEMNS HOPELESSNESS SILKWORTHDOCTOR HOSPITAL SOILDRUNKS ILLNESS SPIRITUALEARLY MIND TOOLSEGO NATURE TOWNSEXPERIENCE OBSESSION WORDS

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes Of Age

A.A. Comes of Age "When A.A. Came of Age", page 13"As we looked back over those early scenes in New York, we saw often in the midst of them the benign little doctor who loved

drunks, William Duncan Silkworth, then Physician-in-Chief of the Charles B. Towns Hospital in New York, a man who was very much a founder of A.A. From him we learned the nature of our illness. He supplied us with the tools with which to puncture the toughest alcoholic ego, those shattering phrases by which he described our illness: the obsession of the mind that compels us to

drink and the allergy of the body that condemns us to go mad or die. These were indispensable passwords. Dr. Silkworth taught us how to till the black soil of hopelessness out of which every single spiritual awakening in our fellowship has since flowered. In

December, 1934, this man of science had humbly sat by my bed following my own sudden and overwhelming spiritual experience, reassuring me, 'No, Bill,' he had said, 'you are not hallucinating. Whatever you have got, you had better hang on to; it is so much

better than what you had only an hour ago.' These were great words for the A.A. to come. Who else could have said them?."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

11

A.A. HISTORY FOR MAY May 1 1939 - Lois and Bill W. left their home at 182 Clinton St., Brooklyn. 1940 - Rollie H., Cleveland Indians, anonymity break occurred. 1941 - First Wisconsin AA meeting was held in hotel in Milwaukee. May 2 1941 - Jacksonville, FL newspaper reported the start of an AA group in Jacksonville. 1943 - New Orleans Times reported founding of the first Louisiana AA group with a dozen members. May 3 1941 - First AA group formed in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1941 - Democrat Chronicle in Rochester, NY, reported first annual AA dinner at Seneca hotel with 60 attending. May 4 1940 - Sunday Star reported founding of first AA group in Washington, DC. May 6

1939 - Clarence S. of Cleveland told Dr. Bob, his sponsor, he would not be back to Oxford Group meetings in Akron and would start an "AA" meeting in Cleveland.

May 7 1956 - The first English AA Convention was held in Cheltenham, England. May 8 1943 - Akron AA Group celebrates 8th anniversary with 500 present and sober. 1971 - Bill W. was buried in private ceremony, in East Dorset, Vermont. Dr. Jack Norris gave the eulogy. May 10 1939 - Clarence S. announced to the Akron Oxford Group members that the Cleveland members were starting a meeting in Cleveland and calling it Alcoholics Anonymous. 1946 - Searcy W. had his last drink. (Searcy passed away September 30, 2003 with 57 years continuous sobriety.) May 11

1935 - Bill W. called Walter Tunks from the Mayflower Hotel, and was referred to Henrietta Seiberling who set up a meeting with Dr. Bob.

1939 - First meeting of the Cleveland Group. May 12 1935 - Mother's Day, Bill and Dr. Bob met for the first time, at the home of Henrietta Seiberling. May 15 1961 - Bill W.'s mother, Dr. Emily Strobell, died. May 16 1941 - Ruth Hock learned that the man credited with coming up with the name "Alcoholics Anonymous" has a "wet" brain. May 17 1942 - Dayton Journal Herald published pictures of AA members wearing masks to protect their anonymity. May 18 1939 - The first group to call itself A. A. is meets in Cleveland, OH. 1950 - Dr. Bob told Bill W. "I reckon we ought to be buried like other folks." He wanted no memorial. May 19 2000 - Dr. Paul O. died at the age of 83. He was author of "Acceptance Was the Answer" in the 4th edition of the Big Book. This story was titled "Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict" in the 3rd edition. May 29 1980 - "Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers" was published. May 31 1938 - Bill W. and other A.A.s began writing the Big Book.

A.A. HISTORY FOR MAY May 1 1939 - Lois and Bill W. left their home at 182 Clinton St., Brooklyn. 1940 - Rollie H., Cleveland Indians, anonymity break occurred. 1941 - First Wisconsin AA meeting was held in hotel in Milwaukee. May 2 1941 - Jacksonville, FL newspaper reported the start of an AA group in Jacksonville. 1943 - New Orleans Times reported founding of the first Louisiana AA group with a dozen members. May 3 1941 - First AA group formed in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1941 - Democrat Chronicle in Rochester, NY, reported first annual AA dinner at Seneca hotel with 60 attending. May 4 1940 - Sunday Star reported founding of first AA group in Washington, DC. May 6

1939 - Clarence S. of Cleveland told Dr. Bob, his sponsor, he would not be back to Oxford Group meetings in Akron and would start an "AA" meeting in Cleveland.

May 7 1956 - The first English AA Convention was held in Cheltenham, England. May 8 1943 - Akron AA Group celebrates 8th anniversary with 500 present and sober. 1971 - Bill W. was buried in private ceremony, in East Dorset, Vermont. Dr. Jack Norris gave the eulogy. May 10 1939 - Clarence S. announced to the Akron Oxford Group members that the Cleveland members were starting a meeting in Cleveland and calling it Alcoholics Anonymous. 1946 - Searcy W. had his last drink. (Searcy passed away September 30, 2003 with 57 years continuous sobriety.) May 11

1935 - Bill W. called Walter Tunks from the Mayflower Hotel, and was referred to Henrietta Seiberling who set up a meeting with Dr. Bob.

1939 - First meeting of the Cleveland Group. May 12 1935 - Mother's Day, Bill and Dr. Bob met for the first time, at the home of Henrietta Seiberling. May 15 1961 - Bill W.'s mother, Dr. Emily Strobell, died. May 16 1941 - Ruth Hock learned that the man credited with coming up with the name "Alcoholics Anonymous" has a "wet" brain. May 17 1942 - Dayton Journal Herald published pictures of AA members wearing masks to protect their anonymity. May 18 1939 - The first group to call itself A. A. is meets in Cleveland, OH. 1950 - Dr. Bob told Bill W. "I reckon we ought to be buried like other folks." He wanted no memorial. May 19 2000 - Dr. Paul O. died at the age of 83. He was author of "Acceptance Was the Answer" in the 4th edition of the Big Book. This story was titled "Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict" in the 3rd edition. May 29 1980 - "Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers" was published. May 31 1938 - Bill W. and other A.A.s began writing the Big Book.

13

Big Book page 60"We are not saints. The point is that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are

guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection."

Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

Big Book; "Acceptance Was The Answer", page 417

"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person,

place, thing, or situation - some fact of my life -unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake."


Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Twelve, page 124"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message

to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.""Service, gladly rendered, obligations squarely met, troubles well accepted or solved with

God's help, the knowledge that at home or in the world outside we are partners in a common effort, the well-understood fact that in God's sight all human beings are important, the proof

that love freely given surely brings a full return, the certainty that we are no longer isolated and alone in self-constructed prisons, the surety that we need no longer be square pegs in round

holes but can fit in God's scheme of things - these are the permanent and legitimate satisfactions of right living for which no amount of pomp and circumstance, no heap of

material possessions, could possibly be substitutes. True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of

God."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

Big Book; "Because I'm an Alcoholic", page 346"Alcoholics Anonymous, I was told, is a spiritual

program, not a religious one. Through my years of darkness, some spark of spirit remained in me, helped

me survive until I found my way into A.A. Then, nurtured by the program, that inner spirit grew,

deepened, until it filled the emptiness I had so long felt inside. Step by step I moved to a spiritual awaking.

Step by step I cleared up the past and got on with the present."


Big Book; "My Chance to Live", page 316"I don't believe I was smarter than anyone else, as I'm often told by those who came in at a later age. It was

my time, my chance to live, and I took it."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

Big Book; "It Might Have Been Worse", page 358"When I joined A.A., I did so for the sole purpose of getting

sober and staying sober. I didn't realize I would find so much more, but a new and different outlook on life started opening up almost immediately. Each day seems to be so much more productive and satisfying. I get so much more enjoyment out of living. I find an inner pleasure in simple

things. Living just for today is a pleasant adventure."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

The "God" Word, P-86, page 13

"My higher power is very much the love and wisdomI find in the rooms of A.A., and the beautiful things I

see while walking in nature. I have no problem in using the word "God"

with or without a capital G. My role now in A.A. is to

carry the A.A. message to the still-suffering alcoholic,

and that includes my journey in finding a God

that works for me."Reprinted with permission

from A.A.W.S.

Big Book page 25"There is a solution."


Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Eleven, page 104

"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.""In A.A. we have found that the actual good results of prayer are beyond

question. They are matters of knowledge and experience. All those who have persisted have found strength not ordinarily their own. They have found wisdom beyond their usual capacity. And they have increasingly found a

peace of mind which can stand firm in the face of difficult circumstances."Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.

13

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spend time, as we say, “worshiping the porcelain fixture”. Like alcoholism, medical science has yet to find a cure for this illness, and alas, there does not appear to be a spiritual solution…yet. How do we avoid falling victim to COVID-19? We must do exactly the opposite as what we are taught regarding alcoholism! We cannot gather in groups and certainly not reach out and take the hand of a newcomer, as we must maintain a six-foot separation from them. We cannot even offer a friendly smile as we must always remain masked. It appears that we are powerless over the virus. Our only hope is to recoil from it as we would from a hot flame! It is most probable however that those of us who follow the few simple suggestions offered to us by our COVID sponsors (the medical experts) will survive the current danger and be able to continue to practice the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous in all our affairs. A little patience and tolerance can go a long way. Down with COVID! Long live A.A.! Thank God for Zoom! Blaine H. Shoemaker, Stick to Thy Last I remember how it was when I was a child in the 1940s when there was

only one doctor in the community where I lived. I was one of ten children in my family and we had to deal with all the different physical ailments that kids went through in those days. We were poor and did not have the luxury to take our pick of doctors. Today I could liken it to what you see in many of the third world countries. Since then, as medical research has evolved, many of problems of that time have been eliminated and the medical profession is made up of an abundance of specialist that focus on specific fields that they have experience in and as a result become experts in that field. Not being distracted by the need to know the specifics of all of the other specialists, they continue to dig deeper into the field that they are familiar with and new ideas about how to identify and cure those specific ailments. If a person in AA attends a weekly step study meeting that also studies the 12 traditions they would know; by the stories in the book, the pains and struggles that those first hundred members, that put the twelve step program together, suffered through. The 12 traditions came later when they realized that mixing outside issues with the AA program would probably end in disaster as it happens to the Oxford Group and The Washingtonians. The

Continued page 15

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first printing of the 12X12 was in 1953 and those traditions were pounded out on anvils of steel and they have been the protective coating that has insolated Alcoholics Anonymous from getting affiliated with outside organizations.

Tradition Five “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic that still suffers.” I have known many members of AA who have worked outside of AA itself in rehabilitation centers and such, and there is no conflict of interest as long as that person does not imply that he/she represents Alcoholics Anonymous. Some of those members are pillars of AA at their own group level but maintain a healthy separation when it comes to non-affiliation.

We learn in AA that we must give it away to keep it. If carrying the message was not the primary purpose of the group how could AA sustain itself as far as new membership was concerned? My experience in the program has been one of appreciation for the wisdom of the founders who understood that carrying the message benefit’s both the giver and the receiver. In the words of Shakespeare: The quality of mercy is not strained, it dropped as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: It is twice blest; it blessed him that gives and him that takes.

I find that the AA program is the most successful approach to the disease of alcoholism. I hope we never stray from this tradition and that spirit of carrying the message to those who still suffer. I owe my life to it.

By Rick R.

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We grow by our willingness to face and rectify errors and convert them into assets.

- Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 124

For a brief moment, I had needed and wanted God. There had been a humble willingness to have Him with me – and He came. But soon the sense of His presence had been blotted out by worldly clamors, mostly those within myself.

- Alcoholics Anonymous pg. 12, 13

Men who were highly involved in AA in the first year – they made more friends who were members, attended more meetings, and talked more often with a sponsor - had less serious alcohol problems in the second year. The fact that AA involvement apparently came before rather than after improvement suggests a genuine influence.

- How AA works, Harvard Mental Health Letter. July 2007

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