2017 edition the happy, joyous, & free press · recalling years ago, waking up in port...

Hudson | Mohawk | Berkshire Area 48 www.aahmbny.org August 2017 Edition

2017 EDITION

The Happy, Joyous, & Free PressThe Area 48 Newsletter, published since 1974, is to foster unity and provide communications among AA members, groups, districts & the GSO.

A Letter From Bill..............p. 6Proposals...............................p. 7Treasurer's Report............p. 9September Assembly.........p. 10HMB Convention Flyer.......p. 11

Tradition Eight Checklist:

1. Is my own behavior accuratelydescribed by the Traditions? If not,what needs changing?

2. When I chafe about any particularTradition, do I realize how it affectsothers?

3. Do I sometimes try to get somereward—even if not money—for mypersonal AA efforts?

4. Do I try to sound in AA like anexpert on alcoholism? On recovery?On medicine? On sociology? On AAitself? On psychology? On spiritualmatters? Or, heaven help me, evenon humility?

5. Do I make an effort to understandwhat AA employees do? Whatworkers in other alcoholism agenciesdo? Can I distinguish clearly amongthem?

6. In my own AA life, have I anyexperiences which illustrate thewisdom of this Tradition?

7. Have I paid enough attention tothe book Twelve Steps and TwelveTraditions? To the pamphlet AATradition—How It Developed?

Concept Eight Checklist:

• Do we understand the relationshipbetween the two corporate serviceentities (A.A. World Services, Inc.,the A.A. Grapevine) and the GeneralService Board?

• How can the business term“custodial oversight” apply to thetrustees’ relationship to the twocorporate service entities?

• Does my home group subscribe toG.S.O.’s bimonthly newsletter Box4-5-9? The A.A.Grapevine? Do I?

Reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

A A Pr i nci ples of t he Mont h

Step 8: - Made a list of all persons we had harmed, andbecame willing to make amends to them all.”

Tradition 8 (long form): Alcoholics Anonymous shouldremain forever non-professional. We defineprofessionalism as the occupation of counseling alcoholicsfor fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where theyare going to perform those services for which we mayotherwise have to engage nonalcoholics. Such specialservices may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A."12th Step" work is never to be paid for.

Concept 8: The trustees are the principal planners andadministrators of overall policy and finance. They havecustodial oversight of the separately incorporated andconstantly active services, exercising this through theirability to elect all the directors of these entities.

In This Issue:Calendar of Events.............p. 2Grapevine Report................p. 2Archives Report..................p. 3Convention Committee.......p. 5

Basis of All HumilityFor just so long as we were convinced that we could liveexclusively by our own individual strength andintelligence, for just that long was a working faith in aHigher Power impossible.

This was true even when we believed that God existed. Wecould actually have earnest religious beliefs whichremained barren because we were still trying to play Godourselves. As long as we placed self-reliance first, agenuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of thequestion.

That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek anddo God's will, was missing.

http://www.aahmbny.org


Calendar of EventsDATE EVENT HOST

September 9 HMB Election Assembly Eastern Cluster-District 2(1, 18)

October 14-16 HMB Area Assembly Oneonta, NY

November 3-5 HMB Convention Fishkill, NY

November 11 Fellowship Day Western Cluster-District 12 (9)

To view all upcoming HMB Area 48 Event FLYERS and District event flyers, as wellas directions and maps, please view the Area website: www.aahmbny.org.

The GrapevineHi everyone! The Grapevine sure isn't taking any time off for the summer! I continue to pass the

word about The Grapevine … bringing booksand magazines to meetings, etc. Do you knowabout the latest book that Grapevine haspublished???

Making Amends features 55 candid, firsthandstories from AA Grapevine magazine ofmembers’ experiences with Step Nine of the AAprogram. The book includes chapters on makingamends to parents, children, family members,exes, financial institutions, friends andcoworkers. These powerful stories illustrate howpracticing Step Nine can help us, as AA’s co-founder Bill W. wrote, "know a new freedom anda new happiness."

I will be attending the NYS InformationalWorkshop in Rochester in August. I hope to seesome old friends there, and to make some newones.

"Mere change is not necessarily progress."

AA Co-Founder, Bill W., October 1945

"The Book Is Born," The Language of the Heart

In love and service,Cathy P. Area 48 Grapevine [email protected]

https://aahmbny.org/convention/


mailto:[email protected]




Archive Report for GSO Bus TourGreetings Everyone!; On June 23, 2017, I was onboard for the HMB Area 48 Bus Tourto our General Service Office, known as G.S.O. The trip was once again organized by

our beloved Joan R. Past Delegate Panel 58,and it had been 3 years since the last Trip sheled. In 1992, G.S.O. moved to 475 RiversideDrive, (The Interfaith Center) in the Upper WestSide of Manhattan. Major renovations havebeen recently completed, and now A.A. WorldServices and Grapevine, Inc. are both on the11th floor. We departed Albany at 7am, andpicked up more AA’s at Catskill, which broughtthe total to 35. We arrived in time to sign in, geta Welcome Kit, then proceed to the SullivanLounge, where the 11am AA Meeting is held.We were introduced to two AA’s who are part ofthe Staff. They each gave us a brief descriptionof the mission of GSO, and all the work done bythe Staff. Then, someone from the audiencewas picked to Chair the meeting, and it was ourHMB Area 48 Grapevine Chair, Cathy P. (GOYAGroup, D17) who got “volunteered”. Shecertainly rose to the occasion and shared herexperience, strength and hope with us all. It was

a special moment for her,recalling years ago, wakingup in Port Authority after a3-day binge, and a “sharp-dressed man” stopped tohelp get her to a meeting.And here she is, standingbefore us, again close byPort Authority, only now as ahumble, trusted servant, andbeing a powerful example ofhow much we we canachieve in recovery! Afterher qualifications, membersfrom the audience ( includinga pair of backpackers from



Portland, OR) had the opportunity to come up to the podium, each expressing theirgratitude to the fellowship of A.A. It was truly an exhilarating experience for all! Let mealso mentioned that John O’C. Of New Paltz and District 7’s Archivist, works nearbyand regularly attends this meeting. What a pleasure it was for John and I to meet againand be there together! After lunch, we broke up into groups and toured through theoffices for Literature, Grapevine and La Vina, Public Information, Loners andInternationalists, Cooperation with the Professional Community, Corrections,Treatment Facilities, and International Conventions. Everyone was able to ask lotsquestions concerning how GSO operates on a daily basis, and the Staff gave directanswers and suggestions for AA’s to bring back to their districts and home groups.Finally, we were allowed into the GSO Archives!! Folks were saying to me “Must feellike your in heaven, now” and they were so right! There’s a Self-Guided Tour bookletthat describes the exhibit space and the Library. There are six different themes thatdepict Bill and Lois W., Bills Recovery, Dr. Bob and Anne S., The Founding of AA,Early growth in Ohio, and Friends who helped A.A. Grow, and Library Photos. I gotcompletely immersed in the books available to read in the Library, and had a splendidtime researching on topics that quenched my thirst for knowledge. What I didn’t realizewas everyone was already on the bus, waiting for me! (Gosh, what’s the rush?) Manythanks and sincere appreciation to Joan R. and the Staff at GSO.

Love in Service,Wyatt W.

DISTRICT 4 - 2017 Annual PicnicSaturday, August 12th, 2017 - 10 Am to ???

• Northampton Beach •• Campground Pavilion •

328 Houseman Street, Mayfield, NYFUN FOR ALL!!!!$10.00 a carload

Speaker @ 3:00 PMBring a Dish to Share!!



Greetings from yourHMB 2017 Convention Hospitality Committee!

We are currently putting together a sign-up sheet for districts and groups to help out with the best hospitalityroom EVER!

Thanks to those Districts and Groups already committed to coffee and goodies. To access the sign-up sheet,please email Tara C. at [email protected] and she will send you the doc. Look for a direct emailfrom her with this link as well.

Wondering what in the world is that sign-up sheet all about? I present to you our current Convention Wish Listfor Hospitality:

• Copious amounts of fresh fruit

• Desserts of every delicious variety

• Yogurt, yogurt, yogurt

• Granola/snack bars

• Mini bags o’ snax

• Coolers, ice, soft drinks

• Paper items

• PB& Station Sponsors

• Sandwich Platter Patrons

• Contribution $$$$ for Hospitality

• Greeters-helpers for staffing the Hospitality Room all three days

Hospitality has a limited budget and depends heavily on the generosity of districts and groups beforehand and atthe 7th Tradition Can during the convention. We are taking responsibility to “green our convention and lessenour impact on the environment” this year. One way is to direct a chunk of the budget to purchase souvenircontainers for beverages -- Yes, your very own, HMB Convention double-duty roadie cup for cold and hotdrinks!

And if you have a suggestion, wish, comment or question, time to work the “room” during the convention,please, we appreciate all and will get right back to you.

In love, service, and fun,

Jeannie S. [email protected] C. [email protected] 2017 Hospitality Co-Chairs

For district or group monetarycontributions, please send to:

HMB Convention 201715 Health Way Apt 42Ellenville, NY 12428

Please write Hospitality in memo line





Dear Fellow Trusted Servants:

I hope you are all enjoying your summer! While you are barbecuing, enjoying timeoff from work, travelling, or going to the beach or mountains, I would like to proposethat you give a few minutes to thinking about AA.

Right now. I am preparing for the New York State Informational Workshop which willbe held in Rochester on the first weekend of August. Unlike a lot of AA events, we donot have any kind of banquet with this, no ice-cream socials, no after dinnerentertainment. This is a purely work oriented time when people from all four Areas inNew York get together and discuss how we are carrying the message and what wecould all be doing better. It’s a great time to talk AA and a great time to listen and learnfrom each other.

Following that, we will have our Area Assembly on the 9th of September inDefreestville. This is our election Assembly, when we will be voting for a new AreaChair, Treasurer, Secretary, Records Keeper, and Alternate Chair. Please, please,give some thought to standing for a position. AA needs people who understand theThird Legacy of service. If you want more information about any of these positions – orDistrict or Committee positions – please do not hesitate to ask me.

If you are wondering what the benefits are to being in service I could give you many.Certainly, I have found my own sobriety grow and deepen, but there is no need to takemy word for it. On Page 89 of the Big Book we can read what our Founders thoughtabout it. “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity fromdrinking as intensive work with other alcoholics.” Put the September Assembly on yourcalendars and be willing to stand for a position.

Here is something for your Home Group! If you go to AA.ORG and click on the“What’s New” button, (It’s on the top of the page, immediately to the right of the words“Alcoholics Anonymous”) you will see the new Safety Card! This card, also known asthe “Yellow Card” is, as you could guess, new. It is another part of the AA’s responseto people asking about safety in our rooms. The card is free of charge to groups andreading it could become part of many meetings. Give it a look – it could help.

I hope to see many of you – if not all of you – at the NYSIW and at the SeptemberAssembly. Until then, I hope you have a sane, safe, and sober summer!

In Fellowship and In Service,Bill W.Delegate Panel 66, Area 48 HMB



Proposal #1:Beginning in 2018, change January Inventory Day to January Orientation Day which would afford the

opportunity for members in new service positions to meet with others in like positions and begin

learning what is expected of them and what the duties and responsibilities of their positions are. This

would also provide an opportunity for a GSR/DCM Training workshop for incoming GSRs & DCMs as well

as workshops and training sessions for committee chairs on both Area and District levels.

Change November Fellowship Day to November Inventory Day, giving current committee chairs and

members the opportunity to look back over the past year, recognize strengths and weaknesses and

make recommendations for improvements in the upcoming year.

Submitted in Love & Service,

Tammie E

HMB Area Treasurer

Proposal #2:Change the current location of The Joy of Service Day to a rotating venue, hosted by a different cluster

each year, allowing all clusters the opportunity to spread the message of the “joys of service outside the

home group” to their district members. The rotation can run in conjunction with the HMB Convention

rotation – the Convention host cluster in the fall will be the Joy of Service host the following June. In

2018 the Joy of Service Day would be hosted by the Hudson Valley Cluster, in 2019 by the Western

Cluster, and the rotation would continue in the same manner as the HMB Convention rotation.

Submitted in Love & Service,

Tammie E

HMB Area Treasurer



Prepared by Tammie E. - [email protected]




[email protected]




http://aahmbny.org/convention


Ramada Fishkill

Registration Website Link



https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada/fishkill-new-york/ramada-fishkill/overview?CID=LC:RA::GGL:RIO:National:45371

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hmb-area-convention-2017-tickets-31174980205


HM

B Area Association (8/2016)Ship and C

opy118 Polar Plaza, #114

Amsterdam

, NY 12010

2017 edition the happy, joyous, & free press · recalling years ago, waking up in port...

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