CONTACT

Pinellas County Intergroup 8340 Ulmerton Road Suite 220 Largo, FL 33771

727.530.0415 PH centraloffice@aapinellas.org

Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm

aapinellas.org

Bulletin 2

Unity Report 3

Events 4

District 1 5

Anniversaries 6

From our readers 7

Contributions 8

Inside this issue:

Plain & Straight Editor: Jen B. Email: plainandstraight@aapinellas.org

A General Service Assembly is a business meeting for the

Area.

The Area consists of 20 districts: this includes South Florida,

Bahamas, U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Antigua,

St. Maarten & Cayman Islands.

The districts elect representatives that attend the General

Service Assembly. All are welcome to attend!

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BY THE BOOK - WCA Salvation Army Corp Church 3800 9th Ave North St Petersburg, Fl 33713 CBBSt 7:30 pm & OLS 7:30 PM MON TUESDAY NIGHT STEP Allendale Methodist Church 3803 Haines Road N. St. Petersburg, FL 33703 OSt 8:00 PM TUE AA BY THE SEA - WCA Chapel by the Sea 54 Bay Esplanade Clearwater Beach, FL 33767-1607 ODW 6:00 PM WED Group Number: 00063-81-13

A NEW START - WCA Ozona Community Church 610 Pennsylvania Ave Palm Harbor, 12PM NOON , 2nd & 4th WED 1st STEP MEETING OPEN DOOR St. Jerome's Catholic Church 10895 Hamlin Blvd. Largo, OD Outside Smokers

8:00 pm TUE HOPEFUL GROUP DeGeorge Plaza 12678 Starkey Road Largo, FL 33773-1423 OS 7:30 FRI – Time Change Only

NEW

MEETINGS

June 5, 1940 – Ebby T. took a job at the NY Worlds Fair. June 8, 1941 – Three AA’s started a group in Kalamazoo, Michigan. June 10, 1935 – The date that is celebrated as Dr. Bob’s last drink and the official founding date of AA. There is some evidence that the founders, in trying to reconstruct the history, got the date wrong and it was actually June 17. June 21, 1944 – The first Issue of the AA Grapevine was published. June 25, 1939 – The New York Times reviewer wrote that the Big Book is “more soundly based psycho-logically than any other treatment I have ever come upon.” June 26, 1935 – Bill D. (AA #3) entered Akron’s City Hospital for his last detox and his first day of sobriety. June 28, 1935 – Dr. Bob and Bill W. visited Bill Dotson at Akron’s City Hospital. June 30, 1941 – Ruth Hock showed Bill W. the Serenity Prayer and it was adopted readily by AA. 2000 – More than 47,000 from 87 countries attended the opening meeting of the 65th AA Anniversary in Minneapolis, MN.

JUNE

CHANGED MEETINGS

Need a flyer for your Event or Committee? I can help!

Contact Jen B. - editor of the Plain and Straight: plainandstraight@aapinellas.org

I also welcome personal AA stories or anecdotes. Thank you!

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6/23/18 After Work Bunch

6/30/18 At The End of the Rainbow

7/07/18 Countryside Group

7/14/18 Together We Can

7/21/18 Attitude Adjustment

7/28/18 St. Pete Beach YPG

5/5/18 Never Too Late Group Dunedin Warehouse Club @ 2024 Main St; 9:45p Sunday thru Friday & 8pm Saturdays

Caesar "SD 1/21/85. Get a sponsor & make sure they're honest; I'm not gonna be a Hospice sponsor & watch you die!"

Bob "SD 4/20/15. The biggest thing: The Fellowship-Without the men & women in these rooms I wouldn't be here; The 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, & 12 Concepts; I try to live my life w/ The 12 Principles."

5/12/18 "Our Place" Saturday Night Bonfire NW St. Pete 8pm @ Friendship Baptist Church @4001 74th St N. (Behind the Church)

Jeff "SD 10/19/13. I liked the bonfire meetings, cuz they can't see you & I felt the most comfortable every Saturday night. I got a sponsor & call everyday & work on character defects I learned not to always have the last word."

Brad "SD 5/8/14. He said, "You don't fix the outside 1st; If I work on fixing the in-side, everything else will come together" & the I got my wife back like the person in the mirror."

5/19/18 Attitude Adjustment Clearwater @ 7am @ 1812 Highland Ave, Near Sunset

Pointe @ Grace Community Church

Ruth “The grateful drunk because I re-lapsed after all those years & I have to re-mind myself & you bring your problems with you & I celebrate 20 years this year & starting to participate in other things be-sides AA."

Jo "SD 4/23/01. Starting the meeting @ 7am sets the day & I have acceptance that I'm not always going to get my way & to-day I don't wanna be numb & dumb & don't stagnate in the past."

5/26/18 What's Your Motive NW St. Pete @ 8pm Thursdays @ Palm Lake Christian Church @ 5401 22nd Ave N

Shae "SD 6/2/14. No matter where I went there I was & when consequences went away, my sobriety went away & I spent 5 months in a 3 month program & there are permanent shifts in my life if I do 1, 2 & 3. Now I'm an overnight vampire for the treatment center that saved my life."

Duncan "SD 5/5/11. "You kept giving me assignments to keep me busy & now I understand this is an inside job & I do not let my childhood control my adulthood."

-Your Grateful Plain & Straight Reporter, Karen

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Go to www.area15aa.org for more info / registration

Go to www.tampabayfallroundup.com for more info / registration

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SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETINGS - NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME!

ACCESSIBLITIES 3RD THURSDAY 6PM 7/19/18 Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220, Largo

ARCHIVES 3RD SATURDAY 130PM 7/21/18 Alano Club - Dolphin Village 4615 Gulf Blvd #112, SPB

CORRECTIONS 2ND MONDAY 630PM 7/9/18 Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

DISTRICT 1 BUSINESS MTG

3RD TUESDAY 630PM 7/17/18

CHURCH OF GOOD SHEPHERD 10891 102nd Ave North, Seminole

GRAPEVINE 3RD WEDNESDAY 630PM 7/18/18 Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

LITERATURE COMMITTEE 1ST WEDNESDAY 630PM ? Panera Bread 10801 Starkey Road, Largo

PI/CPC LAST MONDAY 6PM 7/30/18 Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

TREATMENT LAST SATURDAY 10AM 7/28/18 DeGeorge Plaza 12678 Starkey Rd., Largo

WEBSITE 3RD SATURDAY 10AM 7/21/18 Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

For More Information on

these Committees, go to:

District1aapinellas.org

My name is P.S., & my sobriety date is 1-5-07. I got involved as the Grapevine committee chair because I have been a subscriber to the “GV” as long as I can remember. I also have not served in that capacity yet, so I thought it would be fun and exciting! The Grapevine is AA approved literature that’s published monthly, and it’s entirely written by AA members’ submissions. In the past few years the Grapevine also began publishing Audio

submissions. This was exciting because a lot of members prefer speaking over writing. Then I learned EVEN better news: the Audio submissions only have to be 5-7 minutes long! It’s much easier to comprehend a 5-7 minute audio than writing out an entire essay. That not only makes it easy it also makes it short!!! They offer a list of suggested topics (something that’s able to be covered in that brief amount of time). Members of our committee here in Pinellas County chose their topics. Last month we pulled our topics out randomly. We start recording our submis-sions in June! It’s a fun contribution to make with the committee’s support! Oh, and yes there are snacks. A lot of exciting things are happening with the “GV”. Our committee meets the third Wednesday every month- Having this commitment on my calendar keeps me plugged in. It’s fun to get to know other members. AA Grapevine- an AA meeting in print! www.aagrapevine.org

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Submissions must be received by the first Friday of each month to make it into

the next issue. Deadline for June’s issue is : Friday July 6th, 2018 - that is for the

JUNE anniversaries. Thank you - Jessica S. , Anniversary Editor

Step Up to the Plate Anise 1 Erick 9 St. Pete Group Jenny L. 2 Paul B. 2 Dave G. 2 Pat G. 2 Dave R. 2 Rob C. 8 April G. 9 Lisa T. 16 Margie C. 35 Willie 39 Sunrise/Sunset Jennifer O. 1 Lisa 1 Stephen C. 1 Steve 2 Mike 8 Stephen T. 11 Katherine 33 Today in Sobriety Paul 3 Stephanie C. 5 Eddy 39

Missed Anniversaries: March Midday Miracles Cyndy G. 4 Marilyn S. 19 Sophie M. 27 April Midday Miracles Matt M. 3 Chuck B. 37 Step Up to the Plate Jennifer 12 Ray 13 Sunrise/Sunset/It's a Beautiful Day Randall 42

3rd Tradition Carolyn M. 8 2250 Group Adam 1 Peggy 1 Chris S. 1 Jim K. 3 Patty H. 5 Jan M. 5 Megan R. 19 Pat L. 19 Ray R. 25 Diana O. 28 Jim G. 29 John H. 32 49ers Mary H. 8 Laura G. 10 Erica 14 Rachelle 25 Dan V 28 Richard R 32

Abe’s Place Ashley B. 2 Pam S. 4 Diane F. 5 Bob G. 10 Dan P. 13 Chuck C. 26 Pat B. 29 Flo C. 29 Bill C. 33 After Work Bunch Bill S. 1 Dan R. 1 Mary Anne C. 2 Marc P. 9 Pete W. 10 Lenore H. 14 Pete D. 17 Jody S. 17 Eddie 24 Susan C. 26 TJ 31 Joanne L. 33 Jo Ann H. 50 Back Porch Lunch Bunch Ken S. 2 Ken R. 3 Robert W. 4 Lauren N. 5

Blind Pass Group Holly 1 Scott 5 Susan 35 By The Book Matt R. 15 Central Group John D. 1 Tracy O. 2 Andrea B. 7 June 24 Krista K. 30 Countryside Group Elaine H. 4 Lori R. 17 Experience, Strength and Hope Lynn P. 15 Ian S. 16 Free Spirits (8:08) Mike R. 9 Jeffrey C. 10 Cynthia M. 27 GOYA Mike O . 5 Martha B . 9 Lindsay L. 14 Bruce 22 John E. 36 High Noon Daily Tim M. 4 Frank D. 8 Mary W. 32 Blanche J. 43

MAY 2018 ANNIVERSARIES

Highpoint Robert E. 22 Into Action Richard 2 Bob P. 5 J.C. 23 Koala Glenn A. 2 Dave A. 4 Chris L. 32 Lunch Bunch Dunedin Chuck B. 2 Bre 6 Bryan D. 6 Elaine B. 30 Jack Z. 38 JoAnn K. 40 Midday Miracles Ray M. 34 Blanche J. 43 Oldsmar Group Brian M. 4 Peter C. 13 Beverly B. 28 San Martin Loren M. 25 Saturday AM Women’s Big Book Alex 2 Hyla 6 Stephanie 11 Denise 13 Sue 16 Serenity Seekers Dawn 2 Sandra D. 13

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Opinions expressed in Plain & Straight are not those of Alcoholics Anonymous, nor does the publication of any article imply endorsement or affiliation by Pinellas Intergroup or Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. and the A.A Symbol are registered trademarks of Alcoholic Anonymous World Services, Inc.

Welcome to “Archives Collectives”

This column will inform read-ers about the great collections of the Archives Committee. We are an active group of fellows

working to preserve the AA history collec-tions from Pinellas County. We bring some of the items periodically to AA conventions and special events. We also have a dedicated web page: District1archives.org.

Saturday Evening Post story on AA, March 1, 1941

By 1941, the overall AA society had demonstrated greater success in helping alcoholics than any previous methods and had grown to about 2,000 members. But for most of North America, AA was still unknown. A reporter named Jack Alexan-der from The Saturday Evening Post was assigned to investigate and possibly do a story about AA. He had many doubts about doing a story on a society of recov-ered drunks. But, through visiting many groups, interviewing and getting to know the members, he was won over completely. Specifically, when we went to St. Louis, he visited a group with some of his old drink-ing buddies he called “rollicking rumpots”. He thought these guys would never get so-

ber! It gave him the fire to do the story. When Bill W showed him around the vari-ous groups, he got to re-visit many he had not seen recently. As he talked to older members and saw the sobriety, he under-stood his experience had to be shared with as many drunks as possible. The program was working and these hopeless people were staying sober. Bill W. reinforced the Anonymous part of the society. The Post could only take pictures of the rooms and back of heads. The article he wrote was a magnificent piece of journalism! The Post accepted and it a part of the March 1st pub-lication. Inquiries began to flood in to AA, leaving the small staff of what was then a makeshift headquarters overwhelmed. Al-coholics Anonymous tripled in size in the next year and continued to grow exponen-tially

The Archives collection includes an origi-nal magazine of this story. We often bring this historic piece when we display our items at AA events. It is a magnificent piece of history. Pamphlets are available and many stories are on the internet about Jack’s experience writing about AA.

Next story to discuss more collectives!

Leslie B – Archives Committee.

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A New Start 50.00 A Power Greater Than Ourselves Group 64.83

AA By The Sea Group 300.00

Abe's Place 350.00

Ain't Misbehavin' Group 82.00

At The End Of The Rainbow 250.00

Back Porch Lunch Bunch 100.00

Clearwater Group/301 90.00

Countryside Group 98.23

Downtown Unity Group 150.00

Fearless Group 35.00

Free Spirits 55.00

Gulfport Beachniks 75.00

Highpoint Group 50.00

Intergroup Meeting 55.00 Ladies' Beach Serenity Break Group 35.00

Last Call Group 63.00

Log Cabin Speakers 190.00

New Beginnings Womens 300.00

Primary Purpose 19.31

Progress Not Perfection Group 100.00

Sisterhood 25.00

Sisters On A Journey 75.00

Steering Committee Meeting 11.00

Sunrise Sunset Group 295.80

TGIS Women's Meeting 325.58

Thursday Morning Break 100.00

Treasure Island Steppers 200.00

What Now 5.14

Total 3,549.89

May 2018

CORRECTIONS

WOULD LIKE TO

THANK:

Keep it Simple

Group, San Martin, Holiday Isle

Group, Oldsmar Group & Jackie

FOR DONATING LITERATURE!

JUNE

Anise B. $2 Keith $200 Lynn S. $8 Wendy C. $37