district 17 general services yours in service, dennis twiss...
TRANSCRIPT
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District Trusted Servants DCM—Dennis T.
320-510-2206
Alt. DCM—Wendell T.
507-964-5158
Secretary—Lisa B.
952-856-0828
Treasurer—Nick B.
320-522-1120
Group Records—Lisa B.
952-856-0828
Literature—Dave B.
320-296-1693
Newsletter—Dave B.
320-296-1693
Third Legacy—Ryan V.
320-510-0404
Treatment—Christina H.
507-351-6366
Treatment-
Corrections—Matt K.
(320) 510-5361
Treatment-
May, 2019 Volume 36 Issue 5
District 17 General Services
“IN TOUCH” Newsletter Next District Meeting Tuesday May 14, 2019 7:30 PM
Lighthouse Assembly of God Church Hwy 212 W, Plato
Please share the Newsletter with your Group!
Dcm report
My name is Dennis T. and I have the privilege of serving District 17 DCM. We
had good attendance and a packed agenda at our April 9th meeting.
The GSRs in attendance reported on local group activities. We welcomed
Michael, GSR from Tuesday Night Tradition Three Group in Waconia. Roger noted
the Memorial Day Picnic and Speaker on May 27th in Watertown. Lisa noted the
upcoming 30th Anniversary Picnic for the Glencoe By The Book Group.
Corrections Chair, Matt, addressed the gaps in coverage for scheduled
meetings for the McLeod County Jail. We will seek commitments from local
groups. What an excellent opportunity to Carry the Message! Rich S., our new
Grapevine Committee Chair reported on the Area Assembly and the presentation
he made there requesting that Area 36 bring forward the re-printing of Best of
Grapevine books.
We will continue this year to have information booths for AA at the Carver,
McLeod and Sibley County Fairs. It was also determined to seek Area 36 adoption
of an innovative Zone System for the Area to increase wider participation,
opportunities and service throughout the entirety of Area 36. Dave B. noted the
upcoming Walk for Life in Hutchinson and the service opportunity it presents.
The DCM continues visits to the 30 groups of the District to inform groups
about District 17 General Service opportunities and offer thanks for their support.
Dennis has visited Winsted, NYA, Waconia-Friday, Hutchinson-As Bill Sees It,
Hutchinson-Step Action Series, Gaylord, Watertown-Monday, Hutchinson-
Saturday Night and the three Glencoe Groups. Visits are being arranged for the
remaining groups.
Please join us at the May 14 7:30 District
Meeting at the Lighthouse Assembly of
God Church near Plato, just east of
Glencoe on Highway 212. The address is
10478 Bell Ave.
Yours in service, Dennis Twiss,
District 17 DCM
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District Trusted Servants
Technology—Rod W.
507-217-1659
Cooperation with the Professional
Community (CPC) - John L.
320-510-2332
Public Information - Daisy G.
802-917-2907
Grapevine - Rich S.
612-812-4127
Archives—Paul H.
(320) 583-0552
WEBSITE ADDRESS—
district17aa.net
MAILING ADDRESS—
District 17
P.O. Box 224
Glencoe, MN 55336
Tradition Five: Each group has but one primary purpose— to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
1. Do I ever cop out by saying, “I’m not a group, so this or that Tradition doesn’t apply to me”?
2. Am I willing to explain firmly to a newcomer the limitations of AA help, even if he gets mad at me for not giving him a loan?
3. Have I today imposed on any AA member for a special favor or consideration simply because I am a fellow alcoholic?
4. Am I willing to twelfth-step the next newcomer without regard to who or what is in it for me?
5. Do I help my group in every way I can to fulfill our primary purpose?
6. Do I remember that AA old-timers, too, can be alcoholics who still suffer? Do I try both to help them and to learn from them?
Reprinted from Traditions Checklist F-131 Page 3 with permission from AA World
Services Inc.
Reprinted from Concepts Checklist F-91 Page 2 with permission from AA World
Services Inc. Newsletter Deadlines
May 21, 2019 for June 2019 Issue
June 21, 2019 for July 2019 Issue
July 31, 2019 for August 2019 Issue
Anyone can submit an article whether you are in general service or a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Everyone who has any experience, strength and hope they wish to share, YOUR District Newsletter is a great place to do this. If your group has an event planned and you wish to have a flyer included, please send this and/or your articles to: Dave B. at [email protected] or butler.dave @mchsi.com.
Concept V: Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
Do we encourage the minority opinion, the “Right of Appeal”, to be heard at our home group, district committee meetings, area assemblies and the Conference?
What does our group accept as “substantial unanimity”?
Has our group experienced the “tyranny of the majority” or the “tyranny of the minority”?
Does our group understand the importance of all points of view being heard before a vote is taken?
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District 17 minutes
D17 Committee meeting, 4/9/2019
Open with a moment of silence followed by the responsibility statement
Welcome and introductions. 12 members present. Concept 4 discussion, by Dennis. “Right of Participation” We have right and responsibility to participate
in AA and our lives and recovery. Volunteer for May’s topic-Jeff for Concept 5. GSR Sharing:
Daisy G, Tues Night Gaylord-low attendance. Had an opportunity to discuss the district activities with the group. Possible group inventory in the future.
Jeff M, Wednesday Night Glencoe-Jeff attended the area assembly, where there was active discussion on Best of the Grapevine I-III,
Keri B-(sub for GSR)-Thurs night women’s group Waconia. The group utilizes the District 17 website for get-togethers and activities.
Roger V, Monday night Watertown. Small meeting. Speaker meeting the 2nd Monday of the month. Wendell, Thursday night NYA. About a dozen regular attendees. Inviting others to get involved in
District activities. Michael S, Tuesday night Waconia. New member of the district team. Lisa B, Glencoe Sunday night. 30th Anniversary picnic at the end of July. The group has been
championing the re-printing of the Best of the Grapevine, Volume I-III. Committee Reports
Public Information-Daisy-went to a joint workshop PI/CPC to understand who could best use AA information in media and public outreach.
Corrections-Matt. Called Kim at the McLeod county Jail to understand whether the sobriety meeting opportunities were being done by assigned group. Some gaps were revealed, time slots will be opened up for other recovery groups to serve.
Grapevine-Rich-New chair for the District committee. Ryan-third legacy. He attended the area assembly finance discussions. Newsletter-Dave. Articles needed for the newsletter.
Area assembly report Area Assembly-Grapevine publication proposal to continue to print the Best of the Grapevine Vols.
I-III were presented by Rich and Ryan. Christina, sent a report proposed the review of pamphlets treatment centers. Redo the corrections pamphlets to use modern language to reach inmates. Recommended that the local jail meetings be managed at the district level, to ensure coverage. New members at the area assembly diverted the discussion to the benefits of self-sacrificing service,. Discussed “sunsetting” of older AA publications, and how decisions on publications should be discussed by the groups, and not by an individual in isolation.
Secretary’s report-Daisy moved to approve, Dave seconded. Treasurer-(Dave substituted for Nick). Dave recited the balance sheet. Old Business
County fairs-$825-for Carver County this year! McLeod-$175 Sibley-TBD
Keri proposed that we attend all three fairs, Ryan seconded the motion. New Business
1. Suicide Awareness “We Walk 4 Life”, an all day class April 29 in Hutchinson. Program “Motivation and Music” on Sunday, April 28 at the Hutchinson Event Center.
2. Discussion of a zoning of the Area to invite more participation in the further reaches of Area 36. Could this be proposed to the Structure committee?
Announcements 7th Tradition. Every AA group should be self-supporting . . .
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Please help your district carry the message
Consider a group contribution
2019 Southern Minnesota Area Assembly Calendar
Information about Area events can also be found in The Pigeon (our Area 36 newsletter) and on our website:
May 4 Area Comm. Meeting Mankato City Center Hotel 9:30 AM—5 PM June 15 Area Assembly Lakeville Heritage Center 20110 Holyoke Ave. Lakewood, MN 9 AM—5 PM
Aug. 3 Area Comm. Meeting Mankato City Center Hotel 9:30—11:30 AM & 1-5 PM
Aug. 16-18 West Central Reg. Forum Alerus Center 1200 S. 42nd St. Grand Forks, ND 9AM– 5PM
All Southern Minnesota Area Assembly events are open to all members of Alcoholics Anonymous, except the Annual General Service
Conference. Everyone is encouraged to attend, and participate in, all SMAA events.
District 17 AA treAsurer’s report
Balance as of March 12, 2019 $1,352.85
INCOME
Dist. 17 7th Tradition $26.00 Waconia Tues. Tradition Three AA $100.00
Total Income/Contributions $126.00
EXPENSES Feb. Newsletter postage $40.00 Feb. Newsletter printing $80.31
Total Expenses 120.31
Balance as of April 9, 2018 $1,358.54
*** Note: County Fair registrations are being paid this week:
McLeod $175; Carver $325 plus $500 deposit; and Sibley $150
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USING THE TRADITIONS IN MY LIFE:
TRADITION FIVE
““EACH GROUP HAS BUT ONE PRIMARY PURPOSE – TO CARRY ITS MESSAGE TO THE ALCOHOLIC WHO STILL SUFFERS”
This Tradition means to me that not only is it the responsibility of my group, but most importantly, it is MY personal responsibility and duty to carry the message of hope and recovery to the alcoholic that still suffers whether he be wet or dry. It means for me to get out of my ‘comfort zone’ and help others. It is more comfortable for me to sit in my Lazy Boy and watch TV than it is to answer a phone call from a number that I don’t recognize. It’s more comfortable for me to hang out with my clique of friends after the meeting and talk about sports, work, golf or whatever than to go over and talk with the new person standing alone. I need to rearrange my priorities. The Steps have given me the moral rearrangement necessary for my life to be fruitful, now it is time for me to take the action. This is about ‘walking the walk’. That’s why Step 5 starts out the chapter “Into Action.” It’s not “Into Thinking” or “Into Reading” or “Into Theorizing.” It’s the same with Tradition 5. I need to evaluate what my message is before I carry it. Is it my opinions or God’s message?
What do I mean by rearranging my priorities? The 12 X 12 (pg. 151) says “It is the great paradox of AA that we know we can seldom keep the precious gift of [total] sobriety unless we give it away.” I inserted the word ‘total’ in there to emphasize that sobriety is more than just staying dry. Total sobriety is being at ease with me, God and you (the world around me). If I don’t maintain my complete sobriety, I will eventually lose the spouse, the house, the car, the job and all my other toys and possessions. Bill states that we must be of maximum service to God and those about us. That means that MY priorities must be secondary. I’m not saying to leave the spouse, quit the job, abandon all your worldly possessions and become some kind of evangelical missionary for AA. But how hard is it to extend your hand to the newcomer and ask ‘How’s it going?’ or answering the phone call during the game and talking with someone suffering with life just like you did just a short time ago? The Big Book (pg. 127) says “material well-being always followed spiritual progress, it never proceeded.”
How does all this relate to my home life or the one at work? At home, I try to be loving, tolerant and understanding with my wife. When I practice these principles, she in turn practices them. Everything goes much better and more serenely. We try to bring our programs (her Al-Anon & my AA) into any discussions. Being human, we are sometimes selfish or self-willed, and so we each have a part in any disagreement and she just might be right this time. Concept 5 teaches me to listen to the minority opinion and contemplate another’s point of view.
Tradition 5 also asks us to give comfort, encouragement and understanding to our partner. When I do or say something hurtful, it’s often because I am unhappy with something about me. Offering needed compassion instead of judgement or angry rebuttal is always the best course to take.
At work, when I become more tolerant and patient, the work goes more smoothly. It’s amazing how that happens. The more tolerant I am, the more tolerant people are with me. The more patient I am, the more patient others are with me. The more loving I am, the more loving people are in return. Is that odd, or is that God?
So I need to surrender my old “primary purposes” of money, property, prestige and sex. Those are all great and somewhat important, but they must remain secondary. Again, if my relationship with the God of my understanding is OK, those things will come if they are truly needed and I am willing to work for them and not just wanted. So, it’s my job to carry the message of love & tolerance into all of my relationships.
There is a lot of discussion in AA about ‘singleness of purpose’ and ‘what do we do about those addicts?” Our closed meetings are for alcoholics and we talk about alcoholism. There is a great pamphlet called “Problems other than Alcohol” that I suggest WE read so we know what to say to these people. Personally, I try to cut them a little slack (at first) because my experience is that many of them don’t know what they really are. Many are alcoholics who as yet don’t know what an alcoholic is and haven’t had the opportunity to identify their basic problem. I try to explain that an alcoholic is anyone who suffers from the disease of alcoholism and I talk about the ‘ism’ as being the problem. The ‘ism’ (I, self, me) refers to the Obsessed Ego which is the Obsession with Self. For some reason it seems nowadays to be ‘cooler’ to be an addict or alcoholic-addict that just being a drunk. Our experience is that after a while the ‘addict’ disappears and either identifies as an alcoholic or goes on to NA or elsewhere. I have given them the opportunity to identify their problem and work some of the Steps. I cannot judge if they are alcoholic or not, that is for them to decide. Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT trying to water-down this Tradition or AA as a whole. When they want to talk about ‘using’ we gently find a way to bring the conversation back to alcoholism and how it relates to the alcoholic. Agree or disagree, that has just been my experience.
Dave B.
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2018
HUTCHINSON TREATMENT VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
2nd Wednesday every month 6:00 p.m.
May 8, 2019 By the Book AA - Glencoe
June 12, 2019 Monday NA—Hutch
July 10, 2019 Step-Action AA Hutchinson
Aug. 14, 2019 Hutch Sunday Morning AA
Contact Info: Step Action Group – Jeanne Holfield - 320-583-0790 or Dave Butler – 320-296-1693 By the Book - Ryan Voss – 320-510-0404 Hutchinson NA - Rick Anderson – 320-296-2030 Sunday Morning A.A. - Connie R. – 320-223-3166
Please note – Office closes at 5 p.m. and doors are locked. Please call 320-484-4610 to let them know you are coming. Ask for Outpatient Counselors – they will watch for you.
We Are Not A Glum Lot 1. A pastor is stumbling across the parking lot looking for his car, when a cop walks up and
asks, “Have you had anything to drink tonight sir?” “No!” the pastor replies. The cop asks, “So what’s that in the cup?” “Water, sir, take a look!” The cop looks in the cup and says, “This isn’t water, it’s wine!” Gasping, the pastor exclaims, “He did it again!”
2. A sponsor came to meeting early and saw his sponsee reading the Big Book. “I’m happy to see you reading the Book, Joe” the sponsor says. Joe: “I’m just looking for loopholes!”
3. When the doctor told his patient he wasn’t sure of the diagnosis, but thought it could be due to alcohol, the patient replied, “That’s OK, Doc, I’ll come back when you’re sober!”
4. A drunk was arrested and brought in front of the Judge. “Sir, you’ve been brought here for drinking.” The drunk said, “OK, judge, let’s get started!”
5. Anyone, anywhere, at any time, can join AA. But to join Al-Anon, you’ve got to know
Someone!
6. It’s a 10 minute walk from my house to the bar, but it’s an hour walk from the bar to home.
7. What’s the difference between an alcoholic and a dog? The dog stops whining when you let him back in the house!
8. I came to AA with back problems. My wife was on my back, the judge was on my back and my boss was on my back!
9. I used to call myself an empty bottle collector. It sounds so much better than alcoholic!
10. For an alcoholic, a lack of rigorous honesty can lead to rigorous mortis!
11. When I was drinking, I drank to celebrate things that hadn’t happened yet!
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Memorial Day Picnic & speaker meeting Monday May 27th—6:30 PM
Trinity Lutheran church
513 Madison St SE—watertown, mn
Please bring a dish to pass
Watertown AA—contact 320-485-2484
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Arlington AA Presents: Dist. 17 Round-Robin
Monday, may 6th @ 8 PM st. mAry’s cAtholic church
504 7th Ave. NW For info call: 320-510-0404
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