fall 2014 wolfe street journal

www.wolfestreet.org

olfe Street Journal W

Founded in 1982, the Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc. is fully funded

through private contributions. Patronage is vital to our mission of love

and service. Several levels of giving are available. Please help us

continue to provide a meeting place, education and prevention

programs and fellowship center for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon

Family Groups. Take a minute to join us. We need you. See page 2 to

become a Patron of the Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc. or visit our

website.

Still carrying the message... Fall 2014

http://www.wolfestreet.org

Fall 2014 Wolfe Street Journal 1

Experience, Strength, and Hope

We are not a glum lot.

It took 312 BlackBerrys.

Well, actually, it took quite a bit for me to finally admit that I was an alcoholic.

I was first introduced to AA by good ol' Uncle Sam, and not my father’s

brother Sam, when I was in the Air Force. My drinking got me in a lot of trouble. It

was while I was stationed in South Korea, facing a court martial and a discharge, I

decided to go to treatment. Not because I thought I had a problem and I wanted

help, but because my lawyer said it might help my case. It didn’t.

See, I was not sick and tired of being sick and tired, but the Air Force was sick

and tired of me. After my court martial pointed out my 36 alcohol-related

incidents, they booted me out. And I decided to dry out.

I tried my hardest not to drink, but every time, I always ended up waking up

from a blackout wondering what was wrong with me. By this point, I had lost my

job, most of my friends and my family wouldn't even talk to me. My bottom came

when I was sitting in a jail facing 20 years for stealing 312 BlackBerrys.

I finally said, “I need some help.” After being 12-stepped in a detox facility, I

decided that I was willing to do whatever it took not to live like this. By working

the steps with a sponsor and applying them to my daily life, everything I lost I have

been given back and then some.

I'm not proud of the BlackBerrys, but they may have saved my life.

Chance S.

Pig Pen Young People’s Group

Friends of Wolfe Street

pose for a group photo

in front of the Rock

Pavilion while

volunteering at the

2014 Golf Scramble at

War Memorial Park.


Wolfe Street Center Patron

Name_______________________

Address_____________________

City, State___________________

Email:

Check category and payment

method.

Corporate or Personal

Sponsorship

_____ $2000 or more annually

Benefactor Patron

_____ $1000 annually

_____ $83.33 per month

Patron

_____ $750 annually

_____ $62.50 per month

Supporting Patron

_____ $500 annually

_____ $41.67 per month

Voting Patron

_____ $240 annually

_____ $20.00 per month

Participating Patron

_____ $60 annually

_____ $5 per month

Friends of Wolfe Street

_____ Amount is optional

In Memory of Dr. Robert Barros

Polly Brainard

Sue Downs

Larry Mobley

Don Waddle

“There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then I understood Him, to do with me as

He would.”

-Big Book, pg. 13


WANT AD

Higher Power seeks candidates with following 12 qualifications: Must be human. I do understand that this means I will have to put up with imperfections and

occasional screw-ups. Not a problem. I am experienced in dealing with that.

Must have active respirations. Humans without respirations are handled in a different

department.

Must be willing to open either doors or windows to let me in. I could come through a wall but I

prefer not to operate that way. Must be willing to let me into her/his life. No matter how much I do

for them, they won’t be able to see it if they are not willing to see it.

Must be willing to accept my help. Generally taking the first step helps with that. I’ve been

told, “If we provide the willingness, God will provide the way.” And I am there. If you are willing,

I can work with you.

Must be willing to listen and accept what I tell them. No editing and no making stuff up. I do

sometimes speak in mysterious ways and it can be easy to miss if you are not paying attention. I

especially enjoy tricky little coincidences. Some 12-stepper got it right when they said,

“Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous.” One person prayed for a sign and found the

answer on a sign by the roadside! “That looks like a sign to me!”

Must be willing to accept love and forgiveness even if it takes time before they are able to

believe they deserve it.

Must be willing to turn it over and let me do my job but how that is accomplished is negotiable.

Participant may dictate the qualities desired in me. Being omnipotent and omniscient, that is

not a problem for me. Permissive? Forgiving? Merciful? Attentive? No problem! You got it!

Names I will answer to are negotiable. I have been called God, Higher Power, Mother, Father,

Jesus, Allah, Cosmic Order, Love and Doorknob. Whatever works for you. I am pretty flexible on

that point.

A prime candidate would be willing to bring troubles to me at all hours of the day or night and

would remember to do so.

Preferred candidates are willing to have fun, laugh, and not take themselves too seriously.

Skeptical candidates are welcome. Some of my best work has been done with you! Maybe you

cannot see me but I am still real. You can’t see the wind either but you can see the trees moving.

You can’t see me but you can see the people I work with moving!

Why not believe in me? Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

The Wolfe Street Foundation partnered with The BridgeWay for Lunch and Learn on

September 26th. Over 100 people attended the seminar presented by Wolfe Street Board

member, Sarah Cearley, PhD. The seminar focused on addictive behavior and what leads up

to ingesting or doing something we think will make us feel better.

Sarah will be presenting this incredible seminar at the Wolfe Street Center in Spring 2015.

Watch for details.


Their inspirational

and often Hilarious TRUE STORY.

The off-Broadway play – “Pass It On. An Evening With Bill W. & Dr. Bob” - the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous, returns to the Argenta Theater, Friday and Saturday, November 21-22 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 23rd at 2pm.

Tickets are $20 each and available online at www.wolfestreet.org.

Last year over 8,000 students died on American college campuses due to binge

drinking and drug addiction. Over 80 percent of all illegal drugs on planet Earth

are consumed in the United States, resulting in a devastating negative impact on

the social, economic, mental, physical, and spiritual health of our nation.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (N.C.A.D.D.) was

founded by Bill W. in an effort to let the public know there is a solution.

Unflappable, Inc. and (NCADD) knew, and they are spreading the word. Their

report is volunteers turned an idea into an eventful production of “Pass It On”.

We all reap the benefit.

Two very kind, very professional, and highly skilled actors have dedicated their

hearts, energy, and livelihood to carrying this message of hope to stages across

the U.S. Gary Kimble and Will Stutts, of Unflappable Inc., are once again

bringing Bill W. and Dr. Bob alive on stage at Argenta Community Theatre. Not

only have we had the honor of hosting and getting to know these incredible

actors, we get to know the AA founders intimately for 90 minutes, and “Pass It

On” delivers facts about alcoholism and the AA program that surprise us and

touch us.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Fall 2014 Wolfe Street Journal5 5

Prayer and meditation are essential to recovery in the 12 Step Program.

The importance of having a spiritual practice cannot be over estimated.

To facilitate the development of both individual and community spiritual practice, The Wolfe Street Foundation is establishing an ongoing weekly meditation.

Spiritual practices are by their very nature intimate, personal and unique. To honor this work and its’ deep meaning, the meditation will be an open format. The leader, a trusted servant, will provide: a relevant prompt, select a reading, set a time for beginning and ending the meditation and provide guidance for the discussion. The meditation will be silent. A collection basket for “Conscious Sharing” will be at the door.

Meditation EVERY SUNDAY 9:00-9:50 AM

BEGINNING 10/26/14 UPSTAIRS IN THE ELEVENTH STEP ROOM

October 10th will be the last 2014 Noon Friday Meditation

“The willingness to grow is the essence of all spiritual development.” ”As Bill Sees It” pg. 17

Even oldtimers have a backache,

A Headache, and Heartache

Think a pill might help?

Come see what a professional thinks about that.

A workshop by Michael Morrison

Recovery Therapist at Baptist Hospital

October 5th — 1 to 2:30 pm

Wolfe Street Center

Room 101 — West Wing

Suggested Donation $5


S ince its first performance on December 31, 1990, in Boston, the

Alloy Orchestra has developed an extensive repertoire of music

and sounds that it performs during the projection of silent films. Its three

musicians use an array of found objects and electronics as well as traditional

percussion, wind and keyboard instruments. Entertainment Weekly put the

ensemble on its "It List" of the 100 most creative people or groupings in the

entertainment world. Terry Gross on National Public Radio called the trio

"one of the pioneers in composing new music for old movies" and Lloyd

Schwartz discussed their recording of scores to a pair of Buster Keaton films:

"Most silent movie music just fills the void. Some of it even gets in the way.

But the Alloy Orchestra really helps us see what we're watching and often the

music, whether driving or fanciful, is worth listening to on its own.

The world famous Alloy Orchestra

will present a live musical score to

the Rudolf Valentino silent classic

film SON OF THE SHIEK, October 7,

2014 at the Argenta Theatre in North

Little Rock.

One show only - 7 p.m.

Certain to sell out.

Tickets $20 +tax

Buy your tickets at www.wolfestreet.org

Ahmed, son of Diana and Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, falls in love

with Yasmin, a dancing girl who fronts her father's gang of

mountebanks. Among the cutthroats is Ghobah, a villainous

Moor to whom Yasmin is promised. In ruins near Touggourt, the

city where Yasmin dances, she and Ahmed meet secretly until

one night when her father and the gang capture the son of the

sheik, torture him, and hold him for ransom. Will Ahmed believe

that Yasmin set him up for capture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Public_Radio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Schwartz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Schwartz

http://www.wolfestreet.org


My name is Aimee C., incredibly grateful member of Alanon. Like so many, I came into Alanon on my knees, defeated and at the bottom. There was no where else to turn after my husband’s latest binge in Mexico with alcohol, drugs and women.

A few years before, with the help of my therapist, I had drawn the line in the sand before our child was born, stating that if he continued, I would not be able to remain in the relationship. It took a tremendous amount of effort and support to follow through with that boundary after the latest binge. But in my heart of hearts, I knew I had to break off the marriage for the sake of my sanity and our then 3 year old child’s well being. I was left with everything, including massive debt. That was 27 years ago this summer.

From that place on my knees, Alanon lifted me up, helped me dust myself off and get moving again. I found a sponsor who guided me through my work with the Twelve Steps, and I immersed myself in meetings, conferences, service work and Program social activities. Ever so slowly, as the onion layers peeled away, I kept finding more onion! And also found acceptance of myself and others. My mantra became “Acceptance brings peace.”

Back in those days, we could smoke in meetings, which is where I came face to face with my addiction to nicotine, and was able to quit by using Alanon and the 12 Steps. When I stepped away from the Program for a break, I lost that 7 year quit, and smoked for another 5 years. Finally, I found Nicotine Anonymous and currently have almost 10 years free of nicotine.

Along with Nicotine Anonymous meetings, I’m attending Alanon meetings today, and am more respectful than ever of the devastation of addiction. My ex is still out there, which is a tragedy for his already compromised health, his family, his life. I am able to detach from his behavior, but love the man. Gratefully, our kid grew up in Alateen, and has some coping tools to deal with his life. It’s such a gift to be able to live life on life’s terms with the help of the Steps, Traditions, meetings, service work, readings and working with a sponsor. Thank you Alanon, for my sanity, serenity and for saving my life!

“Acceptance brings peace.”

Serenity Garden

Coming soon to Wolfe Street

Center front lawn is A

SERENITY GARDEN. All

donations are appreciated and

are 100% tax deductible. For

more information call 501-231-

3557 or email

[email protected]


Wolfe Street Center Holiday Open House

Please bring snacks. Utensils and (non-alcoholic) drink provided.

Want to help? Bring food, setup, tend tables, and clean up.

Movies ׀ Football ׀ Games

Christmas & New Year’s Day Meetings

10am ׀ Noon 2 ׀pm 4 ׀pm

5..4..3..2..1 New Year’s Eve Fellowship Ring in the New Year with the Wolfe Street Center.

Potluck starts at 8pm. Please bring snacks, desserts, and drinks.

Meetings time to be announced. Ring in the New Year at Midnight!

Thanksgiving Speaker Potluck Speaker—DeShawn D. at 5:30pm Hosted by the Happy Hour Group Friday, November 21 at 6:30pm Upstairs at the Wolfe Street Center

Costume Contest Trick or Treating

Bobbing for Apples

Cake Walk Dancing

All for only $2

Halloween Night 7 to 10 pm

A SCARY GOOD TIME FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Howling at the Moon Halloween Bash

Supported by groups meeting at the Wolfe Street Ctr.


Board of Directors

President

Pete Hornibrook

Vice President

Thomas J. Kelly Jr., PhD

Treasurer

Anthony Michael

Secretary

Colin Jorgensen

Jo Blankenship

Mary Clare Brierley

Sarah Cearley, PhD

Tricia Chaffin

Kay Fisher

Larry Gaines

Betti Hamilton

Jennifer Jones

Donna Skulman Lloyd

Alfred Williams

Advisory Board

Rick Adkins

Nancy Kumpuris

Kathy Gwatney Hardison

Executive Director

Markey Ford

Note from the Board In its19th year, the

Wolfe Street Scramble

held at War Memorial

Golf Course continues

as one of the most fun

events for golfers of

every caliber. Some

had never played the

game but drove the

carts with the best of

them. Others feel ready

for the pro tour. (This is

a disease of perception

don’t you know!) Board members, Pete Hornibrook

and Alfred Williams co-chaired this year’s Scramble

and offer their sincere thanks to all who helped make

the 2014 Wolfe Street Scramble the best ever. Friends

of Wolfe Street, a newly formed group of volunteers

dedicated to revitalizing the heart of the recovery

community, were there in full force handling

everything from registration, selling mulligans, and

serving lunch to hanging banners and being hole

spotters keeping their good eye on it, for the $10k

Hole in One sponsored by Jones & Son Fine Jewelry.

Special thanks to Anthony Michael for donating Cross-

eyed Pig BBQ for 100!

First place trophies were awarded by Pete Hornibrook, WSF

Board President, (2nd from left) to from left: Casey Bright,

Chris White, Reggie English, and Steve Prince.

Friends of Wolfe Street, Rai,

Brian, and William serve Cross-

Eyed Pig BBQ at the 2014 Golf

Scramble at War Memorial Park.


Al-Anon

Group Liaison Reps meet at 5:30 on the 2nd Thursdays

of February, April, June, August, October & December.

Sunday Breakfast 8:30-9:30 AM $5

Wednesday Lunch Noon-1 $5

SUNDAY 7:30AM OD Hour of Power

9:00AM Meditation

10:00AM 11th Step/OD- Hour of Power

5:30 PM OD Happy Hour

5:30 PM OD Pig Pen YPG

7:00 PM New Beginnings /O-120 ½

MONDAY

6:45AM OD Hour of Power

NOON OD Brown Bag

1:00PM OD Little Rock Women

5:30PM CD Happy Hour

7:00PM OBBS Pig Pen YPG

8:00PM OSS Dunbar

TUESDAY


NOON OD Brown Bag


7:00PM CD 120 ½

WEDNESDAY


NOON OS Dunbar


7:30-9PM CBB Big Book Study

THURSDAY


NOON OD Brown Bag


8:00PM OS 120 ½

FRIDAY


NOON OD Brown Bag


8:00PM OD Y.E.S. Group

10:00PM OD Last Chance

SATURDAY


1:00PM CD Rebos

5:30PM OD Happy Hour

8:00PM OS Big Meeting

10:00PM OD Last Chance

Meetings @ Wolfe Street Center AA

MONDAY Name of Group

5:30PM Happy Hour AFG

5:30PM Alateen

TUESDAY

9:30AM SS T-N-T AFG

THURSDAY

5:30PM Al-Anon Step Study

FRIDAY

5:30PM Happy Hour AFG

SATURDAY

8:00PM Dunbar AFG

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fall 2014 wolfe street journal

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