Pass It On

Eastside Intergroup Newsletter

October 2016

Page 1 and 2

Neighborly Help by Annie

Page 3

Upcoming Sober Events and

Meeting Updates

Page 4

Sept. Office News by Nancy O.

Page 5

October A.A. History

Page 6

Birthday Club

Faithful Fivers

Pink Can Contributions

Page 7

Notes from the Archives

by David C.

Page 8

Office Information

Newsletter Volunteers

Hotline Volunteers

Contributions

Page 9

Thank you ESIG Representa-

tives

Neighborly Help by Annie

My name is Annie, I’m an Alcoholic.

My first drink led to my first blackout. Alcohol took away the shyness, paralyzing self-consciousness. It gave me a warm and a happy new feeling that freed me up to do anything. I danced at parties, yelled in the street, sang on buses, hitch-hiked across London, talked to strangers, no fear of anything. I loved it. I thought it helped me to be the real me. I didn’t want to do anything that didn’t involve drinking: cinema - boring, walks - you must be joking! I learned early to have a few drinks from my mum’s cup-board before I went out, filling miniature bottles to take with me. I thought everybody did it! I look back at my teens and see that I have no idea what my family were doing, no memory of spending any time with them.

I went to Spain for 6 months – my university days are still a black hole full

of twinkly lights and was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning. Came back

and got married to a heavy drinker, workaholic, who took care of the

boring stuff – bills, housework etc. I was a charming wife – he never knew

what he was coming home to. We had two beautiful children and drinking

to party was no longer an option – my secret drinking started. Hiding

bottles, trying to hide the fact that I’d had a drink, sneaking extra drinks

whenever we had company, stealing money for drink, making any excuse

to buy a bottle. It got worse. I started to feel ashamed – a quick burn that

another drink would fix. My daughter’s diary at school on open day – every

weekend we went to this pub or that pub…the rows that would flare up

and the way I turned from happy smiley to hell-cat with a couple of drink.

I managed to divorce my husband for HIS unreasonable behavior and

found somebody else who drank like me. I was in big trouble now.

Desperately unhappy, life in chaos, coming to on the kitchen floor in the

morning, trying to get kids to school, house being repossessed.

(cont. on p 2)

2

I saw counsellors, psychologists - blaming my childhood, my mother, my husband, any body and everything. I was in trouble. But if only I could sort out the money (I borrowed and begged from anybody who stood still long enough). If I could only find the right man. If only I had a different upbringing. If only I got the right job. I’d be OK then. I kept trying to manage all this - with the same outcome – drunk and in a worse mess. I wore an old wax jacket bottle up each sleeve and a half in the inside pocket, hadn’t cut my hair for years. One day a group of kids sitting on the wall at the end of my street shouted ‘ALKIE’ at me. I was furious, burning with shame. If only they knew what sort of life I had!

I had one friend left. A neighbor who brought food for the kids, gave me money. She told me one Sunday morning that I had to do something or she’d have to walk away. She just couldn’t watch it any more. I don’t know what it was that pushed me to make the phone call to AA. Thank God for those AA members in service, people at the end of the phone 24/7 to handle calls from people like me, with nowhere left to go, no more excuses.

Within a couple of hours, two members of Alcoholics Anonymous were in my living room, curtains drawn, vodka tears and snot running. They were not interested in my problems. They told me about the way they drank and I knew they were like me. I’d never admitted it to anybody. They told me about alcoholism, the physical allergy which meant that once I had one drink I was unable to stop.

The mental obsession which meant that I couldn’t leave it alone, no matter how bad it got. The spiritual malady which led to the terrible dark loneliness and terror. These people told me that they had found a way to stop drinking in AA and that their lives had changed for the better and they were happy. I don’t know why but I believed them.

I did as they suggested. I went to a meeting near me, started going to others, started working the Steps. After a short time, the desire to drink left me and has not returned. My life has changed in ways that are beyond belief. I have faith in the future and I’m no longer ashamed of my past. I’m so grateful for the chance to live free from the obsession with alcohol.

Neighborly Help (continue from page 1)

3

October 7th-9th: Western Washington Area 72 Assembly in Down-

town Vancouver Convention Center at the Hilton.

Additional information at www.area72aa.org.

October 8th: Live at Pine Lake Speakers Meeting from 7 to

9 pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church in Sammamish. Speaker is Jon H.

from Gladstone, Oregon.

October 14th-16th: 24th Annual Sponsorship Conference at the La

Quinta Inn in Tacoma. Additional information at

www.sponorshipconference.net.

October 15th: Accessibility Quarterly at the Long Beach Grange

in Long Beach. Additional information contact carol-

accessibility@area72aa.org.

Oct. 21st –22nd: Southwest Washington Jamboree at Clark Col-

lege in Vancouver, WA.

Oct 26th: 12th Step Workshop at Eastside Intergroup’s Office in

Bellevue from 6—7:30 pm. Additional information at

www.eastsideintergroup.com.

Oct 29th: Servicepalooza & Blair Witch Ball at Bethlehem Luther-

an Church in Tacoma. From 2 pm to 11:55 pm.

Oct. 29th: PSYPC Halloween Dance at VFW Hall in Mercer Island.

Cost from $10 to $12. Additional Information at www.psypc.org.

Oct. 29th: Sky Valley Alky Angels Halloween Dance & Costume

Contest at South Lake Stevens Grange in Lake Stevens. Cost

from $8 to $15. Additional Information contact Dan S. at 425-422-5075.

November 5th: District 36 Gratitude Dinner; 5pm—9pm

Si View Community Center 400 SE Orchard Dr. North Bend.

November 12th: District 38 Gratitude Dinner-5pm-9pm,

Kirkland Congregational Church .

November 11th-13th Serenity at the Shores 2016 Ocean Shores

Convention Center. www.oceanshoresjamboree.com

November 19th: District 34 Gratitude Dinner-6:30-9:00 at North

Bellevue Community Center.

November 19th: District 39 Gratitude Dinner—Eastside Four

Square Church.

November 19th: District 35 Gratitude Dinner—Pine Lake Covenant

Church 1715 228th Ave SE in Sammamish.

Meeting Updates NEW LOCATIONS!

BELLEVUE BREAKFAST GROUP

Sundays 8:00am

Kenmore Senior Center

6910 NE 170th St., Kenmore

BEL-KIRK BREAKFAST

Saturdays 7:30am

Overlake Denny’s

2233 148th Ave. Bellevue 98007

NEW TIME

HAPPY DESTINIES

Sundays 7:00pm

Eastside Alano Club

NEW DAY, TIME AND PLACE!

SAMMAMISH PLATEAU

WOMEN’S STEP STUDY

Mondays 10:00am-11:30am

Pine Lake Covenant Church

1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish

NO LONGER MEETING!

ISSAQUAH WOMEN

Thursdays 7:30pm

cancelled as of 7/1/16

NEW MEETING!

SOBER ON THE RIDGE

Mondays7:30pm

Snoqualmie Fire Station

37600 SE Snoqualmie Pkwy.

SUPPORT NEEDED!

JOY OF LIVING

Tuesdays & Thursdays 4pm

Issaquah IHOP

1433 NW Sammamish Rd.

SOBER WOMEN

Saturday’s 8:30am

Eastside Alano Club

4

September Office Report

Thank You September office volunteers: Sharon R., Rick L., Elizabeth H., Wallene D., Steve C., Ted W. Carrie

W. and Susan H. Beginning in October we have Susan W. and Dennis D. joining us as new office volunteers.

Thank you as well to our office assistant Leah W. and to our amazing IT guys Travis S. and Rick L. Last but not

least, thank you Rick F. for picking up Seattle schedules for us!

Eric C., Bill J. and I held an awesome Hotline Training on September 10th resulting in five more people trained to an-

swer the phones for Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank you to those of you that participated!

October 26th we will have a 12

th Step workshop at the Intergroup office from 6:00-7:30pm. Please RSVP.

Recently there have been questions about the “little red book” which is the first 164 pages of our book and is just like

our small blue mini Big Book so I feel compelled to say the following; the little red book is printed by The Anonymous

Press and purchases from them do not benefit your Intergroup Office, your AA World Services in New York or Alco-

holics Anonymous at all. In the United States there is no longer a copy right on our Big Book which is why they are

able to print copies of our book and sell it cheaper. Please keep in mind that supporting Eastside Intergroup by buy-

ing your literature from us is supporting AA World Service as well because you are buying conference approved liter-

ature that we buy directly from them. We appreciate your support. And, as a reminder, we have a wonderful

assortment of books and pamphlets available at the Intergroup Office as well as a good supply of coins to help meet

the needs of our members, groups, and Districts in the area. We appreciate those of you that purchase your litera-

ture from us and we love to see you!

We have redesigned several different brochures in our office and hope that people will help to distribute them to their

meetings. One brochure in particular explains Eastside Intergroup, how we are funded and our purpose in the com-

munity. We are here to help support individual members, groups and Districts on the Eastside. Our office depends

on the sale of merchandise and the contributions we receive from groups and members, so thank you for your sup-

port of Eastside Intergroup – we greatly appreciate it and we love being here for you!

I attended the 7th

Tradition Workshop that District 34 held on September 24th.

I found it to be informative and

presented very nicely. They answered questions that have been floating around the rooms for the past few months.

It seemed like it could be an appropriate workshop to put on at least once a year for our group treasurers and mem-

bers to understand how self-support works in Alcoholics Anonymous.

Our Literature Chair Meghan W. met with the Board last month and presented the idea of a Grapevine Workshop.

She is planning on sometime in January so watch for more information. It sounds like it will be really fun – we’ll have

the opportunity to write our stories and submit them to the Grapevine.

We are carrying the new book “Our Twelve Traditions” recently published by the Grapevine. I’ve not had the oppor-

tunity to read it but have had others tell me it’s quite good.

Big Books sold since the first of the year…… 1,470!

In early November I will be attending the Central Office/Intergroup Managers meeting in Kansas City, MO and so I

won’t be at the November Intergroup meeting. I plan to come back with a lot of new ideas and am really looking for-

ward to it!

Don’t forget November is Gratitude Month – you can find the flyers for the District Gratitude dinners on the events

calendar on our website.

As always, thank you for allowing me to be of service!

Nancy O.

ESIG Manager

5

Oct 1939 - 1st central committee formed in Cleveland; 1st example A.A. rotation.

Oct 1942 - 1st issue of Cleveland Central Bulletin is published.

Oct 1944 - First non American branch started in Sydney, Australia by Father T V Dunlea & Rex.

Oct 1951 - Lasker Award given to AA by American Public Health Assoc.

Oct 1951 - Sister Ignatia wrote "Care of Alcoholics - St.Thomas Hospital & A.A. Started Movement Which Swept Country" article in "Hospital Progress" the journal of Catholic Hospital Association.

Oct 1954 - The "Alcoholic Foundation" renamed the "General Service Board of A.A."

Oct 1, 1941 - Local news reports 1st AA Group in New Haven, CT.

Oct 1, 1957 - Book "A.A. Comes of Age" published.

Oct 2, 1944 - Marty M. founded National Committee Education Alcoholism, later became National Council on Alcoholism.

Oct 3, 1945 - AA Grapevine adopted as national publication of AA.

Oct 5-7, 1972 - 2nd World Service meeting held in New York.

Oct 5, 1988 - Lois Burnam Wilson died.

Oct 6, 1941 - 900 dine at Cleveland dinner for Bill D, AA #3.

Oct 8, 1988 - Memorial Service for Lois W at Stepping Stones, NY.

Oct. 9-11, 1969 - 1st World Service meeting held in New York with delegates from 14 countries.

Oct 10, 1970 - Lois reads "Bills Last Message" at annual dinner in NY.

Oct 10, 1988 - Lois is buried next to Bill in East Dorsett, Vermont.

Oct 13, 1947 - "The Melbourne Group" held its first meeting in Australia.

Oct 15, 1904 - Marty M, early AA woman, is born in Chicago.

Oct 17, 1935 - Ebby T, Bills sponsor, moves in with Bill and Lois.

Oct 20, 1928 - Bill wrote promise to Lois in family Bible to quit drinking. By Thanksgiving added second promise.

Oct 21, 1939 - Cleveland Plain Dealer begins series of articles on AA of by Elrick Davis.

Oct 24, 1942 - L.A. Times reports AA groups in 14 California cities.

October A.A. History

6

How Can You Help Support Your Intergroup in

Addition to the 7th Tradition at your Meetings?

Become a Faithful Fiver!

Or Join Our Birthday Club!

What are Faithful Fivers?

Faithful Fivers are AA members who graciously pledge

to contribute $5.00 each month to support Eastside In-

tergroup in its efforts to carry the AA message of hope

and recovery to those alcoholics who still suffer in the

Eastside area. As a Faithful Fiver, your contribution

can and will make our vital services possible.

The Faithful Fiver idea came about when we remem-

bered that we wasted much more than $5 each month

during our drinking days.

Contributions to Eastside Intergroup from AA members

are limited to $3,000 per member per year and are tax

deductible under Internal Revenue Code: 501(c)3.

Yes! Please enroll me as a

Faithful Fiver!

Here is my contribution of

$_______for_________months

Name__________________________

Address_________________________

City_______________State/Zip______

Return this form to:

Eastside Intergroup

13401 NE Bel-Red Rd. Suite B6

Bellevue, WA 98007

Barbara M.

Pat A.

Susan M.

Nancy O.

Beth L.

David W.

Ulf W.

Terry O.

Eastside Intergroup Birthday Club!

Many of our members contribute to ESIG $1, $2

or $5 per year during their

AA Anniversary month.

We’ll print your name, sobriety date and home

group in our Newsletter.

Your Birthday Club contributions directly sup-

port your Eastside Intergroup Office which pro-

vides a 24 hour phone line, literature, coins and

more!

Birthday Club!

Name______________________

Home Group_________________

Sobriety Date_________________

Contribution $________________

Thank You September 2016 Faithful Fivers!

Birthday Contributions:

Special Donation

Share the Legacy made a special donation on behalf of

Dave R. in memory of his wife, Jenny Richardson.

Nameless Bunch of Drunks Big Book Step Study Juanita Triangle Living Sober Eastside Nooners Eastside Women Seven & Sober Ladies Step Study Fresh Start Grace Rules

DON M.-EASTSIDE NOONERS 8/29/13 - 3 YEARS

Pink Can Contributions

7

Notes from the Archives

By David C., District 38 Archivist

Hello from the vaults of the District 38 Archives. This month, I want to let you know about what has been happening in your archives lately. In mid August, I went to Ellensburg and facilitated in the Regional Archives Workshop. I put on a day of Conservation training for archivists from the surrounding Areas. The turnout was great and I think everyone had a good time learning to protect our treasures from the ravages of time. Next month I will be going to Concord, California to attend the National Alcoholics Anonymous Archives Workshop, where I will be putting on a small session on Conservation and Preserva-tion. Archivists from around the country will be in attendance, and I am looking forward to vis-iting with the many friends I have met during the last nineteen years. This workshop moves all around the country and visits many cities I never would have gone to without this yearly session. I have been to Niagara Falls, Chicago, San Bernardino, Cocoa Beach, and Akron to name but a few of the wonderful cities I have visited. Each and every one of them has made wonderful memories for me. But, it’s not all business as I manage to go and visit the sights around like Bill’s and Dr. Bob’s homes, and the Allman Brothers museum in Ma-con, GA. I have also visited Independence Hall, and Mount Vernon, Yellowstone Park and the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Oh, and I chaired the workshop here in Seattle in 2000. I learn so much from this yearly jaunt, and look forward to sharing what I know about archives with my fellow archi-vists. More will be revealed….. P. S. If you have any questions about AA history I am always there to answer them. Contact Nancy at Intergroup and she will pass your questions on to me. Till next time……

8

Office Information

Newsletter Contributors

Publisher…….....................Alma O.

Editor……………..…….….Sandy B.

Archivist……………..……..David C.

Personal Story…..………….. Annie

Office News …….………. Nancy O.

Thank you to our office

volunteers!

Thanks to the following Groups for sending contributions

to the Eastside Intergroup office in the month of Septem-

ber 2016. Group contributions enable us to pay the rent

and bills for your Intergroup Office, maintain our phone

lines 24 hours a day 7 days a week, publish a monthly

newsletter, provide a meeting directory, and carry AA

information and literature.

Thank you September Hotline Volunteers!

Carmen A. Eric C. Chuck M. Keith S. Sheldon A. John M. John K. Leslie G. John R. Tracy A.

Susan M. Mark S. Ted W. Ginny K. Carrie W. Elton B. Kristen B. Guy P. Travis S. Merrill G.

Sara K. Steve C. Tracy A. Sheree P. Nancy O. Tina B. Jim R. Tim B. Tina K. Fred M.

Backup : Sheree P.

Bill J.

Coordina-tors:

Eric C.

Bill J.

Group Contributions District, GSO & Area Info

Eastside Intergroup:

Eastside Intergroup

13401 NE Bel-Red Rd. Suite B6

Bellevue, WA 98007

Western WA Area 72

702 Kentucky St., #535

Bellingham, WA 98225

General Service Office (GSO)

P.O. Box 459

Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163

District 34

Bellevue, Redmond, East Lake

Sammamish, Mercer Island

District 34

P.O. Box 50081

Bellevue, WA 98015

District 35

Issaquah

District 35

P.O. Box 442

Issaquah, WA 98027

District 36

Snoqualmie Valley, Duvall,

North Bend

District 36

P.O. Box 1963

North Bend, WA 98045

District 38

Kirkland

District 38

P.O. Box 322

Kirkland, WA 98083

District 39

Bothell, Kenmore, Woodinville

13401 NE Bel-Red Suite B6

Bellevue, WA 98005

Phone: 425-454-9192

Email: esig@eastsideintergroup.com

Website: www.eastsideintergroup.com

Office Hrs: Mon.-Fri. 10:00am-6:00 pm

Intergroup Meeting

First Thursday of each

month 7:30-8:30pm

All members welcome!

Bellevue Christian Reformed Church 1221

148th Ave NE, Bellevue 98007

Office Manager - Nancy 0.

Email: Nancy@eastsideintergroup.com

Newport Daytimers

Duvall Big Book Study

Nameless Bunch of Drunks (twice)

Share the Legacy

Serenity Break

Moss Bay

Ladies Step Study

District 34 Treatment Committee

Women’s Saturday Share

Women’s Saturday Steps (twice)

Living Sober

Kenmore Friday Nighters

Anchor Group

Women in Recovery Issaquah Women

Seven & Sober (twice)

Leah W.

Susan H

Rick L.

Wallene D.

Steve C.

Carrie W.

Ted W.

Travis S.

(Computers)

Rick F.

(Literature

Pickup)

9

Ally B. – Sobriety Lifeline

Betsy N. – Women of Worth & Sober Women

Brian G. – Living Sober

Brooke B. – Sober Cartooners

Carrie W. – Tons of Grace

Carol G. - Reflections

Charlie C. – ESIG Web Committee

Cheri A. – Any Lengths

Chris S. – Nooners

Dan E. – Alano Club 9:30 a.m.

Dan H. - ESIG Corrections Chair & Pine Lake Stag

David B. – ESIG Board of Directors

Eric D. – Gay Men in Recovery & Sober at Cottage Lake

Erin E. – District 34 Liaison

Ford S. - WSCYPAA

Garret V. – Eastside Men’s Group

Georgia G. – Saturday Women’s Sammamish Share

Holly F. – Moss Bay

Jeffrey G. – Pocket of Enthusiasm

Jen T. – Joy of Living

John K. – ESIG Co-Chair

Jon S. – ESIG Board of Directors & District 39 Liaison

K.T. E. – Sammamish Big Book

Karen F. - visitor

Kiera E. – District 35 Intergroup Rep

Leah W. – ESIG Office & Bills Story

Lisa S. – 59 Minutes at Pine Lake

Margie C. – ESIG Web Committee

Mark S. – ESIG CPC Chair & Issaquah Big Book Step Study

Mary B. – ESIG Board of Directors & Eastside Beginners

Mary B. – District 38 Intergroup Rep & Bellevue Breakfast Group

Meghan W. – ESIG GVLT Chair

Michelle – Reflections

Nancy O. – ESIG Manager & Web Committee

Natasha N. – Unbridled

Pat A. – ESIG Treasurer

Robin O. – Millennium

Samantha F. – A Woman’s Way

Sandy B. – ESIG Newsletter Editor

Shelly N. – ESIG Board of Directors

Sondra H. – 12 & 12 Fellowship Hall

Ted W. – Heretics Haven

Tim B. – LAPL – ESIG Table Chairman

Todd G. – Juanita Triangle

Travis S. – ESIG IT Committee & Friday Night Firehouse

Val F. – Serenity Break

Willy H. – ESIG Secretary

What does an Intergroup Rep do?

An Intergroup Rep is elected at his/her Home Group and attends the Eastside Intergroup Meeting on the 1st

Thursday of each month from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. You represent your home group at the monthly meeting

and hold a vote for your group.

Because Eastside Intergroup covers five Districts and is a central clearinghouse for local AA activities and

information, you become a vital link between the Intergroup office, the Districts, and your home group. The

Intergroup Rep keeps his or her home group informed about work being done, activities going on, etc. You

become a part of the networking between Eastside Intergroup and the groups.

Thank you Intergroup Reps!

The following Intergroup Reps were in attendance at our meeting. See you on Thursday, Nov. 3rd!