District 17 Newsletter

                             January 20, 2006

Well, our first GSR meeting of the year has come and gone so fast its like a blur. Thank God, not a drunken blur, just a blur. The meeting was fairly well attended and had quite a bit of energy. We discussed topics that do affect AA as a whole, such as service, responsibilities in service, fellowship and working together for a common cause. It was a great meeting!

      Since our primary purpose is to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers, we need to continue our service work and practice principals before personalities. Sometimes my personality gets in the way of the AA principles, especially if I have an ulterior motive underlying what I am doing. I have realized at this point, in my being the DCM, I have an ulterior motive, a personal one too! I really want to see more GSRs attending GSR meeting and being active in the area at the District level. No one can make anyone do anything in AA, we can only make suggestions and hope for results. And my suggestion is this, if you are a GSR please read the pamphlet entitled AGSR, may be the most important job in AA@. This little brochure really spells out the importance, responsibility and need for GSRs. If you donfiltered=t think you are an important and vital part of AA, please read the pamphlet!

      We are facing a challenging time in District 17, perhaps like the old timers faced back in the beginning of AA. The biggest difference for us is we already have established and published guidelines, traditions that are tried, tested and TRUE! All of our knowledge in AA has been passed on by the mistakes, sufferings, and fear, of all the old timers. This is not a time to sit on the sidelines complaining about the state of affairs, it is a time for us to really work hard at carrying the message.

      There are no bad times in AA, only growing times. Out of each season of grief comes growth, spiritual growth, if we choose this path. If we choose an attitude of anger, resentment, or pouting about someone, someplace or something, then we truly have lost site of the theme of AA, which is to be Joyous and serene even in the face of adversity or tragedy. I have been going to meeting in our area for just short of 24 years and could not have stayed Sober and grown spiritually (in my humble opinion) if there was not AA, good AA. It is like old Eddie B. used to say to me, Athere are no bad days, just bad attitudes. I used to scream when he would say this, pointing a finger my way. Quit talking about other people and start talking about yourself is the lesson here.

      The other thing I have miraculously retained is about getting frustrated with the speed of my recovery and the promises. I used to ask John A. Ahow long is this going to take?@, and he would softly say, Aas long as it takes@. This was great advice, because it still is one day at a time, no matter what, I needed to learn the importance of that phrase. This holds true with most things in AA, sometimes what seems to be very slow progress is actually steady spiritual growth. I am visualizing our area like this... we are growing spiritually all the time, we are practicing these principles in all our affairs, we are carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers, but it is still just one day at a time! We donfiltered=t get a decade of sobriety in one day no matter how hard we try!

      If this all sounds like AA, it is! We are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing.

      Our next GSR meeting will be held on Thursday night January 26th, at 6pm in the basement of the VA in Iron Mountain. I would like to schedule more than one meeting a month until we can get our business in order. Please come early and bring a friend or two. The next meeting will be held at another groups meeting place. We will start rotating meetings if possible.

      On the agenda will be following: (if someone needs to add to the agenda please see me)

1. Update of meeting and GSR materials handed out at last GSR meeting.

2. Vote in a new Secretary as Joe C. had to resign.

3. Web Site

4. 0900

5. Money in the district

Service is Life in AA. Steve S., District 17 DCM, P.O. Box 415, Iron Mountain, MI 49801