DISTRICT NEWSLETTER CON'T... page 2
Archives Committee Chair report: John has contacted every group (except Felch) with a history form. A copy of the form is included in the minutes. Does anyone go to the Thursday night Felch meeting? Yeah … Jen’s husband Jay J. attends that meeting & will bring them a history form. Sharon K. is the “Ala-non mama” in Iron River, & will be contacted to save the Alanon history. Jen will contact McKay G. to offer this access to IM Ala-non as well. John also made a map for finding the district office. Filed lots of stuff today including group history from Pembine. Betty: their group has a booklet with old-timers names. Can we get a copy of this booklet for our archives? Betty will see about this. Debbie: We don’t want names do we? Yeah, probably first names & last initial.
Public Information Committee Chair report: Members of The P. I. committee visited the Amasa Sunday night group, as well as the Crystal Falls group & discussed the issue of newcomer that has been court ordered to get their ideas. We also had a meeting with the Public prosecutor & the Probation Officer in Crystal Falls to see where we can be of help to the judicial system by working closely with them to serve the alcoholic. We left some envelopes filled with information … (Pamphlets, a Welcome letter, & meeting list) A P. I. committee member also attended Drug Court & had a meeting with the judge, public prosecutor, probation officers as well as counselors, & shared with them that we have temporary sponsors available for the newcomer that has been court ordered. Monday night meeting is bleeding in Crystal Falls & on a previous visit 4 weeks ago, I offered Floyd my help in becoming a member of that group to help serve the newcomer. So I want to make it clear that I am not running that meeting. I am just there to help the newcomer & to be a temporary sponsor/guide for the newcomer. I also got telephone numbers from ladies in Iron Mountain that are available as temporary sponsors. I have made a promise to the public prosecutor & probations officer to drive every Monday night to Crystal Falls. Attendance is low & for the last three meetings, only 2 people showed up. Last week I was by myself & one person (an old timer) showed up for ten minutes then took off to hunting camp. That is ok. I will keep on going because I know that at the right time the court ordered people will show up. The Dickinson Hospital was visited & we spoke to the social workers. Due to their policy we have to get cleared through their system to be authorized to be let in. The only way we can help the patient is by supplying the social workers with closed envelopes with the “Dear Patient” letter that they can pass on to the patient. We give them a meeting list with three contact people’s numbers for the patient to call. Male patients can call men & females can call ladies in recovery, if they request us to come see them. The P. I. Committee has made a decision to let all the meetings know that we would like to get lists with a few names of people to help do Twelve Step work on a volunteer basis. If the patient decides to seek help by calling one of the three names then we will take action to find another alcoholic to join & go do a Twelve Step call. The P. I committee will meet on Dec 10 again with the social workers. As committee we have discussed the list of literature that we need & I have forwarded it to Jen. (Jen hasn’t received it yet) It is an excellent idea if we can get a literature committee together & we as committee would like for Alaska Joe & Erica to sit on that committee if they see fit because we see a lot of potential in both of them & their eagerness & willingness to serve is a blessing to enjoy. We as P. I. committee will only gain from them as well as District 17. Cliff is hoping that this district office will evolve & progress into volunteer-manned, open certain (business) hours, stocked with literature. Gary: Remember that this isn’t the big city & we don’t have the people to come in & hang-out. For now, the literature committee idea is tabled.
Thank you, James B. P. I. Chair, Dist. 17
New business: Tabled till next month. Ken: suggestion that each committee meet prior to the meetings so we don’t take up meeting time.
0900 AA Hotline: 63 calls (with ~12 hang-ups)
District 17 central office & website: 95 hits this month. Still need speakers & a microphone. Gary’s got a microphone & a couple of cheap speakers … He’ll check & maybe will donate his?!
Don: Some symptoms of Inner Peace:
An unmistakable ability to enjoy this moment …
Loss of interest in judging others …
Loss of interest in judging yourself …
Loss of interest in conflict …
Loss of ability to worry …
Frequent attacks of smiling …
Increasing tendency to let things happen …
Increased susceptibility to love.
May you all be infected with a terrific affliction of peace this Thanksgiving!
Thanks Don! \
The meeting closed with The Lord’s Prayer.
Jen j., district 17 sec.