Unity, Recovery, Service Hudson Mohawk Berkshire District 5 Newsletter November 2017 1 The District 5 Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed as an e-mail in an effort to be more eco-friendly, as well as to reduce postage and printing costs. Please feel free to forward this e-mail, because we are unable to reach all our District 5 members, especially at the group level. If you want your contributions to be included in the newsletter, please e-mail us at [email protected]. The District 5 Newsletter Committee will do its best to make this a valuable resource for communication, and to allow the members of our District to keep in touch with each other, further strengthening the unity of our fellowship. We ask Group Chairs and GSR’s to bring this Newsletter to their Group Meetings. (Please print copies and distribute them at your groups) We hold a monthly business meeting for GSRs and committee members to discuss service needs in our district and to report on World Services on the First Friday of every month at the First Baptist Church, 45 Washington St. (corner of Railroad Pl. and Washington St., 2 blocks up from Starbucks), Saratoga Springs, at 7:00 pm. All members are welcome to attend. WELCOME TO THE HMB DISTRICT 5 NEWSLETTER HELPFUL LINKS OF INTEREST SARATOGA TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE (STAS) 518 - 587- 0407 GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE NYC http://www.aa.org/ GRAPEVINE WEBSITE http://www.aagrapevine.org/ AREA 48 HMB WEBSITE A.A. Area 48 HMB Hudson Mohawk Berkshire AREA 48 HBM DISTRICT 5 HOME PAGE District 5 Home Page HMB AREA 48 MEETING SCHEDULE SEARCH http://meetings.aahmbny.org/
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Unity, Recovery, Service Hudson Mohawk Berkshire District 5 Newsletter November 2017
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The District 5 Newsletter is published monthly and is distributed as an e-mail in an effort to be more eco-friendly, as
well as to reduce postage and printing costs. Please feel free to forward this e-mail, because we are unable to reach
all our District 5 members, especially at the group level. If you want your contributions to be included in the
newsletter, please e-mail us at [email protected]. The District 5 Newsletter Committee will do its best to
make this a valuable resource for communication, and to allow the members of our District to keep in touch with
each other, further strengthening the unity of our fellowship.
We ask Group Chairs and GSR’s to bring this Newsletter to their Group Meetings. (Please print copies and distribute them at your groups)
We hold a monthly business meeting for GSRs and committee members to discuss service needs in our district and to report on World Services on the First Friday of every month at the
First Baptist Church, 45 Washington St. (corner of Railroad Pl. and Washington St., 2 blocks up from Starbucks), Saratoga Springs, at 7:00 pm. All members are welcome to attend.
WELCOME TO THE HMB DISTRICT 5 NEWSLETTER
HELPFUL LINKS OF INTEREST
SARATOGA TELEPHONE ANSWERING SERVICE (STAS) 518 - 587- 0407
Unity, Recovery, Service Hudson Mohawk Berkshire District 5 Newsletter November 2017
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AA Principles of the Month
Step 11 Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Tradition 11
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal
anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
Concept XI
The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters
should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board
Tradition 11 Checklist
1. Do I sometimes promote AA so fanatically that I make it seem unattractive?
2. Am I always careful to keep the confidences reposed in me as an AA member?
3. Am I careful about throwing AA names around—even within the Fellowship?
4. Am I ashamed of being a recovered, or recovering, alcoholic?
5. What would AA be like if we were not guided by the ideas in Tradition Eleven? Where would I be?
Concept XI Checklist
• Are we familiar with how our General Service Board (G.S.B.) Class A and Class B trustees serve A.A.? Are we
familiar with how our other trusted servants serve A.A.?
“Slips and Human Nature” WILLIAM DUNCAN SILKWORTH, MD,
JANUARY 1947
“There is a tendency to label everything that a alcoholic may do as ’alcoholic behavior’. The truth is simply human nature. … Emotional and mental quirks are classified as symptoms of alcoholism merely because
alcoholics have them, yet those same quirks can be found among nonalcoholics, too. REPRINTED FROM THE BEST OF THE GRAPEVINE ,VOLUME 1
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC
Unity, Recovery, Service Hudson Mohawk Berkshire District 5 Newsletter November 2017
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BENEFITS OF STEP 11
The other Steps can keep most of us sober and somehow functioning.
But Step Eleven can keep us going. . . . REPRINTED FROM THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART, P. 240
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation and prayer.
Taken separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit.
But when they are logically related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life. REPRINTED FROM TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, P. 98
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Perhaps one of the greatest rewards of meditation and prayer
is the sense of belonging that comes to us. REPRINTED FROM TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, P. 105
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
But first of all we shall want sunlight; nothing much can grow in the dark.
Meditation is our step out into the sun. REPRINTED FROM AS BILL SEES IT, P. 10
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels.
We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. REPRINTED FROM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, BIG BOOK P. 85
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
We know that God lovingly watches over us.
We know that when we turn to Him, all will be well with us, here and hereafter. REPRINTED FROM TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, P. 105
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
Be quick to see where religious people are right.
Make use of what they have. REPRINTED FROM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, BIG BOOK P. 87
WITH PERMISSION OF A.A. WORLD SERVICES, INC.
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Meeting Minutes from District 5 Meeting-Date: October 6, 2017
District Meeting Opens at 7:00 P.M. with Serenity Prayer 12th Tradition is read
New GSRs introduced, newcomers welcomed. Cat – new GSR Clifton Park Young Peoples Diane – New GSR for Peaceful Happy Hour Joe – first time visitor Nicole – New GSR for Backstretch group
Motion is made to pass on reading of the minutes, seconded and passed unanimously.
DCM (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Liam can no longer fulfill records position, Laurie is stepping in for position, will stand for position
tonight Jeremy went to Area assembly, got a few new officers, delegate, chair. All positions are filled at
Area level
Treasurers (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Ken notes that there have been no changes since last month, everything is good. Will update
detailed financials next month.
Records keeper (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Laurie notes that she has access to email now Laurie notes that there is a deadline to changes for next year’s meeting book is 12/1. Update with
exact dates.o Order deadline is 11/1!
S.T.A.S. (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Ken notes that there is 1 opening Wed noon-6pm. 518-728-8926 if you want to volunteer. David will update treasury when he is back.
Corrections “Women’s” (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report):
Corrections “Men’s” (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Dean notes that all is well. Still trying to get people who have recently been oriented into the
schedule. Other than that, all is going well.
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CPC-Cooperation With The Professional Community (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report:
After the CPC/PI committee was given a rather hefty check at the district meeting last month, wewere able to purchase a huge amount of literature from GSO. This literature will be used toprovide information about AA to those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession,to those these professionals serve, and to the general public.
We did follow up on the call from Friends of Recovery about their event held October 1 & 2. Wewere able to set up a table at their conference and at least 350 pieces of literature were picked up
Newsletter (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Nothing to report
Bridging The Gap (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Nothing to report
Treatment (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: John K. will be taking over after tonight for about 3 months. Have already done knowledge transfer
for him. Only opening is for a female Tuesday night in Conifer (two female speakers). Third Tuesday of
month, 6:45pm
Functions/Roundtable (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Kim notes that last month they had sponsorship roundtable, 50 people showed up $500 donation from Time to Yourself group. $50 from Greenwich group. Balance right now is
about $1886.48 Halloween flyers are available. 10/28, 5:30 open, wings and pizza at 6, speaker meeting at 7,
dancing 8-11. $5 suggested donation. Costume contest, and baked goods sale.o Need help with set up, clean up, kitchen.
Will have Alcathon flyers starting next montho Alcathon is about $1k per Alcathon. Need money.
Grapevine (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report:
Accessibility/Special Needs (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Nothing new to report
Service Development (Present) (Not Present) (Nothing To Report) Report: Nothing new to report
GSR Reports/Questions/Concerns
Susan notes that the St. Clements meeting has changed to 7pm on Friday nights, needs support. Used to be8pm, now it is 7pm.
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Announcements
Dave notes that they changed their time from 8 to 7 on Sunday evenings. Escypaa meets every Tuesday at 7:30pm, 10 Western Ave in Albany. Young People’s Service Committee.
o Having Halloween party on 10/28o Conference 11/9-12o Castle party lock-in at 139 Stockton ave in Walton NY 10/13, overnighto Escypaa4.org
Area 48 Convention is first weekend in November, 11/3-11/5. In Fishkill. Tonight is the deadline to book aroom. Area level committees will be there.
Old Business
D5 Service Manualo Functions are good with what was originally in there.
New Business Andy notes that we are now taking nominations or standing for district positions that rotate out at
the end of the year.o Records, Secretary, Corrections, Grapevine, Accessibilities. If you haven’t done a full two
years, you can stand again. Records – Laurie stands and gives her Service Resume. Passes 15-0 Alt Records – no one stands Secretary – no one stands Alt Secretary – no one stands Corrections Men – Dean notes that Jack H. will likely stand for this next month. Alt. Corrections Men – no one stands Corrections Women – Alida notes that Emily will be stepping down. No one stands Alt Corrections Women – No one stands Grapevine – Kat stands and gives her service resume. Passes unanimously. Alt. Grapevine – No one stands Accessibilities – Tim stands gives service resume. Passes unanimously Alt Accessibilities – Tim isn’t sure if his alternate wants to continue; Kim responds that she will be
stepping up again.
Open Positions Alt Service Development Committee – Still no committee description Alt Records Person
