lsco steering committee serenity news · we are so grateful for your time and attention, your...
TRANSCRIPT
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Trusted Servants LSCO STEERING COMMITTEE
Chairperson Mike H.
Vice Chair Nancy S.
Past Chair Joe H.
Secretary Cathy H.
Treasurer Mike A.
Members at Large Catherine R. & Greg M.
LSCO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
12 Step Chair/ Speaker Exchange Mark H.
Merchandise Deb W.
Newsletter Liz and Lee S.
Birthday Colleen L.
Service Rhonda H.
Web Chair Carlyn U.
Unity Chair Vacant
Tech Committee Chair Alicia R.
CORRECTIONS COMMITTEE
Chairpersons Jim M. & Lee C.
Secretary Katie F.
Treasurer Patti D.
DISTRICT 7
DCM 7a Julia H.
DCM 7b Lee C.
Registrar Alicia R.
Secretary Pam B.
Treasurer Bill C.
DISTRICT 7 CHAIRS
Accessibilities Patsy O.
Archive Staci S.
CPC/PI Vacant
District Liaison Pam M.
Finance Vacant
Grapevine Vacant
Literature Rhonda H.
Treatment Joe H.
Webmaster Ron O.
Where to Send
Contributions The following is a suggested guideline of how to
divide your group’s donations and where to send.
50% Lake-Sumter Central Office
2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg, FL 34748
Please include group name on check.
NEW: Donate Electronically
Look for the donation button at
aalakesumter.com
10% District 7 Treasurer
1576 Bella Cruz Dr., Suite 321 The Villages, FL 32159
Please include group name on check.
10% NFAC—Area 14
PO Box 10094 Jacksonville, FL 32247
Please include Group Service Number and “District 7” on check.
30% GSO
PO Box 459 New York, NY 10163
Please include Group Service Number on check.
Pink Can Donations
Lake/Sumter Corrections c/o Patti D.
2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg FL 34748
Please include group name on check.
Self-Support: Where Money
and Spirituality Mix 1
Serenity News AUGUST 2020
Lake-Sumter Central Office
2113 Citrus Blvd, Suite AA Leesburg, Florida 34748
www.aalakesumter.com [email protected]
Phone: 352-360-0960
Inside this issue:
Alcohol Anonymous, COVID-19 and Our 7th Tradition & Financial Reports
2-3
Special Events 4-5
Central Office Activities 6
By The Way... 7
AA History 8
Just for Fun 9
District 7 10
Birthdays 11
Where to Send Contributions
12
Trusted Servants 12
*A.A. Newsletters have blanket permission to use AAWS content provided credit is given. As such, Conference
approved literature contained in this newsletter is reprinted with permission of AA World Services, Inc.
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Alcoholics Anonymous, COVID-19 and Our Seventh Tradition
June 19, 2020
Dear A.A. friends,
We in A.A. – here at G.S.O., along with the rest of the world – continue to experience an unprecedented situation. Without question, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Fellowship, including our organized service structure, is facing enormous challenges, locally and globally. For many of us, the most promi-nent example is that, for the first time in the 85-year history of our Fellowship, we are navigating the lack of face-to-face meetings. While we have found creative ways to allow for the vital interaction between one alcoholic and another, and welcoming newcomers daily, it is clear that the health crisis has other far reaching consequences.
As we all adapt to the present reality of digital meetings, the question now is, “How do we responsibly practice self-support, our Seventh Tradition?” As we can no longer pass a physical basket, we are work-ing to find ways to support the Fellowship at all levels, from our groups to Intergroups and Central Offic-es, from our Districts and Areas to the General Service Office itself.
The reality is that even though meetings, Twelfth Step services and operations have shifted to a virtual environment, expenses continue to accumulate during this crisis, which underscores the importance of practicing the Seventh Tradition. Through this crisis, however, we have witnessed the many ways in which the entire A.A. Fellowship has come together to provide ongoing support. Among them:
• Many home groups are still paying rent even though their meetings cannot convene. They are also
providing online meetings on platforms that may have associated costs.
• Intergroup/Central Offices are still stocking needed literature and fielding Twelfth Step calls, redi-
recting A.A. members and those looking for recovery to online meetings.
• Area-level committees are working to keep channels open between the Fellowship and the dele-
gates and board members that make up our General Service Conference, as well as to do public information, corrections and other service.
• G.S.O. in New York is continuing to support all levels of service. Literature still needs to be pub-
lished and distributed, calls need to be answered, online platforms still need to be updated, and support operations sustained.
In an effort to keep the membership informed during this challenging time we would like to share a brief three-minute video update from Leslie Backus, the Class A (nonalcoholic) treasurer of our General Ser-vice Board. https://vimeo.com/430834698
Please feel free to pass this information along to members and groups in your Area to watch on their own time or to play before their online meetings.
We are so grateful for your time and attention, your dedicated service and – always – your generous support. Yours sincerely, in fellowship,
G. Gregory T.
General Manager 11
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS Respectfully Submitted by Liz S.
5 years 20 years
Dean S. Aug 08 Paul T. Aug 18
Pat B. Aug 15 25 years
Barbara McK. Aug 18 Lee C. Aug 22
Drew J. Aug 18 Bonnie V. Aug 28
10 years 30 years
Debbie H. Aug 04 Al K. Aug 31
TJ L. Aug 04 Mary Jane K. Aug 14
Jeremiah H. Aug 07 35 years
John N. Aug 10 Marc C. Aug 19
Tyre F. Aug 12 Jackie M. Aug 20
Adrian L. Aug 18 Ann D. Aug 21
Billy H. Aug 18 40 years
Kjersti H. Aug 15 Dottie G. Aug 10
Fereana B. Aug 19 45 years
Tom C. Aug 19 Mary G. Aug 07
15 years 55 years
Teresa J. Aug 14 Phil Aug 15
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District 7 for Lake & Sumter is your connection to the whole world of AA!
I am responsible … When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.
Accessibilities is a District 7 Service Committee whose mission is to explore, develop and offer resources to make the A.A. Message and participation in the A.A. Program accessible to everyone who reaches out for it. This includes hospi-talized, shut-in or home bound A.A. members, or those in an Assisted Care Facil-ity. If you have a friend who is already sober, or know of a friend cannot get to meetings due to a medical condition, please alert the Sunshine Committee and we can bring an AA meeting to their residence. We can help those who no longer drive or don't have transportation.*
If you need help or wish to join our Accessibilities or Sunshine Committee, you can:
Fill out a form online at: lakecountyaa.com/accessibility.html
OR – Email at: [email protected]
OR – call Central Office at (352) 360-0960
Please pick up our flyer, or visit our webpage for more of our activities and re-sources. Your faithful servant, Patsy O'Connor, District 7 Accessibilities Chair [email protected]
* these services are unfortunately on hold during Covid-19, but are planned to resume as soon as it would be safe to do so. We would however be happy to call any member in need.
District 7 Financial Reports:
https://www.lakecountyaa.com/uploads/3/4/4/1/34415702/mayl_2020_financials.pdf
https://www.lakecountyaa.com/uploads/3/4/4/1/34415702/may_2020_donations.pdf
SPOTLIGHT
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AUGUST GROUP DONATIONS
August 2020 Corrections Committee Report
Some news:
On Saturday August 1st, there was a National Zoom meeting for those who work in Corrections.
Many important and interesting ideas were shared. We were able to hear from inmates on how inval-uable inside meetings and contact with AA has been for them. We learned from volunteers who take meetings inside to Sing Sing and many other well known Correctional facilities. There was excellent sharing on how to overcome the challenges of sponsorship in the correctional setting. Our Correc-tions Committee for Lake and Sumter will be receiving information on how to approach our Admin-istrators for consideration of zoom meetings for inmates.. As always - this is a work in progress.
Corrections work has been very active in Lake-Sumter. Now, in the age of Covid, we are in commu-
nication with the Administrators. We’re ready & willing to go back inside, when we are allowed. In District 7, we typically support 18 meetings each week into 5 correctional institutions, serving ap-proximately 280 AA’s with 45 volunteers: Lake County Detention, Sumter County Detention, SCI - State Correctional Lake, SCI - State Correctional Sumter and Coleman Federal Prison. The Correc-tions committee works to keep good relations with the various institution administrators & we spon-sor AA meetings for incarcerated Alcoholics.
Learn more about service opportunities @ Corrections page. Or contact Lee C. correc-
[email protected] -or- Jim M. [email protected]
Financial report: https://www.lakecountyaa.com/uploads/3/4/4/1/34415702/corrections_committee_2020c.pdf
Central Office Financial Report Is Available For Viewing At:
aalakesumter.com
NAME OF GROUP DONATION
Came To Believe 20.00
Morning Eye Opener 105.39
New Life 130.00
Okey Dokey 80.00
Sober Sunset Speakers 307.50
Summerfield Group 75.00
The James Club 40.00
Together We Can 53.00
Triangle Breakfast Group 136.08
Usual Suspects 40.00
TOTAL 986.97
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Please call or email for any special event posted online that you are in-terested in or have registered for to confirm … as many are cancelling or postponing due to COVID-19.
SPECIAL EVENTS & NOTES
25th Annual
Southwest Women to Women
Conference
AUGUST 21-23, 2020
DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON
HOTEL RICHMOND—MIDLOTHIAN
1022 KOGER CENTE BLVD
RICHMOND, VA 23235
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT
ROBIN S. 804-687-8584
SAVE THE DATE
2020 Gratitude Diner
...in the making…
Saturday, November 7th
Doors open 5:00 Dinner at 6:00 Speaker (s) around 7:00
...More will be revealed…
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JUST FOR FUN
Across
5. almost never
6. stages of a process
7. free from fraud or deception
Down
1. sound mental health
2. refused to proceed
3. extremely thorough
4. forward or onward movement
HOW IT WORKS
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AA HISTORY Somewhere along the road on my AA journey, I felt a deep yearning to know more about the events and characters involved in the evolution of our wonderful fellowship. Along the way I discovered the book “Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous” by Ernest Kurtz. Considered by many to be the definitive account of the beginnings of our 12 step program, countless hours were spent researching his doctoral dissertation.
Many times I have found myself repeating historical tidbits that I may have heard or read only to find later that it conflicted with another version of the story. In our age of information just how does one search for the true story? The best answer to this question I have found so far is given in a 2013 interview of Mr. Kurtz regard-ing the search for truth not only about Alcoholics Anonymous but all history. The gold standard, according to Kurtz, is to find two totally unrelated sources that tell the same story.
This fascinating interview could be seen on Youtube at https://youtu.be/2-IyzinVRq8
If you are anything like me and wish to research AA history, I will list just a few of the sites that I enjoy.
AA.org (I think this is a reliable source. LOL)
williamwhitepapers.com (A LOT of information, SOME of which is AA)
Silkworth.net -Lee S.
THE SERENITY PRAYER
SIGNIFICANT DATES IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST
-August 3, 1954, Brinkley S. gets sober at Towns Hosp. after 50th detox
-August 8, 1879, Dr. Bob S. born in St Johnsbury, VT
-August 11, 1938, Akron and NY members begin writing stories for Big Book
-August 16, 1939, Dr. Bob and Sister Ignatia admit 1st alcoholic to St. Thomas Hosp. in Akron, OH
-August 26, 1941, Bill writes Dr Bob to tell him Works Publishing has been incorporated
-August 1934 (exact date unknown) Cebra G. and either Rowland H. or Shep C. persuade judge (who was Cebra’s father) to release Ebby T to them.
-August 1981, Big Book sales top 3 million
Ruth Hock received a newspaper clipping of the Serenity Prayer that had been printed in the New York
Herald Tribune in June 1941. Ruth and many A.A. members in New York and elsewhere all immediate-
ly felt this prayer's relevancy to A.A.'s principles. Soon, the prayer was printed on cards and was being
passed out to A.A. members everywhere. The prayer has since become a central part of A.A.- heard in
meetings around the world. The prayer's authorship is generally attributed to well-known Protestant
theologian Dr. Reinhold Neibuhr.(those doing historical research will find that this is also debatable)
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SPECIAL EVENTS & NOTES
BIKE WEEK
“FRIENDS OF BILL”
NOVEMBER 13-15, 2020
105 East Main Street
Leesburg, FL
(Beacon College—Left side entrance)
Meeting times
Fri & Sat 10am 12 pm 2 pm 4 pm 6 pm & 8 pm
Sunday at 12 pm
Hospitality & Merchandise room open
Fri & Sat 9 am—10 pm
Sunday 10 am—2 pm
For additional information call: 352 504 1953
CALLING VOLUNTEERS
There is a growing need in Lake Sumter Central Office for AAs with tech/IT skills. If you are interested in helping LSCO as we become more and more digital, or just interested in helping a fellow alcoholic to understand how to use available technology to stay better con-nected to AA, then we could use your help! Please consider being a part of the new LSCO Technology Commit-tee. Sign up now! For questions or to sign up, email [email protected]
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JULY CENTRAL OFFICE WEBSITE ACTIVITIES
# of Users _1189__
# of New users _583__
# of Sessions __1189__
_737___ people accessed our website with their smartphones!
CENTRAL
OFFICE
ACTIVITES!
LAKE SUMTER CENTRAL OFFICE
NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
TUESDAY-THURSDAY-SATURDAY
10:00 AM — 2:00 PM
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO ANSWER PHONES
MONDAY-WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY
10:00 AM—2:00 PM
Contact Central Office at 352-360-0960
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DONATION ENVELOPES CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE
Have any comments or questions relating to the SERENITY NEWS?
Please email us at:
and we will get back with you soon!
BY THE WAY….