sober NEWS Autumn 2014

sober NEWS
New York Inter-Group Office
307 Seventh Avenue, Room 201
New York, New York 10001-6007
(212) 647-1680 (914) 949-1200
(212) 647-1648 Fax
www.newyorkintergroup.org
sobernews@newyorkintergroup.org
The opinions expressed herein
are those of the authors. They
do not reflect those of NYIG, nor
of A.A. as a whole.
WANTED:
Phone Volunteers!
NYIG phone volunteers
are an integral part of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
They are the voice of attraction to the new person calling for help. It
may be their first step toward a new way of life in
the program of A.A. Call
or come by the New York
Inter-Group office for an
orientation.
Editorial: Gabby W.
Production: Michael B.
Publication: Bill F.
Autumn 2014
A LETTER FROM THE NYIG TREASURER
Dear Alcoholic Anonymous,
Thank you for your continued
support of the Inter-Group Association of Alcoholics Anonymous
of New York. Without your generous group and personal contributions, New York Inter-Group
(NYIG) would cease to exist.
Thank you also to the Inter-Group
Delegates for all of your hard
work. Thank you as well to those
who have graciously offered
their time to volunteer for NYIG.
There truly is no experience like
being the first person that an active alcoholic ever speaks to concerning A.A. and recovery. Those
who have volunteered know how
it feels to literally save someone’s life and it is an experience
that we won’t want you to miss!
The NYIG office answers calls
from thousands of alcoholics
each year including those active
alcoholics fortunate enough to
find a moment of courage to ask
for help for the first time. We do
not know how many thousands
of lives have literally been saved
simply by using your donations to
pay the NYIG office phone bill.
If you consider the fact that most of
those new A.A. members will, over
the years, help other alcoholics get
1
sober, who in turn will help more
alcoholics get sober, NYIG’s impact is estimated to be in the many
tens of thousands. But this is only
a small part of the work that NYIG
does. Among other things, NYIG:
• Coordinates complex events
including the Bill W. Dinner, Corrections & Treatment Facilities Committee Literature Fund Dinner,
Old-timer’s Meeting, and the
Big Meeting to name a few.
• Provides groups and individuals a means to conveniently purchase literature and other A.A. items.
• Donates literature to teams
that bring the A.A. message directly to alcoholics
in prisons and institutions.
• Manages, organizes, and updates details for the thousands
of meetings in the greater New
York region and produces the
New York Meeting List (hard
copy and via NYIG website).
• Finances and coordinates Area
Forums and information sessions.
• Manages the Faithful Fivers and
Anniversary Club programs.
Continued on Next Page
A LETTER FROM THE NYIG TREASURER
upcoming events
brooklyn corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
103 Quincy Street, Basement
Btwn. Franklin & Classon Avenues
Brooklyn, NY 11238
SEPTEMBER 27TH
1pm
bridging the gap
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 8TH
6:30pm
queens corrections &
treatment facilities
committee meeting
Elmhurst Hospital, Rm. A115
79-01 Broadway
Queens, NY 11373
OCTOBER 9TH
7pm
Corrections & Treatment
Facilities Literature
Packing
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 11TH
10am
Spanish Language
Corrections & Treatment
Facilities Committee
Meeting
Spanish Inter-Group Office
2234 First Avenue @ 120th Street
New York, NY 10029
OCTOBER 11TH
3pm
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
In addition, the NYIG Steering Committee recently voted to allocate funds
to revamp the NYIG website to make it more user-friendly, effective, and
efficient. There will be more information to come on this subject in the
coming months!
Over the last several years, NYIG, under the helm of the Steering Committee and the Executive Secretary, has made significant improvements to the
organization. The team has reduced expenses and streamlined processes to
more effectively utilize your donations to carry the A.A. message. Approximately 80% of NYIG’s budget is financed via group and personal contributions. Each year rent, electricity, phone, internet, insurance, audit expenses, postage, and other operating expenses continue to increase. In order to
meet budgeted expenses for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, NYIG must receive
more revenue from group and personal contributions than it did last year.
If your group contributes regularly to NYIG, we thank you. We also kindly
ask that your group re-evaluate its distribution proportions applied to excess funds and consider increasing the percentage that goes to NYIG. If
you group does not yet contribute to NYIG, we respectfully request that you
discuss making regular, recurring donations at your next business meeting.
We also encourage you to make personal donations, join the Anniversary
Club, and become a Faithful Fiver! Donating to NYIG is one of the best
ways to help support A.A. work in the greater New York area and beyond.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon as we continue along
this miraculous journey…
Best regards,
Matthew K.
Treasurer, New York Inter-Group Steering Committee
Bronze Anniversary Coins!
Now Available
from NYIG!
Starting
November 2014!
Please Contact the
New York Inter-Group
office for details.
2
Faithful Fivers !
NYIG’s 7th Tradition Gratitude Plan
Express your gratitude for sobriety, and for the fellowship.
Make a voluntary contribution of $5 (or more) every month.
Your contribution supports NYIG’s continued effort to
carry the A.A. message of recovery and hope to alcoholics in the Greater New York Area who still suffer.
For details, please contact the New York Inter-Group office.
Counting
Days in NYC
By Matt S.
I always knew that I lived somewhere
special. AA taught me that it’s true.
My therapist had been trying to get
me to quit drinking, and go to A.A.,
for years. But, it wasn’t until that
business trip to San Franciso that I finally made the decision to get sober.
When I came home, I knew that I
needed to find a meeting. So I scouted out meetings in the West Village,
where I’ve lived for the last 16 years.
On day 3, I went to a meeting at Perry Street. I was so uncomfortable
with my newfound sobriety that
my skin was crawling and my eyes
couldn’t focus. When I raised my
hand to share my day count, I felt so
welcome when everyone clapped.
12th St Workshop, there is always a
convenient meeting when I need one.
My favorite meeting, ART, is on
Sunday nights. I like it because I’m a
writer, and the group focuses on sobriety related issues for creative types.
Red Door is another great meeting in my neighborhood. I like
some variety, so I also like to randomly open the meeting book
and go exploring on weekends.
Where
could I
else
but
NYC
do this so easily?
This is probably the first time in 25
years that I’ve put together 70 days.
I never thought that I would be proud
of my day count, but I am. The
sound of the group clapping for me is
the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.
That feeling of acceptance has continued as I’ve counted days and
done my best to accomplish a 90 in
90. As of this writing I have 70 days
and I’ve never felt healthier or more
clear-headed in the past 25 years.
I cherish my sobriety and I know
that no one can take my days away
from me. I listen to other members
share their day count and I clap
too, because I want to share this
feeling with them. When people
share their anniversaries of 1, 2, 5,
10, even 35 years, I smile because
now I know where to set my sights.
I am lucky to be getting sober in
the West Village because there are
so many great meetings around me.
Between Midnite, Perry St, and The
With so many meetings at my
disposal, I know I can achieve a
lifetime of sobriety. What greater gift could this city give me?
3
upcoming events
Continued From Page 2
Group Relations
Committee Meeting
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 14TH
6:30pm
telephone volunteers
committee meeting
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 15TH
6:30pm
manhattan corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 16TH
6:30pm
Staten Island Area Forum
Immanuel Lutheran Church
2018 Richmond Avenue
Btwn. Rockland Avenue
& Signs Road
Staten Island, NY 10314
OCTOBER 16TH
7:30pm
BRONX CORRECTIONS &
TREATMENT FACILITIES
COMMITTEE MEETING
St. Nicholas of Tolentine
Fordham Road & Andrews Avenue
Bronx, NY 10468
OCTOBER 17TH
7pm
4th Edition
45 Solutions
7th Tradition
A Day At A Time
A Day At A Time-Astoria
A New Person
A Room of One’s Own
A.A. Vet in the Bronx
A.A. at Sunrise
A.A. is Your Way
A.A. Sunrise Group Brooklyn
Abingdon Square in Chelsea
Adventures in Sobriety
Afternoon Workshop
Alive Again
Alive and Stepping
Amazing Grace
Amsterdam
Another Alternative
Army Plaza
Artists in Recovery
As Bill Sees It
Astoria Group
Astoria Topic
Atlantic Group
Attitude Adjustment
Avenue B Clean and Dry
Awakening Group
Back to Basics
Bagels and Big Book
Bayside Group
Bedford
Beekman Place
Belle Harbor
Bergen Group
Best of Times
Better Way
Between Shows
Bk Women in Recovery
Bleeding Deacons
Breakfast Club
Gratitude List
The Following A.A. Groups Donated to
New York Inter-Group in 2014
Breaking Through
Bridge to Sobriety
Bronxville Group
Bronxville-Asbury Group
Brooklyn Central
Brooklyn Sober Agnostics
Bushwick Madison Group
Caduceus
Cambria Heights Group
Crossroads Group
Crown Heights
D.I.V.A.
Daily Dozen
Decker Step
District 49
District 603
Down to Earth
Dulces 24
Came to Believe
Carlyle Group
Carnegie Hill Group
Castle Hill
Catch the Spirit
Caucus
Central Awareness
Central Group
Central Park West
Chapter 5
Chelsea Nooners
Chinatown
City Group
City Island
Classen Hall
Clean and Dry
Clinton Lafayette Group
Clinton-Carroll
Cobble Hill Group
College Point Malba
Common Solution
Commuter’s Special Group
Conscious Contact Group
Co-op City
Courage to Change (Brooklyn)
Crescent Group
Crestwood Gardens
Dyckman
Early Morning Sobriety
Early Risers
East Harlem
East Meets West
End of the Line
Exchange Views
Family Afterwards Group
Fast Break
Fellowship at Noon
Fifth Avenue Step
Fireside Group
First Drink Group
First Step Group
First Things First
Flushing
Footprints
Forest Hills Workshop
Fort Tilden Feelings
Friday Central
Friday Downtown
Friday Night Women’s Group
Friday Nighters
Gardens Group
Gateway
Getting Away With It
Glendale Group
4
Gratitude List
The Following A.A. Groups Donated to
New York Inter-Group in 2014
Glenwood Group
Gotham Group of A.A.
Grace on Broadway
Gramercy
Grand Central Group
Grateful Group
Greater Recovery
Green Steeple
Greenpoint
Just for Today
Just Trying
K.I.S.S.
Kings Night Workers
LAX
Last Chance
Learning to Live
Lennox Hill
Lex 80 Step
Greenpoint Day
Greenwich Village
Greenwood Group
Grupo Mi Salvacion
Gun Hill
Happy, Joyous and Free
Harbor Island Group
Hard Heads
Reach for Recovery
Have a Desire
Hell’s Kitchen Group
Helping Hand Group
Helping Hand Group (Elmhurst)
Henry Hudson Parkway
High Noon
High Noon at One
Hilltop
Hole in the Donut
How It Works
I Am All In
In The Garden
Integrity
Into Action
It’s Guaranteed
It’s Possible to Live Clean & Dry
Jackson Heights
Jaywalkers
Lighten Up
Lighthouse Group
Living Clean and Sober
Living Now
Living Room
Living Today
Lunch Bunch
Lunchtime Beginner’s Meeting
Mail Order
Marble Hill
Marine Park Group
Men at Work
Message on Metro
Metropolis Men’s Group
Mid-day Two for One
Middle Village
Midnite Group
Morning Medicine
Morning Reflections
Morningside Heights Beginners
Morrisania
Never Had a Legal Drink
New But West
New Choices
New Group
New Hope
New Leaf
5
New Life
New Life in Sobriety
New South Bronx
New Way of Living Group
Night Light
Ninth Avenue Group of A.A.
Now Matter What Group
Noon Unity
Not A Minute Too Soon
Not Guilty Group
Nu But West
Nu Garden
NYU: Now You Understand
Oakland Gardens
Old Flatbush
Once Again
One Flight Up
Orchard Beach
Oxford Group
Park Bench Group
Park Slope Womens Park West
Pass It On---Brooklyn
Basing the Bar
Pelham Women’s Discussion Group
Perry Street Workshop
Plaza Hour
Plug in the Jug
Potpourri
Power for the Hour
Powerless Group
Prime Time NYC
Promises (SI)
Promises Two fir One
Prospect Group
Queens Village
Rainbow Room Group
Reach for Recovery
Reaching Out
Reality Check
Recover to Discover
Recovery at 1 PM
Gratitude List
The Following A.A. Groups Donated to
New York Inter-Group in 2014
Recovery Room
Reliance
Renewal West
Renaissance
Rhinelander
Ridgewood
Rockaway Big Book
Rockaway Clean and Dry
Rockaway Pavilion Group
Spirituality in Recovery
St. Albans Group
St. Marks Big Book Brooklyn
Starting Point
SI Friday Night Big Book
Statler at Noon
Step Discussion Group
Step Into Action
Steps 3 and 11
Turning Point
Twelve at Six
Twelve to Life
Twenty-Two Below
Upon Awakening
Uptown Big Book Workshop
Village Sober (Over & Under 60)
Walk-In
Washington Heights
Room for Improvement
Rude Awakening
S.O.B.E.R.
Safe Haven
Sane and Sober
Saturday Beginners
Seeing is Believing
Serenity on Fifth
Seven at Seven
Seventy-Ninth Street Workshop
She Found A Solution
Sheeps by the Bay
Sheridan Square Follies
Show Up for Life
Simply Saturday
Slope Open Discussion
Sober Feelings
Sober Living
Sober Sunday
Sobriety on the Square
Sobriety on West Tremont
Sobriety With Love
Soho
S.O.S.
South Jamaica Group
Spiritual Solutions
Steps to the Stars
Stick With the Winners
Sugar Hill
Sunday at Six
Sunday Morning
Sunday Morning Meditation
Sunday Night Recovery
Sunday Nooners
Sunday on 70th
Sunday Solution
Sunlight of the Spirit
Surrender
Survivors Group
T.G.I.F Group
The Family Afterward
The Maple Hill Group
Thursday Niters
Tightrope in the Slope
Til Tuesday
Top of the Hill
Tremont
Tribeca
Triangle Group
Trinity
Tudor
Turn It Over
Way of Life
We Can
We Humanists
West 58 Street Step
Wholsale Miracles
Williamsburg Morning H.P.
Women in Recovery
Women in the Spirit
Women Living Sober
Women Over 40
Women Together
Women’s 11th Step Group
Women’s Beginning Literature
Woodhaven Group
Woodlawn Women to Women
Woodside Group
Woodside Keep It Green
Woodside Wisdom
Woodside Women’s Meditation
Yes Group
Yorktown Heights Early Birds
You Get What You Need
Young and Old
Young Brooklyn
Young People in Recovery
6
Youth Enjoying Sobriety
At eleven o’clock on the Saturday
morning of June 7, 2014, a hundred
alcoholics huddled together in the
overly air-conditioned auditorium
of P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village for
the Quarterly Delegates Meeting.
This was Bill B.’s last meeting as
Chairperson of the New York Inter-Group’s Steering Committee.
As such, there was a somber note
in his voice as he opened the meeting with a Moment of Silence,
followed by the Serenity Prayer.
Then, Bill introduced the newly
elected Volunteer Committee Chairperson, Michael P. Also introduced
was the newly elected Manhattan Area Representative, Michael
B. (no relation to this reporter).
This was also Parker P.’s last meeting as Treasurer. Before giving his
report, he introduced his replacement, Matthew K, whose term begins on July 1, 2014. Parker also
reminded the delegates that he will
stay on as an advisor to Matthew, in
order to ensure a smooth transition.
In general, the financial health of
Inter-Group seems to be on the
upswing. According to an Auditor’s Report for the year ending
July 2013, NYIG is “financially
strong, but less so than in 2012.”
Then came the reports from the Area
Representatives. Tom T., from Staten Island, announced the Staten Island Share-a-Day, to be held on July
21, 2014. Then, he reminded the delegates that elections for a new Area
Representative will be held at the
next area forum on June 19, 2014.
Carl, from the Bronx, introduced
Jonathan B. and Lorraine C., the
Co-Chairs of the Planning Committee for the 2014 Bill W. Dinner,
which the Bronx is hosting. The CoChairs presented the official flier for
The Delegates
Debrief
By Michael B.
the event (see page 9). Then, Carl
reminded the delegates that the
Bronx Area Forum will be chaired
by Cynthia, from Serenity on Fifth.
Saara, from Brooklyn, pointed
out the need for informational
workshops about NYIG, to be
held within her borough, either
at meetings or area forums. She
then announced the Brooklyn
Share-a-Day, to be held at Bishop Carney High School on June
21, 2014, from 8 am to 5 pm.
Michael B., from Manhattan, introduced Kathleen Mc., the Chairperson of the Planning Committee
for the 2014 Big Meeting, which
Manhattan is hosting. Kathleen announced the three speakers for the
event: Mike H., from Park West in
Brooklyn; Amy Lynn, from Big
Book Pioneers in Queens; and Mike
S., from Midnite in Manhattan.
Elyssa R., from Queens, announced the possibility of changing the date, time, and/or location
of the next area forum. The goal
would be to encourage participation by making it more convenient for delegates to attend the
forum. On that note, she asked
all the Queens delegates to confer with her after the meeting.
After which came reports from
the various sub-committees. First,
Bill B. read a report from Chassie,
head of the Corrections and Treatment Facilities Committee, who
was not present. In this report,
Chassie thanked all those who
had attended the annual CTFC
conference. She also reminded
7
the delegates about the upcoming
CTFC Dinner Dance Benefit at Antun’s Restaurant on July 26, 2014.
Dorothy D., chairperson of the Volunteers Committee announced that
there are now captains for every night
of the week, in order to help manage
the schedule of volunteers. The goal,
as always, is to make sure that someone is there to answer the phones.
Liz J, chairperson of the Group Relations Committee, presented a slate
of groups to be ratified by the delegates, so that they may be added to
the meeting list. After a hearty discussion, the slate was accepted by
the delegates (see page 12). Liz also
announced that she will be rotating out of her position at the end of
June; although, so far, there were no
candidates to take over her position
(Editor’s Note: as of this writing,
Bill F. is the new GRC chairperson).
Lyle S., chairperson of the Bylaws
Committee reminded the delegates
that they should have all received
the proposed changes by mail. Then,
he asked the assembly if they wished
to vote on the changes line by line,
or in total. After a brief discussion,
a motion to accept the changes in
total was made and seconded. The
delegates voted unanimously to
accept the changes. Lyle thanked
the delegates for their service.
Bill B., then asked the delegates if
there was any new business. He was
then asked if it was possible to fix
the scheduling conflict between the
Bronx and Queens Exchange Meetings. Bill deferred to Elyssa, who
said that they are still working on
the issue, because it requires finding a new space. With no other new
business to discuss, a motion to close
the meeting was made and seconded.
And so, for the very last time, Bill led
the delegates in the Serenity Prayer.
upcoming events
Continued From Page 3
Manhattan Area Forum
New York Inter-Group Office
OCTOBER 21ST
7pm
westchester corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
Grace Baptist Church
52 South Sixth Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
OCTOBER 21ST
7pm
brooklyn corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
103 Quincy Street, Basement
Btwn. Franklin & Classon Avenues
Brooklyn, NY 11238
OCTOBER 25TH
1pm
staten island corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
How Club
552 Port Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10302
OCTOBER 27TH
6:30pm Orientation
6:40pm Meeting
Old Timer’s Meeting
New York Hilton Hotel
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
NOVEMBER 1ST
1pm Meeting Begins
3pm Bill W. Video Presentation
Being Young and in Recovery
By Sarah F.
Hi, my name is Sarah. I’m an alcoholic with an armored truck full
of issues. I didn’t just want to stuff
my feelings. I gave them weapons.
never heard of, I simply asked for
an explanation. At six months, just
when I was starting to get into the
swing of things, I lost my footing.
When I first came into the rooms,
I was nineteen. I could barely
say I had been drunk a year. Relapse is a part of my story. I went
out to do more research because I
couldn’t identify; I COMPARED.
I thought I could study my disease
away. I bought, rented and borrowed
every book I could get my hands
on about the disease of addiction.
The book was in this strange
version of English that I barely could read. People were making references and allusions to so
many things I’d never heard of.
My first day back, I came into a
meeting full of biker guys. I was
scared to death of them but I was
more scared of “out there”. So I
stayed when every fiber of my being wanted to scream and run.
I started to identify. When they talked of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I
didn’t know what they were saying.
But I imagined it was the same concept as Bruce Banner and the Hulk.
When they said words like Barleycorn or used American idioms I had
I was trying to fast forward my recovery to the part where I knew
how to clean and pay my bills. I
wanted to be less socially awkward. I wanted to love myself.
Today I realize
ery doesn’t have a
my favorite woman
likes to say “Give
that recovtimeline. As
in recovery
time, time”.
I am still a socially awkward alcoholic who would much rather chat
online, or read one of her many,
many books. I still put bills in
drawers unopened because I don’t
think I can deal with them just yet.
However, I am a skip, hop and
a jump away from two years
in sobriety and I have acceptance. I will grow up in recovery.
All I have to do is stick around.
Welcome to the Fellowship!
Afternoon Delight
Hazelden Building
283 West Broadway
@ Canal Street
New York, NY 10013
Fourth Step Sex Inventory
FIRST & THIRD SATURDAY
12pm
Big Book Thumpers
Carroll Gardens Library
Basement Auditorium
396 Clinton Street @ Union
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Big Book Meeting
Open to the Public
WEDNESDAY
6:45 pm
8
2014 BILL W. DINNER
“THINK: Thank Heaven I Now Know”
By Trusted Volunteer
The 2014 Bill W. Dinner will be celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Bill
W.’s sobriety. The theme for the Dinner is “think” [Thank Heavens I
Now Know]. It is on November 1, 2014 at the Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom, 1335 Avenue of the Americas (between 53rd Street and 54th Street),
New York, NY from 7pm until 2am. Net proceeds provide a portion of
New York Inter-Group annual revenue which supports its 12 Step work.
Bill’s sober date is December 1934
and AA was founded the following year, 1935. It is the only fund
raising event that is sponsored by
New York Inter-Group (NYIG),
which was founded in 1946.
Prior to the first Dinner in 1947, a
group of Bill’s sober friends would
take him to a restaurant in honor of
his anniversary. NYIG was facing
a problem to fund a gap between
operating expenses and contributions from the meeting groups.
Bill’s friends suggested that an annual dinner dance benefitting Inter-Group be held in honor of his
anniversary and he agreed. New
York Inter-Group has sponsored
the Bill W. Dinner annually since
1947. Bill was a speaker at every
Dinner until his death in 1971.
The Bill W. Dinner Dance is a
three speaker open meeting and
dance. Doors open at 6:45 pm,
dinner begins at 7. Tickets are
$125 and are available at the New
York Inter-Group office. Group
table reservations must be paid in full by Wednesday, October 1, 2014.
Dancing begins at 10pm with an orchestra and at 10:30 a DJ will be
featured in a separate Ballroom. There will be continuous showings of various AA videos from 10:30 pm until 12:30 pm and the
evening’s entertainment concludes at 2am. There is no dress code
for the Dinner Dance, but some will choose to wear formal attire.
The 2014 Bill W. Dinner Dance celebrating Bill W.’s 80th Anniversary promises to be a stunning event. If you have not attended previously, please buy your ticket as soon as possible.
upcoming events
Continued From Page 8
bill w dinner
New York Hilton Hotel
Grand Ballroom, Third Floor
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
NOVEMBER 1ST
7pm
Corrections & Treatment
Facilities Literature
Packing
New York Inter-Group Office
NOVEMBER 8TH
10am
Spanish Language
Corrections & treatment
facilities committee
meeting
Spanish Inter-Group Office
2234 First Avenue @ 120th Street
New York, NY 10029
NOVEMBER 8TH
3pm
Group Relations
Committee Meeting
New York Inter-Group Office
NOVEMBER 11TH
6:30pm
queens area forum
Queens Inter-Group Office
105-29A Metropolitan Avenue
Forest Hills, NY 11375
NOVEMBER 11TH
7:15pm
9
upcoming events
C, B, O, S & BB:
What Does It All Mean?
Continued From Page 9
BRIDGING THE GAP
New York Inter-Group Office
NOVEMBER 12TH
6:30pm
queens corrections &
treatment facilities
committee meeting
Elmhurst Hospital, Room A115
79-01 Broadway
Queens, NY 11373
NOVEMBER 13TH
7pm
By Gabby W.
When I started in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous, I basically
thought a meeting was a meeting was a meeting. I preferred the
“B” Beginner ones, because there
was a likelihood there would be
people counting days as I was. I
also understood there were meetings that would only have speakers and those were considered “O”
for Open. But the rest were a blur.
means. (Just my opinion, not an
opinion from AA or NY Intergroup.)
Time teaches us many things and I
have grown to appreciate the difference between the meetings. Some
groups are real sticklers on making
sure each meeting adheres to its description. It’s very tempting to do a
“what it was like, what happened
and what it’s like now” qualification
when asked to speak. But often that’s
not what the meeting really wants.
OD = Open Discussion
O = Open
Two or three speakers and no
sharing from the floor. This
meeting welcomes people who
are curious about the program.
Sometimes nursing students attend as part of their education.
Westchester Booking
Meeting
Memorial United Methodist
Church
250 Bryant Avenue
Btwn. North & Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
NOVEMBER 15TH
6:30am
Westchester Area Forum
First Baptist Church,
456 North Street
White Plains, NY 10605
NOVEMBER 15TH
9:30am
Brooklyn Area Forum
First Unitarian Chapel
121 Pierrepont Street
Btwn. Clinton St. & Monroe Place
Brooklyn, NY
NOVEMBER 15TH
2pm
One speaker gives a general qualification followed by sharing from the floor.
C = Closed
So if you are confused, here’s my
take on what each meeting letter
And now it gets interesting. Many
groups make this like an Open Discussion (see above) with one qualification and sharing from the floor.
However, my home group has one
speaker who is told to share about
what it’s like living today without
10
Continued on Next Page
sentative, or GSR (and your group
better have one!) for names of
people he or she knows in SENY.
SENY (full disclosure, I am currently an alternate GSR) is loaded
with people who know about the
Traditions and love to speak about
them. These AAs make the best
speakers at Tradition meetings.
C, B, O,S, & BB:
What Does
It All Mean?
By Gabby W
Continued from
Previous Page
BB = Big Book
alcohol. No drunkalogues. Just honest sharing about what it’s like staying (not necessarily getting) sober.
This is my favorite kind of meeting.
These meetings can run the gamut.
Often, a few pages are read aloud
and there’s sharing from the floor.
Sometimes, the meeting may be run
by one or two individuals, who will
read a few sentences and then offer
their opinion on what was just read.
Attendees are invited to chime in
too. It might take an entire meeting
to get through a paragraph. It would
be my suggestion to shop around
for a Big Book meeting format
you like and are comfortable with.
S = Step
Many groups read the Step around
the room. The speaker speaks on that
Step. Speaking on a Step is different
than telling one’s story. Of course,
personal stories will play into it, but
it should be about doing that Step.
People come to Step meetings to
learn about doing the Steps. Period.
There are meetings that, in lieu
of getting a speaker, may do a
reading from “As Bill Sees It” or
“Living Sober” followed by sharing from the floor. That distinction is often found in the meeting’s listing in the meeting book.
T = Tradition.
Groan. It’s that last week of each
month when someone talks about
the Traditions. The thing is that Tradition meetings can be very interesting and inspiring if the speaker
is carefully chosen. Here’s a hint
if you chair a Tradition meeting.
Ask your General Service Repre-
The great thing about NYC is that
there are so many meetings, all
shapes and sizes. Enjoy the hunt!
Welcome to the Fellowship!
Felices en
Sobriedad
1 East Post Road, 2nd Flr
White Plains, NY 10601
Closed Discussion
Spanish Speaking
SUNDAY @ 7pm
TUESDAY - FRIDAY @ 8pm
Humanists Too
Church of St. Thomas More
65 East 89th Street
Btwn Madison & Park Aves
New York, NY 10128
Closed Discussion
MONDAY
6:15pm
11
upcoming events
Continued From Page 10
Bronx Area Forum
Westchester United Methodist
Church
2547 East Tremont Avenue
Btwn. Silver St. & Lurtig Ave
Bronx, NY 10461
NOVEMBER 15TH
2:30pm
westchester corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
Grace Baptist Church
52 South Sixth Street
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
NOVEMBER 18TH
7pm
staten island corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
How Club
552 Port Richmond Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10302
NOVEMBER 24TH
6:30pm Orientation
6:40pm Meeting
Brooklyn corrections
& treatment facilities
committee meeting
103 Quincy Street, Basement
Btwn. Franklin & Classon Avenues
Brooklyn, NY 11238
NOVEMBER 29TH
1pm
Welcome to the
Fellowship!
sober NEWS
wants YOU!
YOUR STORIES!
YOUR GROUP HISTORIES!
YOUR LETTERS!
YOUR ARTWORK!
STORY SUBMISSIONS:
Articles should be about 200-500
words. Topics include:
YOUNG AND SOBER
SOBER FOR THE HOLIDAYS
CHAT WITH AN OLDTIMER
HISTORY OF YOUR HOME
GROUP
ART SUBMISSIONS:
All artwork must be submitted as
.jpeg files. No .pdf’s please.
ALL SUBMISSIONS
VIA EMAIL:
sobernews@nyintergroup.org
Please send as attachements only.
Also please indicate if you wish to
have your name and home group
printed.
First Things First
Presbyterian Church
Washington Hall
705 South Street
@ Washington Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
RotatingFormat
WEDNESDAYS
6:30pm.
Men’s NYC Big
Book Step Study
Philomathist Center,
2nd Floor
1285 Madison Avenue
@ 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128
Men’s Meeting
WEDNESDAY
7pm
Pathway to
Sobriety BB Study
St. Peter’s Church
127 North Division Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
Big Book Meeting
FRIDAY
6:30pm
Simple Solution
Step Workshop
United Methodist Church
525 Ashford Avenue
Ardsley, NY 10502
MONDAY & FRIDAY
1pm
Staten Island
Agnostic Group
YMCA Counseling Services
2nd Floor
3911 Richmond Avenue
@ Amboy Road
Staten Island, NY 10312
Closed Discussion Meeting
SATURDAY
3:30pm
This Ungodly Hour
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Church Basement
275 North Eight Street,
Btwn Havemeyer Street &
Meeker Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Agnostic Meeting
FRIDAY
11pm
A Very Special Thank You:
12
To Scott I. (Alternate Chairperson of the Steering
Committee) and to all the wonderful volunteers who
gave freely of their time to paint the New York
Inter-Group Office.