The Winner’s Circle



The Winner’s Circle

West Central Intergroup Monthly Newsletter

November 2010

WEST CENTRAL INTERGROUP

Office Location

2 East Church Street

Frederick, MD 21701

301-662-0544

Mail Donations to:

P.O. Box 1771, Frederick, MD 21702

Trusted Servants

OFFICERS:

Chairperson: Brigitte F., wcichair@

Vice Chair: Cynthia T.

wcivicechair@

Treasurer: Jodie S.

wcitreasurer1@

Secretary: Kirsten T.

wcisecretary1@

COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

Office Coordinator:

Kim R. wcioandtc@

Public Information (Webmaster):

Doug W. wcipubinfo@

Where and When’s: Kevin

wciwandw@

Literature: John van C.

wcilit@

Institutions:

Male: Johnny B.

Female: Ursula B. 321-501-9272

wciinstitutions@

Activities: Kirsten T. wciactivities@

Newsletter: Barry A.

Co-editors: Keith K.

wcinewsletter@

CPC: Dick G.

wcicpc1@

Board of Directors: Bud R., Jim M., Dick S., Gene L., Judy C.

Statement of Purpose:

The primary purpose of this newsletter is to carry the AA message to alcoholics and try to practice the AA principles in all of its affairs. We are mainly accountable to West Central Intergroup as a whole, and hope to provide an open forum for the many diverse views of its members, striving to remain within the bounds of good will and the spirit of service. Articles are not intended to be statements of AA policy nor imply endorsement by AA or this newsletter.

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NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

|Name |Home Group |Date |Years |

|Jim T. |Myersville Meeting |11/07/82 |28 yrs |

|Tony C. |Commuter Group |11/12/82 |28 yrs |

|Harry G. |Myersville Meeting |11/17/82 |28 yrs |

|Kathy L. |Back Alley Group |11/05/85 |25 yrs |

|Patty S. |Myersville Meeting |11/05/86 |24 yrs |

|Neil S. |Woodville Beginners |11/10/89 |21 yrs    |

|Kandee W. |Woodville Beginners |11/04/92 |18 yrs |

|Noreen M. |To Thine Own Self Be True  |11/10/94 |16 yrs |

|Alison S. |Myersville Meeting |11/16/96 |14 yrs |

|Jack V. |Let Go Let God |11/10/97 |13 yrs |

|Laura W. |High Noon |11/xx/97 |13 yrs |

|Geraldine L. |High Noon |11/07/97 |13 yrs |

|Laurie |To Thine Own Self Be True  |11/26/99 |11 yrs. |

|Scott D. |Woodville Beginners |11/24/99 |11 yrs |

|Tommy F. |Happy Hour Group |11/19/02 |8 yrs |

|Brigitte F. |New Freedom |11/01/04 |6 yrs |

|Jennifer W. |Deaf Friends of Bill W |11/06/05 |5 yrs |

|Barbara W. |Happy Hour Group |11/20/06 |4 yrs |

|Ed S. |Happy Hour Group |11/22/06 |4 yrs |

|Jesse M. |Woodville Beginners |11/04/06 |4 yrs |

|Laura W. |Happy Hour Group |11/07/07 |3 yrs |

|Sal C. |Primetime |11/20/07 |3 yrs |

|Caroline B. |Sunday Night Step |11/13/07 |3 yrs |

|Tricia S. |Woodville Beginners |11/17/08 |2 yrs |

|Keith O. |Happy Hour Group |11/01/08 |2 yrs |

|Ty M. |Primetime |11/23/08 |2 yrs |

Celebrating Milestones

Features a local member that has recently celebrated an anniversary. This month we talked to Tony C. member of the Commuter Group.

Name: Tony C.

Sobriety Date: November 12, 1982 – celebrating 28 years this month!

Favorite Service Position: ALCATHON Chair

Most unusual meeting: Saturday Night Live meeting with the “Toga Party Theme”.

Favorite saying: I got a million – I get to be a “producer of harmony rather than confusion”.

Biggest challenge in sobriety: Being put on two years probation with 10 years of sobriety because of anger.

Greatest joys in sobriety: Surrender – being trusted today.

Something your higher power has done for you that you could never done for yourself: I live footprints in the sand, “He carries me everyday”.

UPCOMING EVENTS

|Oct 28th-31st |26th Annual Area 29 Fall Conference-Hagerstown, Md. |

|Nov 13th |District 41 Workshop - Anonymity in the Digital Age at Grace Trinity United |

|9.00 – 11.00 a.m. |Church of Christ - Rt. 144 3/4 mile east of Jug Bridge - coffee and donuts |

| |provided. |

|Nov 14th |54th ICYPAA Elections, Christ Episcopal Church, Columbia, MD |

|4.00 p.m. | |

WCI’S FIRST FALL FESTIVAL

A fabulous time was had by all at Intergroup’s First Fall Festival at Summers Farm in Frederick. Over 120 people attended and enjoyed the corn maze, giant bouncy pillow, hayrides and campfire fellowship with roasted hot dogs, s’mores, cake etc concluding with a Gratitude meeting. Many thanks to all the volunteers that gave their time to make the event possible.

DID YOU KNOW?

This was the preamble before it was condensed in the mid 60's to the current version now used throughout the world!!

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Old AA Preamble – circa. 1940

We are gathered here because we are faced with the fact that we are powerless over alcohol and unable to do anything about it without the help of a Power greater than ourselves.

We feel that each person's religious views, if any, are his own affair. The simple purpose of the program of Alcoholics Anonymous is to show what may be done to enlist the aid of a Power greater than ourselves regardless of what our individual conception of that Power may be.

In order to form a habit of depending upon and referring all we do to that Power, we must at first apply ourselves with some diligence. By often repeating these acts, they become habitual and the help rendered becomes natural to us.

We have all come to know that as alcoholics we are suffering from a serious illness for which medicine has no cure.

Our condition may be the result of an allergy which makes us different from other people. It has never been by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently cured. The only relief we have to offer is absolute abstinence, the second meaning of A.A.

There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Each member squares his debt by helping others to recover.

An Alcoholics Anonymous is an alcoholic who through application and adherence to the A.A. program has forsworn the use of any and all alcoholic beverage in any form.

The moment he takes so much as one drop of beer, wine, spirits or any other alcoholic beverage he automatically loses all status as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

A.A. is not interested in sobering up drunks who are not sincere in their desire to remain sober for all time. Not being reformers, we offer our experience only to those who want it.

We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree and on which we can join in harmonious action. Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our program. Those who do not recover are people who will not or simply cannot give themselves to this simple program. Now you may like this program or you may not, but the fact remains, it works. It is our only chance to recover.

There is a vast amount of fun in the A.A. fellowship. Some people might be shocked at our seeming worldliness and levity but just underneath there lies a deadly earnestness and a full realization that we must put first things first and with each of us the first thing is our alcoholic problem. To drink is to die. Faith must work twenty-four hours a day in and through us or we perish.

In order to set our tone for this meeting I ask that we bow our heads in a few moments of silent prayer and meditation. I wish to remind you that whatever is said at this meeting expresses our own individual opinion as of today and as of up to this moment.

We do not speak for A.A. as a whole and you are free to agree or disagree as you see fit, in fact, it is suggested that you pay no attention to anything which might not be reconciled with what is in the A.A. Big Book.

If you don't have a Big Book, it's time you bought you one. Read it, study it, live with it, loan it, scatter it, and then learn from it what it means to be an A.A.

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MINUTES FROM INTERGROUP MEETING –October, 2010

Intergroup Chair Brigitte F. opened the meeting at 7 p.m. with the Serenity Prayer and the Purpose of Intergroup. The following new group reps were welcomed: Carolyn from Frederick Sober Women; Chris from Neelsville; Fred from Walking Through the Book; Alison from Myersville; Trey for Back Alley. The August minutes were read and approved.

Reports:

Chair – Brigitte –encouraged everyone to attend the Fall Festival on October 23rd.

Vice Chair – Cynthia – advised the 12 Step Sign Up lists are being updated, members may receive a phone call to confirm their details.

Treasurer – Jodie distributed financials. Bill are up to date.

Standing Committees:

Office: Kim thanked September volunteers and asks for more volunteers – phone training sessions can be done at a Home Group if more than three members would like to participate. Requirement for phone training is 2 months of sobriety and a sponsor.

Literature – John V. advised we are well stocked and any special needs please call.

Where & When’s – Kevin absent. Bud advised we are well stocked with Fall Where and When’s to get us to Winter. Estimate for color printing was twice as much as current cost so they will stay B&W. It was noted that printing 1,500 Where and When’s costs $150 – which is 10c per copy. They are sold for 5c a copy. There was discussion as to whether the price should be increased to meet cost. Intergroup Reps are asked to take this back to their groups for discussion to raise at next month’s meeting.

Public Information – Doug advised website is good. Please send in events. All officers have contact email addresses on website.

Institutions – Ursula advised women’s section was on lock down past two weeks and there are still ONLY five female volunteers in Frederick – more are desperately needed. Requirement is two years off probation.

Johnny B. advised there are 10 men taking meetings into institutions in Frederick.

Activities – Kirsten - Inaugural Fall Festival Event flyers were sent with Reps – everyone encouraged to attend. Gratitude Breakfast dates are being investigated – either April 10 or May 1, 2011 due to Easter celebrations other Sundays.

Newsletter – Barry asked for anniversaries and articles. Will send Reps. reminder each month for anniversaries and request for Celebrating Milestones article to member celebrating longest sobriety that month.

CPC – Dick G. advised CPC attended the Frederick County Health Department Recovery Health Fair on September 27th, 2010. Made contact with and need to distribute closed Where n When’s to Project 103/IOP (300B Scholl’s Ln.). Made contact with and need to deliver additional open W&W’s to Goodwill, Cathy Lowery and general AA pamphlets (400 E Church St.). Health fair at Fort Detrick on November 10th , 10am - 3pm. CPC will need assistance to man the booth – if you are interested in volunteering please email Dick at wcicpc1@.

Handed out only a few pamphlets to individuals.

District Reports:

District 40: Walter, DCM absent.

District 41: Dick G. –. Workshop "Anonymity in the Digital Age", Saturday, November 13th, 9am - 11am, Grace Trinity United Church, Rt. 144 ¾ mile east of Jug Bridge (9400 Baltimore Rd, Frederick). Will cover various websites and discuss good practices on the internet.

Maryland ICYPAA Bid Committee: Michelle advised the 2010 ICYPAA in New York was fabulous with over 6,000 in attendance. The 2011 ICYPAA will be in San Francisco and the Maryland bid committee is now preparing to bid for 2012 in Baltimore. Elections for new committee will be held on November 14 in Columbia, MD – for more information go to .

Old Business: The newsletter surveys were returned and will be collated.

New Business: Nancy B. Area 29 Delegate presented the final report from the 60th General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous entitled “Practicing A.A’s Principles – the Pathway to Unity”. This report includes everything anyone could wish to know – A.A. is totally transparent. She also noted upcoming events including the Area 29 Inventory on October 16, the Fall Conference in Hagerstown October 28-31 and check for more.

The meeting closed with The Lord’s Prayer at 8:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kirsten T. Secretary

Pink Can Contributions

October 2010

|Commuter |118.22 |

|Blue Lite Special |80.00 |

|TOTAL |$198.22 |

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Group Contributions

OCtober 2010

|Blue Lite Special |50.00 |

|By The Book |30.00 |

|Commuter Group |250.00 |

|High Noon |40.00 |

|New Freedom |218.60 |

|Original Frederick Group |60.00 |

|Red Door Noon Group |50.00 |

|South Carroll Sunday Night |100.00 |

|TOTAL |$798.60 |

Faith is an ACTION word:

This poem was found in the archives of Alcoholics Anonymous,

a parody of “Footprints in the Sand.” Amusing, but true none the less.

Butt Prints In The Sand

One night I had a wondrous dream, One set of footprints there was seen,

The footprints of my precious Lord, but mine were not along that very shore.

But then...some stranger prints appeared. And I asked God, “what have we here?

Those prints are large and round and neat, but God, they are too big for feet.”

“My child,” He said in a somber tone, “For miles I carried you all along.

I challenged you to walk in Faith, but you refused and made me wait.”

“You disobeyed, you would not grow, the walk of faith, you would not know...

So I got tired, and got fed up, and there I PLOPPED you on your butt.”

“Because in life there comes a time when one must fight, and one must climb,

When one must rise and take a stand, or leave their BUTT prints in the sand.

Author Anonymous

|2010 - 2011 ALCATHON SCHEDULE |

| | | |

|Meeting Time |CHRISTMAS MEETINGS |NEW YEARS MEETINGS |

|(Start to End) |Xmas Eve (Friday Dec 24th) |New Years (Friday Dec. 31st) |

|10:30 - 11:30 a.m. |Happy Hour |Golden Mile |

|Noon - 1:00 p.m. |Noon Group |Noon Group |

|1:30 - 2:30 p.m. |St. John's |Saturday Night Live |

|3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |Legacy Step |Mt. Airy Woodville Beginners' |

|4:30 - 5:30 p.m. |Sisters In Sobriety |United Under One God |

|6:00 - 7:00 p.m. |Commuter |Commuter |

|7:30 - 8:30 p.m. |Saturday Night Mountain |Point of Rocks Saturday |

|9:00 - 10:00 p.m. |Blue Light Special |Frederick Sober Women |

|10:30 - 11:30 p.m. |Mid Morning |Mt. Airy Woodville |

| |Christmas Day |New Years Day |

| |(Saturday Dec. 25th) |(Saturday Jan. 1st) |

|Midnight - 1:00 a.m. |Original Frederick |Uptown/Downtown |

|1:30 - 2:30 a.m. |Let Go Let God |Jefferson |

|3:00 - 4:00 a.m. |Antiques |Fireside |

|4:30 - 5:30 a.m. |Catoctin Furnace |New Freedom |

|6:00 - 7:00 a.m. |Early Bird Group |Early Bird Group |

|7:30 - 8:30 a.m. |Red Door |Back Alley |

|9:00 - 10:00 a.m. |Libertytown |Monocacy Valley |

|10:30 - 11:30 a.m. |Chambersburg PA |Myersville Keep it Simple |

|Noon - 1:00 p.m. |Mason Dixon |Primary Purpose |

|1:30 - 2:30 p.m. |Fellowship Hall Hagerstown |Prime Time |

|3:00 - 4:00 p.m. |Boonsboro |Walking Thru the Books |

|4:30 - 5:30 p.m. |Young & Dumb |Living Sober |

|6:00 - 7:00 p.m. |Red Door Friday |Sunday by the Book |

|7:30 - 8:30 p.m. |There is a Solution |To be announced |

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