Download February - Palm Springs Central Office

February 2009
A publication of the Central Intergroup Office
of the Desert serving the Coachella Valley.
Central Intergroup
Office of the Desert
35-325 Date Palm Drive
Suite 134
Cathedral City CA 92234
Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat. & Sun.
West Valley 760.324.4880
East Valley 760.568.4004
Fax 760.324.4851
Web site: www.AAintheDesert.org
[email protected]
Intergroup Meeting
1st Thursday of the month, 7 p.m.
Board of Directors Meeting
3rd Thursday of the month, 6 p.m.
General Service, District 9
1st Sunday of the month, 4PM
Fellowship Hall
45940 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert
Mailing Address: P O Box 3684
Palm Desert 92261-3684
Step Two
Came to believe that a Power greater than
ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Tradition Two
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate
authority - loving God as He may express
Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders
are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
Concept Two
The General Service Conference of A.A. has
become, for nearly every practical purpose, the
active voice and the effective conscience of our
whole society in its world affairs.
Hospitals & Institutions
Last Wednesday of the month, 6:00 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
45940 Portola Ave.
Palm Desert
Mailing Address: P O Box 1843
Palm Desert 92261
Mid Southern California Area (MSCA)
P O Box, 51446, Irvine CA 92619-1446
Web site: www.msca09aa.org
The General Service Office, P O Box 459,
Grand Central Station NY 10163
Web site: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Hope - the feeling that what is wanted can be
had or that events will turn out for the best.
Desert Lifeline, February 2009
Central Office Activity
for November
We are Responsible!
Central Intergroup Office of the Desert
Board of Directors
Chairman: SherAli J.
Vice Chairman: John E.
Treasurer: Mike B.
Secretary: Lee F.
November
Meeting Info
276
12 Step Calls
Visitors
Literature Sales
Al-Anon
Other 12 Step
Misc.
Business
5
106
149
13
15
52
23
Directors
Garrett D.
Jim D.
Paul A.
Paul R.
Desert Lifeline Editor: Jim K.
Office Manager: Jim K.
Answering Service
12 Step
Meeting Info
Other
TOTAL:
13
20
0
672
Letters to the Editor or Articles for the Desert Lifeline
must be received by the 15th of the month for consideration of
publication in the following month’s issue.
Please submit your material for The Desert Lifeline to:
Central Intergroup Office of the Desert
35-325 Date Palm Drive, Suite 134,
Cathedral City, CA 92234.
E-mail: [email protected]
Birthday Celebrations
Brandon B
Juan D
Lisa T
Nikki M
Janelle
Martha S
Pam L
Donnie S
John M
Jerry H
Amy G
Faith R
Ray J
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
5
9
11
20
30
31
Jim K
Terry R
28
28
We thank all of the birthday celebrants for their
contributions to the Central Office Birthday Club.
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
NEW MEETINGS & MEETING CHANGES
November Website
Usage
None
Unique visitors: 1,632
Avg. visits/day: 92.9
Avg. hits/day: 3,834.52
Highest # of visits in a day: 120
Highest # of hits in one day: 6,267
Total visits: 2,880
(1.76 visits per visitor)
Total hits: 118,870
The Ones We’ve Lost
Visit: A series of Hits to your site over a specific period of
time by one visitor.
Jackie Worm
Joe Daniel
A 'Hit' is simply a successful request to your web server
from a visitor's browser for any type of file, whether an
image, HTML page, an MP3 file, or any other type. A single web page can cause many Hits -- one for each image
included on the page, etc.
Mark You
Calendars!
Secretary Workshop
at Central Office
Sunday, March 22, 2009
1:00—3:30
Great for new secretaries.
Great for people wanting to
be secretaries.
Great for people wanting a
quick refresher course!
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
November VOLUNTEERS – Central Office
Ann T
Carol W
Dallas E
Dave O
Dennis H
Don P
Dorit R
Emil M
Gene S
Jerry G
Jill J
Jim D
Mike B
Pat W
Patrick L
Pat W
Paul A
Please mail the Subscription
form with your annual
subscription fee of $20 to the
address on the front of the
Desert Lifeline for your
Central Intergroup Office.
DESERT LIFELINE
Subscription Form
Name:
_____________________________________
Address: ______________________________________
City:
_____________________________________
State:
___________
Phone:
____________________________________
Peggy M
Phillip F
Steve C
Steve P
Stuart H
Suzy & Bob A
Tony M
Tracy M
Don’t miss an issue, have the
Zip code: ____________
DESERT LIFELINE
delivered to your mail
box each month.
Home Group: ________________________________
Book of the month
12 Steps and 12 Traditions
(soft cover edition)
Normally $6.00 — this month $5.00
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
January Puzzle Solution
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
Puzzle answers will appear in next month’s Desert Lifeline.
You can also find them on our web site — www.aainthedesert.org
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
Step Two
Came to believe that a power greater than
ourselves could restore us to sanity.
After admitting to our inner most selves that we are powerless over alcohol, and that no-matter how hard
we tried to have power over our lives, we didn't, we had to find something that could have power over
every aspect of our lives. By being beat up and totally surrendering, we give up our old ideas and allow
something else to work on our alcoholism and our relationships. This is a spiritual program and I tapped
into a power that I call God. For some people it may first become an AA group in which they take
direction from. Some can admit that the ocean is more powerful than they are, and they start praying to
it. Wherever we start, as long as we start, a dramatic change will take place in our lives.
For me, as I go through the day with actions and conversations, I am made fully aware that I am allowing
my higher power to change me. To restore my sanity. But that is the key, though. To allow change to
occur. This is not a process in which we ever take back control of our lives. We've done that for too long
with terrible consequences. And by going to meetings and seeing a greater power working in peoples
lives with awesome results, I gained hope that surrendering and turning my life over is the only way to
get well. Little did I know the true effect that just believing in a power greater than myself would have.
So if you’re having troubles with this step, just trust that this process works. Just know that there are
powers greater than you and those powers are working in peoples lives all around you every time you
step into an AA meeting. Understanding this step will put hope in your heart.
Garrett D.
Concept Two
The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose,
the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole society in its world affairs.
"When, in 1955, the A.A. groups confirmed the permanent charter for their General Service Conference,
they thereby delegated to the Conference complete authority for the active maintenance of our world
services and thereby made the Conference -- excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions or in
Article 12 of the Conference Charter -- the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole
society."
As Bill W. so poignantly wrote in "The A.A. Service Manual Combined with Twelve Concepts for World
Service" which appears in the 2007-2008 edition, "The principle of amply delegated authority and
responsibility to 'trusted servants' must be implicit FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM of A.A.'s active
structure of service. This is the clear implication of A.A.'s Tradition Two ("For our group purpose there is
but one ultimate authority -- a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our
leaders are but trusted servants' they do not govern.").
Continued on page 10
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
Tradition Two
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - loving God as
He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders
are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
“A HOLE IN THE HEAD”
I recently read an article entitled, Hole in the Head: “Why do most 16-year-olds drive like they’re missing
a part of their brain?” The answer supplied at the end of the article was, “Because they are.” This article
was published by an insurance company as its defense for not insuring kids 16 years old and younger
and only at 16 at an outrageous premium.
The rationale for this defense was that the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex of the brain is not fully
developed and functional until a person reaches the age of 22. Why is this important? This is the part of
the brain that controls problem solving, emotions, complex thought, perseverance, planning, judgment,
and impulse control. Lack of mature judgment and impulse control is why a kid takes the chance and
passes another car on a two lane road during a blinding rain, often to his regret. To get a visual of this
think of an open lotus flower and mentally watch it slowly close into a tight bud. As the prefrontal cortex
slowly closes by growth time, more and more of the missing disciplines become mature and functional.
Two of the favorite mantras of a newly sober person are, “Time doesn’t count—we ALL have only today.”
“Who ever got up earliest this morning has the most sobriety.” This is true but not well thought out;
because as sobriety matures this sort of thinking will change. Just what are we trying to do, one day at a
time? According to Chapter 5 of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, “We are grasping and developing a
manner of living that demands rigorous honesty.” We are developing a sober lifestyle and this doesn’t
happen overnight or in a single 24 hours.
Consider for a moment— in chapter 5, in the ABC’s, we acknowledge that no human power could relive
our alcoholism conceding our lack in problem solving. In Step 6 we were ready to have God remove our
character defects acknowledging our inadequacy in our judgment to choose what should go or stay. In
Step 7 we ask God to remove our shortcomings again acknowledging our deficit in impulse control. It is
not until Step 10 that we are told that, “by this time, sanity will have returned” and we began to do the
daily inventories and the spot-check inventory. Step 10 deals with emotional sobriety in depth. We are
told that the ability to spot, admit, and correct is the essence of good living and character building. This is
a maturing process and it takes time to grasp and develop.
What does all of this have to do with our second tradition which states, “For our group purpose there is
but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our
leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.”
Why do individual groups, your Central Office, H & I., P I and GSR all have length of sobriety
requirements to do service work? Simply put, it takes time for the newly sober mind to recalibrate itself
through the process of grasping and developing, to acquire some semblance of emotional maturity and
acquire the insight to be trusted servants without becoming overwhelmed by the office they hold. Being
secretary looks like a glamorous position but in reality it is an important service commitment and a
position of responsibility. Most of us when entering Alcoholics Anonymous had to learn what having a
commitment meant.
Continued on page 10
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
Continued from page 9
In most of our groups there is a minimum of 6 months sobriety to be a secretary, usually 2 to 3 years
minimum sobriety to be the treasurer. Some groups require the treasurer have a bank account. Why?
The wisdom gained over time has brought these unwritten traditions about since the majority of us were
way in debt, overdrawn at the bank, in trouble with our creditors and needed to learn how to commit to a
plan which would restore our ruined finances.
In your Central Office, to serve your group, you usually are required to have 6 months sobriety. After 6
months service to your group you are then eligible to hold a position on the Central Office Board of
Directors and serve as a trusted servant for the groups as a whole thus expanding your knowledge of
how to be a trusted servant. This service gives you the opportunity to display your ability to serve as a
trusted servant by being a worker among workers and show mature problem solving, good judgment,
impulse control and critical thinking. This is the reason that a three year minimum length of sobriety is
required for the position of Chairman of the Board, Vice Chair or Treasurer. It takes time to develop and
understand the true spirit of what Alcoholics Anonymous’ service policy entails. It takes time to develop
emotional sobriety in order for you to be equipped to serve the membership in the true spirit of Alcoholics
Anonymous without becoming overwhelmed. This spiritual way of living is a new way of thinking, acting
and serving. We learn to gain trust and prefer our fellows rather than being self-seeking as our old way of
living demanded.
So if you are a new member with a desire for service keep focused on the concept of “one day at a time”.
We encourage you to begin to grasp and develop a sober life style with a new design for living beginning
by getting a sponsor, attending book studies, learning the meaning of and experiencing the spirit of the
steps and the traditions in your life, developing a love for the fellowship and program while you learn
commitment as you serve as “a trusted servant” as coffee maker or set-up person. To develop a sober
life style remember, it will take time for the brain and emotions to refocus to our sober way of living,
correct problem solving, mature emotions, complex thought, perseverance, planning, judgment, and
impulse control. These were all missing while drinking—creating a hole in our heads. Time gained one
day at a time results in weeks, months and years of growth and healing and equipping you to be a trusted
servant.
Time is not the enemy or a way for old timers to exclude the newer members from service positions in
Alcoholics Anonymous. Time allows for maturity and is a friend of the process by keeping newer
members from becoming overwhelmed by the responsibility of the office. Time in the study of the book,
Alcoholics Anonymous including the study of the Traditions and Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous
keeps our fellowship strong.
Marvin T.
10 Step Study, Fellowship Hall, Palm Desert
Continued form page 8
This was a momentous transfer! We who have been deeply involved with A.A. for some time dearly
hope that this allows us to avoid those pitfalls into which societies have often fallen because their
originators have failed, during their lifetimes, to properly delegate and distribute their own authority
responsibility and leadership. New ideas on living life must be passed on from one generation to the
next.
Connie Z.
Fellowship Hall, Palm Desert
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
CENTRAL INTERGROUP OF THE DESERT
INTERGROUP MINUTES
December 4, 2008
SherAli called the meeting to order with the Serenity Prayer.
Board Members
Chairman:
SherAli J.
Vice Chairman: John E.
Secretary:
Wendy B.
Treasurer:
Rebecca K.-Absent
Jim D.
Paul A.
Mike B.
Directors
Garrett D.
Paul R.
Also Present:
Jim K., Office Manager
27 people were in attendance
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: SherAli read the Reason for Central Office and passed around the 12
Traditions to be read by attendees.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW ATTENDEES: Elmo, Roadrunners-Monday 7:30PM Pathfinder in La
Quinta.
MINUTES: Wendy read the minutes for November 6, 2008. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the
minutes were approved with the following corrections: Garrett’s name is spelled with 2 t’s.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Jim presented the Monthly Financial Report for October, 2008.
motion duly made and seconded, the Financial Report was approved as presented.
Upon
MANAGER’S REPORT: Jim reported on the following:
A. Please sign in at the door. This is used for calling with the meeting reminder and also used for the
election eligibility determination. Also, please take any Desert Lifelines to your meeting location
if the rep isn’t here tonight.
B. Thanks to Ann M. for Step 12, Connie Z. for Tradition 12, and Rebecca K. for concept 12. Lisa
K. volunteered for Step 1, John E. for Tradition 1 and Paul S. for Concept 1. Please email to Jim
by 12/14/08.
C. Book of the Month is Daily Reflections-usually $7.20, this month only $6.00
D. Grapevine books are going up by $2.00 next year.
E. We need a new Editor for the Lifeline. It takes about 8-15 hours per month during the 3rd week of
the month. Must know Microsoft Publisher.
F. New directories are in.
G. We will be calling all 12-step volunteers this month to verify phone numbers, etc. If you want to
be a volunteer, take a form or fill one out online.
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
SPECIAL EVENTS: Gratitude dinner made a net profit of $1,735.
OUTREACH COMMITTEE: None
WEBMASTER: Jim K. reported on the following:
We switched to a new hosting company at the beginning of December. They have better service and
better support than the last company and they are less expensive.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: New Board Members:
After asking all eligible reps if they would be willing to serve, a vote was taken and the 5 new
Board Members are: John E., Rebecca K., Mike B., Garrett D., and Lee F. This is a 2 year term.
GROUP REPRESENTATIVES - COMMENTS AND/OR CONCERNS: None
H&I/G.S. Dist. 9 REPORTS: Randy reported for H&I-They are getting new panels together. Their
outreach is doing well. Randy reported for DCYPAA-They just had a dodge ball tournament and it was a
success. They are looking for new people.
SEVENTH TRADITION: Passed
Upon motion duly made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
NEXT INTERGROUP MEETING:
NEXT BOARD MEETING:
January 8, 2009@ 7:00 PM
December 18, 2008 @ 6:00 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Wendy B.
Secretary
Prayer is not to make God aware of my presence,
prayer is to make me aware of God's presence.
———————————————————————————
Since I've come into the program of Alcoholics Anonymous, I've
had some painful moments. The good news is, I've had them.
They've NOT had me.
———————————————————————————
Take the alcohol out of the alcoholic, and you're still left with the
"ic" . . . which is why we have the twelve steps!
———————————————————————————
"Did you know," said the long timer to the new comer, "that you
can't solve a problem with the same thinking that caused the
problem in the first place? Ask God to help change your
thinking, and then run it past a sponsor BEFORE you take an
action on what you think God said!"
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Desert Lifeline, February 2009
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