ADD-A-LINE
Published in Northeast Florida Since NOVEMBER 1962
Hi and I’m Cheryl Ann, Alcoholic, happy to serve
you as chairperson of the Grapevine Committee.
One of the reasons I came to this position is because of my love for reading and in fact, I loved to
read and drink. Sometimes I even remembered
some of the things I read drunk. Luckily, now that
I’m sober, I remember a lot more.
If you haven’t read any of the Grapevine publications, it’s like reading some of your favorite personal stories in the back of the Big Book. Fellow
Alcoholics, sharing their struggles and joys in recovery, write their innermost thoughts on living a
sober life. And as we all know, living sober in today’s world isn’t easy. So please consider a personal subscription, via mail or email, to gain a fresh
modern perspective on recovery and sobriety. Or
suggest a subscription for your home group as new
AA material for open discussion purposes at meetings. Finally, you may wish to give a close friend,
cherished sponsor, or significant other the gift of
a subscription to celebrate their recovery. And
what a gift our sobriety is!
One more thought in closing. I have learned only
too well that the “committee of one”, whether it’s
that little voice kicking round in my mind, or my
insistence in tackling a challenge on my own, just
doesn’t work well for Alcoholics. We need generous support, fellowship and open mindedness to
grow in our sobriety. Therefore, as the current
Grapevine Committee of me, myself, and I, please
consider joining me to grow this LITTLE committee
toward BIG service to our fellow alcoholics. Thank
You. Cheryl Ann L.
April 2015
Volume 65, Number 04
Northeast Florida
Intergroup Newsletter
INTERGROUP OFFICE
3128 Beach Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Tel. 399-8535
Fax 399-8537
Website: www.neflaa.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 9 am - 5 pm Sat. 1-4 pm
Intergroup Breakfast
Speaker Meeting
Saturday
May 2nd, 2015
Gateway’s Dining Room 555 Stockton St.
8 :00 am ~ All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet $4 per person
8:30 am ~ Speaker Meeting Mystery Speaker
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** ** *
9:45 AM, Saturday May 2, 2015
Meeting In The Gateway Front Conference Room
Intergroup Office Log
February 2015
A. A. Information
198
Administrative & Other Information
24
12 Step Calls
3
Visitors to The Office
63
APRIL 2015
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Page 2 of 8
I wonder if sometimes we in AA take for granted the importance and functions of
our Northeast Florida Intergroup Office. In fact, I wonder if some of our members
and groups even know what the Intergroup office does or how it serves the groups
in our area.
For starters, our NEFL Intergroup (IG) office serves as a “central office” for every
AA group within Districts 1, 3, 4, 6, 24, 25 and 30. That means we offer our services directly to the groups. The area stretches from Fernandina Beach in the North
to St. Augustine in the South and from the Beaches in Jacksonville out West to Green Cove Springs and Palatka.
What actually happens at the IG Office? I’m going to split this up into a few parts because the IG Office has so
much to offer we can’t get it into one edition of the Add-A-Line. Here are just two ways the IG Office serves
groups and members.
To me, the single most critical function of our NEFL IG Office is reaching out to the still suffering alcoholic. For
many of us, an Intergroup was our first point of contact with AA. Our office provides and coordinates phone coverage so an alcoholic can speak directly to a member any time day or night. Many of these calls are a “call for
help” from a still suffering alcoholic who may have hit bottom and needs the hand of AA to guide them into the
Fellowship. How can you put a price on this? This is life-saving work done regularly by our staff and the volunteers. A 24/7 phone service doesn’t just happen; it takes dedication and coordination by the IG Office. In 2014
alone we received over 2,778 calls for help, or 12th Step calls, that got directed to members and groups near the
caller.
The partnership of our staff at the office and the Phone Army also field hundreds of calls each month for general
information about AA. Some of these calls are from spouses, parents, friends or employers of a suffering alcoholic
looking for some guidance or AA literature. I called the NEFL IG Office before relocating to Florida over three
years ago to get an idea of the meetings in different areas of NE Florida. I’ve also been helped by IG offices in
Kansas City, Savannah, Phoenix, Sedona, Allentown and Toronto. When I called the IG office in Montreal they
helped me find an English speaking meeting and the driving directions. The IG Office in London, UK even told
me which trains to catch to get to meetings while I was on business there. A few weeks ago the IG Office in Atlanta helped one of my sponsee find a meeting near the area where he was visiting family.
A lifeline for the still suffering alcoholic along with communication and information for members and the public
are just two of the NEFL IG functions. And even more will be revealed… ….next month.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ by Michael H. Present Intergroup Steering Committee Chairman
STEP FOUR
“Made a searching and moral inventory of ourselves.”
Next we launched out on a vigorous course of action, the first step of which is a personal housecleaning, which many of us had
never attempted. Though our decision [Step 3] was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once
followed by a strenuous effort to face, and be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a
symptom. So we had to get down to causes and conditions.
Reprinted with permission from the “Big Book” Copyright ® Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
TRADITION FOUR
“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.”
Reprinted with permission from the “Big Book "Copyright ® Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
CONCEPT FOUR
Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional "Right of Participation," taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
Reprinted with permission from Twelve Concepts for World Service Copyright ® Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
APRIL 2015
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Page 3 of 8
What better way is there to show than by service work! We will need many
volunteers to help with ticket sales, the cake auction, decorations, set up,
cooking, keeping the buffet line full (tray schleppers), beverages, and clean
Sat. April 11, 2015
up. We try very hard to keep the cost at a minimum by relying on our own
North East Florida AA members to volunteer for most of the work that
has
to be one. We encourage you and the people you sponsor to give back
RAMALLAH CLUB 3128
to AA what AA has given to you by continued service work for the North
Parent Home Road
East
Florida area. “Many Hands Make Light The Work”
Jacksonville,
SPRING
BANQUET
Florida 32216
Many Volunteers are still needed to
make this banquet a success for your
Intergroup. Please attend our banquet committee planning meetings at
6:00 PM Monday, April 2nd at the intergroup office at 3128 Beach Boulevard. Service work also available the morning of the banquet at 8:30 AM
at the Ramallah Club. We need help with: Cooking, Decorations, Coffee
and Ice Tea Helpers, Cake Auction, Ticket Sales, Clean Up Detail, And
other Misc. Helpers.
Tickets will be available at the March Intergroup
Business Meeting or at the Intergroup Office. Reserved tables that seat 10 are $150.00
paid for in advance. Single tickets can be purchased at $15.00 each from your intergroup
rep or the IG office.
Doors open at 5:00 pm for fellowship and cake preview. Cake Auction 5:45 pm, Dinner
6:45 pm the sobriety countdown following dinner and he speaker is scheduled for 8:00
pm. Our speakers are Shane M. from the YPG and Steve V. from the Fiesta Group
To volunteer or for more information: Banquet Chair, Holly C. 662-0646 Co-Chair
Linda G. 608-1634 or the IG Office at 399-8535
C A K E
B A K E R S !
Donate a cake for the
cake auction!
Be Creative and let
YOUR Cake be the most
Imaginative Cake to
be auctioned!
Contact the Cake Chairman Holly C. at
662-0646 or the IG Office at 399-8535
**Cake plates will not be returned
So Please plan accordingly.
REQUESTING
DESSERTS
FOR THE
DESSERT TABLES
If you are not baking
a cake for the cake auction
PLEASE
help us out by donating a
dessert for the dessert table. These
items can be home made or store
boght for your convenience.
APRIL 2015
ADD-A-LINE
INTERGROUP OFFICERS
Chairman: Carl G. Phone: 497-9769
Email: [email protected]
Vice Chair / Treasurer:
Rick T. Phone: 652-4214
Email: [email protected]
WORKING WITH OTHERS
“Practical experience shows that
nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work
with other alcoholics.”
Add-a-line Committee —
Mike M.
568-4836
Banquet Chair (Spring Banquet)
Frank S. Banquet Volunteers contact
the Intergroup office 399-8535
631-0506
Corrections Committee —
Nathan B. (men in jails)
Monique S, (women in jails)
598-4124
210-8111
CPC/PI — Cooperation with the Professional Community &
Public Information Committee —
303-7019
Andrew O.
Grapevine Committee —
Cheryl Ann L.
E Mail: [email protected]
Phone Army — Holly C.
401-6412
E Mail:
[email protected]
662-0646
Treatment Facility Committee —
Craig W.
E Mail: [email protected]
238-3333
New Intergroup Representatives
Orientation Sat., May 2nd, 2015
NEW
INTERGROUP
REPS
Our Monthly
Intergroup Steering
Committee Meeting
will be held at 5:30 pm,
Tuesday, April 28,
2015.
We will be meeting at
the Intergroup Office.
All AA members are
welcome to attend.
807-8750
Contact Mike at
[email protected] to submit an article.
All articles due to Intergroup by the 20th of each month.
Archives Committee — Chaz H.
E Mail: [email protected]
Page 4 of 8
Held in the same room as the NEFL Intergroup Meeting.
(Gateway, 555 Stockton St.)
Held the 1st Sat. of the month @ 8:30 am.
To familiarize the new IG Reps with the
flow of the Business Mtg, Parliamentary
Procedures, Robert's Rules of Order, The
12 Concepts To World Service, and why General Service is vital to the survival of AA.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING:
The next finance committee meeting will be held at
5:30 pm on April 21st, 2015 at the Intergroup Office. Please call the IG office at 399-8535 for more
information. We are in need of additional members
to serve on this committee
Our Archives Committee
Will Meet at Noon,
on April 6th
at the Intergroup Office
1) DISTRICT ONE MEETING:
Time: 6:45 pm
When: 3rd Tuesday of Every Month
Contact: Steve H. Email: [email protected]
Intergroup Office, 3218 Beach Blvd
2) The NF Area 14 Delegates
Preconference Workshop was a huge success!
Thanks to everyone from Districts 1, 3, 4, 6, 24, 25
& 30 who attended and helped.
The agenda items we reviewed have been delivered to DCM's for distribution to your GSR.
DISTRICT FOUR MEETING
7:00 PM, Every third (3rd) Thursday of the month.
Meets at the Olive Garden, River City Marketplace,
13040 City Station Drive, Jacksonville, FL.
Contact Deb B. at [email protected]
APRIL 2015
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Page 5 of 8
Share Your SOBER NEWS FOR 2015. . . . .
If you would like to share with all of us:
what it was like, what happened and what it’s like now; or what the Steps and Traditions mean to you,
any sober News, E Mail submission to:
Mike at [email protected] or
Amy at the Intergroup Office at [email protected]
Month 2015
Regular Topics
Suggested Topics
May
Step 5, Tradition 5, Concept 5
One, Among Many
June
Step 6, Tradition 6, Concept 6
Living Sober
July
Step7, Tradition 7, Concept 7
Insanity and Recovery
2015 INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION
Of ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
2 TO 5 PM,
In theGeorgia Ballroom
Area 14 North Florida
& Area 15 South Florida
Will be co-hosting The
FLORIDA
Hospitality Suite,
For 2015
Atlanta Convention
Where: Atlanta Chestnut Suite at the
Omni Hotel
When: July 2, 2015 - 10 am to 6pm,
(Open meeting at 5pm)
July 3 & 4, 2015 - 9am to 5pm
Questions?
Email [email protected]
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR ATLANTA CONVENTION
Volunteer Position Descriptions:
All Registration Volunteer Positions will be indoors in the Georgia
World Congress Center.
 Some volunteers will distribute badge holders and information
 Packets for pre-registered attendees.
 Others will staff Convention Information Tables.
 Others will assist Professional Staff with On-Site registration.
Contact Information for Registration Volunteers:
• To Volunteer: http://aaSO.volunteerhub.com/signin.aspx
• Email questions or suggestions: [email protected]
Both Area Committees are grateful to again have the
opportunity of hosting a hospitality suite at the 2015 International Convention. Sign up to be a volunteer at the
hospitality Suite in Atlanta. (You should register for the
convention on your own - go to www.aa.org for current
details.) Please help get the word out by announcing this
in your Home Group meetings, District meetings, Intergroup newsletters and web sites.
To volunteer or for more
information visit our websites at:
www.aanorthflorida.org
or www.area15aa.org
or contact us at: [email protected],
[email protected]
APRIL 2015
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Page 6 of 8
CELEBRATING SOBRIETY
MARCH
2015
Beaches Unity
Dan B.
39 yrs.
Central Group
Ben W.
Jerry W.
Bonnie P.
Jules
Monique S.
Jeff W.
Milton H.
Cat H.
57
33
33
25
20
4
3
2
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
District 6
St. Augustine
Alice G
Mary V
Larry K
Dinah M
Guerry B
Melissa
Geneo
Michael H
Janice S
Jason L
Jeanne W
April
Lenny N
Kathleen D
58
42
26
25
19
15
14
6
4
2
2
1
1
1
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yr.
yr.
yr.
MARCH
25
5
5
3
3
2
1
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yr.
MARCH
Free To Be Group
Kate L.
Gwen D.
Synthia R.
Sherry
Monique S.
Neil B
Mike Y
Edsel H
Tim L
Alice H
Karen D
Keith M
Neil B
Brian K
2 yrs.
20 yrs.
Orange Park
Step Sisters Group
Mary G.
Michael J.
Orange Park Group
33
26
12
12
6
5
5
3
3
1
1
1
1
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yrs.
Yr.
Yr.
Yr.
Yr.
Faithful
Bob C.
Christopher G.
Jack B.
Sam L.
Things We Cannot Change. . . .
The Following Member
Will Be Fondly Remembered
and Sadly Missed:
Ben ‘H U. —Free to Be Group
CENTRAL
6 yrs.
27 yrs.
26 yrs.
10 yrs.
10 yrs.
8 yrs.
8 yrs.
6 yrs.
3 yrs.
Third Street Third
Tradition Group
28 yrs.
Bonnie P.
Cyndi B.
Richard L.
Jack M.
Hugh
Mark Y.
Reb C.
Jackie B.
Steve S.
Kristina
Keith M.
Cody C.
Yolanda B.
2015
SOJOURN GROUP
30 yrs.
8 yrs.
3 yrs.
Mandarin
Women’s Group
Fiesta Group
Gary S.
Craig W.
Scott
Douglas H.
Mitch
Laura
Alen S.
2015
5 yrs.
Trout River Group
Ted B.
Joe P.
Tim
22 yrs.
17 yrs.
3 yrs.
Westside Group
Twila J.
Leo V.
Tony T.
James. G.
—
Bob H
Faith L
Jack G.
Susan I
Walter S.
32
18
4
3
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
yrs.
Fivers
Charlie M.
Fred H.
Mary M.C.
Tim L.
BIRTHDAY CLUB
BETSY F. JIM F.
….When anyone, anywhere, reaches
out for help, I want the hand of AA
always to be there.
And for that…..
G R O U P — 41st Annual Old-Timers Fish Fry
HONORING MEMBERS WITH 20+ YEARS, Saturday - APRIL 25, 2015
1 pm-5:30 pm 3645 Spring Park Road Food served from 1pm-2pm
Please bring a favorite dessert Speakers start at 2:00 PM PLEASE
CONTACT DIANA M. TO VOLUNTEER (904) 554-3703
APRIL 2015
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A COMMON SOLUTION
59TH Florida State Convention
Orlando, FL Aug. 12-16, 2015
Web Site: www.59flstateconvention.com
Programs: AA Workshop, The history of AA Workshop, AL-Anon Meetings and Workshop, Young People in AA, Meetings and Workshops, LGBT or Spanish
Meetings and Workshops, Marathon Meetings,
Grapevine Displays, Out-Of-Town Achieves Displays,
Old Timers Meeting, Mediation, and Yoga.
Activities: Friday and Saturday Banquets, Ice Cream
Social Gold Tournament, Dance and Entertainment,
DJ Party, Craft Room, and Talent Show
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rosen Plaza Hotel
9700 International Drive Orlando, FL 32819 Phone:
800-627-8258
Or 407-556-5700
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Room Rate $105 per night Self Parking Free and
Registration $35.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To volunteer at the 59th Florida State
Convention email: [email protected]
February 2015
YTD Group Contributions
APRIL
2015
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Page 8 of 8
BROKEN AND READY Jason S.
(From Mandarins Young Peoples Group)
This jackal is an architect who builds you up
like a conniving engineer,
But you are in awe by its design,
and you don't understand why you feel so queer.
Though you have found something new to fear,
Your old thoughts refuse to disappear.
You have changed your habits but your mind is not yet here.
Your regrets are loud, yelling obscenities into your ear;
"When you die you are not worth even the shadow of a tear."
So you beat yourself up until you
feel ready to down another beer.
When will it end? When will your conscience be clear?
A day, a week, a month, a year?
You need to find a friend, a true peer.
Someone who will not leave you and who is always near.
Someone who drives you and takes the
wheel when you cannot steer.
Someone who will not judge you and who will not sneer.
Someone who could be coveted, like a precious souvenir.
Is that someone God?
Is it to Her will to which you should adhere?
To allow Her to be present, so you are no longer cavalier?
You are on this journey for the first time, you are a pioneer,
Forging uncharted territory in this new frontier.
How do you rid yourself of this
tempest that has become so severe?
You have been hanging yourself
and you are fragile, you are a chandelier.
You need a new seat to sit on with
a fresh new veneer.
You will pay handsomely, but where
is the auctioneer?
The one who sells happiness, the
one who sells cheer.
You are done feeling hopeless,
it is time for change and you will persevere.
You will stay on course if you hold your compass dear.