THE O.A.S.I.S.

          

Our Area Serving in Sobriety

March 2006

 

            Statement of purpose for Area 52 Newsletter

        The newsletter will carry the message of recovery, unity and service of Area 52 to AA members across North Dakota.  The newsletter will be used to keep Area 52 informed of upcoming events, decisions, and activities that occur at the state level.  The news letter will be published following each assembly meeting and distributed with the area minutes.

 

 

Greetings to all Area 52 AA Members

        As we join together for the still suffering alcoholic, the theme for the 56th General Service Conference in 2006 is, “Sponsorship, Service, and Self-Support in a Changing World.”

        Last year the Area Assembly decided to have two “GSR Schools” in Area 52.  The school was to be conducted by the most recent past Delegate (Eric B.) with the assistance of the DCM’s from Districts 1 (Sandy K.) and 6 (Scott B.).  The Area Agenda Committee assembled and produced the school booklet, (borrowed from Area 40- Montana) and Eric performed his magic on the computer using a power point presentation.  The DCM’s ensured that a location would be provided and also gave a presentation on the duties of being a DCM.  Participants report that the schools were a great success and will be beneficial for the future of A.A. in Area 52.

        The roll you selected me to serve for the Area and the North American Conference of A.A. has brought a new prospective to me, some of the functions that occur within the General Service Conference and Area 52.  The one I wish to address in the article is one that you may have heard before, namely trust the committee system.

        At the 55th GSC, we as a body were given the opportunity to review the pamphlet “The Home Group”.  As a member of the conference, though serving on the Grapevine committee, I had the opportunity to checkout a draft copy and compare it to the current printing.  To complete this task, delegates needed to utilize their free time wisely, usually between 10:00 pm and 8:00am.  As I read this pamphlet I was reminded of the Area 52 March Assembly the previous year.  Our Literature Committee, reviewing this pamphlet as it was on the list of Conference Agenda Items for the 54th General Service Conference Literature Committee. Our Area 52 Literature Committee Chair, two of our DCM’s, and a number of GSR’s spent extra time completing this task as Area 52’s contribution to the Conference Process.  The previous evening at our Area 52 Service Conference, our area members had the opportunity to listen to Eric B. who was the delegate at the time, present the information on this agenda item and many more.

        Yes, we have at the General Service Conference a Conference Process and also a Committee Process. In Area 52 we also have a Committee and Assembly Process, and in most cases you can jump right in and participate at some level, you may not have a vote but your group has a vote on one of our Area Committees as does your District Committee Member, and them in most cases we move onto the floor of the Assembly.  Could the process be better identified, most assuredly!  Could the process be improved upon, probably?  What I have overheard at most levels of service whether in my Home Group, District, Area or even the GSC are things like, “Lets get this thing going, I don’t want to spend all day and night doing this,” or “The speaker at the roundup is starting, how soon will this be over.”    

      At a recent Forum, it was mentioned that trust in the Conference had been lost do to the changes made and the process that was followed with, “The Home Group” pamphlet.  Did I agree with all the changes in the “The AA Group” pamphlet, no!  Did I vote to print the new version, yes!  What I attempt to do today and what I saw others doing at the GSR school was that they were staying in the cat and reading the operators handbook to learn how it steers, stops, and starts.  What to do if it over heats or how to change a tire if all the air goes out of it.

        Today I know I need to get in the car. Some times I’m in the back, sometimes in the front and even driving if requested to or my offer is taken up.  The car is fueled with the willingness to be of service given in the Concepts, I can relax because I have the seatbelt of the Traditions around me and the Steps condition the air as we trudge the path together.

     Yours In Service

Mike N.- Delegate

Panel 55

      

 

Greetings,

          Area 52 just finished with our first two GSR (General Service Representative) schools.  One was held in Watford City on February 4th and the other was held in Carrington on February 11th.  What a positive experience they were!  It seemed worthwhile when people understood the importance of a GSR and how their position relates to the General Service Conference, so that A.A. can truly act for A.A. as a whole.

        After presenting at Watford City I was looking forward to Carrington with the hope it would be a success also, but on February 9th my life changed. My mom was diagnosed with cancer.  The day before my sister had told me to get down to Bismarck and go with mom to her doctor’s appointment, as she had a bad feeling about it.  She has colon cancer, which has spread to her liver.  The initial doctor gave us no hope.  I felt totally helpless and hopeless; not a good place for an alcoholic.

         Carrington’s GSR school didn’t seem important anymore.  Nobody’s life was at stake; it’s just a darn school.  I just wasn’t up for it.  I imaged people complaining about their aches and pains and minor misfortunes, so what!  Friday night I decided I needed to go be with my family in Alcoholics Anonymous and let go and let God.  It is a decision I am grateful I made. At mom’s next appointment, her Oncologist was more optimistic and helped to improve our attitude.  We are going to deal with mom’s disease as we do with our allergy, One Day at a Time.   

        The Area 52 GSR Schools are scheduled for four hours, I first thought, “My God, how are we going to fill the allotted time.”  It wasn’t a problem, at both cities; we went right up to the bell. We went over the Service Manual, Area 52 Service handbook, GSR Kit and the GSR School Booklet.  There were a lot of great questions and great answers as well.  There were presentations from the host district’s DCM, (District Committee Member) Sandy from district 1 and Scott B. from district 6, Area Chairman/Alt. Delegate Phil M., our current Panel 55 delegate Mike N. and Panel 53 delegate Eric B. The next GSR schools will be held the first two Saturdays in Febuarary 2007.

        One last thing, district 7 is in the planning stages of a “Home Group Workshop” which came about because of the school, my hats off to them.  My hope then is that these schools will get other districts and groups involved with service in A.A.  So Area 52 will truly be acting for A.A. as a whole.

Eric B.

Past Delegate

 

 

        When times get tough and you’re feeling sorry for yourself, do something good for some less fortunate.  It will help that person, help you take your mind off your own troubles, and maybe give you appreciation for the good things you do have.

                               (Advice Patricia Heaton’s mother gave her)

 

 

"She is Me" 

          A few years ago I ran into some one who hated my guts.  She felt I had done many things to hurt her and she was more then happy to share them with me.  She told me I was selfish and I used people to get what I wanted.  She said I didn't care about anyone but myself.  She said no one loved me or needed me.  She shared that she could tell by looking at people that I disgusted them.  They thought it would be better if I just ceased to exist.  She said I was ugly and kind of stupid.  She told me there was nothing I could do to change how I looked or acted.  She believed I had screwed my life up so bad that there was no hope for me. I would always be a lazy rotten person.  I would never be a good mother or daughter or wife or friend or sister.  That boat had sailed long ago.  She told me that I might as well accept my crappy life because it was exactly what I deserved.  People like me never amounted to anything.
          What do you do with a chick like that?  This woman had been haunting me for years.  No matter what I did to get rid of her, she kept showing up again.  She was sneaky.  She would say nasty little things, just enough to make me doubt myself. She pretended to be my only friend. We would sit and pick apart everyone else.  It made me feel a little bit better, a little bit superior, and a little less alone for awhile.  Then, when she had driven all my friends away, she would start on me. I tried to ignore her. I pretended not to hear her voice.  When she was vicious I made excuses for her.  She was just speaking the truth even if it hurt me.  She was telling me these things "for my own good."  She was protecting me from disappointment and pain.
           I tried ignoring her voice.  I tried making excuses for the things she was saying to me.  I even tried agreeing with her.  The more I struggled to calm her down the louder she screamed and the more vicious she became.  Finally I turned and confronted this angry, unforgiving, and hateful voice.  I looked into her eyes.  As I looked at her, the anger turned to fear.  What was she afraid of?  She was afraid someone might see all the pain underneath that anger.  They might see how lonely she was.  They might try to get close to her.  They might even succeed.  But if they learned how much she needed them, they might take advantage of her.  They might hurt her more, and in the end they might leave.  She would be left alone and in pain again... When I saw this terrified and lonely person, I forgave her.  I finally understood why she acted the way she did.  I saw that if I showed her a little bit of love and compassion maybe she could change.  And you know what?  It worked!!
          You see, the voice I heard was my own.  It lurks in the quiet hell that resides in the minds of so many.  The hell that we hide from each other and even ourselves, the voice that lies to us about who we are and what we are worth. It whispers things to us that we would never dream of saying to each other.  "You are fat and ugly.  You aren't good enough.  No one could ever love you.  Everyone else has more, is more, and does more then you." But when confronted, the voice turns to a whisper and fades away. Darkness fades when exposed to light.
            The eyes I looked into stared back at me from a mirror.  The anger, the fear, the pain, the insecurities and the loneliness I had to face where my own.  No one else had created them and no one else could take them away.  I looked into the eyes of my greatest enemy and forgave her.  She soon became my best friend.  She is me.

Love, Michelle E. - GSR

District 12 

 

 

 Lakota Serenity

        The group as it exists today was started by an individual that had 3 months of sobriety because she could not get to another meeting.  The group has grown to seven (7) permanent AA members and one (1) as she says not sure what I am member (Al Anon?).  On November 21st the group celebrated its second (2nd) birthday.  That is a mile stone as the longest running meeting ever in Lakota.

Yours in service,

Stanley T. S. - GSR

District 12

 

 

        Thursday night Big Book Study meets every Thursday in the basement of St. John's Episcopal Church at W. 8th St. and 5th Ave.. The meeting begins at 8 pm and we dispense with all reading and hear from the 4th Edition CD's of the Big Book of Alcoholic Anonymous.  The newcomer is an asset to the fellowship of AA and we provide a safe and comfortable environment for them to listen.  Meeting attendance has been good; we continue to participate in rotation for the hospital meeting at St. Joseph's Friday nights at 8 pm.  We continue to support GSO, Area 52, and Dist 8 financially on a quarterly basis.  If you’re in the neighborhood, please stop by to see us as we are moving into the 2nd chapter.                                        Keep it simple and God bless. ~                                                                                                                 Jacob D. GSR

Thursday Night Big Book Study Group

District 8

 

 

                                          What's happening to AA and our 7th tradition?

        There have been some things going on in AA that have been bothering me for some time and I guess I need to get on my soap box and share my feelings as this is a feeling illness. Why is it that no one wants to get involved in doing service work on any level of AA? You know I sit in meetings, go to District meetings and Assemblies and State Roundups and it’s always a few that do the work and the rest are like a bunch of sheep who just come along for the ride. The ones that really irritate me are the old timers who say that they put their time in and done there part and don't need to do it anymore. I would like to see where the heck it is written anywhere that says we do anything only once in this program and then quit. This is a continuing program and a progressive illness and will be that way until the day I die so I hope I don't become one of those quitters who want only to sit on their butts in meetings and pretend to talk the talk. As far as I am concerned they might just as well go out of the meetings and get drunk because they do the program no good, especially to the newcomer who needs all the help they can get to find a way to keep busy and stay sober one day a time. Another thing is we are allowing our program to be taken over by other addictions and it is watering down the format of our program so that we now allow everybody to come in and say anything at a meeting and I think it falls back on a lack of understanding at the treatment centers who deal with dual addiction. They need to understand there is a tradition in our program that states if you have a desire to stop drinking you are welcome and that is where it should stop.  If you have other addictions, if you have other problems then you do not belong in AA unless you want to quit drinking and that is the focus.

        My final point is the 7th Tradition. Why are we having so much trouble putting a dollar or two in the basket and being self supporting at the District, Area and at the GSO. How much do you value your sobriety?  I see people come to meetings and stand outside and smoke week after week and never put anything in the basket but they can afford money for smokes. When you were drinking and without a job you could always find money to go to a party so I say again, how much do you value your sobriety? Without this program where would we be?  If you don't support your Group, District, Area, and GSO we could all be out in the cold. I hope I gave some food for thought and maybe even ruffled some feathers, which doesn't bother me because if it gets people into action then it was worth it. If I didn't reach anybody then I will just keep turning my fears over to my HP and at least I will stay sober another day.

Jeff A.

District 10 DCM

 

 

Our next drink might be closer than we think

        Just wanted to say be very careful when in another's person's company or home. Although we may not keep alcohol in our homes, other people do. So if you’re at another's social gathering, be sure to check if any of the open drinks contain alcohol. And always be aware of where your open drink is. Alcohol is our problem, not everyone else's. We are the ones that need to be careful. This is what happened to me.

        Last night I went with my sister to her game night. There were many ladies there, none I knew. We were to play bunko. I was offered coffee, water, or punch. I chose punch. I had consumed

at least 6 drinks from my glass, when some one said this has rum init. I almost fell over. Many things rushed through my mind. I pictured myself getting drunk and all those women ended up hating me. I pictured me losing everything I have now.  I pictured me dieing. I was so scared; I told them I can't drink because I am a recovering alcoholic. I explained to them what one sip could do to me. I knew I could be gone in an instant if that alcohol affects my blood in any way. I prayed and prayed please God don’t let me feel the effects. I never did, thank God. I never even thought about what another person may or may not be serving in their own home. After last night I will. This is one night mare I never want to endure again.

I thought I would loose everything......... I learned a valuable lesson...Be careful.                                       Deb-b

    

                                                                                                                                          TWENTY TRUTHS TO LIVE BY

1.        Faith is the ability to not panic.

2.  If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
3.  As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
4.  Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
5.  When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.
6.  Do the math.  Count your blessings.
7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
8. Dear God: I have a problem.  It's me.
9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.
10.  Laugh every day.  It's like inner jogging.
11.  The most important things in your home are the people.
12.  Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional.
13.  There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.
14.  A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
15.  He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
16.   We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
17.  Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
18. Its all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19.  Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking.  Learn from the turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
20.  Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are

Submitted by Roy J. - GSR

District 5

 

 

                                      What I’ve learned from the first 164 pages

 

        The basic text of our book “Alcoholics Anonymous” is full of ideas and trinkets to a better way of living than I’ve ever known before.  The process started with a moment of clarity before my last drink.  That was to do whatever “Alcoholics Anonymous” asks me to do, not necessarily what others ask.  Therefore, I became a ‘student’ of the book aforementioned.  My first sponsor (Roger T.) took me through the twelve steps with the first 164 pages.  He asked me to bring my “big book” to the local McDonalds so we could read together.  I was like ‘What’???  No way was I going to do so.  Begrudgingly I did as he asked.  I gave him full authority over my sobriety.  I wanted what he had and was willing.  That was November 24, 1996.  From that day to this I have not found it necessary to take that first drink!!!!

        In the proceeding period of time, I read the “Big Book” every 6 months.  All 575 pages of the 3rd edition my sponsor had given me.  In the forward I found a sentence that stated “…..precisely how we had recovered is the main purpose of this book.”  What a statement for a fella like me.  So I became more attentive to what I was about to read and the journey I was to begin embarking upon.  I’ve been to a few meetings and had not drank for many one days at a time previously, but learned that period of time was my “stark raving sober period”.  There was NO recovery because I had not participated on my behalf.  Was just going to meetings when convenient for me, doing the bare minimum to just not drink.  Sobriety is much more than that for me today.  I learned what was to be done and expected of me to match my calamity with serenity.  That was working the twelve steps to the best of my ability.  From the first day till today I have attempted to do so as best I can.  Some days I fall short, other days I think I over shot the mark. The main thing is that have not drank just for today and that is all I wanted that first day.

        What is going to any lengths for you????  The first year of my sobriety, my sponsor told me no relationships, no checkbook, and keep the job I had whether I wanted to or not.  Sure am grateful to him. I still have not traveled as much any year since that first one and I didn’t even have a vehicle. They had repossessed when I didn’t pay.  Was also told that cash works instead of till those wonderful 30 day checkbooks I used to have.  And this was for a fella who had 31/2  years of college accounting!!!!  What a way to live.  Hehe!  But I’ve done what has been necessary for many one days at a time.  Thanks to folks like you and the fellowship I crave (164).  There are many people in my sobriety that are owed a debt of gratitude from me.  That is what the first 164 pages have done for me.  How about you? Keep coming back and strive to work the steps to the best of your ability.  Call your sponsor on a daily basis.  Go to meetings consistently and you too can have what us others have.

Thanks for My Sobriety< Much Appreciated

Love in the fellowship, James B.

District 2- 700 Group

     


        In opening, I would like to introduce myself as the new District 13 reporter. I was just recently called into service, and have been unable to reach all of our group's GSR's as of this writing, so please bear with me, in this, my maiden submission. I also wish to apologize in advance if I
inadvertently left out any pertinent information, but wanted to be sure that we were represented by the deadline date for publication of this issue.
        We are based out of Grand Forks and surrounding areas. We have many members’ among us and there are always plenty of opportunities for fellowship. I would like to recap some of our more recent activities, as well as inform you of some exciting activities taking place now or coming up in the near future.
        Over New Years Eve and Day, we held our annual Alcathon, which consisted of 24 hours of continuous meetings with various groups taking turns hosting/chairing the sessions. We also just held our Mini Round-Up on February 25th at the University of North Dakota (or University of Smith and Wilson, as it was so aptly titled), and a good time was had by all who attended. As of this writing, a Women's Big Book Study sponsored by Unity Group is in the works from January 16th to April 3rd. Another Big Book Study, also sponsored by Unity Group, is just beginning (March 4th to May 13th). A huge milestone was recently reached by the Way of Life Group - in
February, they celebrated 32 years of service. On the flip side, a brand new group (New Design for Living) is taking shape at the University of North Dakota, and we are excited that there is again a campus meeting place available for students who are ready for a recovery. Our annual Camparama will be held at Lake Bronson, MN again this year from May 26th to May 29th.
And the list goes on ad infinitum (I couldn't resist).
       It is so awesome how this program works - just when I was feeling as if I was in need of something more, but could not put into words what that "more" was, along came this opportunity to be of service to the fellowship that I owe my recovery (and yes, my life) to. He knew exactly what it was I needed, even when I didn't!! Being relatively new to sobriety, I am still
awestruck when I am witness to a miracle such as this.
In gratitude and service,
LoAnn H.
District 13 Reporter

 

 

Thought flows in terms of stories-stories about events, stories about people, and stories about inventions and achievements.  The best teachers are the best story tellers.  We learn in the form of stories.

                                                                            Frank Smith

 

 

         I had my 1st drink at the age of 9, and whenever I got the chance after that. The older I got the more I drank; then at some point the alcohol led me into more dangerous drugs. By the age of 32, I had 4 kids, was once divorced, and on the road to a second divorce. Smoking and drinking just about daily, because at that point of my life Booze & Pot were my best friends.

        On the last night I partied it started with a fight with my 12 year old daughter and my husband. My husband left with our 2 year old Son, my 15 year Son and 9 year old Daughter went to Grandma & Grandpas, and my 12 year old Daughter and I kept fighting. Then I left and went to the Bar. When I returned home at 4:00 AM my house was empty!  My 12 year old Daughter had left too and went to Grandpa & Grandmas. At that point I realized I was loosing everything that mattered in my life and that alcohol was what was controlling my life.  I called my Sister and told her I needed help and wanted to go to treatment. Her response was I've been waiting for this call; I will be there in 2 hours.  And she was.   By 8:00 AM, I was in the Hospital and on my way to the "CDU" program. I was released from the program the day before Thanksgiving 2003.

         I went home and was very thankful to be on the road to recovery! By chance Thanksgiving was on Thursday, so after spending the day with my family I went to my 1st AA meeting in Kenmare. And all I can say is I am very thankful for everyone in the wonderful AA program! I now live one day at a time, and am very glad to say that TODAY I'm Sober!  Thanks to the AA group and 12 steps - They work if you work them!!

 Donna H.

Kenmare N.Dak.

 

 

        I would like to thank everyone who submitted articles for this OASIS, to encourage those who were going to but just never got around to it, and those who didn’t have time but thought the OASIS is a good idea.  This is our way of getting information out to the rest of the Area about what is going on. I do believe there is a statement that says “I am responsible”.  What are we responsible for?  It seems that hardly anyone wants to responsible for anything anymore.  For me, the gifts I have been given since my higher power brought me to sobriety are unbelievable.  I have more today than I have ever dreamed of. I have the peace, serenity, and faith that all will be well.  I am in service work because I want to give back some of what I have been given so freely.  I feel that is part of my responsibility.  The other part is to share my experience, strength, and hope with others that they may some day find what I have found in Alcoholics Anonymous!

I do hope that everyone will help to keep this newsletter going.  It is a very important part of the Area.  I know that there are a lot of things going on in the state but never received any information for the OASIS.  What is happening around you in your Group, District, or the Area?????  Contact your DCM for information on how to get articles to the OASIS!!!!!!!!

Yours in Service

Mary H- OASIS Editor