Greetings   from   the   Hospitals   &   Institutions/Public   Information   Committee!   Here   is   a   short update  to  let  you  know  what  we’ve  been  up  to  over  the  last  couple  of  months. Community  Outreach The  Boon  Lay  Family  Services  Centre  reached  out  to  us,  as  they  were  concerned  about  some problem  drinkers  in  their  community.  We  will  be  looking  to  arrange  a  panel  with  them  to  create awareness  about  A.A.  to  local  social  workers  and  counselors. The   Singapore   National   Library   has   agreed   to   a   donation   of   the   A.A.   Big   Book   to   be   made available  to  the  public. Promises   Healthcare   invited   us   to   send   an   A.A.   member   to   speak   about   their   experience   in recovery  with  Dr.  Winslow  on  938  Live  radio  on  the  11th  of  September-­‐  the  discussion  was  a success. The  National  Addictions  Management  team  invited  us  to  participate  in  the  National  Addictions Awareness  Day  for  the  second  time  this  year-­‐  we  have  declined  to  take  part,  however  we  are arranging  to  donate  literature  and  pamphlets  for  the  event. Cooperation  with  the  Professional  Community We  are  hosting  a  workshop  for  40  healthcare  professionals  on  the  26th  of  September.  The  new WECARE  Centre  has  kindly  agreed  to  accommodate  us.  This  will  include  information  about  A.A., a   demonstration   meeting,   a   Q&A   panel   and   a   chance   to   make   contacts   in   the medical/psychology  professions. SACAC   (The   Singapore   American   Community   Action   Council)   Counseling   organisation   has agreed  to  display  literature  and  pamphlets  on  their  premises.  They  will  also  be  helping  us  to make  first  contact  with  counseling  departments  of  international  schools. We   have   designed   posters   that   will   provide   contact   information   for   A.A.,   and   we   will   be contacting  doctors  offices,  hospitals,  counseling  practices  and  the  like  to  try  and  obtain  their permission  to  display  the  posters  on  their  premises.  Please  see  one  of  the  HIPI  Committee  if you  would  like  to  take  a  poster  and  some  information  leaflets  for  your  doctor! Stay  posted  for  your  meeting  announcements  for  exciting  upcoming  projects!

I   was   escorted   to   my   first   A.A.   meeting   following   a   three   day   non-­‐stop   binge.     I   must   have presented  a  pitiful  picture:  bloodshot  eyes,  still  mostly  drunk  and  trembling  —  strange  ‘music’ was   echoing   through   my   head.     But   then,   after   a   few   weeks,   I   felt   returned   to   my   proper position  as  center  of  the  universe.      When  someone  told  me  I  was  the  most  important  person  in the  meeting  I  could  see  they  were  absolutely  right;    I  would  never  let  on,  but  I  somehow  ‘knew’ that  it  was  all  about  me! After  a  few  marbles  started  spinning  the  same  direction,  I  realized  that  it  was  time  everyone    in the  rooms  realized  just  how  smart  I  really  was;  I  began  discussing  my  opinion  concerning  atoms, molecules,  the  speed  of  light  and  all  things  metaphysical  (whatever  that  means).          Just  imagine my  shock  when  Jack,  a  person  I  greatly  respected,  followed  my  share  by  stating:  “When  I  talk,  I try  to  make  sense.”      That  hurt  my  feelings! A  few  weeks  thereafter,  at  a  Hollywood  meeting,  someone  shared  a  physical  problem.      So,  I just  popped  up  and  told  of  a  certain  drug  I  had  read  about  that  would  probably  work  wonders. I  was  proud  of  myself!    That  is,  till  the  next  person  shared  that  he  had  indeed  tried  that  same drug  in  San  Francisco,  then  decided  to  jump  off  the  Golden  Gate  Bridge.    Oops! Someone  wrote  that  we  spend  the  first  half  of  our  lives  building  up  our  protective  false  self (ego)  —  and  the  second  half  getting  rid  of  it.    Well,  after  a  few  years  of  living  the  A.A.  program of  action  (Twelve-­‐Steps)  I  began  to  see  myself  for  what  I  really  was  —  just  another  drunk,  lucky to  be  sober  by  the  grace  of  God!    Bill  W.  wrote:  “Humility  is  the  ability  to  see  who  and  what  we really  are,  coupled  by  the  willingness  to  become  what  God  will  have  us  be.” I  once  wondered  how  high  up  I  could  go  in  A.A.:  A  GSR,?  —  A  DCM?  —  An  Area  Delegate  to  NY? —  A  Trustee?    Then  came  the  down-­‐to-­‐earth  answer:  Sober!    Sober  is  the  highest  level  any  of us  can  obtain  in  A.A..      This  realization  should  infuse  continual  humility  into  my  deepest  self  — but  it  probably  won’t. Bob  S.,  Richmond,  IN -­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐-­‐ Your  life  does  not  get  better  by  chance,  it  gets  better  by  change.  ~  Jim  Rohn You’re  braver  than  you  believe,  and  stronger  than  you  seem,  and  smarter  than  you  think.  ~ A.A.  Milne I’ve  learned  that  people  will  forget  what  you  said,  people  will  forget  what  you  did,  but  people will  never  forget  how  you  made  them  feel  ~  Maya  Angelou

Just  me  I  wake  up  in  the  morning  and  I  wear  a  suit  and  tie

Think  about  the  day  and  I  just  want  to  cry Nothing  seems  to  matter.  No  one  seems  to  care.  Things  aren’t  going  as  they  should.