• Two  committees  –  Events  Committee  for  big  things  like  Round-­‐ups,  Social Committee  for  picnics,  bowling  etc.    There  is  a  need  for  more  people  on  both committees. • The  social  committee  has  an  email  address:  sociaalcom@gmail.com  which  can  be used  for  RSVP  or  questions  regarding  social  events Policy  regarding  Open/Closed  Meetings

•  The  April  2014  open  letter  from  Intergroup  to  Singapore  AA  was  read  discussing  the policies  for  the  conduct  of  Open  and  Closed  AA  meetings. • The  policy  involves  a  formal  statement  to  be  read  at  Open  Meetings  including  a formal  “Anonymity  Statement” • There  is  also  a  “This  is  a  Closed  Meeting  of  Alcoholics  Anonymous”  Statement.

My  experience  in  P.I.&  H.I.

Hello  my  name  is  Doreen  I  am  an  alcoholic. I  have  just  stepped  down  from  my  position  working  with  Intergroup  as  Chair  of  the  Public Information  and  Hospital  Information  committee.  I  had  not  done  any  thing  like  this  before, but   I   wanted   something   new   in   my   life   and   Public   information   is   all   about   carrying   the message  to  the  still  suffering  alcoholic. When  I  first  started,  I  got  all  the  workshop  books  on  Public  information  and  I  also  asked  a very  good  friend  in  New  Zealand  to  guide  me  through  it  all. She   is   known   as   ‘the   guru’   down   there   .We   faithfully   kept   in   touch   through   email. I  first  of  all  sent  out  10  letters  to  international  schools  with  her  guidance  as  to  how  to  go about  this  .At  that  time,  I  only  got  a  reply  back  from  one  school,  and  we  have  continued  to do  talks  at  that  school  each  year. Then,   with   local   members’   help   we   started   talks   at   IMH   hospital   in   the   locked   wards. They  are  also  on  -­‐going  today. I  next  got  in  touch  with  local  libraries  about  donating  Big  Books  there.  But  this  one  proved more  difficult  than  I  had  first  anticipated  and  is  still  an  on  –going  project. We   did   a   workshop   for   medical   professionals,   which   was   very   successful   and   this   led   to a  talk  at  a  counselling  college.    There  I  met  a  woman  who  helped  to  organise  many  talks  to

all  different  medical  people.    Also  through  a  member  who  introduced  me  to  a  local  hospital, we  went  on-­‐site  and  gave  a  talk  to  doctors,  nurses  and  other  medical  professionals  working with   patients   who   have   addictions.     This   led   to   a   talk   to   social   workers   in   the   field   of addiction  at  yet  another  hospital. And  I  have  been  involved  with  so  much  more  outreach:  meeting  with  students  who  have chosen  to  study  about  alcoholism,  newspaper  and  magazine  reporters  with  whom    I  always use  an  alias,  a  live  radio  station  ,  and  many  others. I   would   just   like   to   point   out   I   have   used   WE   all   throughout   my   share,   because   without MEMBERS   helping   me   out   doing   all   this   public   information   none   of   it   would   have   been possible.  It  is  a  WE  program  of  recovery. When  I  first  started  coming  round  AA,  it  was  suggested  to  “get  involved,  stay  involved  and mind   your   own   business”.   This   has   worked   for   me   and   continues   to   work   for   me   today. It  so  warmed  my  heart  to  see  all  the  new  members  volunteering  to  get  involved  with  P.  &I. at  Intergroup. What   I   have   been   given   from   being   involved   with   working   with   the   public   and   other members  and  carrying  the  message  as  best  I  can  is: -­‐  Confidence  by  talking  to  all  these  members  of  the  public. -­‐  Friendships  with  new  people  in  my  life  inside  and  outside  AA. -­‐  It  certainly  opened  my  mind  to  lots  of  new  things  in  my  life. -­‐  I  have  learned  a  lot  about  me. -­‐  I  am  capable  of  doing  things  that  I  certainly  would  not  of  tried  before. This  is  just  a  few  points,  but  the  most  important  thing  out  if  it  all  is  that  it  has  kept  me  sober and   also   enhanced   my   sobriety   big   time.   More   than   I   could   ever   have   dreamed   of. Remember  the  3  S’  -­‐  Service  Strengthens  Sobriety So  give  it  a  try.  What  have  you  got  to  lose  eh? -­‐Doreen -­‐  -­‐  -­‐  -­‐  -­‐  -­‐

I  may  not  have  gone  where  I  intended  to  go,  but  I  think  I  have  ended  up  where  I  intended to  be.”  ~  Douglas  Adams

Don’t   confuse   your   path   with   your   destination.   Just   because   it   is   stormy   now   doesn’t mean  that  you  are  not  headed  for  sunshine    ~  Unknown

Live  without  pretending,  love  without  depending,  listen  without  defending.  Speak  without offending    ~  Drake

If  we  don’t  take  personal  responsibility  for  our  own  life,  then  we  can’t  expect  much  to change.   Reaching   out   is   not   the   action   of   a   weak   person,   but   an   act   of   commitment, spiritual  trust  and  love  ~  David  Cunliffe

“I’m  lying  here  because  I  slipped  on  the  First  Step.”  —Loren  B.,  Bozeman,  Mont