Dick  D.,  who  regularly  corresponds  with  G.S.O.  New  York,  writes  in March  1958  that  the  Singapore  group,  founded  in  1957,  now  has  12

members  and  two  likely  prospects.

(copied  from  the  G.S.O.  timeline  at:  www.aa.org/pages/en_US/aa-­‐timeline)

Andrew  shares,  “Now  we  enter  the  modern  era  of  Singapore  AA.    1982  was  a  vintage  year  as  the baby  boomers  came  of  age  and  got  sober.    The  three  meetings  at  Queen  St.  rapidly  became  eight per  week.    Sponsorship  and  the  Steps  were  all  the  rage!    We  had  Step  meetings,  Big  Book  Studies and  a  few  breakaway  meetings  started  to  appear  in  other  locations.    I  founded  the  Novena  meeting during  that  time,  originally  as  a  Step  Workshop.    We  had  just  installed  a  telephone  at  Queen  St.  and there  was  a  programme  on  TV  about  alcoholism  and  AA.    The  phone  rang  off  the  hook!    A  few  of  the people   who   called   in   then   are   still   sober.     12th   stepping   was   popular   too,   as   we   went   all   over Singapore  trying  to  sober  up  everyone  who  called. In  1983  we  were  invited  to  hold  a  meeting  at  Bushey  Park  Welfare  Home  for  Destitute  and  Vagrant Men   (later   moved   to   Woody   Lodge).     About   20   of   us   went   along   to   the   amazement   of   the   350 inmates  who  had  no  idea  what  it  was  all  about.    The  numbers  dwindled,  but  a  few  of  us  kept  this Sunday   evening   meeting   going   for   17   years.     (AA   received   a   Presidential   Award   for   Community Service,  but  nobody  would  go  to  collect  it  and  it  was  finally  sent  to  a  member’s  house.)” “We  organized  the  first  AA  Convention  to  celebrate  25  years  of  AA  in  Singapore.    It  was  held  over  a weekend  at  St.  Ignatius  Church  and  was  a  huge  success  with  about  50  attendees,  some  from  other countries   in   the   region.     All   the   local   members   were   present,   and   Al-­‐Anon   was   also   part   of   the proceedings.    There  were  wonderful  shares  by  old-­‐timers  and  lots  of  small  break-­‐out  discussions. Soon  after  that  we  held  a  residential  retreat  at  the  Catholic  seminary  in  Punggol,  when  it  was  still  a seaside  village.  Two  speakers  were  flown  in  from  Australia  to  run  it,  a  priest  named  Frank  F.  and Trevor  H.    It  was  a  life-­‐changing  event  for  many  of  us.” As  we  all  know,  the  Singapore  fellowship  has  grown  and  blossomed.    These  stories  of  a  common past  make  it  clear  that  ours  is  a  plant  with  deep  roots  that  has  been  lovingly  nurtured  for  over  50 years.     I   personally   am   incredibly   grateful   for   that.     Now   let’s   hear   your   stories   and   anecdotes!! Send  them  to:  newsletter@singaporeaa.org To  be  continued… Claire  H. _  _  _  _ Happiness  is  not  something  ready  made.  It  comes  from  your  own  actions.  ~    Dalai  Lama When  it  rains  look  for  rainbows,  when  it  is  dark  look  for  stars.  ~    Unknown To  complain  is  always  nonacceptance  of  what  is.  It  invariably  carries  an  unconscious  negative charge.  When  you  complain,  you  make  yourself  into  a  victim.  When  you  speak  out,  you  are  in your  power.  So  change  the  situation  by  taking  action  or  by  speaking  out  if  necessary  or  possible; leave  the  situation  or  accept  it.  All  else  is  madness.  ~  Eckhart  Tolle