On the 3rd Step
I was co-chairman of the Loop group a few months ago and the subject of religious experience was brought up. I answered this in my stumbling way by saying that each of us could have such an experience only when we 'got on center with ourselves'; if that were not clear we could express it thus: when we fully realized for the first time in our lives the essential dignity of ourselves as human beings. I also said that this realization could be achieved through return to the formal religion we once
practiced but never knew, or by honest thought along our rough-hewn way.
I have lately come to think that the 3rd step on our guide post to the good life is the meat and drink of the twenty-four hour program. Without a complete, whole-hearted 'surrender' at the start of each day, much of the good that we think, or do, is lost to us. I must confess that in my own daily application of the program I had begun to slip on this point--if indeed I had ever really practiced it. But the tide of events swelled over me recently to wash this bad thinking away. Unsatisfactory events, however, do not seem to be without compensation. Out of this turmoil and confusion in my business affairs has come a deeper understanding, a peace and serenity, a clarity of outlook I never knew before.
I sometimes wonder how many of us, after early, diligent application to A.A., coast along without getting wet solely because of a thoroughly house-broken habit as far as alcohol is concerned. I have always thought that the man who is
thoroughly sickened of the stuff, when he learns of A.A., has the best chance to pick up and go; but it seems to me that there is danger ahead for such a man sometime later, just because he won his 'strength' too easily at the start.
Walter L.
Chicago, Illinois
Copyright © The AA Grapevine, Inc. Jan, 1945. Reprinted with permission.
CENTRAL OFFICE 436 S. Rock Blvd., Sparks, NV 89431 Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 24 Hour Answering Service:
(775) 355-1151 Fax: (775) 355-1560 EMAIL: [email protected] Web Site/Meeting Schedule: nnig.org
GENERAL WARRANTIES OF THE NORTHERN NEVADA INTERGROUP
ASSOCIATION OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
In all its proceedings, the Intergroup Association observes the spirit of AA Traditions, taking great care that the Intergroup Association never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus a reserve be its prudent financial principal; that none of the Intergroup Association members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decision be reached by discussion, vote and whenever possible, substantial unanimity; that no Intergroup Association action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Intergroup Association may act for the service of AA Groups in the Northern Nevada area and parts of Northern California, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Intergroup Association itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.
(The above is adapted and modified from “The AA Service Manual”, and AA Co-Founder Bill W’s. Twelve Concepts for World Service; Concept XII, as adopted by the General Service Conference on April 26, 1962. This adaptation of copyrighted AA material has been approved by the General Service Board)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
AA’s Three Legacies 2
Upcoming Events 3
Meetings and More 4
Service Opportunities 5
Tradition 3 - Real, Recovered, Grateful 6
NNIG Financial Report 7
Profit & Loss Statement 8
Pink Can Contributions 9
NNIG Meeting Minutes 10
Steering Committee Minuetes 11
N
ORTHERN
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Page 2
Prayer for the 3rd Step:
from page 63 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
God, I offer myself to Thee- To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!
God, Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how to live. AMEN (the step on p. 59 BB)
Traditions Checklist:
1. In my mind, do I prejudge some new AA members as losers?
2. Is there some kind of alcoholic whom I privately do not want in my AA group? 3. Do I set myself up as a judge of whether a newcomer is sincere or phony?
4. Do I let language, religion (or lack of it), race, education, age, or other such things interfere with my carrying the message?
5. Am I over impressed by a celebrity? By a doctor, a clergyman, an ex-convict? Or can I just treat this new member simply and naturally as one more sick human, like the rest of us?
6. When someone turns up at AA needing information or help (even if he can’t ask for it aloud), does it really matter to me what he does for a living? Where he lives? What his domestic arrangements are? Whether he had been to AA before? What his other problems are?
OURS NOT TO JUDGE
The first edition of the book Alcoholics Anonymous makes this brief statement about membership: "The only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop drinking. We are not allied with any particular faith, sect or denomination nor do we op-pose anyone. We simply wish to be helpful to those who are afflicted." This expressed our feeling as of 1939, the year our book was published.
Since that day all kinds of experiments with membership have been tried. The number of membership rules which have been made (and mostly broken!) are legion. Two or three years ago the Central Office asked the groups to list their membership rules and send them in. After they arrived we set them all down. They took a great many sheets of paper. A little reflection upon these many rules brought us to an astonishing conclusion. If all of these edicts had been in force everywhere at once it would have been practically impossible for any alcoholic to have ever joined Alcoholics Anonymous. About nine-tenths of our oldest and best members could never have got by!
WHO'D HAVE LASTED?
In some cases we would have been too discouraged by the demands made upon us. Most of the early members of A.A. would have been thrown out because they slipped too much, because their morals were too bad, because they had mental as well as alcoholic difficulties. Or, believe it or not, because they did not come from the so-called better classes of society. We oldsters could have been excluded for our failure to read the book Alcoholics Anonymous or the refusal of our sponsor to vouch for us as a candidate. And so on ad infinitum. The way our "worthy" alcoholics have sometime tried to judge the "less worthy" is, as we look back on it, rather comical. Imagine, if you can, one alcoholic judging another!
At one time or another most A.A. Groups go on rule-making benders. Naturally enough, too, as a Group commences to grow rapidly it is confronted with many alarming problems. Panhandlers begin to pan-handle. Members get drunk and sometimes get others drunk with them. Those with mental difficulties throw depressions or break out into paranoid denunciations of fellow members. Gossips gossip, and righteously denounce the local Wolves and Red Riding Hoods. Newcomers argue that they aren't alcoholics at all, but keep coming around anyway. "Slipees" trade on the fair name of A.A., in order to get themselves jobs. Others refuse to accept all the 12 Steps of the Recovery Program. Some go still further, saying that, the "God business" is bunk and quite unnecessary. Under these conditions our conservative program-abiding members get scared. These appalling conditions must be controlled, they think. Else A.A. will surely go to rack and ruin. They view with alarm for the good of the Movement!
At this point the Group enters the rule and regulation phase. Charters, by-laws and membership rules are excitedly passed and authority is granted committees to filter out undesirables and discipline the evil doers. Then the Group Elders, now clothed with authority, commence to get busy. Recalcitrants are cast into the outer darkness, respectable busybodies throw stones at the sinners. As for the so-called sinners, they either insist on staying around, or else they form a new Group of their own. Or maybe they join a more congenial and less intolerant crowd in their neighborhood. The Elders soon discover that the rules and regulations aren't working very well. Most attempts at enforcement generate such waves of dissension and intolerance in the Group that this condition is presently recognized to be worse for the Group life than the very worst that the worst ever did.
After a time fear and intolerance subside. The Group survives unscathed. Everybody has learned a great deal. So it is, that few of us are any longer afraid of what any newcomer can do to our A.A. reputation or effectiveness. Those who slip, those who pan-handle, those who scandalize, those with mental twists, those who rebel at the program, those who trade on the A.A. reputation --all such persons seldom harm an A.A. Group for long. Some of these have become our most respected and best loved. Some have remained to try our patience, sober nevertheless. Others have drifted away. We have begun to regard these ones not as menaces, but rather as our teachers. They oblige us to cultivate patience, tolerance and humility. We finally see that they are only people sicker than the rest of us, that we who condemn them are the Pharisees whose false righteousness does our Group the deeper spiritual damage. Bill W. With permission, AA Grapevine, August, 1946
Recovery
Step Three:
“Made a decision to turn our will
and our lives over to the care of
God as we understood Him.”
Unity
Tradition Three:
”The
only requirement for AA
member-ship is a desire to stop
drinking”
Service
Concept Three:
”To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A.-the Confer-ence, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives - with a traditional "Right of Decision."
Page 3
Rule 62: Don’t take yourself
so damn seriously
N N I G Events
Other Area Events
Coming Soon – Founders Day Picnic,
Saturday, June 7
th, Cottonwood Park,
777 Spice Islands Dr., Sparks, NV 89431
Meetings and More
Page 4AREA CLUBS
Reno / Sparks Clubs
Alano Club Sparks, 1640 Prater Way (775) 359-2727 Driars Club Reno 345 S. Wells Avenue (775) 324-9210 Triangle Club Reno 635 S Wells Avenue (775) 324-7977 Clubs outside Reno/Sparks Area
Alano Club Carson City, 1800 HWY 50 East (775) 882-0443 Bishop Alano Club (760) 873-6700
Elko Alano Club (775) 738-4747 Las Vegas Triangle Club (702) 435-0597 South Lake Tahoe (530) 541-1243 Susanville (530) 257-2880
W
EDNESDAY
B
EGINNERS
G
ROUP
6:30
PM
R
AINBOW
&
C
OURT
N
EW AT
C
ENTRAL
O
FFICE
Alcohólicos Anónimos Doce Pasos Y Doce Tradiciones All En Espanol Books Now Available Coming in April – 75th Anniversary Big BookBook Covers – All Colors & Sizes
Central Office now has three (3) designated parking spaces for our customers!
I
TEM STILLN
EEDED:
N
EWP
APERC
UTTERNecessary for event tickets, flyers and pocket cards
THE FIRESIDE GROUP IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE 2 NEW MEETINGS
WEDNESDAYS AT 7PM CLOSED MEN’S STAG
1ST & 3RD SATURDAYS AT 7PM OPEN SPEAKER MEETING 8200 OFFENHAUSER
COMSTOCK HILLS/HILLVIEW TERRACE APARTMENT COMPLEX CLUBHOUSE
CLUBHOUSE IS AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE COMPLEX FOR FURTHER INFORMATION EMAIL KEITH C. AT
Frank loves his job. He just happens to be the hit-man for his Polish mob family in
Buffalo, New York. But Frank's got a drinking problem and when he messes up
a critical assignment that puts the family business in peril, his uncle sends him to San Francisco to clean up his act. Frank is
not a touchy-feely kind of guy, but he starts going to AA meetings, gets a sponsor and a job at a mortuary where he falls for the tart-tongued Laurel, a woman who is dangerously devoid of boundaries. It’s time for Rule #62 - If a hit man for the
mob can get sober - We all have a chance……… DRIARS CLUB 12 STEP WORKSHOP EVERY SUNDAY AT 1:30 TO 3PM AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF
A.A. BIG BOOK, 12X12 AND A WORKBOOK, WE
WILL BE DOING THE STEPS, ONE AT A TIME.
$5.00 ONE TIME COST FOR WORKBOOK
THIS IS A COPY COST ONLY (IF BOOK NOT WANTED CAN BORROW IN CLASS)
Joe Clay is a top-notch public relations man. Any-thing a client wants Joe can arrange for them, whether it be dancing girls or an article in a prom-inent magazine. Part of the job however is drinking and Joe's ability to consume alcohol seems bound-less. When he meets the very pretty Kirsten Arnasen, she prefers chocolate to alcohol but Joe has a solution to that in the form of a Brandy Alexander (made up of brandy and crème de cocoa). They eventually marry but their love is insufficient to prevent them from the downward spiral that alcohol brings to them. They try desper-ately to break the habit but continually relapse until only one of them manages to break free.
M&M Group presents
Days of Wine and Roses
March 29, 6:30 pm, 635 S. Wells Ave., Reno
A
REQUEST FROM YOURA
RCHIVESC
OMMITTEEYour NAGSC Archives Committee has been making copies of District binders so that both NAGSC and Area 42 will have copies. We’ve come across many (maybe75%) of old fliers
have a date but it does not include the year. Some of these are many years old, so it’s
almost impossible to determine when they were printed. Please, when making posters about your events (picnics, meetings, campouts, workshops and other special gatherings, etc.) PLEASE include a location, day, month and year. And be sure to send a copy to the committee for permanent preservation of our AA history. Email a copy to:
[email protected]. Or snailmail to Archives, 1374 Sanden Lane, Minden, NV 89423.
Beginners' Book:
Getting and Staying Sober in AA
In this collection of AA Grapevine stories, AA members share what helped them get sober and handle their new lives of recovery. Full of useful suggestions, insights, and solutions to problems common to the newly sober, this book provides solid tools of recovery.
Grapevin
e Items
Available
@
YOUR
Central
Office
Gratitude Dinner
Committee
Meeting
Thursday, May 15th @ 5:30 Central Office 436 S. Rock, Sparks, NV Anyone interested in serving on the committee should plan to attendService Opportunities
Page 5District Meetings
DISTRICT-2 Second Tuesday of each month, 7:00 PM, Reno Triangle Club, 635 S. Wells Avenue, Reno
DISTRICT 4 First Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM Reno Triangle Club, 635 S. Wells Avenue Reno
DISTRICT 6 2nd
Sunday of even numbered months
For information email [email protected]
DISTRICT 8 First Sunday, 3:30 p.m. on odd months Call (760) 937-8407
DISTRICT 10A Third Sunday of every other month, 1:30 PM 680 River St. Elko, NV
DISTRICT 10B Last Sunday Odd Numbered Months @ 10:00AM
Rotating Group Locations – Call (775)403-0869
DISTRICT 11 Only holds meetings 4 time a year, call DCM
DISTRICT 12 1st Saturday of each Month at 5:00 PM 457 Esmeralda Street Wolf Center, Fallon NV
DISTRICT 14 3rd
Tues of each “Odd” month at 6:00 PM - Contact DCM Next location is determined at each meeting
DISTRICT 16 Meeting is held 3rd Tuesday of the month Sparks Family Christian Church 510 Greenbrae Blvd 6:00PM-7:00PM
DISTRICT 18 DARK DISTRICT
DISTRICT 20 First Saturday of every month 1:30 PM 50 South Weatherlow
DISTRICT 22 Last Saturday of each Month at 5:00 PM 433 Pyramid Way
For more event information contact Central Office @ 355-1151 or nnig.org
AA
A
NSWERING
S
ERVICE
N
UMBERS
Reno, Sparks, Carson City and all of Northern Nevada: (775) 355-1151 Las Vegas and all of Southern Nevada: (702) 598-1888 Mammoth Lake: (760) 934-3434 North Lake Tahoe: (530) 546-1126 South Lake Tahoe: (530) 541-1243 Susanville, CA: (530) 257-288012 STEP Volunteer Application Form
Name: ______________________________________
Date: _____________________
Sobriety Date: ________________________________
Gender: Male ___ Female ____
Phone # _______________________
Location/City: __________________________________
Available:
Days: ___________________________
Times: ___________________________
Submit this form or call Central Office to get on the list.
Answering Service TIME SLOTS NOW AVAILABLE. Get into service today and take a time slot. Get your home groups involved and adopt a time slot.
Call Central Office for available times and more information. 355-1151
N.N.I.G STEERING COMMITTEE
Last Tuesday of each Month 5:30 PM Central Office, 436 S. Rock Blvd, Sparks
N.N.I.G INTERGROUP BUSINESS MEETING
First Tuesday of each month, 7:00PM Reno Triangle Club, 635 S. Wells Ave. Reno
N.N.I.G. SPEAKER MEETING
Second Saturday of each month, 7:00 PM Silver Legacy - Silver Baron A
CORRECTION & TREATMENT BRIDGING THE GAP
Last Thursday of each month, 5:15 PM Central Office 436 S. Rock Blvd Sparks
V
OLUNTEERS
N
EEDED
ASAP!
Men & Women. To take meetings to Parr Blvd. Applications available @ Central Office and are due to
WCSO on February 21st for training on March 1st from
8 – 5. For more info contact Helen @ 775-842-6489 or [email protected]
Step Right Up
NNIG Intergroup
Elections are in June.
All positions are open!
For donations, make your checks payableto NNIG and write who the donation is for in the memo line.
G
REATS
ERVICEO
PPORTUNITIESS
TARTINGI
NM
ARCH2014
RIDGE HOUSE: View From The Ridge A.A. Meeting, Tuesday @ 7:30pm, 900 W. 1st Street is in need of a Secretary in the Spirit of rotation. These meetings are held At the Ridge House Residential Program Facility and are open to all A.A. members. Please call Jessie @ 775-219-7687 for details.STEP 1 HOUSE: Introduction to A.A. Meeting, Thursday @ 6:30pm, 1015 N. Sierra Street is in need of a Secretary in the Spirit of rotation. These meetings are held At the Step 1 House Residential Program Facility are open to all A.A. members. Please call Stan @775-997-9009 for details.
Both meetings are open discussion, non-smoking meetings. It is suggested you have at least 1 yr. of sobriety. Please attend one of these meetings and experience for yourself. Thank you.
ALSO: Contact Bruce A/Treatment Chair @ 775-378-7946, email: [email protected]
Page 6
T
RADITION
3:
Real, RECOVERED, Grateful
D
RAWING A BIG CIRCLE WITH LOVE AND WITOne evening, as a newcomer, I was sitting next to my sponsor in an AA meeting when a man introduced himself as "an alcoholic and an addict." My sponsor leaned over to me and whispered, "In
Alcoholics Anonymous,
you don't get any extra points for that."
For me, the statement, "I am an alcoholic" is the great leveler, the primary point of identification, and the fulcrum of unity for our entire Fellowship. But just because I introduce myself as an
alcoholic doesn't mean that everyone else has to fall lockstep on my schedule. I have seen AA members become agitated and rude when newcomers don't introduce themselves "correctly." But yelling at people just chases them out the door. Kindness and concern can temper conversations about identification and unity.
No one, other than ourselves, can decide if we are AA members or not. The judge doesn't decide; the probation officer doesn't decide; the counselor doesn't decide; the sponsor doesn't decide; and the AA group doesn't decide. The criminal justice system and treatment programs may decide if their clients go to AA meetings, but attendance at AA meetings does not necessarily mean one is an AA member. The decision about AA membership is left up to the individual and no one else.
The American writer Edwin Markham wrote, "He drew a circle that shut me out--Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in!" Frankly, I'd rather let a few drug addicts, mentally ill folks, and anyone else hang around AA until they figure out if they belong here, than exclude alcoholics who don't quite understand how to introduce themselves at AA meetings. I think that
badgering these people is harmful to the spirit of our Fellowship.
I sometimes hear AA members suggest that those who identify themselves as drug addicts or anything else in addition to alcoholic are trying to be "different" or "special." While that may be true of some of them, I believe that most introduce themselves that way to give additional
identification to newcomers who may have difficulty looking for the similarities rather than the differences among us.
Actually, I find it more annoying when people introduce themselves as real alcoholics, or recovered alcoholics, or grateful alcoholics, or as real, recovered, grateful, sober, happy, tiptoe-through-the-tulips alcoholics. I hear a lot more of that in AA than introductions as addicts,
gamblers, overeaters, and so forth. Being grateful or sober are not requirements for membership in AA, though they are key to our recovery. But this isn't Real Alcoholics
Anonymous, or Recovered Alcoholics Anonymous, or Grateful Alcoholics Anonymous, or even Sober Alcoholics Anonymous--and it's certainly not Alcoholics and Addicts Anonymous. It's Alcoholics Anonymous, without any other modifiers. That's why I just introduce myself as an alcoholic at AA meetings.
Over the years, I've encouraged the men I sponsor to figure out how to introduce
themselves at AA meetings, and none of them introduced himself as anything other than
alcoholic for very long. It probably helps that, as their alcoholic, drug-addicted, addlepated
sponsor, I only introduce myself as an alcoholic, despite the myriad of other complications in my life at any given time.
Alcoholics are entitled to have as many other problems as they wish; as long as one of them is alcoholism, they are welcome to become AA members. Newcomers eventually realize that they don't get extra points for introducing
themselves as anything other than an alcoholic in AA, and that the simple statement: "I am an alcoholic" contributes a great deal to our worldwide unity and primary purpose. Paul C., Oceanside, California, Copyright © The AA Grapevine, Inc. March, 2008. Reprinted with permission.
The Bracer is a monthly publication intended for members of Alcoholics Anonymous and their families only. It is about, by and for members of the fellowship. Opinions expressed
herein are not necessarily those of AA as a whole or NNIG. For article submissions or comments, email the editor @ [email protected]
Profit & Loss Statement
Page 8Faithful Fiver
We are members of Alcoholics Anonymous that help support our Central Office with separate contributions. These contributions help to serve the Northern Nevada Alcoholics Anonymous community with Central Office services and intergroup activities. It's Easy to join!
We ask for $5.00 per month or $60.00 per year, or whatever you can afford. Use your sobriety anniversary as a reminder to donate. It's a great way to give back what was so freely given to you.
Send a check today to:
Northern Nevada Intergroup Attn: Faithful Fiver 436 Rock Blvd South
Sparks, NV 89431
Announcing the75th
Anniversary Edition of the Big Book
A.A. World Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the publication of the only authorized reproduction of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous.
This new edition will be a faithful replica of the
original, with the famous “circus cover” dust jacket
and bulky paper (which is why it was initially called the Big Book). To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic publication of
Alcoholics Anonymous
In April 1939, the 2013 General Service Conference approved the creation of this facsimile edition of the first printing of the first edition.
Pink Can Contributions
Page 9C
ENTRAL
O
FFICE
H
OLIDAY
S
CHEDULE
New Year's Day January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Third Monday in January Presidents' Day Third Monday in February Memorial Day Last Monday in May Independence Day July 4
Labor Day First Monday in September Columbus Day
Nevada Day
Second Monday in October October 31
Veteran’s Day November 11
Thanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in November Day after Thanksgiving Fourth Friday in November Christmas Eve December 24 (close @ Noon) Christmas Day December 25
New Year’s Eve December 31 (close @ Noon)
Who’s your sponsor?
There seem to be as many views on sponsorship as there are views on a Higher Power. And the opinions on these matters run a parallel range of extremes, from warm-and-fuzzy friend to wrathful tyrant. In meetings I have heard people recount with visible glee the fury and condemnationtheir sponsors hurl at them. “And then he said, ‘You moron! You did that
in the Third Step!’” Perhaps this model of sponsorship seeks to duplicate
early childhood experiences at the hands of gruff-but-innocuous parents. Other people share stories of selfless sponsors with unparalleled devotion to their sponsees—helping to bury the dog’s
ashes; attending birthing classes.
My own sponsors have included one chronic relapser, a sponsor who refused to do anything other than read alternating paragraphs out of the Big Book, a sponsor who seemed most interested in giving me marital advice and a very wise old woman who would just smile knowingly when I would rant, rave and diagnose myself. My sponsees have included people who wanted to move into my garage on a long-term basis, one who fired me after the first session and another who seemed to use text messaging as a form of all-night entertainment. My best sponsees have
been the ones who said things that made me think, Oh no, I’m worse off than that, and I’m supposed to be the sponsor! They are the ones who
make me launch into action as soon as we hang up the phone or say goodbye.
One of the most rewarding moments of sponsorship is to hear a Fifth Step. There is no more profound a speech that a sponsee will ever make, nor a more essential audience that a sponsor will ever be. If there has been a thorough, well-guided Fourth Step, an attentive
sponsor and a proper invocation to both persons’ Higher Powers, the
Fifth Step is a monumental catalyst for transformation. When I say that I am a grateful alcoholic, one of the pillars of that gratitude is the ability to transform my rocky past into stepping-stones for my sponsee’s journey. It’s like turning poison into medicine. That is why we don’t
regret the past or wish to shut the door on it. A sponsor has the privilege of using past experience to benefit others.
Suzan C., San Francisco, Calif. With permission, AA Grapevine, March, 2011.
NNIG Business Meeting Minutes
Page 10NNIG Minutes for March 4, 2014
Dan M., Vice-Chair, opened the meeting at 7pm with the “Serenity Prayer” followed by member introductions and birthdays. Paul E. read the “NNIG Preamble.” A quorum was established. The minutes from the February 4, 2014 meeting were approved as submitted.
Central Office Report – Leslie S., Director 775-355-1151 e: [email protected]
Calls for AA Help: 4 Calls for Al-Anon/Al-A-Teen: 2
Meeting Information: 73 12-Step Calls: 1
Other 12-Step Programs: 1 AA Events Information: 13
Business/AA Central Office: 115 Total Phone Calls into C.O.: 209
Volunteer Office Hours: 163
Leslie S. said that Central Office is running very smoothly and improvements are being made on a continuing basis thanks to members’
contributions of time and materials. We continue to build a team environment at Central Office with a focus on customer service. Our goal is to have merchandise and material available for all service committees and individuals and to provide meeting information and comfort to new people coming into the fellowship. The Answering Service Committee meeting on February 18, 2014, was successful. Ron and Jimi are planning more meetings in the future. Our discussion on providing information and avenues into the program is empowering for our answering service volunteers. An updated 12-Step call list, community service phone list and operation policy and procedures were also provided to all answering service volunteers. We direct hundreds of people to meetings every month across Northern Nevada and the Tahoe/Truckee areas.
Other items:
Language of the Heart is available in both English and Spanish.
The Annual 990 Tax Report was filed February 19, 2014. Cost $850.00
One hundred 75th Anniversary Big Books have been ordered from World Services with April delivery expected. Cost $1,056.00 The new sign for NNIG is in place on the S. Rock corner. Cost $150.00.
Corned Beef & Cribbage committee meets on Sunday, 6:30pm at Central Office. Tickets available. Leslie will be on vacation March 17-22, 2014.
Activities Committee Chair - Gary G. now has a Co-Chair Allen J. Corned Beef & Cribbage event has sold 72 tickets to date. Please promote this in your home groups. Tickets are available at Central Office and will be available at the Speaker Meeting Saturday, March 8. A discussion was held
regarding whether to keep the Founder’s Day date on June 7 or switch it to June 14. Richards Park is not available for the 7th; Cottonwood Park in Sparks is available. Pros and cons were discussed. Motion to move the location and keep the date on the 7th was made. Minority opinion was
heard. Motion passed to keep Founders’ Day Picnic on the 7th at Cottonwood Park.
Answering Service Committee Chair – Ron T. The committee held a meeting on February 21, 2014, to discuss its role and needs. All positions are currently filled. They do need more 12-Step volunteers. Ron will pursue getting a list of Carson City women to help the committee. He is also taking names for alternates to help over the holidays. Please contact him at 315-3749.
Bracer Committee Chair – Nancy A. Co-Chair Sheila - Nancy reminded everyone that she’s only as good as the information she’s given! Thanks for
letting me serve. (She is always looking for local stories about members’ experiences in AA.) Contact her at 746-0773. e: [email protected] Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) The Chair position is open.
Treatment Facilities Chair – Bruce A. No report.
Correctional Facilities Chair – Helen G. Alyssa reported that an orientation took place at Parr for AA members to help with programs there. The committee needs more men to volunteer to take meetings into prisons.
Bridge-the-Gap Chair – Lee H. We had two referrals from “Changing Echoes” recovery house in Auburn, CA. They were referred to Truckee AA
BTG for a contact. This committee is still working on developing a meeting for beginners such as court card referrals.
Pink Can Treasurer - Bill P. Don D. expressed thanks to the membership for its generosity in recent months. Literature distribution nearly doubled in the past month, so contributions are still needed. Thanks to all home groups.
Public Information Committee Chairperson – Don T./Don D. It was clarified that GSO (General Services Organization) sends the committee its AA-approved literature and this committee does not generate any of its own materials.
Speaker Committee Chairperson – Laura J./Kathryn E. - Laura said the figures for last month’s meeting were:
196 in attendance on February 8, 7th Tradition raised $206.06, speaker was Mark M., - raffle raised $496.00 and was hosted by Knuckleheads home group. To suggest a speaker call 916-303-0279.
This month’s speaker is Bill S. from Sacramento. 7pm at the Silver Legacy, Silver Baron rooms C, D and E on the second floor. No-host dinner is
5pm at Millie’s 24 in the Eldorado.
Sunshine Committee Chairperson – Lindsey S. Please spread the word that the committee is available to take meetings to people who can’t come
to them through usual channels. We are here to serve.
Webmaster – Chair Kelly B./Co-Chair Mya C. The meeting database is updated and current. Activities are updated as he receives information. The objective is to provide consistent, correct information between the print materials and the website.
Northern Nevada Area 42 Liaison – Michael L. On March 1, 2014 NAGSC held its annual General Service Conference item roundtables which helps our delegate bring the group conscience from the home groups of Area 42 to the General Service Conference in April in New York. At the
roundtables Conference Agenda items are heard and discussed among AA GSR’s and interested others and are then brought back to home groups
for discussion. The home groups’ consciences are then brought to the Area 42 Service Assembly in Tonopah March 28-30, 2014. This helps our delegate serve Area 42. There is great fellowship at these meetings and the food is terrific! The next NAGSC meeting is June 6, 2014, in Incline Village, NV, place tbd. I will be attending PRAASA (Pacific Regional Area Service Assembly) in San Diego this week-end. I am very grateful to be attending and learning how to be of greater service. Thank you for letting me serve.
NNIG Business Meeting Minutes
cont. Page 11 Intergroup Representatives – Steve M. and David D. Steve reported that the CPC Chair position is open. The Steering Committee approved $5,000.00 for Central Office to increase its inventory of AA-approved literature. He urged all home groups to purchase tickets for the Corned Beef & Cribbage Event. Steve and Dave both encouraged members to relay any messages/concerns/ideas from outside sources to them and the Steering Committee for resolution.Secretary’s Report – Lisa C. – She assured members that she does everything possible to maintain their anonymity in the newsletter minutes. Next nnig meeting is Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
Chairperson’s Report - Dan S. Absent.
Vice-Chair’s Report – Dan M. asked Paul E. to update the “Policy and Procedures” revisions from the previous month. Paul called for questions and discussion on the proposed changes. Motion made and passed regarding changes distributed at February meeting.
New Business
Dan M. reiterated that the CPC Chairperson position is open. He requested that members let their home groups know about it. If anyone has suggestions for this position, please contact the Intergroup Representatives. Also, Intergroup elections are coming soon. All positions are open. Please take this message to home groups and encourage all interested people to step up and be of service.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50pm with the “Responsibility Code.” The next nnig meeting is Tuesday, April 1, 2014.
Respectfully submitted, Lisa C., NNIG Secretary
Steering Committee Meeting Minutes ~ February 25, 2014
Meeting opened with the “Serenity Prayer” at 5:30pm.
Steering Committee members present: Dan S., Dan M., Dod P., Lisa C., Leslie S., Steve M., David D
A quorum was verified. Minutes from January 28 were approved with date correction for Steering Committee meeting from February 26 to February 25, 2014.
Treasurer’s Report - Dod P. noted that Pink Can contributions were very good for January; thanks go to membership contributions. Lisa C. added that it appears that groups are responding to explanations about how and where the monies from Pink Cans are used. Dod also said he is keeping a careful eye on monthly operating expense due to a possible deficit this year. Expenses are up slightly since the Corned Beef & Cribbage Family Game Day contract was paid and supplies have been purchased. Minutes unanimously approved.
Chair’s Report– Dan S. stated that a vacancy exists for CPC Chair (Cooperation with the Professional Community). AJ C. resigned. Several suggestions were made for replacements. Dan S. requested that this be put on the agenda for the next business meeting. He will also include a statement covering that when any member of the fellowship receives comments about issues and concerns to AA how that should be handled. It is suggested that these be referred to Central Office and the Steering Committee for consideration and resolution.
Central Office Report - Leslie S. said that fifty-two tickets have been sold for the CB&CFGD event on March 15. The break-even number is 175. The sign is in place at the corner of Rock Blvd. and Hymer. It is in red and reads “AA Central Office/Northern Nevada Intergroup.”
She wants to increase the inventory of AA-related literature by $5,000. A thorough discussion ensued.
A motion to approve was passed. The money will be transferred from Capital Expenditures to the General Fund. Spanish literature sales have been robust.
Secretary’s Report - Lisa C. – No Report.
Intergroup Representatives’ Report– Steve M. – He said that Richards Park in Sparks is not available for the Founders’ Day Picnic. Cottonwood
Park, Spice Island, Sparks is available. It was decided to present an agenda item at the next business meeting (March 4, 2014) to change the location and keep the date June 7, 2014.
David D. – David will be the treasurer at the Corned Beef & Cribbage event March 15. He will handle money for the raffle and kids’ menu. Lisa C.
will assist him.
New Business
Policy ad hoc Committee is still in process.
Lease for 436 S. Rock – Owners have not yet responded to Central Office but did approve the new sign. Cost for the sign was $150.00
Old Business– Elections need to be announced immediately and continually. All positions are open. David D. has agreed to run for Treasurer. The next Steering Committee meeting will be March 25, 2014 at Central Office, 5:30pm. All are welcome to attend.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20pm with the “Responsibility Code.”
Respectfully submitted, Lisa C., NNIG Secretary
"The bad news is, the doctor gave you an alcoholic brain; the good news is, it wasn't hardly ever used." Greg M., Decatur, IL With permission, AA Grapevine, May, 2011
"If you can see me, I'm the least of your problems."— Suzanne S., Vernon, Texas
With permission, AA Grapevine, January, 2012
"I told him another drink will kill you. I didn't
mention how."—Brian K., Sudbury, Ontario
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