Speakeasy
Alcoholics Anonymous All South Bay Central Office Newsletter
1411 Marcelina Ave., Torrance, CA 90501 [email protected] · email
Spring Issue 2015
310- 618- 1180·ph
The Speakeasy is published by the All South Bay Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous. Opinions expressed are those of the
writer and not of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole or of Central Office. We welcome and need your input, opinions,
humor and comments. Send them today.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Step/Tradition/Concept/Principal 2
4th Step/Tradition
3
H&I
5
Sponsor Talk
5
Word Scramble/AATrivia
6
The Corner
7
Group Contributions
8
When the Heart Speaks
the Heart Listens
Part 1
(Collected works from Bill W.,
W. Silkworth, M.D., W.J. Davison,
Jack London, R.B. Fuller, E.A. Poe,
A Day at a Time, Sacred Space, and
The A.A. Big Book also contributed)
Hitch your wagon to a star! Half
of all the alcoholics who came to AA
and seriously and sincerely tried
to recover got sober immediately
and stayed that way. Another 25
percent sobered up a little more
slowly. To be present is to arrive
as one is and open up to the other.
At this instant, as the individual
arrives here, God is present waiting
for them. God always arrives
before the individual, desiring to
connect with them even more than
their most intimate friend. Take
a moment and greet your loving
God.
Give me the courage to see this
life as you would have me see it.
The life that conquers is the life that
moves with a steady resolution and
persistence toward a predetermined
goal. Those who succeed are those
(Continued on page 4)
My Experience With
Steps 4, 5, and 6...
Step 4 - “Made a searching a
fearless inventory of ourselves”.
Talk about a painstaking effort to
discover me!
Well my first thought that
comes to mind is sloth and blame. I
am lazy, an indescribable character
defect that suits me to a tee on my
step 4 inventory. It wasn’t that
way 14 years ago. Things just get
switched around.
Playing the
blame game! Well that one seems to
have stayed right up there, glaringly
in fact. I want to blame my friend
for me having to make a call to get
an address that has now led to this
writing project for fun and for free...
So now what is my part? Clearly it
is lack of organization and attention
to detail. Oh! Welcome to sobriety
newcomers and my peeps with a
few days under your belt in AA.
So that’s my mini Step 4
inventory. A long ways from the
self-loathing which made it to the
top 5 on my first list year’s prior.
Step 5 – “Admitted to God, to
ourselves, and to another human
being the exact nature of our
wrongs.”
On to Step 5! Now I get to
unload this. Admit my faults to
myself, my fellows and God. Which
basically means: be willing to take
direction. Direction... it’s mostly
contrary action.
I love myself
today. I do estimable things like
following through with agreements
I made. (Doesn’t mean I’m “happy”
to write.) I hate writhing, I spell bad
and grammar??? I really didn’t go
to school. I went to a few schools
after I got sober, and to a city college
for a few classes of swimming and
ceramics. I took an English class.
I detest school, but I am being
asked to share my experience
strength and hope, not get a grade
(more character defects coming to
light) so I shut up and take action
to write and complete in a timely
manner. Commitment - my friend
has a commitment to find someone
to write, she asked I said yes. I’m
sure she would rather sleep than
find and ask anyone anything. But
we are sober sisters, new found
friends doing the drill.
Gets me to Step 6. “Were entirely
ready to have God remove all these
defects of character”.
Well all I know is that if I
practice taking contrary action
more times than not, things will
unequivocally change. The people
around me are happier because I
kept my agreement and they’re not
mad at me. I feel good about myself
because I got out of myself and did
something for others. I don’t get
paid. Today I take commitments
and sobriety very seriously.
I have new found friends today.
We can be honest with each other
and not condemn ourselves because
of some of the defects we cling
to. Things take time and before
I know it, God is doing for me
(Continued on page 4)
4
Step/Tradition/Concept/Principle
STEP
“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves”.
TRADITION
“Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other
groups or A.A. as a whole”.
CONCEPT
At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional
“Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable
proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
5
PRINCIPLE
Honesty - uprightness and fairness: truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness;
freedom from deceit or fraud.
STEP
“Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the
exact nature of our wrongs”.
TRADITION
Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message
to the alcoholic who still suffers”.
CONCEPT
Throughout our structure, a Traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that
minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
6
PRINCIPLE
Truth - the state or character of being true; honesty; integrity; truthfulness
STEP
“Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character”.
TRADITION
An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any
related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property,
and prestige divert us from our primary purpose”.
CONCEPT
The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility
in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of
the Conference acting as the General Service Board.
PRINCIPLE
Willingness - disposed or consenting; inclined; cheerfully consenting or ready
2
4th Step
Step Four Made a searching
and fearless moral inventory of
ourselves
Some time ago I heard a story
that describes how I recognized my
4th step responsibility to examine
my own behavior. During a battle
in the Iraq war a group of U.S.
Soldiers were ambushed and many
of them were wounded. The officer
in charge of the brigade ordered the
1st Sergeant to load up the truck that
had transported the soldiers into the
battle with the dead and wounded
The 1st Sergeant responded to the
officer that he had been shot and
could not perform the task. The
officer replied “We have all been
shot and we have shot others, so
load up the truck and lets get out
of here.” The similarity between
the soldiers and my behavior in
the past is that I too have been shot
and I have shot others. Although I
did not shoot others with a weapon
I did so with anger, jealousy and
revenge. I expected others to live up
to my demands and when they did
not I developed deep resentments
that lead in time to demoralizing
and incomprehensible behavior. I
became sick with the disease of these
character defects and eventually
surrendered through sponsorship
and Steps 1, 2 and 3. My sponsor
suggested that the only remedy
and prescription to combat these
faults was to find a higher power
and basic humility. These combined
with the action of writing a complete
moral inventory brought me face to
face with myself. Doing a searching
and fearless moral inventory is not
a process for cowards. It required
absolute honesty and a reflection
on my entire life that had been
filled with pain and despair. When I
completed my Fourth Step there was
for the first time in my life a sense of
freedom from all negative feelings
that caused self loathing. This was
the first tangible evidence of my
completed willingness to move
forward.
Mary C
4th Tradition
Each
group
should
be
autonomous except in matters
affecting other groups or A.A. as a
whole.
We are so blessed here in the
valley to have such a wide variety
of meetings, meeting halls and with
that, an incredible foray of different
types such as beginner, discussion,
speaker, stags, gay, open, closed,
step, and tradition meetings. I even
heard there are no rules meetings
which are also ok because it is up to
the individual group on how they
want to run their meeting. Each 12
step group has complete freedom
to decide for itself the program
content of its meetings and the
topics that will be discussed. The
group can decide if the meeting
will be opened or closed and
when and where the meeting will
be held. Each group can decide to
change its meeting format and has
complete authority to spend its
7th tradition as needed. The group
can also decide how it wishes to
open and close its meetings. Some
groups close with a prayer, while
others have a moment of silence.
In these matters, each group has
total freedom. It is entirely up to
the membership of that individual
group. But the second part of this
tradition reminds each group
that it has a responsibility also to
the worldwide AA fellowship.
By adhering to the traditions and
principals of its program, each
group can assure that it will not stray
too far away from the program’s
basic guidelines thus insuring that
AA will be around tomorrow, next
week and next century.
Joe A
FROM ASBCO
Variety Show
Saturday, April 11, 2015
American Martyr’s Church
Manhattan Beach, CA
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets $10.00
$12.00 at the door
SIGN-UPS
ALL TALENT WELCOME
TO SIGN-UP CALL
ASBCO (310) 618-1180
LIMITED PERFORMANCES
SO SIGN UP NOW!
FLYERS AVAILABLE
AT CENTRAL OFFICE
BOOK OF THE MONTH
PAMPHLET OF THE MONTH
Hard & Soft Spanish Literature now
available
Got a story to tell?
Email it to:
[email protected]
All entries must title their email “Speakeasy”
3
(continued from page 1)
what I can’t do for my self. I now
see I have choices today, a rich full
life and a life worth living. People
actually listen and I’m no longer
the babbling drunk woman/mother
sitting on the couch watching Gone
With the Wind because I identified
with the title and that was my
perception of my life, it was all over.
As for the bottle and I; the bottle
understood that I was alone and
lonely. Now in sobriety when I’m
alone I am no longer feel lonely and
have the best time ever. I also get
to travel and invited places. AA
has meetings around the world.
I’m so happy I did what I felt was
seemingly was a waste of time; the
steps (a few times). I encourage you
to do yours. Don’t quit before the
miracle. Before you know it you
too could find your self dancing
on the beach to a live band with
yummie BBQ on Maui, having the
time of your life with a crazy mix of
amazing people.
Alicia F.
If you would like to be a phone
volunteer or alternate please call
ASBCO: 310.618.1180
(
Thank You!
A large “Thank You” goes
out to all the service workers
and people that have made the
All South Bay Central Office
of Alcoholics Anonymous a
successful place for the new
comers and old timer alike,to
find the peace and serenity that
may have been missing in
their lives. Thank you from the
bottom of
our Hearts!
Janet B. & The Board
(continued from page 1)
who have thoroughly learned
the immense importance of a Plan
in Life, and the tragic brevity of
time. As individuals and as a
fellowship, we shall surely suffer if
we cast the whole idea of planning
for tomorrow into a fatuous idea of
providence. God’s real providence
has endowed us human beings
with a considerable capability for
foresight, and He evidently expects
us to use it. Of course, we shall
often miscalculate the future in
whole or in part, but that is better
than to refuse to think at all.
The proper function of man is
to live, not to exist. I shall not waste
my days in trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time. Let the
passage of time continually deepen
within me the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the spirit of
knowledge and reverence for life.
This question comes to mind: Is
sobriety all that we are to expect of
a spiritual awakening? No, sobriety
is only a bare beginning; it is only
the first gift of the first awakening.
If more gifts are to be received, our
awakening has to go on. As it does
go on, we find that bit by bit we
can discard the old life -- the one
that did not work – for a new life
that can and does work under any
conditions whatever.
The philosophy of A.A.
however, is positive and provides
ample sustained emotion -- a
sustained desire to follow directions
voluntarily.
In any event, the
psychology of the alcoholic is not as
different as some people try to make
it. The disease has certain physical
differences, yes, and the alcoholic
has problems peculiar to him,
perhaps, in that he has been put
on the defensive and consequently
has developed frustrations. But in
many instances, there is no more
reason to be talking about “the
alcoholic mind” than there is to try
to describe something called the
“cardiac mind” or the “TB mind.”
Submitted by Alex L.
4
All South Bay
Central Office
1411 Marcelina Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
310.618.1180
Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mon.- Fri.
9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. & Sun.
Web site: www.southbayaa.org
Email : [email protected]
Board of Directors
4th Tuesday of the month
6:30 p.m.
1411 Marcelina Ave., Torrance, CA
Intergroup
4 Tuesday of the month
7:30 p.m.
1411 Marcelina Ave., Torrance CA
th
District 1
2nd Thursday of the month
7:30 p.m.
Kiwanis Club
2525 Valley Drive (Valley at Gould)
Hermosa Beach, CA
Newcomer’s Orientation 7:00 p.m.
District 3
2nd Tuesday of the month
7:30 p.m.
Wayside Methodist Church
25904 Cayuga Avenue
Lomita, CA
Hospitals & Institutions
3rd Tuesday of the month
7:00 p.m.
South Bay Alano Club
702 11th Place
Hermosa Beach, CA
Newcomer’s Orientation 6:30
p.m.
The General Service Office
PO Box 459,
Grand Central Station NY 10163
Hospitals & Institutions
We invite you to be part of
South Bay Hospitals & Institutions.
We hope that you will participate as
fully as your time allows because we
know how much it can add to your
program...and your life! Several
panels have been held past 2 years
and in the spirit of rotation, are
eligible to have new panel leaders. If
you are interested in taking a panel
as a monthly commitment, or just
wish to be a guest speaker, please
attend the regularly schedule H&I
Business Meeting which meets:
3rd Tuesday of the month
7:00 p.m.
South Bay Alano Club
702 11th Place
Hermosa Beach, CA
Newcomer’s Orientation 6:30 p.m.
As of 2/17/2015
Exodus House in Redondo Beach
Tuesday 1:00 p.m.
1st, 3rd & 4th week of each month
Twin Town in Torrance
Thursday 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
4th week of each month
View Heights in Los Angeles
Monday 7:00 p.m.
2nd week each month
View Heights in Los Angeles
Tuesday 7:00 p.m.
1st, 3rd & 4th week of each month
5th week (4 times a year)
Southern California H&I
SPONSOR TALK
I first attended the annual
fundraiser- Chili Cook off for the
Harbor area H&I. I quickly learned
that there was fun to be had in
sobriety while staying sober. I also
learned a couple of things about
the bigger picture in carrying the
message. I got to see that sharing my
experience strength and hope with
others of individuals in treatment
centers not only helped me stay
sober for the day but played a vital
role in our interface directly with
the professional community whom
are trying to help the next alcoholic
stay sober. They encouraged me
toget more involved in H and I.
Today I am an active member of
the harbor area H and I committee
and also part of the planning
committee for the 2015 Southern
California hospitals and institutions
conference. There is a saying here,
we have a wrench to fit every nut
here in AA. This is where I found
the thing missing in my sobriety.
Our conference is taking place
on May 15, 16th and 17th in La
Mirada California just off of the five
freeway by Disneyland please visit
our website at www.SoCalhandi.
org We also provide registration
links that allow you to pay with
PayPal to make it convenient. We
hope to see you there come join us
and discover the high of H&I.
As my sponsor and I were talking,
she held up a glass of water. I
knew she was going to ask me if I
thought the glass was half empty
or half full, and I was trying to
formulate a response when instead
she asked how much I thought the
glass weighed. I couldn’t imagine.
She replied, “The absolute weight
doesn’t matter. It really depends
on how long I hold it. If I hold it
for a minute, that’s not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have
an ache in my arm. If I hold it for
a day, you’ll have to take me to
Emergency. In each case, it’s the
same weight, but the longer I hold
it, the heavier it becomes. “My
experience has been that is the same
way it is with resentments. If I carry
resentments all the time, sooner
or later they become increasingly
heavy and I won’t be able to carry
on. But when I put them down, my
load is lightened and I can move
on.”
Holiday Inn La Mirada
14299 Firestone Blvd
La Mirada, Ca 90638
714 739 8500 phone
www.hilamirada.com
AA HUMOR
I came to AA because of back problems--my wife was on my back, my
boss was on my back, my creditors were on my back . . .
Having resentment is like peeing your pants --- everyone can see it,
but you are the only one that can feel it.
Just when I got used to yesterday, along came TODAY!
5
“My sponsor reminds me that
although I want to be the star of
every show, more often my part is a
walk-on non-speaking role.
I thought I had a good plan.....I was
told I was a control freak
I thought I was the life of the
party....I was told I was overbearing
I thought I knew what to do...I was
told I had no faith
I thought I knew the best way...I
was told I was narrow-minded
I thought she was an idiot....I was
told I was judgmental
Sponsee: “I’ve never done anything
in moderation.”
Sponsor: “Except maybe the steps.”
Q: What did the sponsor say to the
sponsee after he told his story to the
group the first time?
A: Your I’s are too close together.
Just For Fun
1 tgeraaegg
11 rcaceinhy
2 usiiacfjintto
12 ideorfitm
3 rcaaetnis
13 hdacbe
4 ertsijt
14 rcotuien
5 ranebloyrc
15 uidilerm
6 tnghaoil
16 ttidwshogianntn
7 evmbileesdnt
17 ecttsiasligo
8 kirugnl
18 sadzreocit
9 soeucsrcknes
19 setnrasenes
10 liruyfelmc
20 hguievrnola
1. Did Ebby Thatcher get royalties from Big Book sales?
2. What were the Four Absolutes of the Oxford Group?
3. Where was Bill W.’s birthplace?
4. Name Bill W’s first love who died.
5. What was Bill W’s first drink?
6. What year did Bill and Lois visit Birmingham during their motorcycle
tour as a
young married couple?
7. On page 160 in “A Vision For You”, a man and a woman are mentioned
as
making their house available for meetings in the early days of A.A. Who
were
they?
8. On the second page of “A Vision For You”, p. 52, what is mentioned is
as a
sufficient substitute for liquor?
9. How many times is the word powerless used in the first 164 pages?
10. 1When was the Second edition of the Big Book introduced?
11.What is the number of the AA post office box at Grand Central Station
post
office?
12. What was the former title of As Bill Sees It?
6
The Corner
KARAOKE NIGHT
& DANCE
March 14, 2015
AND EVERY OTHER
SATURDAY THEREAFTER
Cost $4.00 SWAC members
$5.00 non-members
MONTHLY BIRTHDAY
BARBEQUE
EVERY 4TH SUNDAY
Southwest Alano Club
12130 Birch Avenue
Hawthorne, CA 90250
San Pedro Alano Club
2001 South Pacific Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 833-3525
COST: $5.00 club members
$7.00 non-members
CHECK OUT
KAROKE At TLC
Call for details
Torrance Lomita Alano Club
1645 Arlington Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-3861
COME JOIN US FOR
BINGO NIGHT
MONTHLY PANCAKE
BREAKFAST
Call for dates, times
& cost
South Bay Alano Club
702 11th Place
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
(310) 374-2131
EVERY 3rd SUNDAY
San Pedro Alano Club
2001 South Pacific Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 833-3525
COST: $5.00 club members
$7.00 non-members
Call for Details
Torrance-Lomita
Alano Club
1645 Arlington Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 320-3861
7
I didn’t get to Alcoholics Anonymous because the
hand of God came down and tapped me on the
shoulder . . . for me it took a smack up the side
of the head, and a face plant on the pavement. I
guess it’s probably redundant to say that I was
drunk at the time. Anonymous
Check It Out!
https://store.aagrapevine.org
The Language of the Heart,
25th Anniversary Edition
This special 25th anniversary edition cover will only be
available while supplies last.
Bill W. was the Grapevine's most prolific contributor,
writing more than 150 articles, from his first in June
1944 to his last in December 1970. Here in one volume
are all of Bill's Grapevine articles, including his first
thoughts about the Traditions, his battles with chronic
depression and spiritual pride, memories of an all-night
drinking spree with Ebby, and a vivid description of
how he came to organize the Steps (there were six in the
first draft).the first draft).
AA Trivia
Answers
Answers
chicanery
mortified
debach
neurotic
delirium
notwithstanding
egostistical
ostracized
earnestness
overhauling
OTHER
MISC.
www.southbayaa.org
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GROUP
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1 aggregate
2 justification
3 ascertain
4 jitters
5 barleycorn
6 loathing
7 bedevilments
8 lurking
9 cocksureness
10 mercifully
1. Yes - till his death
2. Honesty, purity, unselfishness, & love.
3. East Dorset, Vermont
4. Bertha Bamford
5. Bronx Cocktail
6. April 1926 -- camped in Fultondale
7. T. Henry and Clarence Williams
8. Fellowship in A.A.
9. Only one time
10. 1958
11. Box 459
12. The AA Way of Life
CONTRIBUTIONS
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DEC 2014 JAN 2015
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