The Alternative
Reading-Berks County Intergroup Newsletter
June 2016
ReadingBerksIntergroup.org
The Alternative is published monthly by the Reading-Berks Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Serving Districts 33, 66, and 67 of Delegate Area 59—Eastern Pennsylvania. Reach us by mail at
P.O. Box 12157, Reading, PA 19612, or you can email us at
[email protected]
Intergroup Representative Contact Information
Robert D.
Intergroup Chairperson
Willie W.
Intergroup Alt. Chairperson
[email protected]
Rol S.
Intergroup Treasurer
[email protected]
Mark S.
Intergroup Secretary
[email protected]
Robin L.
Hotline Chairperson
[email protected]
Larry M.
Archives Chairperson
[email protected]
Terry C.
Men's Prison Chairperson
Susan W.
Woman's Prison Chairperson
Abe K.
Literature Chairperson
[email protected]
Tyler J.
Schedules Chairperson
[email protected]
True P.
Institutions Chairperson
[email protected]
Tammy G.
Newsletter Chairperson
[email protected]
Stacy S.
Unity Chairperson
[email protected]
Terry Mc F.
Bridging the Gap
[email protected]
Greg G.
Website
Pete R.
Public Information
[email protected]
Janale B.
Visitation
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
The Reading Berks Intergroup meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at the Calvary Baptist Church, 510
Park Ave., Reading, PA at 7:30 P.M. All members of Alcoholics Anonymous are welcome and
encouraged to attend.
“Responsibility Declaration”
“I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand
of AA always to be there, and for that, I am responsible.”
Announcements
All A.A. Events, Notifications, and/or Announcements are Welcome!
Please email all requests to: [email protected]
French Creek Saturday Night Campfire Meeting Resumes
Located across from the Rangers Station
5:00 – 7:00 PM Food, Fun and Fellowship
7:00 – 8:00 PM Open Discussion Meeting
Questions contact Curt at 484-486-7707
New Men’s Meeting:
Language of the Heart
Grace Lutheran Church, 33 South 11th Street, Reading, PA
Sunday’s at 1- 2 PM (Open Topic)
New Women’s Meeting:
Language of the Heart
Grace Lutheran Church, 33 South 11th Street, Reading, PA
Sunday’s at 3 - 4 PM (Open Topic)
New Meeting:
Language of the Heart
Grace Lutheran Church, 33 South 11th Street, Reading, PA
Wednesday’s at 6:30 – 7:30 PM (Open Topic)
New Meeting:
End of the Line
Fleetwood New Jerusalem United Church of Christ
33 Lyons Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522
Wednesday’s and Friday’s at 12:45 PM (Closed Discussion)
New Location:
Kutztown University Group
Is MOVING beginning June 1, 2016
Grace E.C. Church, 421 West Main Street, Kutztown, PA 19530
Monday’s, 7:00 PM
Meeting Needs Support:
The Wires Meeting
Zion U.C.C. Church, 2nd & High Sts., Womelsdorf, PA 19567
Women’s Closed Meeting (Step Discussion, Big Book, Speaker)
Sunday’s, 6:45 – 8:00 PM
Meeting Needs Support:
Mustard Seed Group
Saint Marks Church
th
10 and Windsor, Reading PA
Saturday’s, 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Meeting Needs Support:
Reflections on the Mountain
Easy Does It
1300 Hilltop Road, Leesport, PA
Thursday’s, 7:00 – 8:00 PM (Fellowship Hall)
New Group:
Woman's Hope with AA
Saint Gabriel's Episcopal Church
1188 Ben Franklin Highway (Rt. 422), Douglasville, PA
Friday, 7 PM-Closed Meeting
New Group:
Coming of Age Meeting
Grace EC Church 421 W Main St. Kutztown, PA 19530
Saturday, 7 PM.
Events
Women’s Hope with AA 1st Anniversary
Friday, June 17th
Saint Gabriel's Episcopal Church
1188 Ben Franklin Highway (Rt. 422), Douglasville, PA
Entrance in back of church, lower lever
6:00 – 7:00 PM Food & Fellowship
7:00 – 8:00 PM Speaker
Pennsylvania State AA Convention
Convention Dates are August 5th – 7th, 2016
Planning Meetings (Service Opportunities Available)
Will be held on June 18; July 9; and July 23 from 12 -1:00 PM
At Red Lion Inn, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 or
Remote Call In - St. Andrew’s Church, 208 W. Foster Ave (Room 325)
State College, PA
A Special Thanks to the following groups for their contributions to support Reading-Berks
Intergroup: Boyertown, Leesport, Monday-Friday, Come as You Are, Gibraltar, Bernville, Live
and Let Live, New Millennium, Turning Point, Oley, Books and People, YASNY, Walk the
Walk, Stouchburg, Advent Mens, TLC Mens, Frog Pond, and Time to Start Living
Step Six
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character."
Since most of us are born with an abundance of natural desires, it isn’t strange that we often let
these far exceed their intended purpose. When they drive us blindly, or we willfully demand that
they supply us with more satisfactions or pleasures than are possible or due us, that is the point at
which we depart from the degree of perfection that God wishes for us here on earth. That is the
measure of our character defects, or, if you wish, of our sins.
If we ask, God will certainly forgive our derelictions. But in no case does He render us white as
snow and keep us that way without our cooperation. That is something we are supposed to be
willing to work toward ourselves. He asks only that we try as best we know how to make
progress in the building of character. (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 65)
Tradition Six
“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”
Toward outside agencies dealing with alcoholism, the A.A. policy is “cooperation but not
affiliation.” A group cooperates, for example, by welcoming referrals from clinics or by sponsoring
A.A. groups in institutions.
A.A. members employed by outside agencies “wear two hats” – but Tradition Six cautions any such
members against wearing both at once! Example - On the job, they may be alcoholic counselors;
they are not “A.A. counselors.” At meetings they’re just A.A.’s, not alcoholism experts. (Twelve
Steps and Twelve Traditions p.155) (http://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/p43_thetwelvetradiillustrated.pdf)
Alcoholism Quotes
Contrary to popular opinion, alcoholism is a biological disease and not a moral flaw. The uberconservative American Medical Association has categorized it as such since the 1950s. So,
instead of looking down on a problem drinker as a ne'er do well, take a compassionate approach
to the issue. Become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. (KATHLEEN BEGLEY,
"Begley: Tips for dealing with alcoholism in the workplace", Daily Local News, March 7, 2016)
In addition to an increased susceptibility for the disease themselves, children who are exposed to
alcoholism at a young age are also at a higher risk for committing their lives to a person who
suffers from it as well. Reasoning behind this is vague, but I'd venture to guess it goes hand in
hand with sufferers of abuse who gravitate toward toxic relationships. Familiarity can periodically
provide people with an intrinsic sense of comfort, no matter how sick. (MELANIE LINDSAY, "6
Ways Growing Up With An Alcoholic Parent Shapes You In Adulthood", Elite Daily, February
23,
2016)
Drinking Facts

Proportionately more alcoholic women die from cirrhosis than do alcoholic men.

Alcohol use is implicated in one-third of drownings.

Alcohol is the number one date rape drug.

Alcohol does not relieve depression - it makes it worse.
Important Dates in A.A. History
June 1946 - 24,000 plus members
June 1947 - "AA Preamble" first printed in Grapevine.
June 1949 - Capt. Jack C. formed AA Seamen's Club in NYC.
June 1953 - "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions" published.
June 1, 1949 - Anne Ripley Smith, Bob's wife, died.
June 5, 1939 - New York Times favorably reviewed the Big Book.
June 6, 1940 - AA group founded in Richmond, Virginia.
June 7, 1938 - Bill & Lois have argument, 1 of 2 times Bill almost slips.
June 7, 1941 - AA group founded in St. Paul, MN.
June 8, 1941 - Group founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
June 10, 1935 - Dr. Bob has last drink (some say it may have been on
June 17 based on date of medical convention he attended.).
June 11, 1935 - Dr. Bob suggests he and Bill start working with other alcoholics.
June 11, 1945 - 2500 attend AA's 10th Anniversary in Cleveland, Ohio.
*June 15, 1938 - One of the first documented uses of the term Alcoholics Anonymous.(*see July 15)
*June 16, 1940 - Jim B helped Jim R start group in Baltimore. (?or June 13 or 15)
June 16, 1938 - date of Jim B's, "Vicious Cycle" from Big Book, last drink.
June 18, 1940 - Meeting held in first 'AA clubhouse', at 334½ W. 24th St, NYC.
June 19, 1942 - NY paper reports 6 cops sent to AA are sober. Police commissioner credits AA with
"fewer suicides" on his files.
June 21, 1944 - The A.A. Grapevine established.
June 26, 1935 - Bill D, AA#3, had last drink before being admitted to hospital.
June 27, 1981 - AA Switzerland held 25th Anniv Convention.
June 28, 1935 - Bill and Dr. Bob visit Bill D, first "Man on the Bed." He becomes AA#3.
June 29-July 2, 1995 - 60th Anniversary of AA in San Diego.
June 29, 2000 - 65th AA Anniv. in Minneapolis, MN.
June 30, 1939 - Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick favorably reviewed the Big Book.
June 30, 1941 - Jack C & Ruth Hock brought the 'Serenity Prayer' to Bill's attention.
Letter from District 67 Committee Member
Greetings fellow AA members!
My name is Mike S. and I am an alcoholic. I am currently serving as your
District Committee Member (DCM) for District 67. It is my responsibility to
represent the 27 registered groups within our district at all Area 59 (Eastern PA)
functions. I essentially represent the “collective conscience” of our geographic area.
To do this I need to take its pulse.
We do this via the District Meeting which is held the first Wednesday of each
month, 7:30 pm at St. Marks in Birdsboro. This meeting is open to ALL AA
members – It is where the opinion or “pulse” of each group is represented by their
General Service Representative (GSR).
Currently less than 50% of our 27 groups regularly attend the District
Meeting. That means that the majority of AA members in our area do not get their
voices heard. We, at District, are attempting to rectify that and we need your help.
Our first step has been to secure an email address dedicated to connecting
myself and other district officers with the membership at large. This address is:
[email protected]
It is our hope that groups without a GSR would be willing to “check in” regularly
via e-mail. We can, in return, e-mail monthly meeting minutes and monthly
Treasurer’s Report back to the groups in a printable format. Of course, only GSR’s
present at the monthly meeting would be able to vote on issues affecting the District
but at least MIA groups would be kept in the loop. The e-mail address is also open
to any AA member to ask questions and voice concerns.
Our main goal is to find how District can best serve the members and fulfill
our primary purpose, which is to carry the message to the still sick and suffering
alcoholic.
We hope to hear from you – your feedback is appreciated! Better yet…..
We hope to see you at the next District Meeting!