JANUARY 2014
$1.00
Editor’s Corner…….
Thanks to John I for submitting the following article….
We don't have to drink to die
We buried him yesterday. The County Coroner had published the required
notices for next of kin and nobody had claimed the body. It was
just myself and his sponsor; no preacher even, the county doesn't pay for
those. Not much of a send-off, and not the one David wanted. A cheap coffin,
a backhoe dug a hole, and that was it - another old AA gone.
He had been sober over 20 years and in AA over 30, a stern and rigid man
who tried to soften his edges but never could. He was a loner; an isolated
man at the edge of life's good things. He hung in there... and in the end hung
himself. I don't know why; I can't know. I know there had been a diagnosis of
senile dementia, and I know that the doctor had added cancer to the list. But,
I've seen AAs deal with such things before... I don't know why David decided
he couldn't.
It isn't the first time I've been through this in Alcoholics Anonymous. I've
known several over the years who one day to walk out life's door. Sober, but
not happy. Sober, but not at peace. Sober, but they died of alcoholism. Our
disease doesn't need us to drink in order to kill us. I wish more folks knew
and appreciated that.
Step One
We admitted we were powerless over
alcohol - that our lives had become
unmanageable.
Tradition One
Our common welfare should come first;
personal recovery depends upon A.A.
unity.
Concept One
Final responsibility and ultimate authority
for A.A. world services should always
reside in the collective conscience of our
whole Fellowship.
Ho n e s t y
Alcoholism is the only disease that is entirely capable of fighting back, of taking care of itself, and emerging in new places and
new forms when it isn't properly treated. Most people think that has something to do with prayer or with God; it has everything to do
with the spiritual malady…'our spirit'... that force which animates, motivates and propels us. As an alcoholic, my spirit is ill. It is
flawed. My character, or basic nature, doesn't work right.
At its root, it is a fundamental and irresolvable insecurity...a hole that can never be filled. It is an instinct run rampant, a desperate
need for acceptance and love that cannot be met. It hurts. It fills one with fear. The selfishness and self-centeredness of the
alcoholic lies here... we are totally preoccupied with what is going on with ourselves on the inside.
The slings and arrows of experience, warped by this need, drive us to the fringe then the voices in our head keep us there. We
are obsessed with ourselves, and from this condition of mind, the insanity of feelings gone haywire, we eventually become selfmedicaters. We reach for alcohol or whatever else will quiet the voices and provide the relief we've never been able to find in any
other way. It isn't any wonder we drink, or drug, the way we do. And yet some of us don't develop an addiction. While attempting to
meet these crying demands our spirit becomes ill, we develop other malformations of behavior, and suffer in a hundred different
ways.
God broke David's obsession to drink. But, I don't think David ever truly understood his disease. I say that because I watched him
struggle with those old unresolved issues of his heart for years. His rigidity, coldness, aloofness, isolation and difficulty with other
people were a reflection of the pain in his heart... of the disease of alcoholism gone deep inside, and still active.
Alcoholism didn't need David to drink in order to kill him, and in the end...it succeeded. In the end, instead of self abandoned,
David abandoned hope...and discovered a bitter end.
Our recovery from alcoholism through the Steps must be a three-fold process. It is not one dimensional. When we say, in AA, that
we have a triangle...recovery, unity, service...we mean it. In working the Steps, I clear a pathway for two purposes...first, to come
into a group of human people and away from the fringe of society where I have spent most of my emotional life. Secondly, to
discover 'belonging' through service to the people within that group. It is only this entire, threefold process that heals. It is especially
true for those of us who suffer from the spiritual malady to a great degree.
Perhaps the 12th Step says it best: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps (recovery), we tried to carry
this message to other alcoholics (service) and practice these principles in all our affairs (unity).
(continued on page 4)
WIT AND WISDOM FROM THE ROOMS
You can carry the message, but not the alcoholic
In any uncomfortable situation, be of service
Sometimes the best course of action is to focus on
me and see what needs to be done
Tradition One: Our common welfare should
come first; personal recovery depends upon
AA unity.
1. Am I in my group a healing, mending, integrating
person, or am I divisive? What about
gossip and taking other members’ inventories?
2. Am I a peacemaker? Or do I, with pious preludes
such as “just for the sake of
discussion,” plunge into argument?
Yesterday is a cancelled check, tomorrow is a
promissory note; today is ready cash, spend it wisely.
3. Am I gentle with those who rub me the wrong way,
or am I abrasive?
The slogans were invented for me
4. Do I make competitive AA remarks, such as
comparing one group with another or
contrasting AA in one place with AA in another?
All my bottoms were different, but they all were the
same….they took me to different places, but alcohol
always drove the car
5. Do I put down some AA activities as if I were
superior for not participating in this or that
aspect of AA?
The first time I went into rehab I had a bag full of
outside issues in my pocket
6. Am I informed about AA as a whole? Do I support,
in every way I can, AA as a whole,
or just the parts I understand and approve of?
Today I know where to find the remote for my
emotions
7. Am I as considerate of AA members as I want them
to be of me?
You can’t push the river
8. Do I spout platitudes about love while indulging in
and secretly justifying behavior that
bristles with hostility?
Give yourself time to forgive yourself
9. Do I go to enough AA meetings or read enough AA
literature to really keep in touch?
It doesn’t matter what I say to you, it matters what
you hear, what you understand
10. Do I share with AA all of me, the bad and the good,
accepting as well as giving the help
of fellowship?
What happens to us is not as important as how I
respond
I cam in at 36 with the mind of a 17 year old…now,
I’m way past 36 and still learning
Happy Birthday and Congratulations to
Everyone Celebrating One Day at a Time in
JANUARY!
Half measures availed me lots….more misery, more
heartache and more pain….
Pick up the phone, not a drink
If you have heard “words of wisdom” in the rooms,
send them to [email protected]
to be used in a future issue. Thanks
If you have a JANUARY sobriety birthday,
donate an amount equal to your sober years
to Central Office….Imagine if everyone did!
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Meeting Changes – NEW/CHANGED/CLOSED
A new meeting must be registered with Central Office for ninety (90)
days in order to qualify for listing in the Las Vegas Meeting Schedule. Listing a meeting in the Silver Streak or the Meeting Schedule does not in
any way imply affiliation with clubs, churches or other facilities. New meetings are in Las Vegas unless otherwise noted.
NEW
SOUL PURPOSE
12/13
Thursday 7pm
GVG 3565 East Post Rd,
Las Vegas
Book Study
Soul Sisters
1/14
Wednesday 6:30 pm
780 Valley Rise (Private
Home) Henderson
Closed/Women's/Step Study
The Young and the Restless 1/14
Tuesday 6pm
The Lakes Lutheran Church
8200 W Sahara Ave
Step Study/Young People
Wellness Men's Group
11/13
OUT OF TOWN Men's Stag
Sunday 7am
Wm B Ririe Hosp
6 Steptoe Cir Ely, NV
Saturday Reflections
1/14
Saturday 8am
6225 Rassler St (Private Home)
Las Vegas Open
Discussion
Music Meeting
1/14
Thursday 8:30pm
GVG 3565 E Post Rd
Las Vegas
Music/Open Disc
Slow Sobriety
Thursday 5pm
Central Office
1431 E Charleston #14
Open Discussion
1/14
3rd Legacy
Thursday 6pm
Triangle Club
4600 S Nellis, Las Vegas
Literature Study
Veterans Village Victory 11/13
Friday 5pm
Veterans Village
1150 S LVBS
Open Discussion
Lambda
11/13
Monday 6:30pm
The Center
401 S Maryland Pkwy
Gay / Step Study
Inside Job
Wed and Fri 8:15am
Solutions Foundation
2975 S Rainbow
Closed Women's
11/13
Wednesday Men's
1/14
Wednesday 6:30pm
Our Meeting Place
3330 E Tropicana 'H' Las Vegas
Men's Closed Disc
We Care
About the Books
1/14
Mon 6:30pm
We Care
2216 S 6th St, Las Vegas
Women Only/Literature Study
Sober Saturday Lakes 1/14
Saturday 5pm
The Lakes Lutheran Church
8200 W Sahara Ave,
Las Vegas
Open Discussion
1/14
CHANGES
NAME CHANGE:
1/14
Burnt Toast (was Tues GV Group)
Tuesday 7pm
United Methodist Church
2200 Robindale Rd
Green Valley/Henderson
Open Discussion
Floating Big Book
12/13
Wednesday 7pm
www.floatingbigook.com
Solutions 2975 S Rainbow #K2
Open Discussion
LOCATION:
Ladies of the Evening
11/13
Saturdays from 3:30 pm to 4pm
OLD: Stairway II Cheyenne/Rancho
NEW: Keystone Club 2525 N
Decatur
LOCATION:
Summerlin Men's Group
11/13
Tuesday 7pm
Address is 101 SOUTH Pavilion
rather than North
CLOSED
Tribe
12/13
GVG Thursday 7pm
disbanded, new meeting in
place
Specific Group
12/17 was last meeting
1/14
Living Sober
12/13
Saturday 2pm
Silkworth House
2007 Peyton Las Vegas, NV
Women's Stag
Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without
it than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we
refuse air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation
and prayer, we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally
needed support.
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AA Volunteers
Special Needs/Accessibility
•
Are you or someone you know, homebound and
need an AA meeting?
•
Do you or someone you know, need an
American Sign Language (ASL) AA meeting?
•
Do you or someone you know, need the Big
Book or 12 and 12 on tape or Braille?
The Archives Corner
Happy New Year!!
This year the Archive Committee will meet at
Central Office the third Saturday of every month at
11:30am.
The Southern Area of Nevada Special
Needs/Accessibility Committee is here to help meet
these needs. For more information and assistance
contact Las Vegas AA Central Office at 702 5981888.
I will be sending out reminder e-mails and
gathering the troops to participate in the job of
preserving and protecting our AA history.
If you would like to join the committee or just
come down and spend a few hours organizing or
reviewing, please give me a call at 245-1766.
If you have any of the following we would love to
have them: pictures, flyers, group histories or any
relevant AA history.
The Archives love to go to AA events, so if you
have one planned, please let us know, we will be
happy to bring a display to your AA event.
In Love and Service, Rhonda
GRAPEVINE QUOTES…..
(Continuation)
"As drinking alcoholics, we all ran from life
and toward death. When we join AA, we
reverse the process - we give ourselves to
life as it is, rather than as we would like it
to be."
Key West, Fla., February 1973
From: "Self-Pity Can Kill"
Best of Grapevine, Volume 1
You see...I cannot hold back. I must not continue to suffer that
shyness, aloneness, that overwhelming sense of self...in my affairs. I
must get involved in a group of people to practice these principles in all
my affairs. Only the total approach is healing. Anything less is little more
than driving my disease deeper…and if I do that…it will continue to eat
away, trying to destroy me.
It destroyed David. This is a memorial to an old AA who gave it his
best shot...and I think David ended up on the plus side. It wasn't his fault;
he seemed to have been born that way. There were a lot of old ideas
about self that David could never muster the willingness to let go of. He
is at rest now. But it says somewhere that "no matter how far down the
scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others."
1st Step Promises:
Only through utter defeat are we able to take
our first steps toward liberation and strength.
David cannot speak to his experience any longer; I am speaking in his
memory. And I think that if David could talk to us today, he'd say
"Understand your disease thoroughly, and work the complete program of
recovery"!
Our admissions of personal powerlessness
…turn out to be firm bedrock upon which
happy and purposeful lives may be built.
God Bless!
When we grab hold of AA principles with all
the fervor with which the drowning seize life
preservers, we almost invariable get well
This story was submitted by John I through the Silver Streak email. If
you have a story of your own or one you’d like to pass on, please submit
it to me for inclusion in the Silver Streak.
Thanks, Patty W
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"The End of the Month Speaker Meeting"
‘E.O.T.M.S.M.’
The Last Sunday of Each Month, 7:30pm
TIE Club, 329 North 11th Street
‘’E.O.T.M.S.M”, January 26, 2014, at 7:30 PM.
Each Quarter a different group hosts the EOTMSM.
Speakers will be announced at the meeting
Each month there is a raffle to raise money to support
Central Office and winners receive nice, recovery related
prizes including a year subscription to the Silver Streak!
The ‘’E.O.T.M.S.M” continues to help maintain a sense
of unity within the Las Vegas A.A. community. This can
best be achieved by allowing various "home groups" from
throughout the Las Vegas valley to participate in the
meeting. Groups are asked to accept a three month
commitment. The group is then responsible to provide A.A.
members to share their experience, strength and hope
with a large contingency of members from the entire Las
Vegas area. If your group would like to become a sponsor,
contact Bryan at [email protected] for more
information. An ASL translator is available with advanced
notice.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
District 15
meets the first Sunday of each month,
3:00pm at the world famous T.I.E. Club.
Any questions, call Shannon (702) 265-8049
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
H&I Meets
rd
3 Tuesday of every month
Las Vegas Central Office at 6 pm
Everyone is Welcome
This year the Archive Committee will meet
at Central Office the 3rd Saturday of each
month at 11:30am.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
75th Anniversary Big Book is coming out
and will be available for pre-order in
November for April 2014 shipping.
Jack at Central Office will also be ordering
so check with Jack for more information
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
VOLUNTEER FOR THE HOTLINE COMMITTEE
Answer Central Office Hotline calls
Shifts are 4-8pm or 8pm-8am Mon-Fri
8am to noon or noon 4pm Week Ends
Contact Bill at: [email protected],
or call 493-8529 anytime if you’re interested.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
DISTRICT 3
MEETS THE 2ND SUNDAY OF
JAN, MAY, JULY AND NOVEMBER
CENTRAL OFFICE
1431 E CHARLESTON BLVD #14
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
12 Step Service
There is a 12 Step Committee
and they always need volunteers.
It’s an important and easy commitment
Contact Claudia at 702-493-9694
for more information
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
District 9 General Service Meeting
Saturday 2:30pm
MOVING FROM THE TURNING POINT
Now at Central Office 1431 E Charleston Blvd #14
Meets 3rd Saturday of
April/June/August/October/December
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
PI/CPC committee meets
rd
at 6 p.m. the 3 Monday of each month
Las Vegas Central Office
if you’d like to volunteer
contact Bobby at 238-4800 or Mary at 306-3093
ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ EVENTS ~ NEWS
Gratitude Ball
Committee Meetings
will meet at Central Office
January 8th, Wednesday
6pm
Please be there if you want to
participate in this event
p.5
November 2013 - Groups Contributions to Central Office
p.6
INTERGROUP MINUTES – November 2013
Alan opened with Serenity Prayer. Roll call taken. Motion to approve last month’s minutes made & carried, after correction to GSR Liaison report: corrected
time and date for Gratitude in Action workshop. Darryl read 12 Traditions.
Central Office Jack: Central Office had 780 calls in Oct.; 93 12-Step calls. Hotline had 1,343; 123 12 Step. Website: 162 hits per day, 5,022 for month. Want
to remind everyone the Traditions are to groups as Steps are to individuals, so please observe the Traditions. Have 12 Tips on Keeping Your Holiday Season
Sober and Joyous,. Take them back to share with your groups, especially newcomers. Need to report the IRS was not getting their reports and payments
online and the CPA took care of it. Thank you for all your contributions.
Treasurer Russ: October Beginning balance $19,967.97, income was $9,205.45, expenses of $13,132.72 for a loss of $3,927.27; new balance $16,040.70.
Good news is we’re $6,737.73 ahead YTD. This month we were upside down so ask groups to give a little more. Literature account: $8,530.96, donations
$4,374.66, total income $12,905.62. Expenses: $1,920.62 for balance of $10,985.00. Prudent reserve interest $1.22, total $20,527.81. Report shows all
groups contributing to Central Office, please check to see if your group is on it. Extra expenses: repair of broken front office door and extended pay periods.
Hotline Billy: 11 open shifts; always recruiting. My number is 493-8529. All Captain slots filled at this time. We’re covering shifts at Thanksgiving; Roundup
isn’t doing it this year. Please announce to groups, we’re always, always looking for volunteers especially the 8-8 shift. Groups can take a slot, with alternating
members taking one shift a month. Contact me for details of service commitments available
12 Step Claudia: Suggest that all GSR and Intergroup reps get on the 12 Step list and get your groups on the call list! List is a resource for Hotline volunteers
and12 Step calls. It works. Need people on the list … seriously.
Unity Cliff: Larry’s been busy going to Roundup Committee and SAGSC. Attended Traditions workshops and discussed and supported several Traditions in
action issues, i.e. meeting disruptions & personality issues. Still working on meeting visitation lists but having computer skills trouble and need help. We’re all
responsible for A.A. unity. Michael asked about visitation list. Cliff clarified they’re coordinating lists of groups contributing to Intergroup and meeting lists so
they can visit groups to see if meetings are still there. There’s a form available for groups to add or update their meeting information.
Silver Streak No report/no attendance
Bridging the Gap: Tim: Averaging 5 or 6 bridge requests monthly, we got 6 from the City jail. Contact with one who wants to go to a meeting, he’s just
released. Set up a pen pal program for the women at Smiley Road and Jean prison. We’ve gotten requests from women whose release dates are 2-3 years
out. We’ve got ladies writing them to establish contact. Went to Dist. 5B and to SAGSC yesterday. My number is 702-375-7465.
th
Gratitude Ball Michele R: Just elected to chair the Ball so hello! First committee meeting for 2014 Gratitude Ball was the 6 : 20 people in attendance; formed
an ad hoc committee to look into other venues; lots of enthusiasm for making the Ball better for 2014. Very excited, please show up here at 6 pm on Wed., Jan
8 if you’d like to get involved. Tentative date is April 12 but we’re still looking at venues. Thanks for letting me be of service.
H & I Dave M: Beginning balance $3,02.24 including $1,000.00 prudent reserve. Donations of $4,002.24 for total income of $6,554.54. Spent $2,382.00 on
books for an ending balance of $4,172.54 Donations come entirely from those pink cans so if you don’t have an H&I rep please get one. Money goes to fund
books for people in jails and hospitals. Many opportunities for people to bring meetings into those facilities. We need women to do Wed. afternoon on Stewart
rd
& Mojave. Monthly H & I meeting 3 Tuesday of month here at 6 p.m. H&I Conference March 1st at Salvation Army on Palomino, including speaker from out of
town. All-day event with breakfast and lunch, $5 entry. If you want to get involved, meeting is 1st Monday of month right here at 6 p.m. My # is 300-1969.
Founders Day No report/no attendance
PIC No report/no attendance
nd
rd
CPC Cheri: Still getting registered with GSO. Had a table at Addiction & Recovery Support for Clergy on the 22 . Gentleman from PIC/CPC meeting, 3
Monday of month at 6 pm, showed up and volunteered. Table was flooded with people between workshops so it was great to have help, passed out 70
th
th
schedules. On 4 and 5 had US Postal Workers Conference, took schedules and pamphlets. Had people show up with long term sobriety and glad to see us.
We have events continuously through year and GSO takes care of it if they want us registered. Thanks to Don and Darryl and everyone who’s helping. Tons of
opportunity for service; may have signup sheets soon for events. Phone number 702-366-5736, texts are fantastic for immediate responses.
Archives Rhonda via email: We’ve me a few times over past 11 months and have been busy; attended events and added new people to committee.
Attended Tonopah in the fall; thanks everyone who helped set up and tear down and to Dist. 5b, 13 & 15 for continuing to show up and help. We’d love to have
more participation and attend your picnics, workshops, meetings & events, to set up a display or talk about Area 42 AA History. If you have old minutes or
fliers and past records we need them. Number is 245-1766; email is [email protected]. Thanks for letting me be of service, and remember “Don't
throw anything away”.
Grapevine Dean S: At KCB Club last weekend for 5B workshop and will be at Gratitude in Action next Sat. for Districts 1 & 13. Tony went to SAGSC
nd
yesterday. Meetings are 2 Friday each month, here at 6 p.m. Please encourage Reps to attend the Grapevine meeting. Will be out of town for Thanksgiving
and Robin will cover Round Up. You can email me at [email protected] or phone 702-219-4192. Texts are best
GSR Liaison No report/no attendance
E.O.M.S.M No report/no attendance
Spanish Central Office No report/no attendance
Special Needs/Accessibility No report/no attendance
LVYPAA No report/no attendance
th
Roundup Jim: This will be 47 annual Roundup. It’s at Riviera, starts Thanksgiving Day at noon, ends noon Sunday. We have better entertainment this year,
dances every night and good lineup of speakers. Bumpy road last few years, we’re asking for your enthusiastic support. Website lists speakers, etc. but online
registration closed. It’s been a part of local A.A. for a long time; thousands of people have been helped. Rick mentioned Roundup is registered with GSO and
has A.A. number. Not sure where non-A.A. controversy came from. Working to make it better and get it back on track. Michael asked how we can help. Rick
advised just come and register. If Roundup makes money donation will be made to Central Office.
Old Business None
New Business None
Announcements Russ: Steering Committee met at 5:00 today, meets quarterly 1 hour before Intergroup Meeting. Several issues discussed and minutes will
be available next month. Cheri: Gratitude in Action Saturday from 2:00-4:30, service committees who aren’t already scheduled are welcome.
Closed with the Lord’s Prayer
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7 Tradition: $ 65.25
p.7
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Disclaimer: The Silver Streak is the monthly newsletter of the Las Vegas Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous. Opinions contained herein are strictly those of the author(s). We
reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, language, length, and any content which may violate the AA Traditions, etc. Publication of opinions, articles, and
announcements does not represent express or implied endorsement or approval by AA at any level. AA literature reprinted with permission of AAWS.
p.8