CONTACT

Pinellas County Intergroup 8340 Ulmerton Road Suite 220

Largo, FL 33771

727.530.0415 PH centraloffice@aapinellas.org

Monday - Friday 10am - 6pm

aapinellas.org

Bulletin 2

Unity Report 3

Events 4

District 1 5

Anniversaries 6

From our readers 7

Contributions 8

Inside this issue:

Plain & Straight Editor: Jen B. Email: plainandstraight@aapinellas.org

2

AA BY THE SEA - WCA

Chapel by the Sea

54 Bay Esplanade

Clearwater Beach, 33767

Added Sun OD 7:00 PM.

MORNING ROUNDS - WCA

Mindworks Office

1260 S Martin Luther King

Jr. Blvd Suite D

Clearwater 33756

Physicians Only Meet –

New Wed CD 7:45 AM

DON VISTA GROUP - WCA

Alano Beach Club,

Dolphin Village

4615 Gulf Blvd., Suite 112,

St. Pete Beach, - Added

OBB Tue 8:00 PM

WALSINGHAM GROUP -

WCA

Removed, THUR ODW

5:30 pm

THE 49'ERS GROUP – WCA

Removed, Sun 5:30 PM

Otra

NEW

MEETINGS

February 11 1938 – Clarence S. (“Home Brewmeister” in 1st, 2nd & 3rd editions) had his last drink.

Feb 14 1971 – AA groups worldwide held a memorial service for Bill Wilson. 2000 – William Y., “California Bill” died in Winston Salem, NC.

February 15 1946 – AA Tribune, Des Moines, IA, reported 36 new members since Marty M. had been there.

February 16 1941 – Baltimore Sunday Sun reported city’s first AA group begun in 1940 had grown from 3 to 40 mem-bers, with five being women.

February 18 1943 – AA’s were granted the right to use cars for 12th step work in emergency cases, despite gas rationing.

February 21 1939 – 400 copies of the Big Book manuscript were sent to doctors, judges, psychiatrists, and others for comment. This was the “multilith” Big Book.

Other February happenings with no specific date: 1938 – Rockefeller gave $5,000 to AA. 1939 – Dr. Harry Tiebout endorsed AA, the first psychiatrist to do so.

FEBRUARY

THE 49'ERS GROUP -

WCA

Southland Plaza

9739-9741 66th Street

North

Pinellas Park, 33782

12:00 PM changed

to OAB OLDSMAR GROUP -

WCA

Community United

Methodist Church

207 Buckingham

Avenue E.

Oldsmar, 34677

Tue OBB 9:00 am

Fri OS 9:00 am

Sat Ost/ Sobriety Stix

8:00 pm

BEACON GROUP -

St Bede's Episcopal

Church

2500 16th St North

St. Petersburg,

FL 33704

New Address ST PETE GROUP

Trinity Lutheran

Church

401 5th Street North

St. Pete 33701

address was listed as

400 5th St N.

DELETED MEETINGS

CHANGED MEETINGS

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1/6/18 Together We Can

6:45pm Sundays & Wednesdays

Holy Trinity Countryside 3200 N. McMullen Booth, Clearwater

Jackie "SD9/24/17.Every night, I write a gratitude list & something new I learned that day & I review it in the morning."

Carol "SD 7/6/14.I feel like these harsh things that happened in my life-God has used me to grow me & show me."

1/13/18 St. Pete Beach YPG

8pm Fridays

Alano Beach Club, Dolphin Village 4615 Gulf Blvd Ste 112, St. Pete Beach

Andre "SD 9/17/16.I find so much use in my life by helping other people & Soberstock is life-changing."

Leslie "SD 9/15/11.They were closing YPG, so I offered to chair & love scav-enger hunts & brunch w/ soul sisters!"

1/20/18 Attitude Adjustment

7am Monday - Saturday

Grace Trinity Church 1812 N. Highland Ave, Clearwater

Jade "SD 6/10/17.They have so much sobriety & I took my 1st-3rd step there & got it together."

Kirk "You go to meetings to learn how to behave & if you don't transform your life, you're wasting daylight."

1/27/18 Never Too Late

9:45p Monday - Friday, Sundays / 8p Saturdays

Warehouse Club 2024 Main Street, Dunedin

*Celebrate Your Previous Month's Anniversary w/us 1st Friday monthly & Pizza!

Brian "SD 11/7/16. After 1 year sober, working 12-14 hour days, stopped going to meetings, I drank; PAR, Salvation Army, Warehouse Club-When I decided to be a man of God, all these steps came with it for me & as long as I'm a Godly man & I do what's right in my heart, I'm gonna be all right."

Austin "SD 11/1/14. It took me 3 years to realize to give 100% of your will, not 50% & pain is a greater necessity to get me to God & grow & my spirituality is ever evolving & my life gets better when I try to do the next right thing."

-Your Grateful Plain & Straight Reporter, Karen

02/24/18 Serenity Seekers

03/03/18 Countryside Group

03/10/18 Oldsmar Group

03/17/18 Attitude Adjustment

03/24/18 Indian Rocks Beach

04/07/18 Find Yourself

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5

SERVICE COMMITTEE MEETINGS - NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME!

Hi my name is Mary and I am an alcoholic. I came to Pinellas county back in January of 2013. I joined a home group that closed a few years ago due to lack of participation. I was looking for a new group and visited the Find Yourself Group in Seminole. I liked the fact that they met 3 times a week. They had a step meeting, a speaker meeting and an As Bill Sees It meeting. So there was a lot of variety. Shortly after attending that meeting I noticed there was a difficulty finding speakers for the meeting. They were having repeats and the meeting seemed to be getting very stagnant. I noticed there was a flyer on the table about a bookers exchange going on. I came from up North and was aware

of the Speaker Exchange concept. I had been a booker for my home group in South Jersey. We had a program that worked well. I brought it up to my group and they discussed it. I volunteered to be the booker for the group and attended my first meeting that summer. I was able to book the next quarter with fresh new faces to speak. It was easy. There were other groups like mine looking to breathe some life into the meetings. The other groups didn’t need speakers were willing to take on service commitments bringing people into speak. Over the last 2 years our meeting has grown. The meeting is now flourishing and so is my sobriety. It has given me the chance to meet other people in Pinellas County and carry the message of AA. My first AA meeting I heard a women speak that I had nothing in common with but I identified with how she felt and how alcohol had affected her life. This has been an incredible experience to see our group grow in unity and support each other on the commitments. We now have road trips and the attendance at our speaker meeting has tripled. The Bookers Exchange has brought new energy into our meeting and our group is forever grateful that God has brought this to us. If your group is in need of some energy and you would like to carry the message of AA. You don’t need to be a circuit speaker to do this. It is just carrying the language of the heart. We would love to have you join us. We meet quarterly and it takes less than an hour to fill your commitment. We meet quarterly at the Church of the Good Sheppard in Seminole. Our next meeting is on the first Tuesday in March at 6:30 pm. Feel free to call me at 856-426-9797 if you have any questions or you can email me at marymaker61@gmail.com.

ACCESSIBLITIES 3RD THURSDAY MARCH 15 6PM Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220, Largo

ARCHIVES 3RD SATURDAY MARCH 17 130PM Alano Club - Dolphin Village 4615 Gulf Blvd #112, SPB

CORRECTIONS 2ND MONDAY MARCH 12 630PM Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

DISTRICT 1 BUSINESS MTG

3RD TUESDAY

MARCH 20 630PM CHURCH OF GOOD SHEPHERD 639 Edgewater Dr., Dunedin

GRAPEVINE 3RD WEDNESDAY MARCH 21 630PM Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

LITERATURE COMMITTEE 1ST WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 630PM Panera Bread 10801 Starkey Road, Largo

PI/CPC LAST MONDAY FEBUARY 26 6PM Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

TREATMENT LAST SATURDAY MARCH 31 10AM DeGeorge Plaza 12678 Starkey Rd., Largo

WEBSITE 3RD SATURDAY MARCH 17 10AM Central Office 8430 Ulmerton Rd #220

For More Information on

these Committees, go to:

District1aapinellas.org

6

Submissions must be received by the first Friday of each month to make it into the next

issue. Deadline for March’s issue is : Friday March 2nd, 2018 -

Thank you - Jessica S. Anniversary Editor

Sunrise/Sunset Maria K. 5 Larry W. 6 Brad B. 7 Lou S. 17 Ray H. 23 Louie 32 Charlie D. 32 GiGi Mc. 33 Patsi A. 33 Rob 40 Today in Sobriety Demeris 3 Bill 5 Larry 15 Together We Can Marla 11 Barbara 16 Matt G. 21 Maggie A. 22 Missed Anniversaries: December Experience, Strength and Hope Jessica S. 6 Jen B. 9

2250 Group Mike R. 4 Dawn G. 8 Cori H. 16 Tisa 21 Thadine F. 28 Ed G. 39 49ers Justine O. 2 Sarah H. 3 Craig 4 P.S. 11 Ted B. 11 Stephanie 18 Trisha 30 Marge B. 50 A New Start Mary 1 Vickey 27 John 28 George 34

JANUARY 2018 ANNIVERSARIES

Abe’s Place Kim G. 1 Ralph S. 4 Casey D. 5 Jeff R. 6 Gary M. 10 Corey T. 11 Jay S. 13 Joe R. 26 Bruce W. 33 Michelle L. 40 Walter D. 45 Dan C. 50 After Work Bunch Dean A. 1 Rebeca S. 8 Preston K. 37 Alicia F. 39 Attitude Adjustment

Thaddeus 1 Susan 1 Andy G. 8 Steve F. 22 Tony 29

Blind Pass Group Larry B. 4 Brad B. 7 David W. 11 Austin 28 Central Group Steve G. 7 Countryside Group Sandy B. 1 Dave S. 2 GOYA Hal W. 1 Chris F. 3 Tim J. 8 Shawn G. 9 Dick T. 9 Tom Mc. 16 Steve F. 22 Tony N. 29 Joe R. 34 Renee P. 38 High Noon Daily Debbie M. 34 Highpoint Fran C. 27 Gary H. 34 Cindy H. 34 It's a Beautiful Day Terry F. 6 Koala Jensen B. 1 Cameron C. 4 Dawn S. 24 Juan B. 26 Brian S. 30 Debbie M. 34

New Beginnings Women's Group Casey L. 1 Christine K. 3 Heather M. 8 Patty B. 12 Gail L. 30 Claudette N. 39 Diane F. 39 Oldsmar Group Meaghan Z. 5 Laurie H. 6 Lester G. 7 Cate C. 21 Barbara Z. 33 Palm Harbor Group Tracy P. 12 Mona R. 17 Sat AM Women’s BB Group Joanne 16 Seminole Group Marty O. 4 Nora B. 5 Jimmy 31 Shore Acres Gratitude Group Constantine 1 Bill T. 2 Sisters On A Journey Karen D. 32 Step Up to the Plate Abby 1 Morgan 1 St Pete Group Erin H. 8 Kym 14 Saida 25

Birthday Plan Donation

January 2018: Leslie $140

7

Opinions expressed in Plain & Straight are not those of Alcoholics Anonymous, nor does the publication of any article imply endorsement or affiliation by Pinellas Intergroup or Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. and the A.A Symbol are registered trademarks of Alcoholic Anonymous World Services, Inc.

The Importance of Service Work

“I am responsible, when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that, I am responsible.”

The principle behind the twelfth step is service. We carry the message to alcoholics who still suffer. We can help when no one else can. I started my sobriety by going to an AA meeting. I am thankful they were there, so I keep going to meetings to help set up, make coffee, and to share a message of hope. A deeply patient sponsor took me through the steps, which enabled me to have a psychic change. I no longer desire to drink and I think more of others than I do of myself. So I sponsor others and take them through the steps. There are committees and service boards in A.A. that can add a new layer of growth and excitement to my program. I am committed and accountable to my commitment, and afterward I rotate out to allow an-other alcoholic the opportunity to experience service.

Am I willing to twelfth-step the newcomer without regard to who or what is in it for me?

Do I help my group in every way I can to fulfill our primary purpose?

Do I remember that AA old-timers, too, can be alcoholics who still suffer?

-Jessi S. *Sources: AA Responsibility Statement & Traditions Checklist

Need a flyer for your Event or Committee? I can help! Contact Jen B. - editor of the Plain and Straight: plainandstraight@aapinellas.org

I also welcome personal AA stories or anecdotes. Thank you!

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2250 Group 100.00

3rd Tradition Group 86.70 4th Dimension Group 30.00 A New Start 50.00

A Work In Progress Group 75.00 AA By The Sea Group 300.00 Accessibilities Committee 120.00 After Work Bunch 189.00 At The End Of The Rainbow 150.00 Attitude Adjustment 241.60 Back Porch After Work Bunch 300.00 Central Group 100.00 Clearwater Group/301 60.00 Countryside Group 50.00 Eastlake Group 122.00 Feelings Group 74.78 Free Spirits 55.00 Grow Up Group 100.00 High Noon Daily 50.00 Intergroup Meeting 81.20 Keep It Simple 50.00 KOALA Group 45.00 Ladies' Beach Serenity Break Group 35.00 Ladies Night 112.00 Maximo Point 20.00 Monday Night Speakers 400.00

Oldsmar Group 528.77

Peace Group 10.00

Saturday Night Rox 25.00

Seminole Group 210.75

Serenity Club Of Clearwater 8.00

Serenity Seekers Group 158.93

Sisterhood 40.00

Sober Spirits 155.52

Spirit Group 135.00

St Pete Group 10.00

Steering Committee Meeting 20.00

Step Up To The Plate 30.00

Sunrise Sunset Group 252.00

Sunset Beach Group 141.00

TGIS Women's Meeting 284.24

The God Stuff 79.00

Today In Sobriety Group 500.00

Unity Meeting Intergroup 233.80

Women In Step 50.00

Women With Freedom 356.00

TOTAL $6,225.29

January 2018

CORRECTIONS

WOULD LIKE

TO THANK:

Central Group,

Seminole Group,

Literature Committee FOR

DONATING LITERATURE!