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“We pocket our pride and go to it, illuminating every twist of character, every dark cranny of the past. Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we are delighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can be alone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us. We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.” ~ Page 75, Alcoholics Anonymous
Ottawa Intergroup hours are 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday-Friday (subject to volunteer availability). When purchasing literature, chips or medallions, please remember to bring a credit
card or a cheque payable to "Ottawa Area Intergroup of AA", cash not accepted.
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous June 2018
OURPRIMARYPURPOSESTORIES, NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM OUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
GRATITUDE DAY JUNE 9th, 2018 | CANADATHON - JULY 1st, 2018
OTTAWA GENERAL SERVICE DISTRICTS AND COMMITTEESDistrict 54 - Ottawa East (Bartosz W) M [email protected]
District 58 - Ottawa Centre (Michel D) M [email protected]
District 62 - Ottawa West (Mike B) M [email protected]
Cooperation with Professionals (Karl B) M [email protected]
Public Information / Media Contact (Nigel L) M [email protected]
Corrections Facilities and Treatment (Kevin A) M [email protected]
Archives (Bruce C) M [email protected]
LM CONTACTS OTTAWA AREA INTERGROUP
Chair (Sandy K) M [email protected]
Vice-Chair (Harry B) M [email protected]
Secretary (Anne D) M [email protected]
Treasurer (Steve C) M [email protected]
Website and Email (Carolyn O) M [email protected]
Telephone Answering (Mickey R) M [email protected]
Newsletter (Vacant ) M [email protected]
Literature (Marie G ) M [email protected]
12 Step Coordinator (Caterina C) M [email protected]
Spring Conference (Brian L) M [email protected]
OTTAWA INTERGROUP OFFICE211 Bronson Avenue, Suite 108
Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 6H5Open for Literature Sales
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 4:00 pm(Subject to volunteer availability—
Call in advance)
GENERAL INFORMATIONTelephone: 613.237.6000
10 am - 10 pm, 7 days a weekEmail: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER [email protected]
Article submission deadline is last day of previous month
for following month
INSIDEMH Editorial .......................................4
Traditions Evening .....................5-9
A Spiritual Awakening...................12
CANADATHON..............................16
Plant This! Happy Birthday AA!......13What is Intergroup Ottawa?..........14 Gratitude Day Ottawa...................15
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 2
Service Calendar ...........................3
AA Relationship with NA...........10-11
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 3
"Our Primary Purpose" publishes articles that reflect the full diversity of experience and opinion found within the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. In determining content, the editor relies on the principles of the Twelve Traditions. "Our Primary Purpose" values the shared experience of individual AA members working the AA program and applying the principles of the Twelve Steps. Seeking neither to gloss over difficult issues nor to present such issues in a harmful or contentious manner, "Our Primary Purpose" tries to embody the widest possible view of the AA Fellowship.
The editor of "Our Primary Purpose" reserves the right to accept or reject material for publication, based on the AA traditions. (We note that this policy is consistent with that of the AA Grapevine.)
Articles are not intended to be statements of AA policy, nor does publication of any article constitute endorsement by either Alcoholics Anonymous or Ottawa Area Intergroup. Submissions are always welcome.
EDITOR'S STATEMENT
SERVICECALENDAROTTAWA INTEGROUP MONTHLY MEETING ..............................................................................................Second Wednesday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Mac Hall)
DISTRICT 54 MEETING ................................................................................................................................................ First Thursday (7:30 pm) (Overbrook Community Centre, 33 Quill Street)
DISTRICT 58 MEETING ........................................................................................................................................... Second Monday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 106)
DISTRICT 62 MEETING ........................................................................................................................................... Second Monday (7:30 pm) (All Saints Church, 347 Richmond Road - rear entrance)
CORRECTIONS FACILITIES AND TREATMENT .................................................................................................. Fourth Tuesday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Intergroup Office)
PUBLIC INFORMATION ...............................................................................................................................................Third Monday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)
COOPERATION WITH PROFESSIONALS .................................................................................................................Third Monday (6:30 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)
OTTAWA ARCHIVES ............................................................................................................................................... Third Wednesday (7:00 pm)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Room 108)
ALKATHON COMMITTEE ............................................................................................................................................................................... (TBD)(Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue - Intergroup Office)
Is your AA Group's meeting information correct on ottawaaa.org? Please send all updates as well as temporary closures to Ottawa Intergroup at [email protected].
Do you have a question for the board? Heard a rumour you have a question about? You can email us with your question and you can also request an invitation to meet with us at our monthly board meeting. Send your email to [email protected].
If your group needs insurance, please contact Ottawa Intergroup at [email protected] to discuss.
No matter how much sobriety you have, find out how you can help and be a part of the greater whole. All AA members are welcome to attend any of the following committees:
A friend of mine is having a relationship problem
with her daughter – they haven’t spoken for months,
the daughter went to live with her estranged father
for the summer, and is now back in Ottawa and
doesn’t want her mother to call. I had dinner with
the daughter and her friend last night, and she
seems well‐adjusted and basically happy with her
life.
But I spoke with my friend afterwards, and I could
just hear the pain in her voice. She seemed surprised
when I told her that her daughter loved her very
much. All I could tell her was to give things enough
time, and things would work out.
My friend isn’t an alcoholic, but certainly displays
some of the characteristics. Relationships are not
easy – they require work, especially if there are basic
tendencies towards co‐dependence. There are fears
aplenty – and most of them are closely related – one
of my recent insights is that fear of commitment and
fear of rejection are simply two sides of the same
coin.
Stopping drinking is not enough. As it says in the Big
Book:
“The alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his
way through the lives of others. Hearts are
broken. Sweet relationships are dead.
Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and
inconsiderate habits have kept the home in
turmoil. We feel a man is unthinking when
he says that sobriety is enough. He is like
the farmer who came up out of his cyclone
cellar to find his home ruined. To his wife,
he remarked, “Don’t see anything the
matter here, Ma. Ain’t it grand the wind
stopped blowin’?”” BB, Pg. 82
At least we have a chance in our relationships with
family and special people in our lives. Sometimes
things work, and sometimes they don’t. When they
don’t, we have to deal with great sadness and
sometimes real pain.
At least we have our program to help us, and friends
to lighten the load.
And if the steps aren’t enough, there is a wonderful
workshop called The Traditions of Alcoholics
Anonymous in Relationships, about how our
Traditions can help with relationships. While it’s
primarily about romantic relationships, I think we
can easily apply the principles to relationships with
our children, our friends, and our families. Here’s a
short quote from it:
"Perhaps nothing in life is more fun and
exciting than a romantic relationship with
another person. Certainly nothing is more
painful when it’s not working. And nothing
is more frightening or feels more
emotionally hazardous than facing
uncertainty when your heart is on the line.
So we admire your willingness to take that
chance. Some of us approach romance or
marriage as though it were a game of some
sort. Many of us think the trick is to find the
right person. Actually, the trick is to be the
right person. So the question is not: Is
he/she the right person? The question is:
Am I the right person? Does my attitude,
behavior, and appearance attract the kind
of person that I would like to have with
me?"
So maybe the answer to the newcomer's question is that in order for him or her to trust others, or a higher power, or to "trust the process", is simply to become trustworthy.
Happy reading! This issue is full of traditions. And may you find that special person in your life – you.
HSB
Editor
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 4
Relationships & Traditions
"Relationships are about trust - how am I supposed to be in a happy relationship if I don't trust others? And how am I supposed to have a relationship with a higher power if I don't even trust myself?" (overheard from a newcomer)
Editorial
I attended this Traditions Evening on May 17th 2018 and was pleasantly surprised by the in depth treatment of the Traditions coming from personal experiences of Debbie D. of Concord, California and her 42 years in the fellowship, Her sober date is February 8, 1976. Her home group is the Primary Purpose Group in Dublin, California, a weekly open speaker meeting where attendance is usually around 100 people.
The 12 Steps were read to open the meeting, followed by the 12 Traditions with a twist. Instead of the habitual short-form reading, the long form of the Traditions (Alcoholics Anonymous 4th Ed. page 563-566) was read and it was surprising how few in attendance recognized them or even knew they existed.
These notes are my recollections based on notes I took during the evening enhanced by recollections after the fact. In no way do they give all the information Debbie passed along, but I found these points interesting. What follows has been reviewed by Debbie who has concurred with the content.
rjw
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 5
Editor's Note: The following pages are notes taken by local member Robert W., after the event.
Once the meeting was opened and Debbie was given the floor, she made some general comments. She emphasized that, if AA is to go forward beyond the group of trusted servants now looking after things, we must find balance between the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions and 12 Concepts for World Service. It is important to know and work the relationship between these tools and the 3 Legacies of AA:
The base of the AA Triangle represents Recovery (tools = 12 Steps); On the left is Unity (tools = 12 Traditions); and on the right is Service (tools = 12 Concepts for World Service)
As we look at the Twelve Traditions, it is important to realize that they apply not only in the rooms and in service to the fellowship, but more importantly outside the rooms and in all our relationships if we are to find the happy, joyous and free life the program promises.
Debbie said that her sobriety and attendance at AA meetings is commitment-based, not convenience-based. She continuously works the 12 Steps by helping others through them, so they feel incorporated into her life, and that doing them in the beginning gave her the feeling of being IN AA. She learned that she needed to be an informed member of the fellowship. That meant learning more about the steps, traditions and concepts, and that she could use them in her life outside the fellowship. Our Traditions are also great tools in relationships. We enjoy the privilege of passing this program on to those who follow us, but we need to recognize that it is not a choice but also our responsibility to do that.
The 12 Traditions arose out of need. The 12 Steps appear in the 1939 First Edition of the Big Book in Chapter 5. Membership was growing but still small. Groups operated as best they could, using their members’ experiences from life before AA in business and society as their model of operating. The traditions did not yet exist, and guidelines were not yet formed. This was all new and guidelines take experience to be formulated. Some groups were offering beer to attract newcomers to come, others were charging for memberships to support club rooms. Then in 1941 the article about AA by Jack Alexander appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and many more struggling alcoholics joined the fellowship - numbers grew quickly. The Washingtonians had had great success since the 1840s and had over 500,000 members but they started getting into things that distracted them from getting and staying sober. They began to lose their unity in arguments over temperance, politics, and religious affiliations, even military disarmament and other things. When Bill W. wrote the 1939 Forward to First Edition, you will see many statements that are like "the spirit of the Traditions" and 7 years later would become the more codified as our Traditions. He discovered the history of the Washingtonians, who were present in the 1840's, and how they were so similar to AA, and yet after 8 years of existence - seemed to have vanished. In looking closer, it seems thatBill took the things they did ... and created our Legacy ofUnity by doing just the opposite.
Bill W. used the Grapevine, AA’s meeting in print, to help formalize the Traditions. Today the short form (Big Book
page 562) is most commonly read at meetings, but in their abbreviated form they can be misleading so a working knowledge of the long form is also important. The long form raises certain distinctions that are missed in the short form.
Are the long form of the Traditions part of your world?
There is also a version referred to as the "original form" that was published in April 1946 in the Grapevine and invited member feedback. They were unanimously adopted in 1950 at our First International Convention in Cleveland. The final version of the Traditions was published in the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in 1953 and in AA come of Age in 1955.
Tradition One – Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity. Common welfare and unity are the two main themes here. When we enter an AA meeting, our personal problems with other members or with the group conscience need to stay in the parking lot. So do marital problems that might divide the group. Unity is paramount. Instead look for new or unfamiliar people and make sure they feel welcome. Remember they are looking for a safe place, not more turmoil. Ask yourself: what are MY meeting manners? Do I cause distraction? Am I wandering around during the meeting, running to the washroom, going to refill my coffee, chatting when I should be listening when someone else has the floor? Is that comment in my mind really important to say out loud? Or will it interrupt the meeting or distract another member from the main speaker’s message? Am I consulting a cell phone? Do I arrive early and stay late to give back to the fellowship, or do I arrive at the last minute or even late and dart out right after closing - am I just there during the meeting time to take what I need? After I arrive, do I put the group first or am I gossiping with friends? Does the newcomer see a bunch of closed cliques, or a welcoming hand? Am I living up to my responsibility to welcome others and offer help if needed? If I am doing any of these distracting things, is it because I have a feeling of entitlement that needs to be revisited? At home do I avoid discussing topics in a way that cause controversy and stir up negative emotions and division among the members of my family and our guests?
Tradition Two - For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern. Group conscience – it is important for this to be an informed group conscience. It is also important that “trusted servants” of the group can be trusted to do the job they took on, keeping their commitments. Learn to be a humble leader. My view may differ from the group conscience, but do I listen with interest to all sides of the discussion? All voices in the group are important. Am I doing my part to make it safe for others to share? Do I listen with respect? That means no judgement, no disparaging looks or gestures, no rolling of eyes when they finish presenting their point. If something is unclear, ask a non-judgemental question to get clarity.
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 6
Traditions Evening Recap
Once group conscience is decided, it overrules my own personal opinion. The unity in Tradition One also means I will not gripe or complain to others about how the group conscience turned out, for now I will abide by it. Debbie gave a powerful example of how someone had a perfectly helpful idea to acquire and post a window blind version of the Twelve Concepts to go with the already existing blinds of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. However it was only up a short time when it disappeared. There had been no discussion in group conscience about where it should be placed or even whether it was wanted. Once the motion had been formally presented and accepted, the Concepts reappeared but was not placed where they thought it might go until 4 years later. Good intentions are not enough until the group agrees. This has to apply in our personal relationships too. At home, do I consult other affected family members before making a significant change?
Tradition Three – The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. People coming to AA may identify in a way that is not purely alcohol related. The pure alcoholic is rare today. Narcotics Anonymous bulletin #13 gives some insight into how NA sees the problem of identifying and it may help in our struggle too. (A copy is included at the end of this summary) I need to remember that although I have rights as a member of AA, I also have responsibilities – I need to remain accountable to the fellowship and my group’s group conscience. Am I doing what I need to do to be a part of, or am I practicing my service in a way that sets me apart from the group? Does my behaviour help the newcomer? If you have a closed book study meeting, how will you caringly and lovingly address someone who is in the wrong meeting? Group conscience should address this before it happens. When the closing circle breaks up, do not let go the hand of any newcomer who identifies as other than an alcoholic until you have asked if they have ever had a problem with alcohol. See if they can identify as an alcoholic so they too can be part of the group. Remember they are new and may not know how to qualify their illness. Always err on the side of being helpful. At home, if your family is to continue to exist, is it clear that you have a serious desire for it to do so, or is there doubt about your intentions, dedication and support? Are you spending excessive time away in personal pursuits (sports, work overtime or travel, other) that leave the family missing a member?
Tradition Four – Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole. Autonomy means the group gets to decide how things will run. If you are a visitor, you need to respect and honour each group’s group conscience; it is not your place to complain about procedures, format, set-up, or to change the content of set readings, etc. Remember too that the autonomy in Tradition 4 does not grant far reaching permissions to trump other traditions. At home too, the autonomy of other family members is important, whatever their preferences may be. I cannot direct
how things will be done. An authoritarian approach will cause resentments and even rebellion.
Tradition Five – Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. The group is a spiritual entity. Am I contributing to that? This defines our group’s primary purpose – to carry its message. Is that message consciously defined by the group? This is a topic for Group Inventory. Once the group conscience decision is known, each member of the group should be unified in presenting the same message to newcomers and other members who attend. Do you sit still during sharing? Arrive early so you can go to the bathroom before the meeting gets underway. Pay attention to speakers. Is the group warm and friendly or are there institutionalized distractions? Do members consistently interrupt or distract? Getting up to get more coffee etc? Are there at least 2 greeters? Do members go around to introduce themselves and shake hands with all the attending folks before the meeting starts or after it ends? Is there a de-greeter at the exit to make sure all questions have been answered? Did the members of the group make the newcomer feel like wanting to come back to THIS group? Are there cliques that make a newcomer feel on the outside or are members interested in seeing who enters to see if there is an opportunity to include the new person in some way and offer help or literature?
Tradition Six – An AA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. The group must guard against creating rifts due to these diversions. Unity is paramount if we are to keep our personal sobriety. Outside the meetings, am I careful of my own goals and activities that seek these results? Am I able to seek wealth or renown without negatively impacting my own spirituality and my fitness to help the group meet its primary purpose? Am I obsessed with money, property, power in some area of living, and as a result am I missing recovery meetings I need to attend, or cutting needed discussions with my sponsor? Am I skipping business meetings of my group, or avoiding other service needs? Can I spot the moment when the activity switched from being a positive influence to a negative one? Having no active personal engagement in the group or in service to the fellowship will divert me from my own primary purpose and will also prevent me from aiding in that of the group. I must guard against anything that will get in the way of my AA life. Don’t ever forget all the people that were there for you when you were new, so pay it forward to newcomers that arrive on your watch.
Tradition Seven – Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. It was stated recently that if every AA member contributed $7.40 US to GSO, it would be fully self-supporting. But only 43% of all the AA Groups actually contribute anything to
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 7
Traditions Evening Recap Continued
GSO. People were putting a buck in the basket 40 years ago and are still doing that today. Would anyone today settle for the wages being paid of their work 40 years ago? No, they would expect there to have been a significant rise in that wage. But not so with 7th Tradition contributions? Groups expend funds to provide coffee, yet members still arrive with expensive custom coffee and then put little or nothing in the 7th. There is only so much spare change to go around after all, they will rationalize. Group members need to give enough to cover their own contribution and a little for the guy who has nothing to give. Sponsors need to teach newcomers that it is important to give visually - better to give 10 cents at each meeting to develop the habit of giving and to allow others to see that you are contributing. Put in nothing, pass the basket and others might think that is okay behaviour. Practise conscientious participation and show you are involved. At home? Self-support is even more important. The family finances had to be earned, whether that is the grocery money, the rent, the mortgage payment, the car payment, etc. Are you practicing good money management, not wasting money frivolously or without getting agreement on major spending from those also responsible (group conscience.) What about taking care of our own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being so that you can be reliable contributors to the family unit and other relationships? Exercise to take care of yourself and your participation. Emotionally - stay in harmony and speak up when needed. Mentally – get out of negativity by choosing to be more positive. Change we must. Spiritually – it is up to each of us to use prayer and meditation to maintain a fit spiritual condition and retain the daily reprieve.
Tradition Eight – Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centres may employ special workers. The only service centres in AA are GSO in New York and at the local level “Service centres” including InterGroups, Central Offices, Local Services Offices (names may vary depending on the area and the name chosen – places that provide common local services that the fellowship and areas, districts and individual groups can avail themselves of.) Paid workers ensure bills are paid, literature inventory is available, meeting lists are updated, etc. No one is paid to do 12th Step calls. Expenses incurred to do 12th Step work are usually paid by the volunteer without reimbursement (exception: because groups are autonomous, they may make other arrangements to repay for gas mileage, postage, etc. for such work, and to financially assist the elected GSR or Alternate to attend Area Assemblies and workshops)
Tradition Nine – AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. Boards and committees and their members are responsible to, not for those they serve. The inverted triangle is unique in AA. There is no CEO or President at the point of the pyramid. It works upside-down - the membership at large decides how AA will go forward. They do this through voting
on issues at the group level, passing the message "down" the service hierarchy regularly via General Service Representative (GSR) to the monthly District table, then via District Committee Member twice yearly to the Area and finally via Delegate every April to General Service Office (GSO) and the General Service Conference (GSC). Every member in service to the fellowship is accountable to someone. The “organization” of AA is not a structure and there is no one in charge. There are no membership dues or fees or enforceable rules. Group conscience is the guiding principle, from the local group level to the GSC and GSO. Rotation is an important concept, whether that be at the literature table or the greeter, meeting chairperson or General Service Representative, Treasurer or other service position. It ensures a broader base of experienced members and prevents many resentments.
Step 12 talks about passing the group’s message of recovery. Each member needs to be committed to the group to remain among the givers and not settle with the takers. Debbie gave the example of how she sees 3 phases to every meeting she attends: Before the meeting starts, she gets to give back by getting there early to do specific commitment tasks she may have, or to just be a greeter or help with any newcomers; during the meeting she gets to take for herself, to benefit and recharge her batteries, get inspired as the message is being presented, and then after the meeting she gets to give back again by joining in the clean-up and help answer questions for people asking for help.
Tradition Ten – Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy. Outside issues are all those topics that have absolutely nothing to do with recovery or the Three Legacies of recovery, unity and service. Politics, sectarian religion, alcohol reform are all pitfalls that can divide a group’s unity it needs to survive. At home, what about at the dinner table? Are you willing to create division by voicing strong opinions that may not be shared? This also goes to comments on social media like Facebook. Can you respect another’s opinion or must you win? Do you ever pause during your emotional reaction to consider what your reaction might cause for others, and for yourself? Do your opinions cause you to lose friends? Certainly enjoy your right to freedom of expression to argue a point, but when it turns nasty or mean or gets personal, remember your responsibility to care for others – maybe it is time to take care of your spiritual balance and remove yourself from that conversation. What if a sponsee or potential sponsee sees your wild reaction posted on social media? Was that comment or posting really necessary? Was it reactionary or thoughtful? Did you use the 24 hour delay rule to avoid answering in haste? Also your partner’s defects of character are really an outside issue to your family unity and therefore are not a subject for discussion. Instead work on building up other people’s positive traits. Remember we all suffer from the human disease of perception. Each of us perceives it – whatever it is – differently.
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 8
Traditions Evening Recap Continued
Tradition Eleven – Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. Anonymity is widely misunderstood. There is a GSC-approved pamphlet that talks specifically about Understanding Anonymity. We recite “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.” This Responsibility Declaration was introduced in 1965 at the Toronto International Convention. Be mindful when writing on the internet. No need to be anonymous at home group so people who need help can reach you outside the meeting. Example of trying to visit sick member Joe D. in hospital – you need the last name. At the public level means you have a camera thrust in your face or appear on television or film. At home, it may be useful to your doctor or other health professional to know about your AA membership in case they have a reason to ask for information or to refer another patient who needs or asked about the program.
Tradition Twelve – Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities. Some people dress up for AA meetings. Debbie said she dresses up at all meetings to demonstrate how she feels on the inside about herself– strong in her sobriety and confident in the ongoing help she gets from the fellowship and the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts to guide her life. She is also very careful about the language she uses – always tries to be verbally attractive to ensure newcomers get that message. Street language may work outside the rooms but, is it attractive to the newcomer who wants to change? When she is doing service she always looks like someone ready to help. She does not complain about the service work she is doing, rather she shows her gratitude for the opportunity. Debbie’s take on anonymity is that she does not talk about what she is involved in, but brags on others who are
involved. She talked about integrity, that characteristic of doing the next right thing without any witnesses. In 1949 in the Grapevine, Bill W. wrote about placing principles above personalities. This language was later changed to say principles before personalities to remove the implication that principles might be more important than personalities and therefore placed in a higher regard. Instead, he wanted them to appear equally important and that through integrity and humility the individual would choose to follow the guideline to place AA principles before the personality of self.
In the rooms, members should say hello to everyone without judgement. Big Book page 50 says “We missed the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by the ugliness of some of the trees.” We all need each other. That is the unity stressed in Tradition One.
In closing Debbie said that our responsibility to the fellowship and the principles of the steps is to carry on. Be mindful that it is the Higher Power who is really in charge. Remember how broken you were when you came in, and pay it forward now by giving more than you take.
p.s. Note taker’s note: Joe and Charlie were serious aboutrecovery and the Big Book. They were so serious that theypointed out that certain phrases, judged very important byBill W. are always printed in italics. Joe and Charlie called it“squiggly writing.” Well, in all printings of the TwelveTraditions in the Big Book since 1952, the entire set ofTraditions is written entirely in "squiggly writing"!
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 9
Submit Your Story for Upcoming Issues Send a story of your Experience, Strength & Hope (about 600-800 words) to [email protected]
Traditions Evening Recap Continued
Bulletin #13
WORLD SERVICE BOARD OF TRUSTEES BULLETIN #13
Some thoughts regarding our relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous
This article was generated by the World Service Board of Trustees in November 1985 in response to the needs of the fellowship. This bulletin was revised during the 1995-1996 conference year.
The question of just how Narcotics Anonymous relates to all other fellowships and organizations is one which may generate controversy within our fellowship. In spite of the fact that we have a stated policy of "cooperation, not affiliation" with outside organizations confusion remains. One such sensitive issue involves our relationship to the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Letters have been received by the World Service Board of Trustees asking a variety of questions about this relationship.
Narcotics Anonymous is modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. Nearly every NA community in existence has leaned to some degree on AA in its formative stages. Our relationship with that fellowship over the years has been very real and dynamic. Our fellowship itself sprang from the turmoil within AA over what to do with the addicts knocking on its doors. We will look at our roots for some perspective on our current relationship to AA.
Bill W, one of AA's co-founders, often said that one of AA's greatest strengths is its single-minded focus on one thing and one thing only. By limiting its primary purpose to carrying the message to alcoholics, and avoiding all other activities, AA is able to do that one thing supremely well. The atmosphere of identification is preserved by that purity of focus, and alcoholics get help.
From very early on, AA was confronted by a perplexing problem: "What do we do with drug addicts? We want to keep our focus on alcohol so the alcoholic hears the message, but these addicts come in here talking about drugs, inadvertently weakening our atmosphere of identification." The steps were written, the Big Book was written—what were they supposed to do, rewrite it all? Allow the atmosphere of identification to get blurry so that no one got a clear sense of belonging? Kick these dying people back out into the streets? The problem must have been a tremendous one for them.
When they finally studied the problem carefully and took a stand in their literature, the solution they outlined possessed their characteristic common sense and wisdom. They pledged their support in a spirit of "cooperation, not affiliation." This farsighted solution to a difficult concern paved the way for the development of the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship.
But still, the problem that they wished to avoid would have to be addressed by any group that tried to adapt AA’s program of recovery to drug addicts. How do you achieve the atmosphere of identification so necessary for surrender and recovery if you let all different kinds of addicts in? Can someone with a heroin problem relate to someone with an alcohol or marijuana or Valium problem? How will you ever achieve the unity that the First Tradition says is necessary for recovery? Our fellowship inherited a tough dilemma. For some perspective on how we handled that dilemma, one more look at AA history is helpful. Another thing Bill W. frequently wrote and spoke about was what he called the "tenstrike" of AA—the wording of the Third and Eleventh Steps. The whole area of spirituality versus religion was as perplexing for them as unity was for us. Bill liked to recount that the simple addition of the words "as we understood Him" after the word "God" killed that controversy in one chop. An issue that had the potential to divide and destroy AA was converted into the cornerstone of the program by that simple turn of phrase.
As the founders of Narcotics Anonymous adapted our steps, they came up with a "tenstrike" of perhaps equal importance. Rather than converting the First Step in a natural, logical way ("we admitted that we were powerless over drugs..."), they made a radical change in that step. They wrote, "We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction..." Drugs are a varied group of substances, the use of any of which is but a symptom of our disease. When addicts gather and focus on drugs, they are usually focusing on their differences, because each of us used a different drug or combination of drugs. The one thing that we all share is the disease of addiction. With that single turn of a phrase, the foundation of the Narcotics Anonymous Fellowship was laid.
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 10
Editor's Note: the following is not AA material, but gives a good NA perspective of the relationshipbetween NA and AA.
Our First Step gives us one focus: our addiction. The wording of Step One also takes the focus of our powerlessness off the symptom and places it on the disease itself. The phrase "powerless over a drug" does not go far enough for most of us in recovery—the desire to use has been removed—but "powerless over our addiction" is as relevant to the oldtimer as it is to the newcomer. Our addiction begins to resurface and cause unmanageability in our thoughts and feelings whenever we become complacent in our program of recovery. This process has nothing to do with "drug of choice." We guard against the recurrence of our drug use by applying our spiritual principles, before a relapse. Our First Step applies regardless of drug of choice and length of clean time. With this "tenstrike" as its foundation, NA has begun to flourish as a major worldwide organization, clearly focusing on addiction..
As any NA community matures in its understanding of its own principles (particularly Step One), an interesting fact emerges. The AA perspective, with its alcohol-oriented language, and the NA approach, with its clear need to shift the focus away from specific drugs, don’t mix well. When we try to mix them, we find that we have the same problem as AA had with us all along! When our members identify as "addicts and alcoholics" or talk about "sobriety" and living "clean and sober," the clarity of the NA message is blurred. The implication in this language is that there are two diseases, that one drug is separate from another, so a separate set of terms is needed when discussing addiction. At first glance this seems minor, but our experience clearly shows that the full impact of the NA message is crippled by this subtle semantic confusion.
It has become clear that our common identification, our unity, and our full surrender as addicts depends on a clear understanding of our most fundamental principles: We are powerless over a disease that gets progressively worse when we use any drug. It does not matter what drug was at the center for us when we arrived. Any drug we use will release our disease all over again. We recover from the disease of addiction by applying our Twelve Steps. Our steps are uniquely worded to carry this message clearly, so the rest of our language of recovery must be consistent with our steps. We cannot mix these fundamental principles with those of our parent fellowship without crippling our own message.
(Reprinted from Newsline Vol. 2, No. 6.)
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 11
Both fellowships have a Sixth Tradition for a reason: to keep each one from being diverted from its own primary purpose. Because of the inherent need of a Twelve Step fellowship to focus on one thing and one thing only, so that it can do that one thing supremely well, each Twelve Step fellowship must stand alone, unaffiliated with everything else. It is in our nature to be separate, to feel separate, and use a separate set of recovery terms, because we each have a separate, unique primary purpose. The focus of AA is on the alcoholic, and we ought to respect that fellowship’s perfect right to adhere to its own traditions and protect its focus. If we cannot use language consistent with that, we ought not go to their meetings and undermine that atmosphere. In the same way, we NA members ought to respect our own primary purpose and identify ourselves at NA meetings simply as addicts, and share in a way that keeps our message clear. A casual, cursory glance at AA’s success in delivering recovery to alcoholics over the years makes it abundantly clear that theirs is a successful program. Their literature, their service structure, the quality of their members' recovery, their sheer numbers, the respect they enjoy from society—these things speak for themselves. Our members ought not embarrass us by adopting a "we're better than them" posture. That can only be counterproductive.
As a fellowship, we must continue to strive to move forward by not stubbornly clinging to one radical extreme or the other. Our members who have been unintentionally blurring the NA message by using drug-specific language such as "sobriety," "alcoholic," "clean and sober," "dope fiend," etc., could help by identifying simply and clearly as addicts, and using the words "clean," "clean time," and "recovery," which imply no particular substance. We all could help by referring to only our own literature at meetings, thereby avoiding any implied endorsement or affiliation. Our principles stand on their own. For the sake of our development as a fellowship and the personal recovery of our members, our approach to the problem of addiction must shine through clearly in what we say and do at meetings.
Our members who have used these arguments to rationalize an anti-AA stand, thereby alienating many sorely needed stable members, would do well to re-evaluate and reconsider the effects of that kind of behavior. Narcotics Anonymous is a spiritual fellowship. Love, tolerance, patience, and cooperation are essential if we are to live our principles. Let's devote our energies to our personal spiritual development through our own Twelve Steps. Let's carry our own message clearly. There's a lot of work to be done, and we need each other if we are to be effective. Let's move forward in a spirit of NA unity.
Submit Your Story for Upcoming Issues − Sober Holidays and Remote Communities (due June 5)− Tools that helped you when you were Counting Days –
share your experiences (due July 5)
www.aagrapevine.org/contribute
June 2018 | Our Primary Purpose | Ottawa, CanadaPage 12
Appendix II in the Big Book of Alcoholics AnonymousPage 569-570
The terms “spiritual experience” and “spiritual awakening” are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms.
Yet it is true that our first printing gave many readers the impression that these personality changes, or religious experiences, must be in the nature of sudden and spectacular upheavals. Happily for everyone, this conclusion is erroneous.
In the first few chapters a number of sudden revolutionary changes are described. Though it was not our intention to create such an impression, many alcoholics have nevertheless concluded that in order to recover they must acquire an immediate and overwhelming “God-consciousness” followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook.
Among our rapidly growing membership of thousands of alcoholics such transformations, though frequent, are by no means the rule. Most of our experiences are what psychologist William James calls the “educational variety” because they develop slowly over a period of time. Quite often friends of the newcomer are aware of the difference long before he is himself. He finally realizes that he has undergone a profound alteration in his reaction to life; that such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone. What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been accomplished by years of self discipline. With few exceptions our members find they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.
Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience. Our more religious members call it “God-consciousness.”
Most emphatically we wish to say that any alcoholic capable of honestly facing his problems in the light of our experience can recover, provided he does not close his mind to all spiritual concepts. He can only be defeated by an attitude of intolerance or belligerent denial.
We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.
“There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.” ~ Herbert Spencer
A good reminder that AA is aspiritual program, not a religious one.
Intergroup looking for Newsletter EditorOttawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous is looking for a Newsletter Editor to serve for the remainder of the 2018 term, as a Director and Board Member of Intergroup.
Please contact either the Chair at [email protected] or the Vice Chair at
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 13
Authentic Bill W. Pass It On Plant in Intergroup Office
A member has been kind enough to provide us with an authentic
"Bill W. Pass It On Plant" for the Intergroup Office.
Bill W. passed away on January 24, 1971 in Miami Florida. When his wife Lois, returned to their home in New Your, now known as Stepping Stones, she brought home the plant that had been in Bill’s Florida hospital room. Lois cared for the plant until the mid 1980’s when she passed it on to Harriet
Sevarino, beloved cook and companion of Bill and Lois for 35 years. Harriet passed the plant on to Michael M., a member of AA from Atlanta, Georgia. Lois
asked Michael to pass it on to members of AA in Bill’s memory. Michael did just that, sharing cuttings and offshoots of the plant with AA members all
around the world.
If you like, please take a small cutting home with you to share with a friend in
AA for AA’s Birthday on June 10th . Cuttings root easily in water and once rooted can then be planted in soil.
Don't forget to tell them to pass it on for fun and for free just as it was received.
Happy 83rd AA Anniversary, Ottawa!
What is Intergroup Ottawa Anyway?
Ottawa Area Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous 211 Bronson Avenue #108, Ottawa, ON K1R 6H5 Phone: 613-237-6000 Web: www.ottawaaa.org
In short, Intergroup Ottawa provides products and services to the
AA membership in Ottawa.
Intergroup is your local AA Service Center. It provides many of the
products and services offered by AA’s General Service Office (GSO)
in New York, such as pamphlets and literature. It does this within
the AA structure, under AA’s ninth tradition.
Intergroup also provides essential AA services common to all groups
in Ottawa that individual groups may have no interest in taking on.
For Instance, what group wants to focus on keeping the meeting list
up-to-date? Or be responsible for the Telephone Answering
Service? Which groups have the space to keep and administer large
inventories of AA literature? Or provide office space? Or to provide
a credible web presence for the Ottawa Area?
Services Provided 2016 – May 2018 Not to Mention…
Telephone Inquiries 4,375 12 Step Coordination & Referrals
Books 4,454 Web-Hosting Services – i.e., Archives, Districts
Pamphlets 5,914 Graphic Design Services – i.e., Alkathon
Meeting Lists 11,225 Group Insurance Certificate Plan
Website Visits 290,000 Fall Conference & Springathon
Volunteers 270 +
How Does Intergroup Differ from the District?
In short, Districts communicate information on behalf of the membership.
The Districts primary responsibility is to act as a link to communicate information between groups within their
Area and GSO. The Ottawa Area Districts also are responsible to carry the message of AA into local Detention
and Treatment Centers and to inform the Professional Community about AA.
DISTRICTS
Communicate Information
To GSO
To Membership
To Detention Centers
To Treatment Facilities
To Professional Community
INTERGROUP
Provides Services
Telephone
AA Literature
Local Website
Primary Purpose
Local Events
GSO
Provides Services
Telephone
AA Literature
Worldwide Website
Box 459
Worldwide Events
Meeting Space (used by Correctional Facilities/Treatment (CF/T) & Public Information (PI) / Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC)
Gratitude Day
Ottawa City Hall - Festival Boardroom
110 Laurier Avenue West
Report from Area 83 Delegate Kim S. Service Committee Presentations
Ask-it Basket I Panels I Grapevine
Presented by
Districts 54, 58 and 62
Admission
$5_00
Lunch included
Tickets available in advance or at the door
Volunteers needed! Email us at [email protected]
Volunteer
CANADATHON
Join us at Canadathon committee meetings held on Sundays from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at the Bronson Centre (Check white board for room number).
Upcoming committee dates are, May 13, May 27 and Every Sunday in June.
Food Donations
Group contributions towards this event are appreciated, and cheques made out to “Canadathon” may be dropped of at the Intergroup Office or mailed to:
CANADA DAY • JULY 1, 2018 • 10:00 AM-10:00PM
Canadathon, c/o Ottawa Area Intergroup_211 Bronson Avenue, Suite 108, Ottawa, ON K1R 6H5
The Canadathon requests food donations for our hospitality room! Vegetable/fruit platters, sandwiches, salads, pickles and cheese, pies and desserts, are welcome for the hospitality room! Picnic is from noon until supplies last. Food may be dropped off starting at 10:00 am.
There is no cost to attend the Canadathon. It is supported by 7th tradition and contributions to cover expenses related to the rental of McNabb Community Centre and Park, insurance, equipment rental and supplies. All excess funds from this event will be returned to the AA fellowship via contributions to groups, local districts, etc.
YOU AND YOUR GROUP CAN HELP!
You can also sign up to volunteer at the event by emailing [email protected] A committee member will contact you regarding service opportunities.
Group Contributions
REGULAR MCNABB MEETING CANCELLED
MCNABB COMMUNITY CENTRE AND PARK (180 PERCY STREET)
