Viewpoint, October 2017, page 1

VIEWPOINT

Points of Interest

Intergroup net income:

Monthly: $110.50 YTD: $7952.58

Public Info Meeting Speakers and Host Groups, pages 2&6.

Camp Pendleton Meetings, page 6.

Inside this Issue Please Submit Your

Alcathon Info 1

A Moving and Fascinating Adventure

1

Have you ever wondered?

1

Meetings-to-Go! 1

Intergroup Meeting 2

Intergroup Reps 3

Sobriety Word Search 3

Group Contributions 4

Drunk Joke 4

Heard in a Meeting 4

Ancient Wisdom 4

Keepin’ it Simple 4

I drank for... 5

Los Comités En Acción

5

Thank God for Despair 5

Humility 6

Service Calendar 6

Events Calendar 6

A.A. Meetings on Marine Corps Base

6

A.A. Web Links 6

Download the Viewpoint @ www.nosdco-aa.org

Reuniones Español

Oficina Norte County

830 E. Vista Way, Suite 116, Vista, CA 92084

(760) 758-6905 http://www.nosdco-aa.org/

meetings/espanol.html Recovery begins when one alcoholic talks with another alcoholic, sharing experience, strength, and hope.

Step 10: “Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.”

Tradition 10 (short form): “Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.”

Concept 10 (short form): “Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.”

Have you ever wondered?

Who was the Hampshire Grenadier?

Where did John Barleycorn come from?

And what about Professor Langley?

Or Walter Hagen?

What’s a “touchstone”?

And what’s a shoemaker’s “last”?

Email the Viewpoint Editor for a few articles on these topics. editor@nosdco-aa.org

Bring meetings to home-bound or hospitalized AA members:

https://sites.google.com/site/aameetingstogo/

Or request a meeting (at least 5 days in advance) by calling: 619-488-3064.

Alcoholism is a 3-fold disease: Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years! The Alcathons are coming! Please email your Alcathon info (place, date, time) to editor@nosdco-aa.org so it may be added to the Events Calendar on page 6.

A Moving and Fascinating Adventure

Back in step eight (12&12) it describes the AA journey as a “Moving and fascinating adventure”. In step nine we start the process of making amends, and by then we realize that the promises are already starting to materialize. It would have been easy to rest on my laurels at that time but I have been attending weekly step study meetings since I first got sober in 1969 and I couldn't get away from the sage advice that kept repeating itself over and over. In step ten it says “Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint. This carries a top priority rating”. Some examples I read are as follows: Restraint of tongue and pen, drop the word “blame” from our speech and thought (step 4) Quick- temper criticism, Sulking and silent scorn etc. etc. etc. These are just a few, but you get the picture. With these things revisited, three or four times a year, as we cycle through the steps, it kept acting like a rock tumbler. Slowly but surely I adopted new habits which helped me to rein in many of the old behaviors that got between me and my peers. I never stop learning these new ideas.

Another one of the things that caught my attention in step ten was the quote, “Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual progress”, then it finishes off the paragraph with, “How heartily we AA’s can agree with him, for we know that the pain of drinking had to come before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity”. Can this mean that we can have no spiritual progress without suffering pain? It didn’t seem to make sense to me so I looked up the word “TOUCHSTONE” in the dictionary and discovered that a TOUCHSTONE was a mineral that assayers used to test the purity of gold. Prior to that, I thought that it was synonymous with stepping stone. This definition seems to measure how spiritual we are when the going gets rough. Do we revert back to our old habits, or do we stick to the principles we have learned in the program?

The next Quote I kept seeing, that piqued my curiosity, was on Pg.90, 12&12, “It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us”. The “no matter what the cause” part seemed to throw me a curve ball. I questioned the idea that, if a mother saw her child running into traffic and she wasn't disturbed, I would think that there must be something wrong with her. I don't think anyone could argue that point so I believe that the spiritual axiom quote relates to the way we interface with other people. I find it to be a tremendous template to improving our relations with them. In it we

(continued on page 3)

Viewpoint, October 2017, page 2

North County Intergroup Meeting Minutes

Date: 10/11/17

Called to Order:

The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. There were 66 Reps present, with 4 New Reps

The Traditions were read by Becky. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as read. All in Favor.

Financial Report: JOAN B. Email: joanb@nosdco-aa.org

Joan B. read the financial report, Net Sales $5158.37, Total Cost of Goods Sold $3817.19 with Gross Profit of $1341.18, Group Con-tributions $7841.44 Miscellaneous Income $63.30, Total Income for the month $9245.92, Total Expenses for the month $9135.42, leaving a Net Income of $110.50, YTD Net Income $7952.58. Motion made to accept financial report, seconded All in Favor

Central Office Report: JENNIE M. (760) 758-2514 Email: jennie@nosdco-aa.org

Jennie thanked everyone for showing up, No Report.

STANDING COMMITTEES

Program Committee: DEB from FALLBROOK (760) 522-0371

Chairlady Deb M. reviewed the functions of the Program Committee. She requested Host Groups for the month of November.

Public Information Committee:

Tim L. volunteered to Chair the committee.

Telephone Committee: JANICE M. (760) 583-8208 Email: janiceM@nosdco-aa.org

Ken reported for Janice that with the new system they are still having some technical difficulties with transferring the phones after hours to the volunteers, they do have a backup system in place so if a call doesn’t get answered they rollover to voicemail and there is a group of people that are forwarded the voicemails so they can respond, so no calls are being missed after hours. Tim M. is working with the phone company to resolve the issue.

Archives Committee: KEN G. (760) 504-5707 Email: kenG@nosdco-aa.org

Ken brought blank group history forms and reminded everyone when filling out the forms to be as legible & complete as you can because he does try to match the meeting with the meeting schedule, he did receive one group history form this month, also the website has been updated with a new page for the archives committee, which gives you an idea of what the vision is for the com-mittee. It was suggested there should be a list identifying which groups have returned history forms, Ken agreed that was a great idea and will start working on it.

Outreach Committee: LINDA (805) 217-3816 Email: linda@nosdco-aa.org

No Report

H&I COMMITTEE: CHRIS S. (858) 442-1834 Email: chris@nosdco-aa.org (H&I Web Page www.nchandl.org)

H&I meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at the Oceanside Alano Club, the next meeting is Oct 21st. Orientation at 9am followed by the business meeting at 9:45am everyone is welcome. H&I has placed a basket at Central Office looking for donations of old Grapevines & La Vinas. Chris mention she received a special request from Tri-City Behavioral Heath, they are looking for a some-one to start a regular AA meeting at their location, a volunteer step forward. H&I is now doing decentralized Orientation, meaning if you’re interested in H&I but are unable to attend the Saturday Orientation, you can now reach out to the panel leader or coordi-nator letting them know you want to be on a panel and all you need to do is show up 10mins before the meeting so they run thru the orientation with you, once done your able to go in and be on the panel.

AREA ASSEMBLY: LINDA R. (760) 815-0207 Email: lindaR@nosdco-aa.org

Linda reported they had elections two weeks ago, the new Pacific Regional Trustee is Rick, and our new delegate is Roxanne R., if interested in the other elections results please contact Linda and she will email you all the results. During the elections they did find the structures & guidelines do not correspond with the general service manual, so everyone that thought they would stay in their same positions were unable, they are now alternates, Linda’s position of being the liaison for this intergroup ends in Decem-ber and there will be a new person taking over.

BUSINESS COMMITTEE REPORT: CHAIRLADY Margaret T. Email: margaretT@nosdco-aa.org

She thanked everyone who emailed their committee report to the secretary.

OLD BUSINESS:

Traditions Breakfast: Jim reported the committee has finalized the flyer and should be going to print by the end of October, the base procedure has been added to the flyer. The cost to attend the breakfast this year has increased to $30, this year tickets will now have the address and directions on the back.

Website: Rodrigo reported the website is up and running, there are a couple of issues that still need to be address which he is working on, he mentions to the group that if you have any problems or a link is not functioning please let him know, he gave out his phone number and requested text him only.

NEW BUSINESS: None

ELECTIONS: None

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The 4th Annual First Step House Golf Classic, Monday Oct 16 @ Lomas Santa Fe Country Club. More info contact Dana A. 760-846-8103

Young People in AA Conference, Mission Valley Oct 26th – 29th, More info contact Rodrigo.

Halloween Party Saturday Oct 28th 12pm to 5pm @ Hope Church 1755 Thibodo Rd, Vista. Potluck, Music, Prizes. More info contact Denise 858-603-1811

Halloween Bash Saturday 11am – 1pm, Oct 28th in Fallbrook. Food, Music, Fun. Costume option

Adjournment: 7.53pm

Next Intergroup Meeting Date: Nov 14th

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: MARK B. – RECORDING SECRETARY

Date: Speaker: From: Host Group:

Nov 7 Demetrius T. San Diego Carry the MSG to the Native American, Pala

Nov 14 Rene V. Escondido Disc. Group Saturday Morning Briar Patch, Oceanside

Nov 21 Mary S. Leucadia Tuesday Night Men’s Rose Ranch, San Marcos

Nov 28 Troy W. Oceanside Steps Friday Night, Vista

Viewpoint, October 2017, page 3

~~~ Thank You ~~~ Group Representatives ~~~ Thank You ~~~

CITY, DAY, TIME & MEETING REP NAME CITY, DAY, TIME & MEETING REP NAME

CARLSBAD . WED – 7:30 PM - SO. OCEANSIDE MEN’S Mikee

MON thru SUN. – “SOBRIETY ROCKS” Tom W. WED - 8:00 PM - MEN’S STAG - FREEMAN Chris G.

MON – 7:30 PM – SUNSET GROUP Bryan M. THUR - 7:00 PM - PRIMARY PURPOSE GROUP Rick W.

MON - STEP - A - MONTH Michele J. FRI – BEGINNERS-APPLE ST.(6:30PM) illegible

TUE - 6:00PM - MEN'S CALLE BARCELONA David S. SAT - 9:00 AM - ACCEPTANCE (HOPE CHURCH) Denise

WED - 8PM WOMEN’S - L.I.S. Randi O. SAT - 10:00 AM - WOMEN’S - BIG BOOK DISC. Janine T.

WED MEN’S CARLSBAD - 7:30 PM Bryan M. RANCHO BERNARDO .

THUR NITE – 6:15 PM – WOMEN’S Alison L. THUR - 7:00 PM - "AS BILL SEES IT" Jeff S.

THUR - 8:00 PM - AA WORKSHOP Cindy B. FRI – 8:00 PM -“T.G.I.F.” Matt M.

FRI 6:30 PM - STEP SISTERS Lexi K. SAN MARCOS .

SAT - 9AM - WOMEN'S DISC. @ NEW SONG CHURCH Becky J. MON NOON – PROMISE OF A NEW DAY Liz L.

SAT 7PM-KEEP IT SIMPLE Marco MON - 7:00 PM – ROSE RANCH Johanna B.

SAT SPEAKER-SOBRIETY ROCKS Alison L. TUE 7PM – "OUT OF THE WOODS" Timothy L.

SUN - 6 PM – “SERENITY GROUP” Wes D. TUE - 8:00 PM - MEN’S (C) illegible

ENCINITAS . WED – 7:30 PM - AS BILL SEES IT Lee Ann J.

SUN COTTONWOOD CREEK-8:30 AM Alessandra H. FRI - 7:30 PM - BACK TO BASICS Tim W.

SUN WOMEN’S 11TH STEP – 6:30 PM Denny FRI – 7:45 PM – SPEAKER/PARTICIPATION Milt

ESCONDIDO . SAT - 7:30 PM - SPEAKER Jay M.

WED – 7 PM – “MISFITS” Timothy L. SUN - 7:00 PM - BIG BOOK THUMPERS Lee Ann J.

THUR - 11:30 AM - WOMEN’S 12x12 Kathy M. SUN – DEBBIE’S PIE SHOP – 4:30 PM Barbara

SAT - 7:30PM - “WE NOT ME” Ron M. VISTA .

FALLBROOK . MON 7 PM - SPEAKER/DISCUSSION Mark M.

MON - NOON - DISCUSSION Miles S. MON (TIME?) VISTA MEN’S FILLING STATION Bob M.

TUE - NOON - DISCUSSION Miles S. TUE (TIME?) OLD SCHOOL BOOK STUDY Mason H.

WED - NOON - HIGH NOON DISCUSSION Miles S. WED - 6:30 PM - “MEN’S HOLE-IN-WALL” David D.

THUR - NOON Miles S. THUR 7 PM - WOMEN’S - “L.I.S.” Denise P.

FRI - NOON - HAPPY HOUR DISCUSSION Miles S. FRI - 8:00 PM - VISTA BEGINNERS Laureen K.

SUN AM 1-2-3 STEP STUDY Jason H. SUN - 10:00 AM - “UPPER ROOM” Denise P.

LEUCADIA . OTHER SERVICE POSITIONS .

WED - 6:30 PM - WOMAN TO WOMAN Kara :) H & I - NORTH COUNTY Chris S.

OCEANSIDE . PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR Deb M.

TUE 7 PM “CHIP-IN GROUP” Pen E. SAN DIEGO AREA ASSEMBLY Linda R.

WED – 5PM – S.O.S. Scott M. MEMBER AT LARGE Greg B.

O R N E F A Z S K T G J K S L

Q B T K C L R S N O M E J O Y

H Y V T T E D E D I P S R R R

L E I I Y L M N N Y P T X E E

Y O L A O T W G E I N R D L S

N T R P N U F N R O J T J A I

H P I E F P S I C I S W S X M

X A S L Y U T L M D R F E S C

B E P Y I U L L Y O X P N G H

R S P P A M A I O F B V S N O

T Y D L Y A U W G N O Q I I N

Y X S P E A R H E A D S T T E

E C N A R E L O T W M N I E S

D F R E E D O M S U I U V E T

S U O Y O J F A I T H S E M Y

WORDS:

ACTION

CONTROL

FAITH

FREEDOM

GOD

HAPPY

HELPFUL

HONESTY

HUMILITY

JOYOUS

MEETINGS

MISERY

OBVIOUSLY

PRAYER

RELAX

RESENTMENT

SENSITIVE

SPEARHEADS

SPIRITUAL

TOLERANCE

WILLINGNESS

Sobriety Word Search

Email me for the solution: editor@nosdco-aa.org.

but do it

(continued from page 1)

question what drives us when we start to get a little out of sorts. Then we can apply the pre-mentioned self-restraint.

As in all the steps, as I continue to attend those weekly step study meetings, these things get clearer each time I go through them. Most of my issues are well under control as long as I don't assume that I can let down my guard. But my EGO is always ready to fill in the empty spaces in my program. The maintenance part of the tenth step is easy for me these days. I just get up in the morning and say, “God, please help me to go through this day without doing anything I regret”. I'm not sure that He hears me, but I know that I HEAR ME and it puts me into the best possible attitude I can have for that day. It usually works. I let the rock tumbler keep me on my toes, and I hope that I always pass the assayer's test.

~Rick R.

Touchstone: A mineral used for testing alloys of gold by observing the color of the mark that they make on it. A standard or benchmark by which something is judged or recognized.

Assay: The testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality. An evaluation, assessment, or appraisal.

Viewpoint, October 2017, page 4

~~~ Thank You ~~~ Group Contributions ~~~ Thank You ~~~

LET GO! LET GO! LET GO! LET GO! LET GO! LET GO!

IT CAN’T BE THIS SIMPLE! CAN IT? When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day,

and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If I focus on a problem, the problem increases; if I focus on the answer, the answer increases.

~Big Book pg 419

Ancient Wisdom

Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle. Some things are

within your control. And some things are not.

If you are an alcoholic and you work this program, the best years of you life lie ahead.

If you are an alcoholic and you continue to drink, the worst years of your life lie ahead.

Heard in a Meeting

City Day Time Contributing Groups SEP 2017 YTD TOTAL

Borrego Springs WED 11:00am 3rd Tradition – Women’s Discussion $150.00 $150.00

Cardiff M/W/F 7:00am “Back to Basic” Discussion $760.00 $760.00

Carlsbad TUE 7:00pm “Men’s” – Coastline Community Church $261.62 $261.62

Carlsbad THU 7:30pm “A.A. Workshop” – Speaker – “Sign Language Interpretation” $684.00 $684.00

Carlsbad FRI 1:30pm “Step Study” – Water Dept. Main Bldg. $40.00 $40.00

Escondido MON 7:30pm “Discussion” – N.I.A.O.B. $199.65 $199.65

Escondido WED 7:00pm “Misfits” “Book Study” – Men’s Group of North County $115.88 $115.88

Escondido THU 8:00pm “Step Study” – Escondido Alano Club $100.00 $100.00

Escondido SAT 11:00am “Women Over 50” – New Vintage Church $11.00 $11.00

Escondido SAT 7:30pm "We Not Me" Group $100.00 $100.00

Escondido SUN 9:30am “Discussion” – Taxicab $50.00 $50.00

Fallbrook M-F 7:00am “Discussion” – Church of Religious Science Hilltop Center $25.00 $25.00

Fallbrook FRI Noon “Happy Hour Discussion” – Community Baptist Church $50.00 $50.00

Fallbrook SUN Fallbrook Sunday "Common Solution" $10.00 $10.00

Fallbrook SUN Fallbrook Sunday "Literature Study" $10.00 $10.00

Oceanside WED 5:00pm “As Bill Sees it” – Alano Club $116.73 $116.73

Oceanside WED 5:00pm “S.O.S”. Group” (Sober Oceanside Seniors) – Big Book Study $153.00 $153.00

Oceanside THU 6:30pm “Girls With Gratitude” – Alano Club $80.00 $80.00

Oceanside THU 8:00pm “North County Beginners” – Alano Club $150.00 $150.00

Oceanside FRI 7:00am “Attitude Adjustment” – King of Kings – Lutheran Church $125.40 $125.40

Oceanside FRI 7:00am “Attitude Adjustment” – Alano Club $60.00 $60.00

Oceanside FRI 7:30pm “FRI Nite Irregulars” – Speaker/Discussion $175.00 $175.00

Oceanside SAT 7:00am “Attitude Adjustment” – Alano Club $120.00 $120.00

Oceanside SAT 7:00pm “Speaker” – Alano Club $191.00 $191.00

Oceanside SUN 9:00am “Big Book Study” – Alano Club $50.00 $50.00

Poway WED 9:30am “Hope & Gratitude Poway Women’s” $270.00 $270.00

Poway WED 6:45pm “Beginners” – St. Bart’s Episcopal Church $110.00 $110.00

Poway SUN 1:00pm "Freedom of Choice" $100.00 $100.00

Ramona SUN 9:00am “Discussion” – “Kickstart Your heart” – Collier Park $50.00 $50.00

Rancho Bernardo M-SUN 7:00am “Discussion” “R. B. Early Birds” – The Broken Yolk Restaurant $500.00 $500.00

Rancho Peñasquitos TUE 7:00pm “12 X 12 Step Study” – Peñasquitos Lutheran Church $20.00 $20.00

Rancho Peñasquitos THU 6:30pm “Big Book Study” – Peñasquitos Lutheran Church $15.00 $15.00

Rancho Santa Fe MON 8:00pm “Smokeless” – Village Presbyterian Church $135.00 $135.00

Rancho Santa Fe SAT Saturday "Hopefish" $400.00 $400.00

San Marcos MON Noon “Promise of a New Day” - Discussion $120.00 $120.00

San Marcos MON 7:00pm Rose Ranch Rd “Speaker/Discussion” $85.00 $85.00

San Marcos WED 6:30pm “The Blind Leading the Blind” Step Study $56.00 $56.00

San Marcos SAT 3:00pm “Discussion” – Village Square $50.00 $50.00

San Marcos SUN 10:00am “Daily Reflections – Panorama Center $50.00 $50.00

Solana Beach M-F 7:00am “Belly Up” (Use Back Door) $650.00 $650.00

Solana Beach FRI Noon “FRI Noon Discussion” – Tony Jacals Mexican Restaurant $278.50 $278.50

Vista TUE 8:00pm "Central Office Meeting" at Steps $206.50 $206.50

Vista THU 7:00pm Hope Church of the Nazarene $120.00 $120.00

Z Anonymous Groups plus the Monthly Intergroup Meeting $837.16 $837.16

Totals: $7,841.44 $29,703.36

Glasses have a definite effect upon a person’s vision, especially if emptied too many times. Drunk Joke:

Viewpoint, October 2017, page 5

I drank for...

I drank for happiness and became unhappy...

I drank for joy and became miserable...

I drank for sociability and became argumentative...

I drank for sophistication and became obnoxious...

I drank for friendship and made enemies...

I drank for sleep and woke up tired...

I drank for strength and felt weak...

I drank for relaxation and got the shakes...

I drank for courage and became afraid...

I drank for confidence and became doubtful...

I drank to make conversation easier and slurred my speech...

I drank to feel heavenly and ended up feeling like hell...

~ author unknown

Los Comités En Acción Sponsored by District 15 (Spanish-language)

of the San Diego-Imperial Area Assembly

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday, October 22, 2017

Public Information, Correctional Facilities,

Treatment Facilities, La Viña, and

Cooperation with the Professional Community.

Linda Vista Recreational Center

7064 Levant Street, San Diego, CA 92111

Questions? Ricardo 619-889-5583, Doris 619-383-4282, Tomas 619-520-5441, or Oficina Central 619-280-7224

Thank God for Despair

From the June 1965 Grapevine

It is amazing and a little depressing to see so many of our members drive themselves like madmen for perfect peace of mind and absolute serenity. Bags under their eyes, frowns on their foreheads - driving, driving. They act as though absolute peace of mind were the answer to life. Where do they get such a ridiculous idea? The Big Book doesn't mention it. Neither does Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. I can't find it in our other literature, either.

I haven't the slightest idea what the words “peace of mind” mean! I haven't the remotest concept of serenity. Contentment is simply another word to me most of the time. Now and again, after a particularly rough emotional interval (and I have them constantly) I repeat the Serenity Prayer or say “Easy Does It” or “First Things First” or any of our other slogans, and peace and serenity come over me. I feel glorious and wonderful and calm and loving and giving. I even wonder what I was so upset about. I think that I have at last found the answer to life, and vow to hang on to my ecstasy for the rest of my life. And I mean it!

“Now you have it. Hang on to it. You fool, do you mean to tell me that it took you all this time to tumble to the real meaning behind the AA program?” I murmur to myself. And I'll hang on to what I have for about sixty seconds - sometimes longer, maybe a day or even two - but not much longer. Inevitably, the same old drag will come over me, and I'm off to the races on another tangent, fighting, struggling, snarling, and making a mess of things for myself - inside, that is. On the outside, I'm the epitome of discipline and control.

At our closed meeting, unsigned questions are · submitted and then tossed out to the group by the chairman, for discussion. Any question or any answer is accepted. Sometimes, there is a hassle about the proper answer to a question, but usually no one especially cares if a hodgepodge of answers pile up, and everyone seems to have a pretty good time. For several years, I have saved the questions. The other day, I went over them. I wasn't at all surprised to find that over half of them were queries about peace of mind. For instance, I was talking to one of our old-time members recently. He said that in spite of his years of sobriety, he feels terrible most of the time. He told me that he is continually fighting one thing or the other. He wanted to know if I thought that he would ever find contentment or peace of mind. I told him that I doubted it - maybe snatches of it, but contentment for long periods was probably out.

We are a bunch of malcontents. The alcoholic is never satisfied for long intervals. Probably no one, alcoholic or not, is satisfied for long intervals. Otherwise, how would we learn and grow? The bottoms that I have hit since coming into AA have been far worse than anything that I dreamed possible when I was drinking. Why? Because when I was drinking, I could always dive into the bottle and forget, but I don't want that anymore. I want to remember! I want to live life to its fullest, and if this means lack of peace of mind, that's all right with me. Never in my blackest moments have I had the slightest desire to drink. I'm too busy fighting and struggling and feeling and seeing to want to erase life with booze.

An AA member needn't concentrate on finding serenity! What would he do with it if he had it? Probably curl up and die. The drunk is never satisfied. That's the way he grows. He fights and loses and learns, or he fights and wins and learns. But the point is that he loves the fight. He may complain about it, but take it away from him and he's in trouble. He didn't sober up to find peace. He sobered up so that he could live life to its fullest. And this means struggle and unrest and worry and concern, sprinkled here and there with snatches of peace. But these snatches of peace are just rest periods before the next fight begins.

We love the combat. Our trouble is that we linger under the delusion that we are supposed to be happy. So, when we are unhappy and deluged with troubles, we feel that we are not on the program. Any member who is in a state of constant placidity may be on the program, but I do not believe he is living life to its fullest. He may be sober, but he's static.

Part of the fun in life is the misery of the battle. If I had my life to live again, I wouldn't change one single second of it. I would live it exactly the same way, because every second that I have lived has brought me closer and closer to what I have now. And I like what I have now. I like being a malcontent. I wouldn't give it up for the world. Discontent is my greatest friend. I told this to one of my friends recently, and he said, “You sound like you are in a constant state of despair.”

I grabbed him by the coat and said, “If I am, thank God for despair. I'll take some more of it. Happiness is great, but it's like ice cream - I get tired of it. If the meat and the potatoes of life are despair and if despair has brought me what I have today, I want more of it. I'll give you a scoop of my ice cream if you'll give me a plateful of your meat and potatoes.”

Live, and you change. But you can't change until you have wholeheartedly accepted yourself exactly as you are. You may not like what you accept. But you must accept it if you want change.

Now, if I am a guy who is thirsty for life at its fullest, and if I am moving from one level to the next by way of despair, I hereby announce that I will accept all of the despair that you can pile on me. I need it. I yearn for it. I love it. Not because I like feeling tied up in knots, but because I am obsessed with learning and living and feeling and growing, and apparently, discontent and despair and unrest are the very ingredients of the fuel that I need.

I can understand that a resentment at not having a constant state of serenity might lead to disillusion and then to a drunk, but I wholeheartedly disagree that diving into life and wrestling with it leads to a drunk. Malcontents don't slip; they change! They fight it out, and they love the struggle.

If, however, they demand that life be easy for them and if they demand that they be spared unrest and discontent and despair, they are in for trouble. God help the sober drunk who thinks that he has it made. God help the sober drunk who thinks that, because he has found the AA program, all clouds will remain pink. I like the color pink myself, but it palls after a while. Give me a good black one that I can get my teeth into.

The AA program gives us tools to work with, measuring rods to level our lives with. The AA program is basic stuff. We all need basic stuff as a leveler. But if the AA program meant that once we found it, our troubles would be over, what would be the need of our meetings, our Big Book, our Twelve Steps, and our Twelve Traditions? We need these things as levelers because we lose our way easily as we build and grow. And when we build and grow, we despair easily. It's our nature to do so. But to refind the program - to refind the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions, to refind the deep significance of our AA slogans, to refind one another at meetings - means that, having had enough of despair, we have come home once again, in order to prepare ourselves for the next fight. We try. We lose. (Sometimes we win.) But the point is that we try. And in the process, we struggle and despair all over the place. Don't worry about it. ~ E. M.

Viewpoint, October 2017, page 6

Office Address, Hours & Contact Info North County Central Office

604 E Vista Way, Vista CA 92084. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-1, Closed Sun

Phone: 760.758.2514, Fax: 760.758.2273 Email: office@nosdco-aa.org

Web: w w w . n o s d c o - a a . o r g / The Website has: Events, Forms, Literature,

Links, Meetings, Support, Service, Viewpoint, Email, and other “Items of Interest”

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The Viewpoint is a publication of the North San Diego County Intergroup of A.A.

and is distributed by the North County Central Office.

It is published around the 3rd Wed of each month.

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Submit Something to the Viewpoint We encourage our readers to send us:

Personal sharing on your recovery

Poems about recovery from alcoholism

Jokes or Cartoons about recovery in A.A.

“Heard in a Meeting” quotes

Announcements, Events, Fun Stuff, etc.

Please email text in MS Word or .txt file, and graphics in PNG or JPG, to editor@nosdco-aa.org.

Deadline is the 1st Wednesday of the month. Submissions may be edited for space/content.

Please include “Viewpoint” in the email subject.

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.

Help support Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton A.A. meetings:

Monday: Building 210568—PFC Krause Training Facility at 3rd AA BN School on Camp Del Mar (by the boat basin) 6:30 to 7:30 PM (1830 to 1930)

Wednesday: Building 1339—Bowling Alley (enter Vandegrift Road, end of building, follow signs) 6:30 to 8:00 PM (1830 to 2000)

Friday: Building H200T—S.A.R.P. (Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program) behind The Thrift Shop, next to Wounded Warrior, by Lake O’Neil, on the old Hospital grounds 4:00 to 5:00 PM (1600 to 1700)

~~~ EVENTS CALENDAR ~~~ EVENTS CALENDAR ~~~EVENTS CALENDAR ~~~ @ Softball Saturdays! ONGOING. WHEN: 8:45 a.m. Saturdays. WHERE: Hidden Valley Middle School, 2700 Reed Road, Escondido, CA. Men and women. Hit, field and play.. Contact: Dave M. 858-485-0148 or cell 619-889-1728 after 8:00 a.m. Buzz B. 760-975-7403.

@ Third Weekenders' Camping Group. WHEN: Friday, October 20 - Sunday, October 22, 2017. WHERE: Pinezanita Park, 446 Hwy 79, Julian, CA 92036. Questions? SD AA Central Office 619-265-8762.

@ Southern California Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous Conference (SOCALYPAA 9). WHEN: Thursday, October 26 - Sunday, October 29, 2017. WHERE: Hilton Mission Valley, 901 Camino Del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108. www.socalypaa.com.

@ Serenity Seekers Sober Campvention. WHEN: Friday, November 3 - Sunday, November 5, 2017. WHERE: Octotillo Wells, Ca. Contact: www.ssscv.org or Jeff@ssscv.org or 909-286-2520.

@ San Diego-Imperial Area Assembly -- Budget. Hosted by Districts 6 and 19 of the San Diego-Imperial Area Assembly. WHEN: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017. WHERE: St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103. Contact: www.area8aa.org.

@ Old Town Speakers Group Sponsorship & Home Group Workshop, sponsored by District 4 of the San Diego-Imperial Area Assembly. WHEN: 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017. WHERE: Church, 6551 Soledad Mountain Road, La Jolla CA 92037. Two main speakers for 45 minutes each, followed by questions and answers after each speaker. Sandwiches, coffee and drinks available.. Questions: johnpetze@cox.net.

@ Desert Men's Banquet -- "There Is A Solution". WHEN: Sunday, November 5, 2017 -- 4:00 p.m. Meet and Greet, 5:00 p.m. Dinner, 6:30 p.m. Speaker. WHERE: Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, CA. Contact: Dennis B. 760-898-3796 or John E. 760-272-8449.

@ Inland Empire AA Convention (IEAAC) -- "The Courage to Change". WHEN: Friday, November 10 - Sunday, November 12, 2017. WHERE: Double Tree (near the Hilton), 285 E. Hospitality Drive, San Bernardino, CA 92408. Contact: www.ieaac.org.

@ First National Corrections Conference. WHEN: Friday, November 10 - Sunday, November 12, 2017. WHERE: Doubletree Hotel, 1973 Craigshire, St. Louis, MO 63146. www.nationalcorrectionsconference.org.

@ 77th Anniversary of the Founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in San Diego. WHEN: Fellowship 9:00a.m., Breakfast 9:30 a.m., Saturday, November 18, 2017. WHERE: Church (Linder Hall), 2111 Camino Del rio South, San Diego (Mission Valley), CA 92108. No tickets sold at the door. Questions? San Diego AA Central Office. 619-265-8762.

@ Alcathon, 17th Annual Thanksgiving Alcathon. WHEN: Thursday, November 23, 2017 (Thanksgiving Day). 10:00 a.m. Coffee and Fellowship, 11:00 a.m. Meeting, 1:00 p.m. Meeting, 3:00 p.m. Gratitude Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Dinner -- turkey, Potatoes, Dressing, Vegetables Rolls. Please bring a side dish, a salad, or dessert to share. 7:00 p.m. Speaker Meeting. WHERE: Church Hall, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. Contact: Rae rrplus5@yahoo.com.

@ 32nd Annual R.O.O.T.S. (Remember Our Old-Timers' Stories), sponsored by the Archives Committee of the San Diego-Imperial Area Assembly. WHEN: 1:00 p.m. - -3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 25, 2017. WHERE: St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 6th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103. Simultaneous English-Spanish interpretation available. ASL available by request.. Questions? Mike S. 760-473-1074 or Mackenzie S. 415-990-5411.

@ California Hispanic Women's Workshop. WHEN: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3, 2017. WHERE: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 North Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91104. Skype in the day of the event: mujeressnaa. Contact: Zoraida R., 626-374-8677 or Rosie Z., 662-841-0075.

@ Alcathon with Marathon Meetings. WHEN: Dec. 24th 8pm - Dec. 25th 9pm. WHERE: North County Alano Club, 4198 Mission Ave. Oceanside, CA 92057.

~~~ More is happening @ www.area8aa.org ~~~

Humility Humility is perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble.

(from a plaque on Dr. Bob's desk)

Your Birthday Gift to Central Office

Many AAs celebrate their A.A. birthday by contributing to our Central Office. Most send a dollar or two for each year of sobriety. Would you like to celebrate with us? Please call 760.758.2514.

Other Websites: A.A. GSO aa.org, Grapevine aagrapevine.org, H&I nchandi.org, San Diego District 8 area8aa.org Subscribe to the GSO newsletter to be sent to your email, click link: http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/gso-newsletters.

2017 SERVICE CALENDAR Program Committee: Tuesday, Nov 7th, 7:00 PM, STEPS in Vista, 1745 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084.

Business Committee: Tuesday, Nov 7th, 6:30 PM, A.A. Central Office, 604 E. Vista Way, Vista CA 92084.

Intergroup Meeting: Wednesday, Nov 8th, 7:00 PM, Masonic Temple, 761 Eucalyptus, Vista CA 92084.

Public Information Meeting Central Office’s Open 2-Speaker Meeting, Tuesday Nights at 8:00 PM, is now meeting at STEPS in Vista. 1745 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084

Birthday Cakes for September 2017 To: From: Years: No Birthdays were celebrated in September. Come celebrate your Birthday with us!

Cakes for this meeting can be given for 1 year and then 5 year increments (1, 5, 10, 15…). Please make arrangements by calling Central Office 760-758-2514 at least 1 week in advance.