Heard in a Meeting: My friend warned me on the way to the meeting…
My friend warned me on the way to the meeting, “People will be VERY nice.” She was right. I needed to put the ritual in spiritual. If you have a list of reasons why you’re not an alcoholic, you might be an alcoholic. Sponsor to sponsee: Let’s pretend you’re not in charge. Figuring it out […]
A.A. History: Sister Ignatia
by Dan M. This is the first of what we intend to be a regular column on A.A. history. We hope it will appeal to both those who have read deeply in A.A. history and those who are new to it. “She also insisted that there be a coffee bar, not something typical in a […]
Welcome, Linda S., to the Newsletter Team
We welcome Linda S. to the Newsletter Team. Linda joined in February and will be producing the email newsletter and sourcing events. The March issue is her first! She has extensive experience editing and producing newsletters for various groups and has already contributed some good ideas to the Scoop. We very much look forward to […]
Heard in a Meeting: We may not always be able to meet calamity with serenity…
We may not always be able to meet calamity with serenity, but we can meet calamity with sobriety. After this meeting I’ll have my emotional support burrito and I have Netflix all queued up. One always led to two, and two always led to too many. Toward the end, I was drinking alone, in my […]
Sponsorship Cafe: Pride, Ego and Finding a Sponsor
by Bill M. When I heard a member say in a meeting, “I may not be much, but I’m all I think about,” I knew I was going to ask him to be my first sponsor. I had been going to meetings for a couple of months, drinking before and after and in between (and […]
Update on the Plain Language Big Book
The following is from the Information Session held January 14, 2024, sponsored by CNCA (Coastal Northern California Area 06). “The idea of a new book was not meant to change or replace the Big Book, but rather to overcome barriers so the AA message might reach more suffering alcoholics.” Background – Key Dates In 2016, […]
2nd Step, Tradition, and Concept
Each month we focus on a Step, Tradition, and Concept, and provide a quote from Bill. Step 2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “Whether, agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. True humility and an open mind can lead us to […]
Sponsorship Cafe: Me, A Sponsor?
by Bill M. Being asked for the first time to be a sponsor created a confusing swirl of emotion for me. My ego said, “Well, it’s about time somebody asked me!” And then my false pride said, “You’re only a year sober, who are you to think you have what it takes to do this […]
January Intergroup Scoop
Notes from the January 17, 2024 Intergroup Meeting Treasurer’s Report Teddy W., Treasurer, reported that because East Bay Intergroup (EBI) ended 2023 with about $16K under budget in group contributions, the Finance Committee will meet to get an understanding of the reasons for the shortfall and to discuss whether a reforecast of the 2024 budget […]
Heard in a Meeting: The difference between a good A.A. speaker and a great A.A. speaker…
The difference between a good A.A. speaker and a great A.A. speaker is that a good speaker finishes on time, a great speaker finishes early. I put gravity on my 4th step list because I had fallen when drunk and injured myself. Alcoholism is the only disease where, if you go to A.A. and get […]
