GLBT in A.A. Newsletter
Minneapolis/St. Paul Feb. 15, 1999
Please copy this newsletter for your group.
Another Successful Convention 2000 Awareness Event
The GLBT in A.A. Hospitality Committee held a Rib Dinner for the International Convention Hospitality Room. There were about 70 in attendance. Besides having a wonderful dinner, we all enjoyed a great evening of fellowship and were moved by the two speakers, JP C. and Sally B. There was a great deal of enthusiasm expressed concerning the International Convention, and new names added to the list of people becoming involved in the committee.
The committee would like to thank those who participated in this event, and would like to make a special thanks to the speakers and those who helped work in the kitchen. Also thank you to the Church of the Incarnation and the Aliveness Project for use of their facilities in preparing and serving the dinner.
Tradition Eight
"Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers."
This tradition took me quite a while to understand, but now it seems obvious. When I came into the program, A.A. and treatment centers and detox units all seemed the same. It took a while to realize they were all separate.
Alcoholics Anonymous considered opening hospitals and treatment centers, but thankfully they did not. The Fellowship has remained just that instead of turning into a business because of this tradition.
However, even the Fellowship needs some employees to do the routine janitorial, secretarial, and accounting jobs at the GSO level and some at the Intergroup level. These have become paid positions, but the groups have remained on a volunteer basis. To act as a group trusted servant would have lost something if it were a paid position. We would loose the effect of giving back to the program what we got, if it were "just a job". There would be no 12th step work, as that would be done by a paid professional. Can you imagine calling Intergroup for help and having to wait for an intake interview and a check on insurance before receiving help?
I am very grateful for this tradition as it has enabled me to grow in the program by doing 12th step work. I very likely would not be writing this article, and this newsletter very likely would not have come into being if it were not for this tradition. -Donovan H.
GLBT in A.A.
Hospitality Committee February Meeting
The Feb. 3rd meeting of the committee was exciting. There were, again, some new faces joining us which is always nice to see. The International Convention Co-chairs are Sally B. and Donovan H.
There were reports on the Rib Dinner and the upcoming Scavenger Hunt (to be held April 17th).
The Gopher State Roundup Hospitality Room was discussed. Tracey C. and Leo G. are the co-chairs this year. Volunteers are needed as well as donations to pay for the room. The committee will try to personally attend all the GLBT meetings requesting financial help as well as asking for volunteers to help staff the room, but if your group should get missed, please see that the subject is brought up.
We will again be holding a pot luck dinner on Saturday night of the Roundup, before the key note speakers meeting. Dig out your favorite recipe and whip up a dish!
There were some exciting new developments on the Web Page. A new Web Site will be developed which will give us much more versatility. Until that time, the Web address of http://www.users.uswest.net/~vsmiller will get you to our web site. (If you are interested in checking it out, the International Convention Web Page is http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/2000dl.html)
Other developments include now having representation with IAC (the International Advisory Council for Homosexual Men and Women in Alcoholics Anonymous). Darwin J. is now North Central Area IAC Representative. This Area includes Minnesota, Montana, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska. If anyone knows of GLBT groups or individuals in this area, please let us know, to help us develop a mailing list.
The Minneapolis IAC Rep is Lou P. and the St. Paul IAC Rep is Vicky M.
We will soon be meeting to develop some communication links between IAC and the GLBT AA members.
The next meeting of the GLBT in AA Hospitality Committee is the first Sunday of the month, March 7, 1999. The meeting will again be at 2218 1st Ave. So., Mpls. The meeting will start at 12 noon.
Gopher State Roundup
Gopher State Roundup XXVI will be held at the Radisson South again this year. The dates for the roundup are May 22-24, 1999.
GLBT in AA will have a hospitality room as usual, and is planning a pot luck dinner on Saturday evening before the main speaker meeting.
If you have never been to Gopher State, it is quite an experience. Last year attendance was about 6000. You have never felt energy like a room full of thousands of AA’s saying the Serenity Prayer. There are over half a dozen speakers, AA videos, and meetings all weekend. If you are new to the program I especially urge you to attend, as it gives you a hint at how large this fellowship is.
Hope to see you there!
New Saturday Night
and a New Friday Night Meetings
There is a new meeting on Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM. Rainbow AA meets at Wesley Church (basement) 101 E. Grant St. The meeting is a step/discussion meeting. It is open, mixed, and non-smoking. The meeting is for GLBT’s and friends.
There is also a GLBT meeting, Back to Basics at the Minnehaha United Church of Christ, 4001 38th Ave. So. The meeting is Friday’s at 7 PM.
MinneSober Starts Planning
The MinneSober committee started meeting again to plan this years GLBT AA Roundup. If you are interested in helping plan this year’s roundup, contact Philip S. or Greg G. There will be more information in next month’s Newsletter.
GLBT in AA
GLBT in AA would like to thank those who have helped us, both physically and financially. Your donations of time and money will hopefully make our hospitality rooms successful, as well as helping carry the message to the GLBT community.
If you or your group would like to make donations of money, you can send them to:
GLBT in AA
3036 Dupont Ave. So.
Mpls, MN 55408
Also, if you feel creative, you can send articles for the newsletter or if you have any changes for the meeting list, you can E-mail them to:
mplsmac@earthlink.net
You can also check out our web site at:
http://www.users.uswest.net/~vsmiller
There are links to several other GLBT sites including IAC’s site.
The IAC newsletter, IACTIVITY can be ordered by writing IAC, P.O. Box 18212, Washington, DC, 20036-8212. A $5 donation is asked for the newsletter. The GLBT Directory is also available from IAC for $5. Any donations would also be welcomed and can be sent to the above address.