Oct 2015 - North Orange County Central Office

October 2015
Anonymous Times
Published by North Orange County Central Office
serving North Orange County
North Orange County Central Office
1661 E. Chapman Ave., Suite #1H
Fullerton, CA 92831
Open Mon.— Sat. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sun. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
714.773.4357 (24 hrs.)
714.773.HELP
www.aanoc.com
[email protected]
Intergroup Meeting
2nd Wednesday of the month 7:30 p.m.
109 E. Wilshire, Fullerton
(First Christian Church)
NOCPIC Meeting
North Orange County
Public Information Committee
2nd Wednesday of the month 6:30 p.m.
1661 E. Chapman Ave. #1 H, Fullerton
H & I Meeting
North Orange County
Hospitals and Institutions Committee
2nd Sunday of each month
Garden Grove Alano Club
9845 Belfast, Garden Grove, CA
949.278.5173
Institutions Committee 4-5 pm
(orientation @ 3:15 pm)
Hospitals Committee 6-7 pm
(orientation @ 5:15 pm)
Step
Continued to take personal
inventory and when we were
wrong promptly admitted it.
Tradition
Alcoholics Anonymous has no
opinion on outside issues; hence
the AA name ought never be
drawn into public controversy.
Concept
Every service responsibility
should be matched by an equal
service authority, with the scope
of such authority well defined.
Principal
Vigilance:
Exercising self-discovery, honesty,
abandonment, humility, reflection &
amendment on a momentary, daily
and periodic basis.
Prayer
Continue to watch for selfishness,
dishonesty, resentment and fear.
When these crop up we “ask God
at once to remove them”.
North Orange County Intergroup Association
Board of Directors
Chair: Evan J.
Vice Chair: Sharon B.
Treasurer: Bobby B.
Secretary: Ruth T.
H&I Liaison: Brian C.
Events Chair: Tammy D.
Newsletter: Madison L.
If you would like us to publish your birthday, drop by or
send us your name, sobriety date or number of years and
your contribution (of any amount) to: NOCCO—1661 E.
Chapman Ave. #1H, Fullerton, CA 92831. To make a credit
card contribution you must come into the office.
Anonymous Times Editor: NOCCO
Office Manager: Cathy Mac
Letters to the editor or Articles for the Newsletter
must be received by the 15th of the month for consideration
of publication in the following months issue.
Please submit your material for The Anonymous Times to:
NOCCO—AA
1661 E. Chapman Ave., #1H
Fullerton, CA 92831
[email protected]
www.aanoc.com
If you have a special AA member who has passed and you
want to remember them in the AA Times, please include
their name and number of years sober or sobriety date with
your contribution of any amount.
Check us out at: www.aanoc.com for the latest events
sobriety clock, links to meetings in nearby counties and
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Download current and past Anonymous Times and more!
Faithful Fivers
Bridget W., Patricia B., Faith B., Karen & Cliff M., Karen W.,
Jenne S., Carol & William G., Jan W., Laurel Mc., Tammy &
Steve D., Cate C., Gerry W., Pamela C., Chris & Rachel A.,
Colleen B., Peter M., and our many anonymous 5’ers.
Faithful Fivers are A.A. Members who graciously contribute $5.00 or more* each month to support their local Central Office in its efforts to carry the A.A. message of hope and recovery to those alcoholics still suffering in our area.
As a Faithful Fiver, your personal contribution will help make these vital services possible. The Faithful Fiver idea
came about when we remembered that we wasted much more than $5.00 a week during our drinking days.
YES! I wish to participate as a Faithful Fiver!
Here is my contribution of $ __________ for __________months.
Name:_______________________________________ Phone #:______________________
Email Address:______________________________________________________________
Make checks payable to: NOCCO ~ 1661 E. Chapman Ave. #1H, Fullerton, CA 92831
*Contributions are limited to $5,000.00 per year, per member and are tax deductible under IRS Code 501(c)3
2
Chattin’ with Cathy ~ Happenin’ at NOCCO
rd
Our next “Happening” is the 3 Annual Gratitude
Dinner, BBQ Dinner and Speaker Meeting.
Saturday November 7th ~ Union Hall in Buena Park,
tickets on sell now at NOCCO, $20.00 each. If you
are unable to attend, buy a newcomer a ticket.
Come here our fabulous speaker—Lauri B.,
from Orange County share her experience,
strength and hope.
If you would like to be on the activities committee,
please email us @ [email protected] we
sure could use your help and it is a fun way to be of
service.
MEETING/GROUP DONATIONS:
Your group contributions help to ensure that our
phones are answered 24 Hours A Day, 7 Days A
Week. We have pre-printed donation coupons with
self-addressed envelopes for your convenience. If
your meeting does not have any pre-printed donation
coupons and envelopes, ask your intergroup rep to
pick some up at the next intergroup meeting. Monthly donation spreadsheets are uploaded to our website @ www.aanoc.com well as posted here, in our
AA Times Newsletter. If your group donation is not
posted, email me at [email protected].
Central Office
calls in
September 291
159 — men
132— women
“Alcoholics Anonymous, how may we help
you?” Thank you to all of our wonderful
volunteers. We currently have a few shifts
open, please call 714.773.4357 or email
[email protected] or go online
to aanoc.com to sign-up (must have 6
months of sobriety)
CALL FORWARDING: Call forwarding enables the phones to be answered at North Orange County Central Office to be answered
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call
714.773.4357 (must have 2 years sobriety)
12 STEP LIST: If you would like to be on our
12 step list, please call us or email us.
HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE?
Join our Faithful 5’er club.
If you would like to join our Faithful 5’er Club,
please be sure to fill out a coupon and mail to
the office.
May God Bless You and Keep You as we
trudge the Road Of Happy Destiny!
We at Central Office are very grateful for
In gratitude,
Cathy
could not provide the services we do, to
those who show up on a regular basis. We
the groups and members without the help
of our reliable and willing volunteers.
New at NOCCO
$15.00 + tax
164 and MORE
I can’t explain why I didn’t hang
up. I just sat there on the floor,
with the receiver to my ear.
The next thing I heard was
“Good Afternoon. Alcoholics
Anonymous. May we help
you?”
A Reference Guide to the Big Book
and the 12 & 12
75th
Anniversary Book on Sale
$12.00 + tax—limited time —
these books are no longer
being printed and when we
are out, we are out
“Came to Believe” PG 23
3
Group Donations September 2015 and Year To Date 2015
City
Day/Time Meeting
City
Day/Time Meeting
Anaheim
Sun 10:30 A 24 Hour Group Speaker
Sep-15
Total
191.84
Fullerton
Th 6:00 P
Women's 24 Hour
Sep-15
Total
109.00
Anaheim
Sun 8:00 P Fireside Speakers
180.00
Fullerton
Th 6:00 P
Men's Stag - FAC
30.00
Anaheim
Mon 12:00 P Nooners BB & Step Study
238.30
Fullerton
Th 7:30 P
Women's Kiss
Anaheim
Tue 6:30 P Women's 6th & 7th Step
95.33
Fullerton
Th 8:00 P
Men's Participation (Mo's)
340.00
Anaheim
Tue 7:30 P Big Book Women's
60.00
Fullerton
Th 8:00 P
AA Topic Discussion
300.00
Anaheim
Tue 8:00 P TNT&T
Anaheim
Wed 6:00 P Men's Stag - Victor House
Anaheim
50.00
20.28
Fullerton
Fri 11:30 A Participation
120.00
Fullerton
Fri 6:30 P
Hit & Run Women's
Wed 7:30 P Women's Hour of Power
50.00
Fullerton
Fri 8:00 P
Downtown Full Speaker
165.00
Anaheim
Th 7:30 P
70.00
Fullerton
Sat 2:00 P
Women's Hot Topic
146.00
Anaheim
Fri 12:00 P Women's Big Book Study
215.38
Fullerton
Sat 4:30 P
Here & Now
109.00
Anaheim
Fri 5:30 P
Happy Hour BB Study
100.00
Anaheim
Fri 6:30 P
Gratitude Is An Action
72.00
Garden Gr Fri 6:00 A
Hunt
Beach
Daily
Anaheim
Sat 8:30 A
It's In The Book
Brea
Mon 10:00 A Women's Discussion
Brea
Mon 5:30 P 12 x 12
Brea
Tue 10:30 A Daily Reflection for Wom
Brea
Tue 5:30 P Men's Topic Discussion
Brea
Tue 5:30 P Women's 10th Step HH
Brea
Tue 7:00 P Step Study Workshop
Brea
Wed 5:30 P As Bill See's It
Brea
Wed 6:45P Daily Reflections/Women
Brea
Th 10:30 A Step Sisters Step Study
Brea
Th 5:30 P
Brea
Fri 10:00 A Big Book Workshop
100.00
Brea
Fri 5:30 P
Happy Hour
120.00
Brea
Fri 8:00 P
Men's
400.00
Brea
Buena
Park
Buena
Park
Sat 10:30 A Sat Morn Womens AA Step
Th 7:45P
Participation
Buena
Fri 8:00 P
Friday Night Discussion
Cypress
Tue 6:00 P Happy Hour BB Study
Cypress
Fri 7:00 P
Girls Night Out
Cypress
Fri 8:00 P
Cypress
Sat 7:30 P
Fullerton
Daily 6:00 A Attitude Modification
Fullerton
Sun 10:30 A Fullerton Sunday Speaker
Fullerton
Sun 8:00 P Discussion
Fullerton
Mon 10:30 A Morning Glories BB Wom.
Fullerton
Mon 6:00 P Cat's On The Roof (women)
Fullerton
Fullerton
Fullerton
Mon 8:00 P True Colors
Fullerton
Tue 7:00 P Men's Big Book Study
Fullerton
Tue 7:30 P Men's Downtown 12x12
Fullerton
Wed 2:00 P Women's Coffee Talk
Fullerton
Men's We Got A Coffee Pot
28.00
37.00
Attitude Adjustment
60.00
Triangle Group
180.00
72.00
612.00
Laguna
Wed 7:00 A Men's Book Study
100.00
35.00
108.50
La Habra
Sun 10:30 A Participation (Bowling)
322.50
210.00
La Habra
Sun 7:00 P Sober Sunday
100.50
320.82
La Habra
Sun 7:30 P Sunday Night Book Study
202.49
La Habra
M-F 6:30 A Topic Discussion
330.00
La Habra
Tue 8:00 P Participation
20.00
La Habra
Wed 7:30 P La Habra Wed Nite Mens
60.00
445.20
La Habra
Th 8:00 P
Participation
27.60
94.35
La Habra
Fri 8:00 P
126.00
La Habra
Fri 8:00 P
75.00
70.00
Living In The Solution
70.00
33.67
330.00
50.00
50.00
475.00
Fri Nite Beginners
150.00
572.50
Friday Night Speakers
200.00
500.00
La Mirada Sun 8:00 P Men's Big Book Study
130.00
248.25
88.00
La Mirada
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
Tue 8:00 P Winners Circle
88.09
Orange
Sun 8:30 A Attitude Adjustment
50.00
Orange
Sun 11:00 A Book Study (Friendship)
207.12
Orange
Mon 12:00 P 12&12 / Traditions
50.00
Orange
Mon 5:30 P Rush Hour Discussion
150.00
Orange
Mon 7:00 P Women's E/S/H
Lunatic Fringe
500.00
Orange
Tue 6:30 A Tuesday Donut Meeting
50.00
Open Topic
150.00
Orange
Tue 7:00 P Old School History
50.00
540.00
Orange
40.50
238.15
Orange
Tue 7:00 P Orange Tustin Group
Early Bird Disc.
Wed 6:30 A (Friendship)
35.25
Orange
Wed 7:00 P Easy Does It
280.00
Orange
Wed 7:00 P Name In The Hat
94.75
Orange
Th 12:00 P Participation
153.00
Mon 6:00 P Mon Nite Men's Stag @ FAC
251.00
Orange
Th 5:30 P
Rush Hour
300.00
Mon 8:00 P Big Book Study
178.50
Orange
Th 6:30 P
Ladies Night Book Study
240.00
Orange
Th 7:00 P
Men's (Mariposa)
200.00
105.00
Orange
Th 7:00 P
12 x 12 (at home)
275.00
375.00
Orange
Th 7:30 P
Men's BB Study
125.00
Orange
Th 7:30 P
Newcomer Discussion
Wed 6:00 P Women's Into The Light
43.52
Orange
Fri 6:30 A
Smashing Donuts - Discuss
105.00
Fullerton
Wed 7:30 P Intergroup
56.75
Orange
Fri 5:30 P
Rush Hour Discussion
300.00
Fullerton
Th 5:30 P
20.00
Orange
Fri 7:30 P
TGIF
70.00
Mon 7:30 P Monday Nite Buena Park
Women's Big Book Study
50.00
60.00
70.00
225.00
368.00
4
130.00
Daily 7:00 A Surrender Is Freedom
1,135.41
Sun 6:00 P Big Book Study
180.00
Wed 8:00 P Sobriety First
50.00
180.00
50.00
50.00
115.00
200.00
100.00
84.00
589.52
84.00
280.00
140.00
389.00
81.85
80.00
260.00
260.00
42.00
City
Orange
Orange Co.
Orange
Orange
Placentia
Placentia
Placentia
Placentia
Placentia
Placentia
Sunset Bh
Tustin
Villa Park
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Whittier
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda
???
???
???
???
???
???
Day/Time
Fri 8:00 P
Fri 7:00 P
Sat 6:00 P
no info
Sun 8:30 A
Sun 7:30 P
Mon 6:30 P
Mon 7:00 P
Mon 8:00 P
Th 10:30 A
Sun 7:15 A
Th 9:00 A
Daily 7:30 A
Sun 8:00 P
Mon 7:00 P
Tue 7:00 P
Tue 7:30 P
Wed 7:00 P
Th 6:30 P
Th 8:00 P
Fri 7:00 P
Sat 10:30 A
Sat 7:30 P
???
???
Daily 6:00 A
Daily 6:00 A
Tue 7:30 P
Tue 8:00 P
Wed 12:00 P
Wed 7:00 P
Wed 7:30 P
Th 7:00 P
Th 7:30 P
Fri 12:00 P
Fri 8:00 P
Sat 8:00 P
no info
no info
no info
no info
no info
no info
Meeting
No Puffers Speakers
Fri Nite Roaming Couples
Winners Circle
Friendship Club
Right Start
Placentia Sunday Night
Beginners Sober Start
SASTO - Men's
Unmanagables
Women's Stepping Stones
Sober On The Sand
Women's Step Study
Villa Park 24 Hr. Group
Sun. Night Step Study
As Bill See's It
No Nonsense 12 x 12
Tue Nite Men BB Study
Women's Winners
Th Nite AA Happy Hr BB
The Den Book Study
Big Book Study
Women's Acceptance
Whittier Sat. Nite Speaker
Group # 129943
12 x 12
Attitude Modification
New Start
YL Closed Women's
Ohio Street Winners
Noontimers
Women's Big Book Study
Wed Night Big Book Study
Women's Solution
YL Participation
Daily Reflections
Friday Night Ohio Winners
Speaker Meeting
???
???
group #143197
group #156925
group #130755
group #130230
TOTAL GROUPS:
Sep-15
100.00
25.00
100.00
111.00
10.00
25.00
55.00
80.00
50.00
75.00
30.00
581.55
125.00
77.00
140.00
3,563.15
YTD Total
200.00
475.30
60.00
158.00
720.00
50.00
260.00
160.00
160.00
529.11
211.00
10.00
477.25
40.00
50.00
160.00
100.00
55.00
164.12
130.00
80.00
312.50
195.00
25.00
50.00
3,894.90
1,847.72
250.00
462.00
607.50
656.00
185.00
140.00
445.00
218.11
277.00
76.00
238.00
81.00
100.00
70.00
90.00
300.00
Group Meeting Donations
Please include the meeting name, the
meeting address, the day and time of the
meeting. North Orange County Central
Office does not use the group numbers. We
have coupons with self –addressed envelopes for your convenience. Ask your intergroup rep to pick up coupons with envelopes at the monthly intergroup meeting, or
stop by the office to pick some up. NOCCO
provides a monthly record of donations received and that record is handed out at our
intergroup meetings as well as published in
our Anonymous Times and uploaded to our
website.
The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their
own members. We think that each group should
soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups,
clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that
acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of
contributions carrying any obligation whatever, is
unwise. Then, too, we view with much concern
those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond
prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no
stated A.A. purpose. Experience has often warned
us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual
heritage as futile disputes over property, money,
and authority. - Tradition Seven (long form)
33,183.83
GROUP MEETING DONATIONS (INCLUDE THIS INFO)
Give credit to group as listed in the O.C. Meeting Directory
MeetingName:_____________________________________________________
Meeting Address:__________________________________________________
Meeting City:______________________________________________________
□ AM
Day:________________________ Time:____________□ PM $ Amt:_________
EMAIL Receipt to:__________________________________________________
Phone #:__________________________________________________________
NOCCO does not use group numbers, please include the information above
5
SPEAKER MEETINGS: October / November 2015
Anonymous Times would like to publish your list of speakers for October 2015.
Deadline for publication is October 20, 2015. Email: [email protected]
Sunday
10:30 AM
October 4
October 11
October 18
October 25
Fullerton Alano Center
530 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton
Alonzo B., Los Angeles
Mike S., Riverside
Yvonne S., Los Angeles
BIRTHDAY SUNDAY
Friday
8:00 PM
October 2
October 9
October 16
October 30
Downtown Fullerton Speaker
109 E. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, CA
TBA
Tina W., Glendora
Doug W., Fullerton
Big Joe, Yorba Linda
Monday
7:30 PM
Friendship Club Speaker
2191 Orange Olive Road, Orange
Saturday
8:00 PM
Speaker Meeting
4861 Liverpool @ Yorba Linda Blvd
(Messiah Lutheran Church)
I Must Leave You Now, Forever
I must leave you now, forever
You will never make me well
Separated I can heal
Together I can feel like hell
Although it sometimes seemed
like heaven
When we were together
I must leave you now, forever
You appeared to provide
The perfect place to hide
Where I could cease to be
The person that was me
And now I see that’s suicide
I must heave you off a cliff
While the strength within me climbs
You’d do the same to me if
I hurt you half as many times
I must transcend this transfixion
On your particular libation
Friday
La Habra Speaker
8:00 PM
631 North Euclid St., La Habra, CA
October 2
Mack, Placentia
October 9
Ruth C., El Monte
October 16
Gretta S., Placentia
October 23
Pete F., Anaheim
October 30
Justin M., Anaheim
November 6
Kirk P., Beach
November 13
Patt O.
November 20
Bigg Al, Compton
November 27
Dan G., Venice
(get there early meeting fills up fast)
Saturday
8:00 PM
This pernicious affliction
This deadly addiction
To solipsistic intoxication
When we got started things were fine
With a glass or two of wine
There was nothing but good cheer
In a frosty mug of beer
But then you started playing rough
Two pints of vodka weren’t enough
The repeated pain and devastation
Social damage and amnesia
Only led to stronger rations
As I, in vain, tried to appease you
How I lusted for your kiss!
How I craved your warm embrace!
Bittersweet you came inside
And I thought that it was bliss
That you brought me to a higher place
But it boils down to this:
Many times I could have died
6
Saturday Night Speaker
109 E. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, CA
But before I meet my undertaker
I will exercise my option
To surrender to my Maker
Rather than the Devil for adoption
You may make me keep on thinking
That I can keep on drinking
But I know now that’s a lie
For me, to drink is to die
A sad and lonely death, premature
Without drawing a decent breath
Or a taste of life that’s pure
A life that’s truly satisfying
No longer in self pity will I wallow
You may tempt me to keep trying
But not another sip I’ll swallow
I can be there for my loved ones
When I’m dry
So I must leave you now
Goodbye
-Spencer R.
INTERGROUP REP
Become a member of NOCCO Intergroup Association
DOES YOUR HOME GROUP HAVE A VOICE?
What is it?
North Orange County Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous Groups is our local intergroup association
What Does NOCCO do?
* Ensure phones are answered 24 hours a day – 7 seven days a week
* Assign “Twelve Step” calls on a geographical basis
* Maintaining a supply of approved books and literature
* Serve as a communications center for local Groups, keeping them informed about
* AA activities by Newsletters, Website, bulletins and other media
* Maintaining AA listings in telephone directories and other media sources
* Handling requests for information about AA from the general public
* Sponsoring and arranging any joint social affairs which the members may desire
Why should I become a Rep?
Each individual AA group is entitled to representation in the Intergroup Association, yet of the 390 meetings in North
Orange County less than 50 have an Intergroup Rep.
Every AA Group in North Orange County is automatically a member of this Association.
What are my duties as an Intergroup Rep?
** Attend monthly Intergroup Meetings – 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm
109 E. Wilshire, Fullerton, CA (First Christian Church)
* Have a VOTE! – Vote on behalf of your group’s conscience on issues presented at Intergroup.
* Have a VOICE! – Bring any issues to the Intergroup Meeting that may affect AA as a whole –
are there specific issue that your group’s conscience feels needs attention?
* Get Involved!! – Vote in the election of officers, join a committee, report back to your meeting all the
information from the monthly meeting
Suggested Group Contributions
70%
Make check payable to:
North Orange County Central Office
or NOCCO-AA
1661 E. Chapman Avenue, #1H
Fullerton, CA 92831
(714) 773-4357 (24 Hours)
include following information:
** meeting name/day/time/address**
(no group number)
(Optional 5%)
Make check payable to:
Local District Office
( see below for addresses )
(group number)
20% (group number)
Make check payable to:
General Service Office
P.O. Box 459 Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
(212) 870-3400
10% (Optional 5%) (group number)
Make check payable to:
Mid-Southern CA Area 9
P.O. Box 51446
Irvine, CA 92619-1446
District:
Address:
5
P.O. Box 3374, Tustin, CA 92781
6
P.O. Box 6881, Huntington Beach, CA 92615
7
P.O. Box 2444, Garden Grove, CA 92842
10
P.O. Box 44, Fullerton, CA 92832
12
P.O. Box 573 Dana Point, CA 92629
15
P.O. Box 1491, Brea, CA 92822
18
P.O. Box 3084, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(Optional) (group number)
Make check payable to:
Orange County Hospitals & Institutions Committee
92 Corporate Park, Suite C-115
Irvine, CA 92606
7
Writing The Rest of The Story
From this point forward, my task is to try to comply with
Step 10 as I go through the day: “Continued to take
personal inventory, and when we were wrong promptly
admitted it.”
When I think of Step 10, I think of renewal. Having stayed
sober long enough to get to this point, the alcoholic has a
much better understanding of himself and the insidious
ways his character defects relentlessly drove him to the
doors of Alcoholics Anonymous.
I must admit it is not unusual that I fail to do this step as
well as I would like, which brings me to my evening ritual
before nodding off. I look back at the day to note what I
think I did well, and what I could have done better. It is important to me to feel like I do my “look-back” with rigorous
honesty. Lying to myself is part of what got me here.
It’s also true that we have made some significant strides
by staying sober and working the steps of AA. We may
have taken on a job at one of our regular meetings helping
set up, making coffee, or whatever. Being of service to
others is a far cry from our old behavior where we were in
service of nothing but the next drink. We have a sponsor
who has preceded us down the road of sobriety, heard
those secrets we swore we would never tell another soul,
and who will non-judgmentally listen to our problems and
guide us if we are willing to listen. When you think about
it, we have come a long way getting to Step 10.
As you repeat Step 10 each day you will uncover those
recurring defects that serve no good purpose. And, in the
process you will find the real you and just possibly.....someone much nicer....................... the new you.
From my perspective, a word of caution is warranted failure to embrace this step and embed it in our daily ritual
is a prescription for trouble. Stinking thinking has been
ingrained in our emotional auto-response system for
years: it will not vacate its home turf without a struggle.
Nonetheless, it too can be pummeled into submission
“one day at a time.”
Nonetheless, it is important to accept the fact that we still
have one leg in the swamp of long practiced and habitual
bad thinking, which means some continuing effort must
be put into ensuring we are getting better, not worse. The
good news is.....
Safe in the fortress of AA’s steps and regular meetings
we need never again be isolated and at the mercy
stinking thinking.
Boot camp is over!
We have been given most of the tools to succeed in a lifelong journey of sobriety. It is time to suit-up and show-up
as we write the chapters of the rest of our lives. ... No
more hiding in the bottle! We are starting with a clean
page.
We have been given the opportunity to write the rest of
our life story. The past is gone, we cannot change it. No
more shame, chronic lying or cover ups, no more hiding
in the bottle, debilitating self-pity, no more blaming others
for our own failings - be they moral, ethical or spiritual.
We have come to grips with the character defects that
kept us walking in the shadows, fearful that the light
would expose us for who we really are.
Step ten is the quality assurance step where we conduct
daily checks on ourselves. By now we understand the oneday-at-a-time adage of AA.
The renewal story begins anew each morning as we rise
to face the day. That said, it is helpful to have a daily ritual
that gets us on track before encountering others, including
family. I mean, who wants to be apologizing before we
even leave the house in the morning?
We now seek the light as insurance against relapse.
The truth is, how the rest of our willful lives plays out
is entirely up to us. We are the author of our legacy
and solely responsible for the rest of the story.
My own routine goes as follows: First, I put on my spiritual
armor, which consists of a brief prayer for others and the
wisdom to grasp the message in my daily inspirational
reading. Second, I read a meditation and try to pick out
some point made by the author that I can hold onto during
the day. This helps me with my attitude and to be rightsized before encountering anyone else.
Ask yourself, how will my story turn out? Will I write a
story that exemplifies redemption, honor, love, tolerance,
service, healthy relationships, responsible living and parenting? Or, will I write a tragedy wrapped in a melodrama
of self pity, anger and selfishness, characterized by dysfunctional relationships and children?
The choice is ours to make.
Submitted by Dick C.
8
OCAAC—2016
31st Annual Orange County A.A.
Convention
March 25, 26 & 27, 2016
***NEW PLANNING MEETING LOCATION***
Anaheim Alana Club
202 W. Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805
Planning meetings
3rd Wednesday
of the Month
49th Annual
LAS VEGAS ROUNDUP
NOVEMBER 26-29, 2015
www.lasvegasroundup.org
Registration $35.00
Westgate Resort & Casino
3000 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Resentment is the #1
Offender
SOCALYPAA 7
Halloween Weekend
October 30—November 1st
www.socalypass7.org
310.210.6427
email: [email protected]
Online Intergroup
of A.A.
http://www.aa-intergroup.org
New Big Book Study
Open Meeting
Thursdays 7:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church
(in the Chapel)
838 N. Euclid St.
Fullerton
Seniors
In
Sobriety
Halloween Dance
Fullerton Alano Club
Saturday, October 31st
7:00 PM until 11:00 PM
$5 members/$7 nonmembers
& at door
www.SeniorsInSobriety.org
Events listed here are presented solely as a service to our readers, not as endorsement by North Orange County Central Office
9
Higher Power
On Eagles Wings
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching
long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and
wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its
wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.
While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm
to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When
the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience
them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our
belief toward our Higher Power, whom I choose to call ‘God’.
The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's
power to lift us above them. This enables us to ride the winds
of the storms that bring alcoholism, sickness, tragedy, failure
and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, if we are really honest with ourselves, it is not the
burdens of life that weigh us down; it is how we handle them.
There is no mistake why the eagle is our national symbol of
strength, peace and wisdom. We are all meant to soar like an
eagle, to find peace amidst the storm, to find serenity in the
face of tragedy, and to achieve sobriety, success and happiness.
It is not up to anyone to hand this to us - it is within our grasp
if
we
take
the
right
actions.
“Life” happens to all of us. Sometimes it seems that we are the
only one experiencing the anguish of life. Sometimes we feel
alone and abandoned. We have our ups and our downs and at
times life does not seem fair. We do not have to allow troubles
and heartache to overcome us. We can rely on a power greater
than self to help us through the tough times and allow us to
soar like the eagles.
10
Brad W. (Keep walking on the sunny side of the street)
Orange County Young People Meetings
SUNDAY:
YOUNG PEOPLE’S BIG BOOK STUDY 6:00 PM
2040 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa
HOW IT WORKS 6:00 PM
530 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton
BEGINNERS DISCUSSION 6:30 PM
29751 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel
LEGACY GROUP 7:30 PM
23802 Avenida de la Carlotta, Laguna Hills
SPEAKERS 7:30 PM
414 E. 32nd St., Newport Beach (downstairs)
MONDAY:
BEACH CITIES YOUNG PEOPLE 7:00 PM
414 E. 32nd St., Newport Beach
WILD BUNCH MEN’S STEP STUDY 7:30 PM
5001 Newport Coast Dr, Irvine
WOMEN’S MONDAY FUNDAY 8:00 PM
420 W 19th St., Costa Mesa
DISCUSSION 8:00 PM
4861 Liverpool, Yorba Linda
TUESDAY:
WILD BUNCH WOMEN’S GROUP 7:00 PM
2845 Mesa Verde Dr. East, Costa Mesa
CAMPFIRE BEACH MEETING 7:30 PM
Doheny Beach, Capistrano Beach (end of Beach Rd.)
BY THE BOOK 7:30 PM
20456 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
YOUNG PEOPLES PARTICIPATION 8:00 PM
9845 Belfast Dr., Garden Grove
WOMEN’S TOPIC DISCUSSION 8:00 PM
414 E. 32nd St., Newport Beach
WEDNESDAY:
WILD BUNCH BEGINNERS 7:30 PM
1 Sunnyhill, Irvine (Community Club House)
SOUTHCOAST SPEAKER’S MEETING 8:00 PM
286 St. Ann's, Laguna Beach
TOPIC DISCUSSION 8:00 PM
18372 Lemon Drive, Yorba Linda
TOPIC DISCUSSION 8:30 PM
414 E. 32nd St., Newport Beach
THURSDAY:
BALBOA SPEAKER GROUP 7:30 PM
414 E. 32nd St., Newport Beach
ROMPER ROOM BEGINNER’S DISCUSSION 8:00 PM
20456 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
MOORHEAD PODIUM CALL-UP 8:00 PM
2401 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach
FRIDAY:
SOBER TOOTH TIGERS YP MEETING 7:00 PM
301 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach
(Chem. Dep. Unit, Lecture Hall)
REBELS DISCUSSION 7:30 PM
611 Heliotrope, Corona del Mar
BROTHERS IN SOBRIETY 7:30 PM
4400 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine (in back of Church)
TURNING THE CORNER 7:30 PM
1221 Wass, Tustin
SURRENDER TO WIN 7:45 PM
20456 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
DISCUSSION 8:00 PM
5340 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim (Room 273)
WILD BUNCH BIG BOOK STUDY 8:00 PM
18422 Culver, Irvine
LITTLE GROUP 8:00 PM
18422 Culver, Irvine
COUCH MEETING 8:30 PM
26001 Muirlands Blvd., Mission Viejo
4TH DIMENSION 10:00 PM
109 E Wilshire, Fullerton
SATURDAY:
ENDLESS SUMMER, TALK SHOW 8:00 PM
30111 Niguel Road, Laguna Niguel
HOAG HUT SPEAKER 8:30 PM
201 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach (Conf. Ctr, level C)
11
3rd Annual Gratitude Dinner
Fundraiser
North Orange County Central Office
Saturday, November 7, 2015
5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
BBQ Dinner/Speaker Meeting
$20.00 per person
If you cannot
attend, buy a
ticket for a
newcomer
UFCW Union Hall
8530 Stanton Avenue
Buena Park, CA 90622
Dinner: 5:30 PM
Speaker: Lauri B., Orange County
50 / 50 Drawing
Tickets at NOCCO – 1661 E. Chapman Avenue #1H, Fullerton, CA 92831
All proceeds from this event will benefit your Central Office – North Orange County Central Office of AA (NOCCO)
***********************************************************************
NOCCO FUNDRAISER
$20.00 by
# of tickets:_______
10/30/15
or $25.00 at door
Amount Enclosed $_________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name
Address, City, Zip
phone #
EMAIL
Group Name:___________________________________________________________________
City:_________________________________ Day: S M T W TH F S
Time______________
Reser ved priority seating for the group with the most ticket sales
P l e a s e return this portion with your check payable to NOCCO – AA
12