Lower Yakima Valley Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings…District 11

Featured ~ vscheenstra

aa-logo_thumb

 Alcoholics Anonymous

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Area 92     District 11

  Lower Yakima Valley  (Wapato to Prosser) 

(O) Open meeting  (C) Closed Meeting  

The First step to getting anywhere is deciding 
you're no longer willing to stay where you are!    Join us!

Sunnyside Meetings

2 p.m. Monday and Friday The Joy of Living Meeting

1016 Tacoma Ave., Astria Hospital Classroom…outside entrance near emergency entrance.

4 p.m. Thursday The Joy of Living Meeting

1016 Tacoma Ave., Astria Hospital Classroom…outside entrance near emergency entrance.

.pm.

 

  7 p.m.  Friday Night Social  Group @  First Baptist Church 

103 8th St.  Sunnyside, WA  (O)  

 

  Prosser Meetings 

 

  7 p.m.     Prosser Tuesday Group

Grace Fellowship Church    520 7th St. Prosser, WA  (O)  

(Zoom Meeting # 875 4344 7024) In person or zoom

  7 p.m.  Prosser Thursday Night Group

Grace Fellowship Church   520 7th St. Prosser, WA  (C) 

Grandview Meetings

7 p.m.  Monday  Working With Others

Anchor Point Church  

609 Bonnie View Rd.,  Grandview, WA  (O) 

 

Toppenish Meetings

 12 Noon  on Thursday     Toppenish Group

   321 W. 1st St. Toppenish, WA

 7 p.m. Monday and Friday Mt. Adams Group

502 W. 4th St. Toppenish Community Hospital

District 11 Meeting

Every first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

1016 Tacoma Ave. Sunnyside Astria Hospital Classroom

Outside entrance near Emergency entrance


 

"WE CAN'T HELP YOU IF YOU'RE NOT HERE!"

District 11 Newsletter: July 6, 2022

~ vscheenstra

District 11 Newsletter:  July 6. 2022

Greetings to everyone!

July District Meeting was held on July 6.

Meeting Roll Call:  Vicki, Roger, Tony, Ruby

GSR Report:  Roger reported no changes for SSAA Meetings.

Treasurer Report:  Balance $978.30; petty cash $9.00.  (proxy report from Vicki)

Old Business:  Need for more participation and volunteers.  We have no DCM or Chairperson.    (One of the responsibilities of the DCM is to update Area 92 Schedule.  We no longer have a password to log onto site.)

Preliminary discussions were for an A.A. Anniversary celebration to be held in Sunnyside at Trinity Church and Central Park on June 10, 2023.  We considered having it begin with a noon meeting at the church followed by games or events in the park including fair type food.  The Celebration would end after a speaker meeting at 5 p.m. We are open to suggestions…these ideas are only preliminary.

We decided to table further discussion of the A.A. 88th Anniversary Bash on June 10, 2023 until more interest is shown.

New Business:  Vicki offered to post minutes as a newsletter for the District on the District website every month. loweryakimavalleyaameetings.com   Suggestion was approved.

Tony was motioned by Vicki to be Corrections Chair, which was seconded by Roger.  Tony accepted.

Anyone wishing to contact Tony to assist or ask questions may call:  509-985-5130

The district will be raising money for Corrections support so they can purchase literature with collections cans at various meetings.  $7.50 was raised in June, which was given to Tony.

Meeting was closed with 7th Tradition and A.A. Pledge

District meetings are held the first Wednesday night monthly at 7 p.m. at Trinity Church in Sunnyside. 

The next District Meeting will be held on August 3.

Everyone is invited to attend the District Meeting!

Vicki S.    District Secretary

District 11 Handbook

~ vscheenstra

District 11 Handbook

Written by the District Committee on 9-2011

Approved by the Home groups

What is the purpose of the District?

District 11’s purpose is to become more involved with the membership it serves by providing a forum, through the district meetings, where GSR’s, district committee chairs and AA members can gather information from home groups, Area 92 and GSO. This information sharing will be brought to the District meetings by the DCM, GSR’s, district committee chairs and any other AA member who wishes to participate. Our purpose is also to share AA to the outside world through the knowledge of the literature and experience of our membership.

How can District 11 fulfill its purpose?

To provide effective leadership through the election/appointment of qualified persons. To follow the District meeting format and remember to put principals before personalities by remembering that we are all here for the same reason “because we love AA.” We feel that we can also fulfill our purpose by providing and attending other districts service workshops not to be limited to Sponsorship Workshops, Home Group and GSR Workshops/Schools, Traditions workshops and by hosting Area 92 events such as Combined Committee Workshops, Area Quarterlies and Assemblies, Delegate Reports and other Area events.

Central Washington Central Office (CWCO): What is it and why do we support it?

Central Washington Central Office, being a branch of A.A., exists to aid A.A. groups in their common purpose of carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.  To support that purpose, it maintains an office and communications equipment.  It produces and distributes a newsletter and meeting schedule, and distributes A.A. literature.  A volunteer staff responds to inquiries from the public and the fellowship. CWCO PO Box 762 Yakima Wa 98907  (509) 453-7680 and 1-888-441-6220

How to make changes to the handbook

A change can be made by any District 11 AA member by bringing the motion to the District meeting. After thorough  discussion by GSR’s and District Committee Members it is decided if a vote will be taken immediately or if the motion needs to go back to the Home groups for discussion and vote. If the motion goes back to the Home groups then each GSR is tasked with bringing the informed group conscience back to the District the following month. A motion is passed with substantial unanimity (2/3rds vote) of all present GSRs and Committee Chairs. Substantial Unanimity is defined in the 2011-2012 Service Manual page S56.

Third Legacy Procedures

Third Legacy Procedure is as follows:

  • The names of eligible candidates are posted o n a board. All voting members cast written ballots, one choice to a ballot. The tally for each candidate is posted on the board.
  • The first candidate to receive 2/3rds of the vote is elected.
  • Withdrawals start after the second ballot. If any candidate has less than 1/5 of the total vote, his or her name is automatically withdrawn-except that the top 2 candidates must remain. (In cases of ties for second place, the top candidate and all tied runners-up remain as candidates.)
  • After the third ballot, candidates with ;less than 1/3 of the total vote will be withdrawn automatically, except the two top candidates remain. (In case there are ties for second place, the top candidate and all tied runners-up remain as candidates.)
  • After the fourth ballot, if no candidate has 2/3rds of the total vote, the candidate with the smallest total is automatically withdrawn, except that the top 2 candidates remain. In case there are ties for second place, the top candidate and all tied second-place candidates remain. At this point, the chairperson asks for a motion, second, and simple majority of hands on conducting a 5th and final ballot. If this motion is defeated, balloting is over and the choice is made by lot-“going to the hat” immediately. If motion carries, a fifth and final ballot is conducted.
  • If after the fifth ballot no election occurs, the chairperson announces that the choice will be made by lot (from the hat). At this point, the top 2 candidates remain. In case there are ties for first place, all tied first place candidates remain. In case there are no ties for first place, thee top candidate and any tied second-place candidates remain.
  • Lots are then drawn by the teller, and the first one “out of the hat” is the officer.

2010-2011 Service Manual page S21-22 with modifications to fit district

Business Meeting Format

  • Open with Serenity Prayer
  • Read Traditions
  • Read Concepts
  • DCM Report
  • Alt Dec Report
  • Secretary  Report
  • Treasures Report
  • Committee Reports
    • Treatment Committee
    • Corrections Committee
    • Public Information/Cooperation With the Professional Community
    • Archives
    • Others can be added
  • Old Business
    • When discussion has already been heard
  • New Business
    • Something not discussed yet
  • Group Sharing
    • Each GSR is given the opportunity for a brief report on how the group is doing
  • Problem &  Solutions sharing
    • Any AA member can bring a concern to the district to gather information on how to handle the situation.

Officer/Committee job descriptions

DCM

Budget: $400 quarterly to be used for travel, lodging, meals and registration for the (4) Area 92 quarterlies and assemblies held in Jan, April, July and Oct each year. Other expenses incurred will be reimbursed out of the District 11 general fund. This is a 2 year commitment.

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly district business meetings
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Carry all information from district to the area and GSO and back
  4. Attend the (4) Area 92 quarterlies and assemblies held in Jan, April, July and Oct each year as well as other service related functions such as Combined Committee workshop
  5. Attend the March Combined Committee Workshop in an effort to gather more information as to the agenda topics for the General Service Workshop
  6. Be available to visit all home group within the district and encourage them to attend the monthly business meeting
  7. Bring background information on a few of the General Service Conference agenda topics to the district meeting so that the home groups can become informed about the goings on at GSO and then be prepared to carry the groups conscience to the
    April Pre-Conference Assembly.
  8. Encourage the District committees chairs to get active and hold committee meetings so all interested AA members may become involved in service
  9. Have a basic knowledge and understanding of the Traditions and Concepts
  10. Have a basic knowledge and understanding of the Area 92 handbook and the AA Service Manual
  11. Encourage GSRs to attend a GSR School/workshop
  12. For more information see Chapter 3 in the AA Service Manual

Alt DCM

Budget-none. This is a 2 year commitment

Job description

  1. Attend monthly district meetings
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Attend all functions with DCM when possible
  4. Be available to visit all home group within the district and encourage them to attend the monthly business meeting
  5. Serve as the District Registrar making sure the all group information is current with GSO and on the Area website (schedules) www.area92aa.org. You will receive copies of the registered group information from the Area Registrar (Alt Delegate) and the Centeral Washington Central Office
  6. Keep district schedules updated and printed for disbursement at district meetings
  7. Have a basic knowledge and understanding of the Traditions and Concepts
  8. Have a basic knowledge and understanding of the Area 92 handbook and the AA Service Manual
  9. Facilitate the District business meetings when the DCM is unable to attend
  10. Be available to attend area quarterlies and assemblies if the DCM is unable to attend

Secretary

Budget $100 yearly to cover copy, envelope, stamps and other necessary supplies to fulfill job description.

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly district meeting and take notes of what happens. If unable to attend find a replacement (alt secretary)  for that meeting
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Snail mail or e-mail notes within 7 days to the district committee and GSR’s
  4. Read and have available copies of the previous months minutes
  5. Keep and provide and updated list of GSR’s, Alt GSRs  and district committee members to include full name, home group, district position, address and phone number and e-mail address (if applicable)

Treasurer

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly district meetings and provide a written financial report to include detailed contributions and expense
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Keep report of group contributions and group numbers
  4. Pay all expense incurred by the district and its committees
  5. Receive group contributions and make timely deposits
  6. Have a second signature on account-this will be the current DCM
  7. Reconcile bank statements
  8. Be sure to have the following monies in District checking account
    1. DCM-$400 quarterly expenses
    1. Prudent reserve $500 to be used in emergencies only
    1. Secretary-$100 yearly expense
    1. Corrections-$100 quarterly expense after pink can monies are depleted
    1. Schedules-$300 yearly expense-schedules printed quarterly
    1. Other monies can be added as district committee positions are filled
  9. Quarterly disbursements of excess funds to Central Office, Area 92 and GSO
    1. 50% Central office CWCO PO Box 762 Yakima Wa 98907
    1. 30% WSEA 92 PMB Box 263, Valley Mall PKWY, E. Wenatchee, Wa 98802
    1. 20% GSO –Grand Central Station, PO Box 459, New York, NY 10164

Archives

Budget

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.

Corrections

Budget-$100 quarterly plus monies gathered using the Pink Can

Job Description

  • Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  • This is a 2 year commitment.
  • Attend the 4 Combined Committee Workshops to gather information as to how to carry the message and report back to the GSRs
  • Become knowledgeable about the committee and how it relates itself to the outside world by studying and applying the experience of past chairs through reading the GSO 3 ring binder.
  • Facilitate Committee meetings and encourage interested AA members to attend and become involved in service.

Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC)

Budget

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Attend the 4 Combined Committee Workshops to gather information as to how to carry the message and report back to the GSRs
  4. Become knowledgeable about the committee and how it relates itself to the outside world by studying and applying the experience of past chairs through reading the GSO 3 ring binder.
  5. Facilitate Committee meetings and encourage interested AA members to attend and become involved in service.

Grapevine and Literature

Budget

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.

Public Information

Budget

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Attend the 4 Combined Committee Workshops to gather information as to how to carry the message and report back to the GSRs
  4. Become knowledgeable about the committee and how it relates itself to the outside world by studying and applying the experience of past chairs through reading the GSO 3 ring binder.
  5. Facilitate Committee meetings and encourage interested AA members to attend and become involved in service.

Treatment

Budget

Job Description

  1. Attend monthly District meetings and provide a report as to the going on within the district
  2. This is a 2 year commitment.
  3. Attend the 4 Combined Committee Workshops to gather information as to how to carry the message and report back to the GSRs
  4. Become knowledgeable about the committee and how it relates itself to the outside world by studying and applying the experience of past chairs through reading the GSO 3 ring binder.
  5. Facilitate Committee meetings and encourage interested AA members to attend and become involved in service.

MOTIONS PASSED AND FAILED-to be kept up to date by district secretary

Sobriety Prayers

~ vscheenstra


Bill Wilson wrote,

“Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words”.


An abbreviated version of the The Serenity Prayer can be found  on Step Three in the 12×12 (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions). What follows is the full text as commonly accredited to American, Protestant theologian Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr written in the
early 1930s:

Serenity Prayer



God grant me the serenity to
Accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the Wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking as He did, this World as it is,
Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
And Supremely happy with Him,
Forever in the next.

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our
conscious contact with God …
Praying only for his will and the power to carry that out.
Having had a spiritual awakening …
We tried to practice these principles in all our affairs.


Seventh Step Prayer


-The Seventh Step Prayer is from page 76. The Big Book

When ready, we say something like this:



My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.

We have then completed Step Seven.

-(Both derived from page 86 in the Big Book)

MORNING PRAYER


God, direct my thinking today so that it be empty of self pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking and fear. God, inspire my thinking, decisions and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy. Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step. God, show me what I need to do to take care of any problems. I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to you and my fellow man. In the spirit of the Steps I pray. AMEN

NIGHT PRAYER

God, forgive me where I have been resentful, selfish, dishonest or afraid today. Help me to not keep anything to myself but to discuss it all openly with another person – show me where I owe an apology and help me make it. Help me to be kind and loving to all people. Use me in the mainstream of life, God. Free me of worry, remorse or morbid (sick) reflections that I may be of usefulness to others. AMEN



St Francis Prayer
-From Chapter 11 of “Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions”



Lord, make me a channel of they peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.


Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.”     

                St. Francis Assisi (1182-1228).)

Prayers for Each of the 12 Steps

~First Step Prayer~

Dear Lord, I admit that I am powerless over my addiction. I admit that my life is unmanageable when I try to control it.

Help me this day to understand the true meaning of powerlessness. Remove from me all denial of my addiction.

~Second Step Prayer~

Heavenly Father, I know in my heart that only you can restore me to sanity. I humbly ask that you remove all twisted thought and addictive behavior from me this day. Heal my spirit and restore in me a clear mind.

~Third Step Prayer~ (Page 63 – A. A. Big Book)

God, I offer myself to Thee
To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love and Thy Way of life,
May I do Thy will always!  

~Fourth Step Prayer~

Dear God, It is I who have made my life a mess.
I have done it, but I cannot undo it.
My mistakes are mine, and I will begin a searching and fearless moral inventory. I will write down my wrongs, but I will also include that which is good. I pray for the strength to complete the task.  

~Fifth Step Prayer~

Almighty God, My inventory has shown me who I am,
yet I ask for Your help in admitting my wrongs to another person and to You. Assure me, and be with me, in this Step, for without this Step I cannot progress in my recovery. With Your help, I can do this, and I do it.


~Sixth Step Prayer~

Dear God, I am ready for Your help in removing from me the defects of character which I now realize are an obstacle to my recovery. Help me to continue being honest with myself and guide me toward spiritual and mental health.

  ~Seventh Step Prayer~ (Page 76 – A. A. Big Book)

My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do your bidding. Amen

~Eighth Step Prayer~

My Lord, I ask Your help in making my list of all those I have harmed. I will take responsibility for my mistakes, and be forgiving to others as You are forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. This I pray.

~Ninth Step Prayer~

Father God, I pray for the right attitude to make my amends,
being ever mindful not to harm others in the process. I ask for Your guidance in making indirect amends. Most important, I will continue to make amends by staying abstinent, helping others, and growing in spiritual progress.

~Tenth Step Prayer~

Dear Lord, I pray I may continue: To grow in understanding and effectiveness; To take daily spot check inventories of myself; To correct mistakes when I make them; To take responsibility for my actions; To be ever aware of my negative and self-defeating attitudes and behaviors; To keep my willfulness in check; To always remember I need Your help; To keep love and tolerance of others as my code; And to continue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, my Lord and Savior.

~Eleventh Step Prayer~

Heavenly Father, I pray to keep my connection with You open and clear from the confusion of daily life. Through my prayers and meditation I ask especially for freedom from self-will, rationalization, and wishful thinking. I pray for the guidance of correct thought and positive action. Your will Higher Power, not mine, be done.

~Twelfth Step Prayer~

Dear God, My spiritual awakening continues to unfold.
The help I have received I shall pass on and give to others,
both in and out of the Fellowship. For this opportunity I am gr
ateful. I pray most humbly to continue walking day by day on
the road of spiritual progress. I pray for the inner strength and wisdom to practice the principles of this way of life in all I do and say. I need You, my friends, and the Program every hour of every day. This is a better way to live.



Responsibility Pledge

“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.”

e

A.A. Slogans

~ vscheenstra

 

The following slogans have helped many members of A.A. to stay sober.

1. I can’t handle it God…You take over.

2. One Day at a Time

3. Time takes Time

4. Don’t sweat the small stuff

5. Pick Your Battles

6. Normal is a setting on a washing machine!

7. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen!

8. Let Go and Let God

9. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

10. Every day is a second chance.

11. Listening is the beginning of Prayer.

12. Recovery is a journey; it is not a race.

13. Just do it! 

14. We are only as sick as our secrets.

15. Happiness is a choice.

16. Live and let Live.

17. More will be revealed.

18. KISS…Keep it Simple Stupid!

19. Change is a process…not an event.

20. Willingness is the Key.

21. Seven missed meetings makes one weak.

22. GOD: Good Orderly Direction

23. Practice an attitude of gratitude.

24. Don’t quit five minutes before the miracle happens.

25. Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

26. No pain…No gain!

27. Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

28. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

29 Denial is not a river in Egypt!

30 We have the solution. You just have to want it bad enough.

31. Help is only a phone call away.

32. Get out of the driver’s seat; let go and let God.

33. The elevator is broken…use the steps.

34. Formula for failure: Try to please everyone.

35. Principles before personalities.

36. You are not alone.

37. HOW= Honest, Openness, Willingness

38. FEAR= Frustration, Ego, Anxiety, Resentment.

39. N.U.T.S.=Not Using the Steps

40. STOP=Surrender, Talk, Openness, Prayer

41. A.A. has a wrench to fit every nut who comes through the door.

42. If God is your co-pilot…switch seats!

43. If you turn it over and don’t let go of it, you will be upside down.

44. We forgive so we will be forgiven.

45. A.A. spoils your drinking.

46. A coincidence is a miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

47. There are two days in every week which we have no control over—-yesterday and tomorrow. Today is the only day we can change.

48. A drug is a drug.

49. Short version of the Serenity Prayer: Lighten up.

50. The mind is like a parachute, it works better when it’s open

51. Don’t romance the drink.

52. We give it away to keep it.

53. We suffer to get well.

54. We surrender to win.

55. If you can’t remember your last drink, maybe you haven’t had it yet.

56. Expectations are premature resentments


57. FEAR = False Expectations Appearing Real

58. Serenity is not freedom from the storm; it is peace within the storm

58. Easy does it!

60. First things first.

61. Action not distraction.

62. Bless them; change me!

63. Came; Came to; Came to believe.

64. Courage is fear in action.

65. FEAR: Face everything and recover!

66. Hit your knees; not the bottle!

67. It’s hard to be hateful when your grateful!

68. Gratitude is a verb.

69. Progress not perfection

70. Sobriety is God’s gift to you; what you do with it is your gift to God.

71. The only difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is our attitude.

72. You could be one drink away from never being sober again.

73. Your best thinking got you here.

74. Yesterday is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the Present!

75. You’ve got to get real to heal!

76. Seek respect, not attention.

77. I didn’t get sober to be miserable!