OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 1

“High and low, rich and poor, these are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous. Among them you will make lifelong friends. You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties, for you will escape disaster together and you will commence shoulder to shoulder your common Journey.”

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, PG 152-3

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS “TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE”

NAME

YEARS

SOBRIETY DATE

CELEBRATION DATE

WHERE

WHEN

Jeff C 22 11/1/1993 11/1/2015 Happy Risers Sun / 9 AM Linda B 27 10/28/1988 11/2/2015 Berlin Friendship Mon / 8 PM Susan S 24 11/5/1991 11/5/2015 Joy of Living Thurs / Noon Bill J 25 11/6/1990 11/9/2015 Happy Hour Mon / 8 PM Shannon K 3 11/10/2012 11/10/2015 Joy of Living Tues / Noon Dave P 21 11/7/1994 11/11/2015 Men’s 12 & 12 Wed / 8 PM Angela S 1 11/11/2015 11/15/2015 Happy Risers Sun / 9 AM Sue G 2 11/20/2013 11/20/2015 Entirely Ready Fri / 6 PM Jeanie J 39 11/22/1976 11/23/2015 Berlin Friendship Mon / 8 PM Betsy F 1 11/21/2015 11/23/2015 Happy Hour Mon / 6 PM

Please submit all anniversary information to Laura P at sobrietyin13@gmail.com by the 28th of the preceding month of your anniversary. Include name, sobriety date,

celebration date, and where & when. Thanks!!!!

OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 2

OCAA PHONE SCHEDULE & INFORMATION 410-600-5219

November 2015 – Positive Attitude**December 2015 – Happy Risers

January 2016 – Action Group**February 2016 – Fresh Air**March 2016-Happy Hour

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Healthy AA Groups contribute to our Intergroup, District, Area, and World Services. Percentages vary and

suggestions can be found in AA pamphlets. The pamphlet, “Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix,”

suggests the following common split after expenses:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Bob dies of cancer on November 16, 1950. During the Akron

physician’s 15 years of sobriety, the Fellowship he started with Bill W. had

transformed the lives of close to 100,000 men and women and their loved ones.

In November 2001, a new edition of the Big Book – the culmination of four years of

development and 25-plus committee meetings – rolls off the presses. While the first

164 pages remain unchanged, the new edition includes the stories of 41 sober

alcoholics (24 new stories and 17 “keepers” from the third edition) reaching a

wider cros-section of membership by reflecting the breadth of A.A. experiences,

ages, beliefs, and ethnicities. G.S.O. New York sends a complimentary copy of the

fourth edition to groups in the U.S. and Canada.

Ocean City Area Fellowship Intergroup

PO Box 913 50%

Ocean City, MD 21843

Maryland General Service District 32

10306 Willow Dale Court 10% Ocean City, MD 21842

General Service Office

PO Box 459 30%

Grand Central Station

New York, NY 10163

Maryland General Service, Inc.

PO Box 13457 10% Baltimore, MD 21203

OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 3

OCEAN CITY AREA FELLOWSHIP INTERGROUP CHAIR – Tom B ALT CHAIR – Don B

SECRETARY – Bradley S TREASURER – Tom M

GROUP INTERGROUP

REPRESENTATIVE

LOCATION

ADDRESS

DAY & TIME 164 (CLOSED)

Tom M

Stevenson United Methodist Church

123 N Main Street Berlin

Monday 8 PM

Action Group

Bradley S

Holy Savior Catholic Church

17th & Philadelphia Ocean City

Friday 8 PM

Assateague Group

Chris L

Bethany United Methodist Church

6848 RT 611 Berlin

Sunday 6 PM

Beginner’s Big Book

Joe P

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

Monday 6:30 PM

Berlin 101 Women’s Big Book (CLOSED)

Patricia G

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

3 Church Street Berlin

Saturday 9 AM

Berlin Friendship

Mary M

Friendship United Methodist Church

Friendship Road Berlin

Monday 8 PM

Came To Believe

Jessica B

AGH (Hospital)

9733 Healthway Drive Berlin

Sunday Noon

Come As You Are

Jennie R

Seaside Counseling & Wellness Center Suite 5

11809 RT 50 Ocean Gateway Center West Ocean City

Tuesday 6 PM

Entirely Ready

Robin D

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

Friday 6 PM

Free To Be Women’s

Rosemary K

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

Wednesday 8 PM

Fresh Air

Allison K

Crossway Church

11811 RT 50 West Ocean City

Tuesday 8 PM

Happy Hour

Mark W

Community Church at Ocean Pines

11227 Race Track RD Ocean Pines

Monday 6 PM

Happy, Joyous & Free Women’s Step Study

VACANT

Community Church at Ocean Pines

11227 Race Track RD Ocean Pines

Friday 10 AM

Happy Risers

Jeff C

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

M thru F / 7:30 AM S & S / 9 AM

Joy of Living

Bonnie B

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

M thru F Noon

Men’s 12&12 Step

Jeff S

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

Wednesday 8 PM

Not A Glum Lot

Jerome N

All Hallows Episcopal Church

109 West Market Street Snow Hill

M/W/F 7:30 PM

Positive Attitude

Rob A

Stevenson United Methodist Church

123 N Main Street Berlin

Saturday 7 PM

Primary Purpose

VACANT

St Peter’s Lutheran Church

10301 Coastal Hwy Ocean City

Thursday 7 PM

Proud To Have Served

John M

Atlantic Club

11827 RT 50 West Ocean City

Wednesday 6 PM

Seaside Group

Stephanie L

St Peter’s Lutheran Church

10301 Coastal Hwy Ocean City

Wednesday 6 PM

Serenity Group

Noraleesha W

St Peter’s Lutheran Church

10301 Coastal Hwy Ocean City

Wednesday Noon

OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 4

YOUR TRUSTED SERVANTS IN MARYLAND GENERAL SERVICE DISTRICT 32

GROUP NAME or SERVICE FUNCTION

SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GROUP SERVICE NUMBER

District Committee Member (DCM) Linda C 567949 Alternate DCM Noraleesha W District Secretary Diane H District Treasurer Tony D 164 Jess V 651357 Action Group

Christa V, GSR Tom B, ALT GSR

106132

Assateague Group Kenny G 688443 Beginner’s Big Book Lauren Z 151078 Berlin 101 Women’s Big Book Patricia G 702515 Berlin Friendship VACANT 106249 Came To Believe

Tom J, GSR Edwin B, ALT GSR / 954-294-7381

PENDING

Come As You Are Jennie R 712370 Entirely Ready VACANT 707681 Free To Be Women’s Rosemary K 630308 Fresh Air John S 134324 Happy Hour Matt P 162049 Happy, Joyous & Free Women’s Step Study

VACANT

669456

Happy Risers

Mike M, GSR Karen L / ALT GSR

134126

Joy of Living

Diane H, GSR Joann W, ALT GSR

634037

Men’s 12&12 Step Study Tony D 700033 Not A Glum Lot Jerome N 708365 Positive Attitude Rob A 670055 Primary Purpose Group of North Ocean City

Rob W

668259

Proud To Have Served John M PENDING Seaside Group Stephanie L, Info Contact 106362 Serenity Group Rick B 126854

Step 11 – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our

conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for

knowledge of His will for us and the - to carry that out.

“There is a direct linkage among self-examination, meditation and prayer. Taken

separately, these practices can bring much relief and benefit. But when they are logically

related and interwoven, the result is an unshakable foundation for life.”

TWELVE STEPS & TWELVE TRADITIONS, P 98

OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 5

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

November 7 – “Where is My Place in A.A.?”

Workshop by Intergroup Liaison Committee, all Eastern Shore Districts and Intergroups

Saturday, 2 – 4 pm

Rockawalkin UMC Hall, 6777 Rockawalkin Road, Hebron, MD 21830

FREE

November 14 – Area Committee Meeting hosted by District 37

Saturday, 8:30 am – 2 pm

Open to all AA members. All DCMs and other Area Committee members should attend.

Lunch - $6

December 31, 2015-January 1, 2016 – Alcathon

Atlantic Club, 11827 RT 50, West Ocean City, MD 21842

There will be continuous meetings through the New Year’s Holiday; starting at 2:15 PM Dec 31, till

Jan 1 at 4:30 PM. (except from 9:30 PM-1:00 AM)

Beverages and snacks will be provided.

“Welcome, I remember my first meeting. I came as Batman.”

-David L., Rio Rancho, NM

District 32 and the Ocean City Area Fellowship Intergroup meet every first

Tuesday of the month at the Atlantic Club, 11827 Ocean Gateway (Route 50

Westbound), Ocean City, MD 21842. The District meeting starts at 5:30 PM,

followed by the Intergroup meeting at 6 PM.

OCAA NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Page 6

Finding My Place in A.A.

Many a newcomer to Alcoholics Anonymous is told about the importance of service, but then is

left hanging with no further instructions on where to go or what to do in order to pursue “our

real purpose.” Some would say that the problem boils down to a lack of good sponsorship. The

best sponsors not only guide their sponsees through the 12 Steps, but also through the 12

Traditions, and demonstrate by their example how to be of maximum service to God by carrying

the A.A. message to the alcoholic who still suffers. But where can a person go if he or she is not blessed to have such an

enlightened sponsor? How can the newcomer be of service? Where does he or she fit in? And what about those mid-

timers or old-timers who have never really gotten involved in our Third Legacy of Service? What is their place in

Alcoholics Anonymous?

Well, that’s exactly what our November workshop will address. On Saturday, November 7, from 2 to 4 p.m., our Ocean

City Area Fellowship Intergroup and Maryland General Service District 32 will partner with the two counties from the

Lower Shore Intergroup, the five counties from the Mid-Shore Intergroup, the Maryland General Service Intergroup

Liaison Committee, and MGS Districts 25, 37 & 38 for a power-packed afternoon about “Finding My Place in A.A.” at the

spacious Rockawalkin Community Hall located at 6777 Rockawalkin Road in Hebron, a short 40 minute drive from

Ocean City. A slate of nine presenters, some local and others from several hours away, will share their experience,

strength, and hope, and answer questions about all manner of A.A. service opportunities.

Topics on the agenda for the day include service in the home group – where it all begins, the need for both intergroup

and general service, answering services and 12th Step call lists, treatment facilities and bridging the gap between

treatment and recovery, public information, cooperation with the professional community, corrections services,

workshops and activities, and the benefits of service. There will be dozens of pamphlets and handouts available for the

taking, and free snacks and beverages will be offered, as well. Best of all, everything will be provided at no charge – paid

for by your local and area service committees.

Who stands to benefit from this event? Everyone! Whether you are a newcomer or have decades of service experience,

whether you have no service resume or have worked your way down to the bottom of the inverted service triangle,

whether you are a seasoned sponsor or are still looking for one, there will be something of value for you, and,

consequently, for your home group, your intergroup, your district, and A.A. as a whole. By attending, you will be inspired

to reach out to those who still suffer from the disease of alcoholism – and both of you will grow from the experience. You

will know the truth of the button that was seen frequently at our recent Area 29 Fall Convention, which proclaims

“Service is the Secret.”

And by bringing a carload of friends to this event, you will not only experience the miracle of the A.A. Fellowship on the

way there, at the workshop itself, and on the drive back home, but you will prepare yourself for even greater acts of love

and service in the future. Your enthusiasm will inspire others in your home group to get more involved in giving of

themselves, in the spirit of true service which is offered without expectation of reward. Your conversations with your

sponsor and sponsees will be energized, and you will become an active participant in the many promises of Alcoholics

Anonymous. What have you got to lose? Contempt prior to investigation? Self-justification? Self-righteousness? Self-

centeredness? Fear? False pride? Ego? Take a couple of hours to enhance your recovery and bless the lives of the many

you will be better equipped to help. We look forward to seeing you in Hebron on Saturday!

Yours in love and service,

Don B., Alternate Chair

Ocean City Area Fellowship Intergroup