| Anonymous TimesPublished by North Orange County InterGroup Association of Alcoholics Anonymous Groups, Inc. (714) 773-HELP 1661 E. Chapman Avenue, Suite 1H Fullerton, CA 92831 www.aanoc.org |
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STEP EIGHT Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. |
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TRADITION EIGHT Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. |
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PRINCIPLE EIGHT Brotherly Love (Forgiveness) |
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CONCEPT EIGHT The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of over-all policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities. |
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EIGHTH STEP PRAYER Higher Power, 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 have been forgiving to me. Grant me the willingness to begin my restitution. |
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Becoming Willing When you become "willing" to make the amends necessary, you don't actually have to "do" anything in the way of amends just yet. But you do have to be honest with yourself. Making a list of the persons you have harmed requires you to examine and face your behaviors without making excuses for them. As you continue to compile your list, ask yourself the following questions: - Were you kind, tolerant, and considerate of others?
- Were you mean spirited, impatient, and selfish?
- What were your motives when dealing with family members, friends, and co-workers?
- Were you only concerned with getting what you wanted and not with what was right?
- Did you pour out self-pity on those from whom you thought you could extract sympathy?
By asking yourself these questions, you will be able to form a more complete list of those to whom you can make amends now or in the future. Like each of the 12 steps, step 8 takes commitment as you journey toward lasting recovery. Step 8 forms the base for all future relationships with ourselves and others; if we can let go of our previous hurts to others, we can begin a new facet of sobriety. |
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| FUN FACTS FOR AUGUST 08/05/1940: The Christian Herald reviews the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. "There is a book on alcohol you should read...The unnamed alcoholics write their own stories, and those stories are dynamite." 08/08/1879: AA's cofounder Dr. Bob is born in St. Johnsbury, VT. 08/11/1938: First meeting of the Alcoholic Foundation. 08/16/1939: Dr. Bob and Sr. Ignatia admit the first of over 5,000 drunks they will treat at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, OH over the next 10 years. 08/28/1954: 24 Hours a Day is published by Richard W. |
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THE KEYS TO YOUR CELL By: Tony B. The July addition of the Grapevine was "The Annual Prison" Issue. I have thought a lot about how this pertains to me and my alcoholism. I have been in jail – a couple of overnight visits. Quite a detestable experience. The only way I could get out of this mess I’d made for myself was to wait for someone to release me. They had to provide, at the right time, not mine, the key. I believe if we’re looking, searching for answers, if we are behind the bars in our life (alcohol addiction) and looking for a key, the key, any key, they are available. The keys come in many forms. Words, an analogy, or metaphor can be revelatory. I have found those keys coming from my sponsor, the Bible, in the Big Book, in meetings of AA or Celebrate Recovery. I have found word keys for my various defects (jail cells) in all these options. From my sponsor: I’ve had numerous meetings where his words were able to give me direction, joy, and release. The program directs us to find, pray for, seek a person with same sex, significant sobriety, experience with the many jail cells where we’ve been or are incarcerated! From the Bible: “and a brother(sister) is born for adversity”. Proverbs 17:17 My friends are for me. I like the thought that when I really feel I’m in trouble, I can use the phone or drive and meet my sponsor and/or my accountability group of men. They seriously want to help me and I, them. These men have the keys to set me free! |
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Election Results: 2021/2022 NOCCO Service Board |
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* Live email links embedded as permitted by NOCCO Service Board members |
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Common Elements of AA Slogans______ These 3 things are actually very much in line with AA’s fundamental principles. ____ The first is a belief in a Higher Power to help you. ____ Slogans also emphasize how important it is to take the first step and know that it is the correct one. ____ AA slogans motivate you to constantly hang in there and not let your efforts go to waste. |
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| AA’S THIS’ & THAT’S: By: Marie W. If you have spent any time in AA going to meetings or talking to someone in the program, you have most likely heard some of the following AA “isms.” An “ism” is a short saying that carries a message. We in AA have a rich collection of “isms” that are referred to quite often. Listed below are just some of the “isms” I have heard. Test yourself to see how many you know. These are in no particular order: - Don’t quit before the miracle happens.
- One Day at a Time.
- Where two or more are gathered: there is a meeting.
- Stinking thinking.
- Don’t take someone’s inventory.
- Have you asked your Higher Power for help?
- Work an HONEST program.
- There go I but for the grace of God.
- 90 meetings in 90 days.
- Keep coming back! It works if you work it!
- There are no coincidence’s AA.
- You have to give it away, to keep it
- You are a miracle.
These are just some of the many “isms” we talk about in AA. How many more do you know? Here is my very last “ism” for this article... Did you know we all start out being “cucumbers?” Once we become alcoholics: we turn into a “pickle.” And a pickle can never go back to being a “cucumber.” Once we admit to ourselves, we are an alcoholic, we will always be an “alcoholic.” A PICKLE. What we can and do is become HAPPY- SOBER- SERENE-PICKLES. |
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An Important Message from the Outreach Committee |
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Earlier this month, the North Orange County Intergroup Association launched new technology to manage information on live, hybrid and virtual meetings in our community. We were able to combine multiple meeting lists into a single resource containing all meetings. The NOCCO meeting database is now linked to the “Meeting Guide App”, a free of charge meeting finder for iOS and Android that provides meeting information in an easy-to-access format. If you don't have the app, you can get it on Google Play or download from the App Store. |
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| This new tool is only as good as the information it holds. To ensure we have correct information to guide newcomers and visitors alike, we are asking that YOU review the meeting information for your groups. Have you moved from a virtual to a hybrid meeting? Has your meeting reopened in a new venue? You can provide us with updated information by clicking on the button below, submitting changes directly from the page of your listing, or by clicking on the icon from the home page of the www.aanoc.org website. Your input is needed and truly appreciated. Outreach is an important part of what we do at NOCCO and this is the first step in carrying the message to those still suffering. |
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NOCCO Hotline - (714) 773-HELP (4357) We are available 24/7. All calls are confidential. Phones answered by sober volunteers. |
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COMING SEPT 2021 Prayer & Meditation: AA members share the many ways they connect spiritually |
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| Prayer & Meditation features powerful stories by members of Alcoholics Anonymous about the many ways they pray and meditate in their daily lives. The stories in this book show how members begin to pray and meditate and then branch out to develop very personal, and often creative, ways to practice. Chapters include: daily routines, traditional religious practices, activities and exercise, personal techniques, |
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| the Serenity Prayer, and connecting with nature and the universe. All stories were previously published in Grapevine, the International Journal of AA. Great for people in recovery or those who want to explore prayer and meditation. |
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$15 plus tax Call us at (714) 773-4357 NOCCO can ship now! |
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NOCCO's Neighborhood Feed |
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In Loving Memory On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Isabel H - mother, daughter, spouse and sister - passed away surrounded by loved ones. The service was held on Saturday, July 17th at Christ Community Church in Buena Park. Her sisters in sobriety have made contributions to NOCCO in her honor. |
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August Birthdays It works if you work it, One Day At A Time. Jane B - 08/04/1984 - 37 years Ed G - 08/16/85 - 36 years Wes M - 08/24/86 - 35 years Rick S - 08/06/20 - 1 year |
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Faithful Fivers Geraldine W., Faith, Kirk, Scott N., Rose W., James S., Michael V., Greg, W.D.G., Cheryle D., Cliff, Karen, Debby, Nicki, and our monthly Anonymous benefactor. Thank you for your contributions of $5 to NOCCO. To join the Faithful Fivers club, go online to https://www.aanoc.org/7th-tradition. Every time you buy NOCCO a cup of coffee, an angel gets her wings! - (or something like that). |
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Do you have something special to report for our monthly neighborhood feed? Please email birthdays, celebrations, sober activities and other odds and ends to rikki@aanoc.org. |
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| InterGroup Meeting - Aug 12 @7:30pm Please join us at the next NOCCO InterGroup Meeting. InterGroup Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm. |
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| Group Contributions - July 2021 To help support local essential services, the General Service Conference suggests that individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan. Click below to see all of the Group Contributions from last month. |
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| NOCCO Profit & Loss - July 2021 Each month, NOCCO provides accounting detail of income and expenses to indicate net profit or loss over the last month. This information is available to any group or member. Click below to see the financial detail from last month. |
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NOCCO Appreciates Your 7th Tradition Support Even though meetings, 12-step services and operations have shifted to a hybrid environment, expenses continue as we navigate the re-opening of meetings, which underscores the importance of practicing the Seventh Tradition. We still stock literature, handle 12-step calls around the clock, and assist those with a desire to stop drinking. Your generous support is critical and appreciated. |
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| AA GSO Staff Opening Applications are once again being sought for a G.S.O. Staff Member. G.S.O. Staff are members of Alcoholics Anonymous who rotate through the various assignments such as Corrections, Public Information, Cooperation with the Professional Community, Literature, Conference, etc. They also correspond with A.A.s on all aspects of recovery and service. Additionally, they represent the General Service Office at A.A. functions throughout the U.S. and Canada and provide the primary staff support for the General Service Board and the annual General Service Conference. The resume and application are due by September 21, 2021 to be considered by the Nominating Committee. |
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New Grapevine Publisher Dear friends and Fellowship, The Board of AA Grapevine, Inc. is fortunate to announce that Chris C. has accepted the role of Publisher at AA Grapevine, Inc. effective August 15th of 2021. Please click on the button below to read the complete announcement from the Chairman of the Board. |
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Follow Grapevine and LaViña on Instagram To follow us on Instagram, use these addresses: |
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I am Responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. For that, I am responsible. |
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Thanks to all contributors who support NOCCO. |
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© Copyright, 2024, North Orange County InterGroup Association of Alcoholics Anonymous Groups, Inc. • 1661 E. Chapman Avenue - Suite 1H, Fullerton CA 92831 |
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