SOUTHERN DELAWARE INTERGROUP NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2026

Highlighted Step/Tradition/Concept for August

Step 8: “Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.”

Sometimes I wonder if we can ever completely clear all of those who laid in the wake of the wreckage of our past. Who made the cut and who didn’t even get an honorable mention? What about those who played an active part in our wrongdoings? Do they deserve a face-to-face admission and amends?  How many 4^th and 5^th steps would it take to guarantee that list has been fearlessly and thoroughly compiled? Isn’t it enough that we have changed our behavior? If not, why?

Step 8 prepares us for the priceless gift of humility, which many of us were lacking before our sober journeys began. We come to realize making this list has more to do with our progress and not so much about a desired response from the person listed. The continual self-searching and inventory is imperative for our growth and equal footing with our loved ones and our peers. As scary and painful as it may be, revisiting our histories and deciphering our behaviors unlocks the door to freedom from the past and bondage of self. Facing those we have harmed, regardless of their part in it, changes us. And isn’t that what we’re here for after all?

— Beth S/Your Humble Servant & Intergroup Chair

Tradition 8: “Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.”,

“Alcoholics Anonymous will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words “Freely ye have received, freely give.” We have discovered that at the point of professionalism, money and spirituality do not mix. Almost no recovery from alcoholism has ever been brought about by the world’s best professionals, whether medical or religious. We do not decry professionalism in other fields, but we accept the sober fact that it does not work for us. Every time we have tried to professionalize our Twelfth Step, the result has been exactly the same: our single purpose has been defeated.”

— Reprinted from The Twelve and Twelve – page 166.

Concept 8: “The Trustees of the General Service Board act in two primary capacities: (a) With respect to the larger matters of over-all policy and finance, they are the principal planners and administrators. They and their primary committees directly manage these affairs. (b) But with respect to our separately incorporated and constantly active services, the relation of the Trustees is mainly that of full stock ownership and of custodial oversight which they exercise through their ability to elect all directors of these entities.

— Reprinted from A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Services with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

The wake-up call group was founded in 2012 by Dino D and Gerry C and was originally held on Monday mornings at 7am at Dry Dock using the “24 Hour A Day” reading to set the tone for the meeting. On August 9, 2013, the group added a Friday meeting and read from Daily Reflections to get it started. The group changed locations in October 2014 to its current home at St. Georges Chapel on Beaver Dam Road in Harbeson and by late 2015 was holding 5 meetings a week using a different literature format each day.

As with many of our groups the 2020 pandemic shut down in-person meetings, but the Wake-up call group prevailed, and virtual meetings were held 5 days a week via Zoom. In-person meetings were held in the parking lot from August through December where some brave souls weathered 40 degree mornings!  During that time the group’s commitment to the 7^th tradition yielded an average of a $300 monthly contribution via Venmo. Luckily by April 2021, after submitting detailed plans for sanitizing and PPE the St. Georges administration agreed to resume in-person meetings 3 days a week while the virtual meetings continued to thrive due to the availability to reach members beyond the confines of Sussex County.

By 2023 in-person meetings were back in full swing and the virtual meetings ceased and the meeting changed from “closed” to “open.”  The 2024 installation of a new Group Chair, Rick H led to the re-structuring of seating arrangements from classroom to roundtable so members could all see each other. Also, the groups’ 12 Step Commitment led to participation at Banyon, Sun, and Impact Life House. However, 2024 also ended with sadness at the passing of 3 beloved members; Robb C, Neil, and Joyce M.

In 2025 Larry H assumed the role of Group Chair and the tradition of “newcomer” and “visitor” chips being distributed accordingly was started. The group was represented at NERAASA in Maine by Dawn L and at the International AA Convention in Vancouver by Joe A. The year 2025-2026 anniversary was also marked by the loss of Cliff T who will be remembered fondly.

The group would like to thank all its past/present Chairs including our founder Dino D, Dewey M, Gary T, Joe A, Francis W, Rick H, and currently Larry H. The group just celebrated its 14^th anniversary with a widely attended breakfast and guest speaker.

Today the 7am Wake-Up Call group holds meetings at St. Georges in Harbeson Thursday thru Monday and uses designated AA literature daily for its format.  The group continues to thrive and is committed to 12^th step service and  7^th tradition contributions remain strong.

Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting