July marks a time where we can reflect on our freedom which is a meaningful word during this month. Those of us in recovery know a little bit about freedom — we are, after all, free from the bondage of alcoholism that kept us in captivity and misery.

Our 9th Step Promises reveals we are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. Our 7th Step describes a true freedom of the human spirit. The Big Book Foreword to Second Edition gives an invitation to join the high road to a new freedom. How it Works describes the triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. A Vision for You tells us about taking the steps into freedom. In Step 12 we found that freedom from fear was more important than freedom from want. And in Freedom from Bondage, we understood the story of being set free. It’s a good time to be grateful for each day.

During this July month, let’s take a look at Step 7, Tradition 7 and Concept 7.

Step 7 — Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. The Seventh Step is where we make the change in our attitude which permits us, with humility as our guide, to move out from ourselves toward others and toward God. The whole emphasis of Step Seven is on humility. It is really saying to us that we now ought to be willing to try humility in seeking the removal of our other shortcomings just as we did when we admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, and came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. If that degree of humility could enable us to find the grace by which such a deadly obsession could be banished, then there must be hope of the same result respecting any other problem we could possibly have. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (page 76), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Tradition 7 — Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 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. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (pages 166-167), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Concept 7 — The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments: that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document: that it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the A.A. purse for its final effectiveness. This concept may appear to be contradictory; it may look like the collision of an irresistible force with an immovable object. On the one hand we see a Board of Trustees which is invested with complete legal power over A.A.’s funds and services, while on the other hand we find that A.A.’s General Service Conference is clothed with such great traditional influence and financial power that, if necessary, it could overcome the legal rights of the Board of Trustees. It can therefore give the Trustees directives and secure compliance with them — practically speaking. — Reprinted from The A.A. Service Manual combined with Twelve Concepts, 2021-2023 Edition (page c21) , with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

2022 Gratitude Breakfast

SDIAA is pleased to announce the annual Gratitude Breakfast will return live and in-person this year at the Indian River Fire Hall located on 32628 Oak Orchard Road in Millsboro. The breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM on November 19. Tickets will be $15.

2020 Gratitude Breakfast Ticket Holders
Please make note that 2020 ticket holders will receive credit for the 2022 Gratitude Breakfast on November 19, provided the following is done.

1. On or before August 1, send an email to events@sussexaa.org with your name and the number of 2020 tickets you plan on using. Please make sure you receive a confirmation reply.
2. Present the actual ticket(s) at the door for the 2022 Gratitude Breakfast on November 19.

As this event usually sells out, the committee thanks you for understanding these requirements. With the Fire Hall having a maximum occupancy of 230, we will honor 2020 ticket holders, but need know how exactly how many new tickets we can sell.

SDIAA Bylaws Update

As mentioned last month, a new draft of the SDIAA Bylaws is ready for review and approval by the Intergroup representatives (IGRs). Go here to review the SDIAA draft Bylaws (May 2022) and go here to review the current bylaws (April 12, 2022) for comparison. You can also visit our Bylaws page where you can find both documents.

The procedure for accepting these bylaws is as follows

1. IGRs will have until the September 1, 2022 intergroup meeting to review the updated bylaws draft with their respective home groups.
2. Once the draft is reviewed by their respective home group, any questions, comments or clarifications should be submitted by the IGR to support@sussexaa.org no later than August 15, 2022.
3. Approval of the updated bylaws will be by a simple majority of those IGRs attending the September 1, 2022 meeting.
4. Each IGR will have one vote. If an IGR cannot attend the September meeting then the Alternate IGR (AIGR) can cast their home group’s vote.

Service Opportunities

We have a few opportunities to provide valuable service to Southern Delaware Intergoup and help ensure the hand of Alcoholics Anonymous to always be there.

• Intergroup Vice Chair — Acts as Chairperson in the Chair’s absence and assumes other responsibilities as delegated by the Chair.
• Archives Committee Chair — The mission of the Archives Committee is to collect, preserve, and protect a variety of original material containing information of permanent historical value relating to the history of A.A. in Sussex County.
• Website/Tech Committee Chair — Convenes monthly meetings with the committee regarding website/tech activity and reports at the monthly intergroup meeting.
• Liaison Area 12 — Serves as the conduit between Area 12 and Intergroup, representing Intergroup at area assemblies and area committee meetings.

For more information, see our Service Committees page and plan to attend our monthly intergroup meeting this Thursday. Any questions? Please contact us by email.

Mark Your Calendar

Upcoming events that may be of interest to you.

• Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — Join us on Thursday, July 7 at 6PM via Zoom. Meeting ID: 821 1107 1538, Passcode: 186548. Our intergroup is a resource for 12-Step work and Alcoholics Anonymous information in Southern Delaware.

• 7th Annual Unity & Service Conference — Held from July 8 through July 10, the Unity & Service Conference will be held online and in-person this year at the Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord, CA 94520. They have a full slate of speakers lined up for the conference. Download the 2022 Flyer. Please see the event website for more information and to register.

• North/South Virtual Special Forum — The virtual forum runs on July 16 from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. Registration is now open. Please go here to register. The event is free and is open to all. Members from the service structures of Argentina, Canada, Chile and the United States will share their experience, strength and hope in extending the hand of A.A. to Remote Communities. More information can be found on our event page and this flyer. Any questions can be sent to northsouthconnections@aa.org.

• 2022 Annual SDIAA Bash at the Beach — Join your local community on Sunday, September 18 at the Main Pavilion at Cape Henlopen State Park for a fun-filled day that includes guest speakers, food, fun, fellowship, music, games, the beach and more! Cost this year will be $7. Please note the parking costs — $5 in state & $10 out-of-state. For more information, contact events@sussexaa.org

• 2022 Gratitude Breakfast — It’s back this year live and in person on November 19 at the Indian River Fire Hall located on 32628 Oak Orchard Road in Millsboro. This year the Gratitude Breakfast will coincide with Gratitude Month — a traditional time to express our collective gratitude for our individual sobriety. For more information, contact events@sussexaa.org