2024 Newsletter

As July rolls in, we spend time celebrating Independence Day commemorating the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. As we celebrate freedom as a nation, we also can reflect on the word freedom, recognizing that it comes in many forms and most often is life changing. One definition of freedom is “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved”. This description of freedom can also apply to our journey of sobriety and recovery – no longer in the clutches of alcohol. Let’s be grateful for each day that we choose not to drink one day at a time.

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

Step 7: “Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

The 7th Step Prayer: “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.

— Reprinted from The Twelve and Twelve – page 70.

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. 2 Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.”

Reprinted from The Twelve and Twelve – page 161.

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.”

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

Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — July 4th meeting is canceled due to the holiday!

Bash at the Beach – Save the Date of September 15^th! Another year of food, fellowship, and fun. More info to come.

For District Meeting Times and Dates visit: Events – Southern Delaware Intergroup (sussexaa.org)

Area 12 Convention Kick-Off Celebration July 28 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please visit: https://sussexaa.org/events/event/area-12-convention-kick-off-celebration

When is the convention? How do I get into Canada if I have a past legal incident? Will there be a mobile app for the Convention? Get answers to these and many other Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here:  https://www.aa.org/international-convention-2025-faqs

The 2025 A.A. International Convention is scheduled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! An International A.A. Convention is held every five years and this year marks the 90^th anniversary of the beginning of our fellowships founding and is titled “90 Years – Language of the Heart. More information is published regularly at https://www.aa.org/international-convention

Meanwhile, here is a glimpse:

Vancouver will welcome A.A. members from around the world for the 2025 International Convention. The International Convention will take place from July 3 – 6, 2025, at the Vancouver Convention Centre and BC Place Stadium. As the Convention approaches, AA will update the website with registration information. Let’s celebrate sobriety together in Vancouver in 2025!

Want to be part of this newsletter? We would love to hear from you! We’re always interested in receiving short articles and experiences written by our A.A. members for possible publication. All submissions are subject to review and editing. Send submissions to support@sussexaa.org. Below are some ideas.

• How you worked a specific step.
• A favorite A.A. slogan and how it has helped you.
• Something your sponsor said that impacted you.

Subscribing to this Newsletter via e-mail is very easy. Simply email “subscribe” to support@sussexaa.org or sign up online and you will receive the monthly email on the 1^st of each month.