SOUTHERN DELAWARE INTERGROUP NEWSLETTER JULY 2026

Highlighted Step/Tradition/Concept for July

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

“Oh lord, its hard to be humble…when you’re perfect in every way” (Mac Davis circa 1980). Now, I don’t know about you, but I never thought I was perfect in any way at all…but boy oh boy did I spend A LOT of time and energy trying to convince other people I was! I was never going to admit I was sad, scared, overwhelmed, angry, or lacked confidence.  Ironically, many people commented on how they admired how confident I was. It was one of the numerous descriptors people would use to describe me that would make me think “if they only knew.” Meanwhile, I would keep my game face on in public and retreat to my real self privately, battling the demons that plagued me… then be upset that no one knew! Growing up in an alcoholic household I learned how to survive very early on, and, in turn, developed a fierce sense of false pride. I thought humility equaled humiliation. My brain was warped before I ever touched a drop of alcohol.

I had NO IDEA that sobriety would lead me to freedom. It took me a long time in the rooms to admit I was really whipped and my life had become completely unmanageable. The first time I called my sponsor admitting I wanted to drink, something changed in me. Lightening didn’t strike, her head didn’t burst into flames, and she certainly didn’t humiliate me. She said something like “well of course you do, you’re an alcoholic.” We chatted for a few minutes and were laughing before we hung up. That call opened the door to countless admissions and taught me how to be humble and vulnerable. It was ok to not be perfect…because DUH….NO ONE IS PERFECT!

I am so grateful and blessed to be part of this amazing fellowship. Who knew that a little bite of humble pie would rocket me to the fourth dimension and a life beyond my wildest dreams!  Thank you Bill, Dr. Bob and all the millions of people before me who proved this really works. Pass it on!
Beth S/Your humble servant and Intergroup Chair

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.