September 2024 News
September 2024 Newsletter
September brings great opportunities as we transition into a new season. We will be examining, discussing and working on the Ninth Step in the Ninth Month. We will be gathering with our friends in fellowship at the Bash on the Beach (details below) and the many other occasions that arise to grab coffee or head out to lunch or dinner after a meeting. So enjoy the shoulder season and remember the importance of connection in our recovery.
During this Ninth month, let’s take a look at Step 9, Tradition 9 and Concept 9.
Step 9: “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
As soon as we begin to feel confident in our new way of life and have begun, by our behavior and example, to convince those about us that we are indeed changing for the better, it is usually safe to talk in complete frankness with those who have been seriously affected, even those who may be only a little or not at all aware of what we have done to them. The only exceptions we will make will be cases where our disclosure would cause actual harm. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (page 85), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Tradition 9: “A.A. as such ought never be organized; but we may create service boards and committees directly responsible to those they serve. “
A.A. has to function, but at the same time it must avoid those dangers of great wealth, prestige, and entrenched power which necessarily tempt other societies. Though Tradition Nine at first sight seems to deal with a purely practical matter, in its actual operation it discloses a society without organization, animated only by the spirit of service — a true fellowship. — Reprinted from Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions© (page 177), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Concept 9: “Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are at all levels indispensable for our future functioning and safety.”
A leader in A.A. service is therefore a man (or woman) who can personally put principles, plans and policies into such dedicated and effective action that the rest of us want to back him up and help him with his job. When a leader power-drives us badly, we rebel; but when he too meekly becomes an order-taker and he exercises no judgment of his own — well, he really isn’t a leader at all. Good leadership originates plans, policies, and ideas for the improvement of our Fellowship and its services. But in new and important matters, it will nevertheless consult widely before taking decisions and actions. Good leadership will also remember that a fine plan or idea can come from anybody, anywhere. Consequently, good leadership will often discard its own cherished plans for others that are better, and it will give credit to the source. — Reprinted from The A.A. Service Manual combined with Twelve Concepts, 2021-2023 Edition (page c29) , with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
Southern Delaware Intergroup Monthly Meeting — Join us on Thursday September 5 at 6 P.M. via Zoom. Meeting ID: 987-8810-5001, Passcode: 914711. Our intergroup is a resource for 12-Step work and Alcoholics Anonymous information in Southern Delaware. Please consider volunteering for a service opportunity, which includes most Intergroup committees. For more information about what each Committee does, see our Service Committees page and plan to attend our next intergroup meeting.
International Conference of Secular A.A. with Al-Anon Participation
Date: November 20-22, 2024
Venue: DoubleTree Hilton at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
Website: www.aasecular.org
The flyer: https://aasecular.org/icsaa2024
For District Meeting Times and Dates visit: Events – Southern Delaware Intergroup (sussexaa.org)
2024 Annual Bash at the Beach
When: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Pavilion at Henlopen State Park
15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE. – Follow Signs (Main Beach Area)
Cost: $12.00 – tickets can be purchased through many local AA members. If you cannot locate tickets in advance, call Kristan T. at 202-664-6212. Parking Cost: $5 in-state and $10 out-of-state
Guest Speakers – Food – Fun – Fellowship – Music – Games
Please bring a side dish or dessert. For more information, contact events@sussexaa.org
When is the International 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 90th 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!
The latest Box 459 is filled with information about the 74th General Services Conference, which was held in April. Participants discussed topics integral to A.A. members, groups, districts, areas and regions across the U.S. and Canada.
Discussions included the creation of pamphlet for the Asian and Asian-American alcoholic, the transgender alcoholic, as well as revisions on several other publications. To view Box 549, go to: https://www.aa.org/box-459
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 1st of each month.