District 14 met on 4 May in Belleville with the 623 Group hosting. There were 31 GSR’s and guests in attendance. The 8 June 2003 meeting will be hosted by the 623 Group. The 13 July and 10 August 2003 meetings will be hosted by Kings House. There will be no meeting in September according to tradition. The 12 October 2003 meeting will be hosted by the Coffee Pot Group in Shiloh. The time for all GSR Meetings remains the same at 1 pm. See you there…..

NOTES FROM THE MEETING:

Corrections: Doug T. (337-8451). Always need more volunteers for people to go into SWICC.

Webmaster: Rick H. (277-8549). The District 14 website has been redesigned. A lot of links were removed. The message board has been removed. Basically, the website has been streamlined.

PI: Chuck G. (337-5327). Chuck actually was asked to participate in a panel presentation and discussion of 12-Step programs at St Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. Both public and private recovery facilities were represented. Everything went very well according to Chuck.

Bridging the Gap: Gordon N. (222-0786). Actually received a call during the past month. A lady called about getting some help for her son, who was/is in Gateway. Gordon actually suggested that she go to Ala-Non for her. However, some information for her son was provided; where meetings are, etc.

Treatment: Udell G. (332-2414). Still having trouble getting groups to sponsor the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month at Gateway. Need groups to cover these nights by holding meetings at Gateway. At least one person from each group that will sponsor those nights. The meetings are 1 hour long and begin at 7 pm. Call Udell if you want more information…..

2003 Alkathon: St Peters Cathedral School has been reserved. We are looking for a person to be the Chairperson and then a group or group of people to be the committee. Always a daunting task, but the results are worth it…..

2004 Corned Beef & Cabbage: St Peters Cathedral School has been reserved. The date will be the 14th of March 2004. More later….

Group Exchange: Maggie came over from St Louis to discuss with the District 14 GSR’s the concept of visiting other groups across the river and vice versa. The Cahokia Serenity Group had brought a group of 5 people to her home group and took over the meeting, which became a speaker meeting for that night. It went exceptionally well. In return, the Lady of Our Sorrows Group brought a group of people to Cahokia for a meeting. It also went exceptionally well. The next meeting of the committee that is guiding this concept along is on 12 May 2003 at 7 pm at the Tyler Presbyterian Church over in St Louis. Call Sue S. (398-3648) or Maggie E. (398-7012) for more information. Directions on how to get there…..and more…..

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The East St Louis 12 x 12 will be holding their Annual June Teen Picnic on 14 June 2003 at Frank Holten State Park. This is at 73 Lake Drive in Centreville IL. More info later……

The Annual Dr Bobs West/East picnic will be held on Saturday, 4 Oct 2003 at Bellevue Memorial Park. More later……

BIRTHDAYS: (Birthdays will only be entered if they occur before or on the date of the GSR Meeting; otherwise, they will be entered in the next Booze News)

Sparta 212 Group:

Shiloh Coffee Pot Group: Jere B. – 11 yrs, Gordon N. – 9 yrs.

Dr Bobs: Roy B. – 16 yrs,
Kings House: Carol Anne – 10 yrs, John P. – 7 yrs.

Collinsville Honesty Group: Gary G. – 15 yrs, Ken C. – 10 yrs, Steve H. – 5 yrs, Steve L. – 1 yr.

Cahokia Serenity Group: Chuck G. – 3yrs.

O’Fallon Trailer Group: Sally – 16 yrs, Jim P. – 10 yrs, Karen T., Kayla B. – 1 yr.

623 Group: Dennis – 23 yrs, Marc S. – 20 yrs, Randy – 13 yrs, Sandy – 11 yrs, Robbie M. – 9 yrs, Connie, Randy – 1 yr, Laurie L. – 6 mos.

Mascoutah Group: Nedra C. – 21 yrs.

Rule 62, Part 95: I’m supposed to be a millionaire, but it would be dangerous to offer me the position. Courtesy of the late Ed S. New Athens IL.

Rule 62, Part 96: I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life. Courtesy of Don Myers. Olive Branch IL.

Rule 62, Part 97: I’ve learned that days are long, but life is short. Courtesy of Don Myers. Olive Branch IL.

Rule 62, Part 98: I’ve learned that happiness is like perfume, you can’t give it away without getting a little on yourself. Courtesy of Don Myers. Olive Branch IL.

The 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th Group of Ten Rules for Sobriety

61) Maintain a balance: spiritual, physical, emotional and mental.
62) Don't use other substances as a maintenance program.
63) Learn to take spot check inventories.
64) Watch out for the RED FLAGS ... things that give excuses for poor
behavior and inevitable relapse.
65) Know that its okay to be human ... just don't drink over it.
66) Be kind to yourself; it's about time, don't you think.
67) Don't take yourself so seriously - take the disease seriously!
68) Know that whatever it is that's causing pain - it shall pass.
69) Stay as far away from the DRY DRUNK SYNDROME as humanly as possible.
70) Don't give away more than you can afford to --- your sobriety comes
first and must be the number 1 priority. Protect it at all costs.
71) Take down those bricks from the wall around you; you'll be able to
see the daylight better. Let people know who you are.
72) Get a home group and attend it regularly.
73) Know that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming
train, but actually a ray of hope. Drop the negativity.
74) Know that you are not alone. That's why the "We" is in the steps.
75) Be willing to go to any lengths to stay and be sober.
76) Know that no matter how bleak and dark your past may be, your
future is clean, bright and clear if you don't drink today.
77) Stay out of your own way.
78) Don't be in a hurry--remember "TIME = Things I Must Earn".
79) Watch the EGO. "EGO = Ease God Out".
80) Protect your sobriety at all costs. Keep the light on you.
81) Learn to listen, not just hear. Be open-minded and nonjudgmental.
82) Know that if your insides match your outsides, everyone looks good.
83) If the rest of the world looks bad, check yourself out first.
84) Gratitude is in the attitude.
85) When all else fails ... punt! Up the number of meetings!!!
86) Remember FEAR = FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL!
87) Remember FINE = Fouled up, Insecure/insane, Neurotic and Emotionally
unbalanced...watch the FINE.
88) Handle what you can and leave the rest, don't overtax yourself.
You can only accomplish so much in a given 24 hours.
89) Honesty and consistency are key factors in recovery.
90) Let the little kid in you out - learn how to laugh from the gut.
Editor: (click here).(277- 9730)