From the Chair:
WE LIST ONLY AA MEETINGS
MEETING CHANGES
Dear Friends,
Since we are celebrating the 72nd Birthday of
Bethpage: New Life Group's Tue 7:30pm meeting is now a
Alcoholics Anonymous, June 10th, I thought it would
Closed Discussion. St Paul's Luth Ch, 449 Stewart Ave
be appropriate to share with you this synopsis, which
West Hempstead: Came to Believe Group's 8:00pm
was taken from The Best of Bill, pgs 84-85, titled
Closed Discussion meeting on Fri meets at St Thomas
“About Bill W.”
Rectory Meeting Room (basement), 24 Westminster
Bill W was born in East Dorset, Vermont, on Nov.
Rd./Hempstead Tpke.
26, 1895. With Dr Bob S. of Akron, Ohio, he co-
NEW MEETINGS
founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935.
Massapequa: A Step Forward meets Thu at 7:30pm
Hospitalized for alcoholism, he experienced a
(Closed Discussion meeting). St Rose of Lima RC Church,
profound spiritual transformation that changed his
Father Graham Center, 4704 Merrick Rd
life and inspired many of the principles of the AA
Massapequa: Sobriety in the Park Group meets at 7:00pm
movement.
on Tue (Closed Discussion meeting). Marjorie Post Park,
Unqua Road.
Bill W recognized that the recurring desire to
North Woodmere: Gratitude Group has added a Closed
drink disappears when one alcoholic works with
Discussion meeting on Thu at 7pm. N Woodmere Park,
another. This understanding became a basic
Branch Blvd (Admin Bldg).
principle of the new society. In addition, Bill
promoted the idea that alcoholism is an illness,
NIGHTBOOK
which can be arrested but not cured. Influenced by
Happy Spring!! I am enjoying this weather finally. Back in the
this AA concept, the American Medical Association
day I was sitting in some smelly, dark bar! Drinking till I fell
later redefined alcoholism as a disease, not a failure
down and passed out and missed the whole day. Today I am
of will.
free, thanks to AA. I know when I give back, I wind up getting
it back again tenfold. You people and God keep raising me
AA’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous, was
up! Thank you. The Hotline is filled until August, so call the
written largely by Bill W in association with other
office if you want to take a week in advance. Thanks to the
early AAs. Since its first publication in 1939, the Big
following groups for taking the Hotline in May:
Book, as it’s called, has sold more than 22 million
3 Oyster Bay/Sagamore – Oyster Bay
copies and has been translated into more than 40
3 Gratitude Group - Seaford
languages. Its revolutionary 12-Step program of
3 Triangle Group - Bayville
recovery is the model for many other recovery
3 Massapequa at Amityville Bottom Line–Amityville
programs.
Love & service,
Nightbook Chair
In the 12 Traditions, first developed and
nightbook@nassauny-aa(dot)org
presented in the pages of the Grapevine, Bill created
a lasting blueprint for AA unity, incorporating the
PHONE VOLUNTEERS:
unique principles of anonymity, self-support,
Anyone with 6 months sobriety, who is
membership, and non-affiliation.
interested in answering the phones,
In addition to his many writings, Bill devoted
CONTACT:
the
Office
Coordinator
himself to developing an enduring service structure
(516) 292-3045
for Alcoholics Anonymous. In June 1999, Time
Nassau Intergroup Picnic on July 15
magazine named Bill W as one of the hundred most
influential people of the 20th Century. He passed
Spring is in full swing. The sunny daffodils have died
off, calling in hotter days, reminding us that summer is
away on January 24, 1971.
almost here. And with anticipation we are looking forward
I am so grateful to be an active member of
to our July 15th Nassau Intergroup picnic.
Alcoholics Anonymous.
Last year was a lot of fun -- my family and I joined
Happy Anniversary to those celebrating in this
Richie and his friends from the South 9th Street group.
beautiful month of June!
We all played wonderful arcade games that looked like
Blessed to Serve,
something out of 1950s Coney Island. My son Vinny
Intergroup Chairperson
nudged himself into a game of bocce ball while I hit a few
chair@nassauny(dot)org
over the volleyball net – meanwhile, hamburgers, hot
dogs, and Italian sausages were grilling. All were sharing
From Ed, the Literature Guy
food, fellowship, and recovery. The planning for this
year’s event has already begun.
Available now at Nassau Intergroup: In Our Own Words,
a new collection of personal stories from The Grapevine that
In Service,
focuses on the difficulties faced by alcoholics who are young
2007 Picnic Chairperson
in years and the sober joys that await them.
picnic@nassauny-aa(dot)org
