April 2022 Intergroup News
CONTENTS
Sponsorship
By Emily L.
Working On It
By Abby H.
I was told by a friend in another program that in order to find a good sponsor, I should ask someone who has what I want. So that’s what I did. Perhaps it was one of the first things I did using that thing people call “faith.” I figured that it would work out.
When I met my soon-to-be-sponsor she was kind and paid attention to me, something I accepted with relief. She answered my questions and told me that she could relate to what I said. She also seemed similar to me, maybe she grew up around here, I thought.
Before I came to SLAA I tried to find a solution to my problems by sponsoring myself, in a sense. I was obsessed with self-help books. I would try to get insight on why I had trouble with men and how I could be more attractive. Maybe if I took this personality quiz I’d find out answers to questions like, am I on the right track? Do I have potential? Am I likeable? Am I doomed? One book was called How the World Sees You. Perfect!
Since following directions is a strong suit of mine in every other area of life besides this one, I made the decision to try it in this program. I was going to find a real human to help me instead of a book.
There’s a funny meme I saw that had the words “How my spons-ees see me” on top of a handsome picture of Matthew McConaughey in a tux. The next picture shows the words “How my spons-or sees me” overlaying another Matthew McCoconahay looking like a guy who rolled around in dirt sprinkled with rocks, and maybe some glass, too.
I picked my sponsor because compared to where I was, she was wearing a tux at that meeting.
What I now find most valuable about working together is how seriously she takes this program and her commitment as my sponsor. At minimum I check in with her four times per week, even after over 2 years of sobriety. Plus, we meet extra time when my next bit of step work is done.
Since part of my disease is thinking I don’t have this disease, I need people around me who know the truth. I am a sex and love addict. She has all the evidence, because I told her, like yesterday and all the days before. She simply has to hold a mirror up. Just like I hired a personal trainer to hold me accountable for my exercise, I need someone to hold me accountable for my sanity, times 100.
I need a sponsor because I need to build intimacy. I need someone to know everything about me and still accept me. She didn’t hear about my past and say, “well your past is too terrible, I don't accept you as a sponsee.” She also didn't say, “well looks like you graduated and you don’t need to be here!”
She accepts me because she’s not my “friend” in the common sense of the word. We have a different kind of relationship. Just like I have a different relationship with my mom and one with my sister. As a sponsor it’s a bit top-down, meaning, there is equal respect, but we are useful to each other in different ways.
I don’t know her politics, her religion, or the details of her life. Her sponsor helps her with those. She’s there to help me with difficult situations surrounding all of those things in my life, however. While I’m aware she doesn’t actually wear a tux all the time, I’m grateful when she takes the role of my sponsor, she puts it on. She practices the principles and the traditions and is able to teach me to do the same. I can’t be more grateful for that.
Announcements
New SLAA Meeting
The Chicago-Milwaukee Intergroup would like to announce a new meeting:
The Priceless Gift of Recovery Meeting
Tues 6:30 - 7:30pm. In person.
St James Commons, 65 E Huron St.
Meeting Rm 1
Save the date!
SLAA Summer Retreat
September 8-11
DeKoven Center, WI
Registration coming soon!
Thank You from Intergroup
The Chicago-Milwaukee Intergroup would like to express gratitude to the following groups for their contributions,
as reported at the April meeting:
Thursday Keep Coming Back Group: $77.00
These contributions help with Intergroup operations so we can continue to carry the message. Thank you!
Intergroup Positions Available
In March, the Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup held elections for Intergroup officer positions. If you would like to participate, we encourage you to join us on May 21st at 8 a.m. This month's meeting will be hybrid, we are meeting at NTAC (909 W Belmont) as well as on Zoom, please contact 312-725-9918 for details.
Opportunities for Newsletter Submission
As members of SLAA, you have the opportunity to contribute to our local Intergroup newsletters, as well as the fellowship-wide newsletter. Read on for more information.
Contribute to GREAT FACT
GREAT FACT—what you are reading at this very minute—is the newsletter for the Greater Chicago–Milwaukee Intergroup.
We're prepping for publication for the next few months and looking for the following submissions for future issues as it pertains to your experience, strength and hope:
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Essays
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Fiction
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Poetry
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Artwork
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Photography
Upcoming deadlines:
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May(May 21st): Withdrawal:
To submit, please send an email to mailroom@slaachicago.org with the subject line "Newsletter Submission." Please feel free to send us something outside of the themes above, and we’ll slot it in when appropriate. Thanks!
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup
Meeting Minutes- Saturday, March 19, 2022
Attendees:
Abby H. RFG, Visitor
Christie K, RFG, Co website. facilitator
Chase M. RFG, Visitor
Tim B. T/R NTAC Intergroup Rep
Dave S. RFG, Intergroup Rep
Chris S., RFG, Inreach Chair, Summer Retreat Co-Chair
Anthony P. RFG/Keep Coming Back Group, Facilitation Chair
Vince R. RFG, Fiduciary vice chair
Trevor V. RFG, Fall Gathering Co-Chair
Kristin. Milwaukee Sat. Morning, Co Website Facilitator
Zane. RFG visitor
Caitlyn K. RFG, Retreat Co-Chair, Newsletter Editor
READINGS & INTRODUCTIONS (12 Minutes)
● Prayer for a Trusted Servant
● Traditions
● Introductions (name, group affiliation and position)
● Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA IG Statement of Purpose
● Review Agenda
● 12 Concepts of Service
● Concept 6 - Vince (Concept 7 March - Chase)
ELECTIONS:
Outreach
Sean M. / 2nd year - Final Vote - unanimous
Facilitation
Anthony /2nd year - Final Vote - unanimous
Inreach
Chris /2nd year - Final Vote - unanimous
Fiduciary
Papa /2nd year - Final Vote - unanimous
Newsletter - No objections (not a board position, no vote required)
Dave (main editor)
Christie (contributions)
Josh F (contributions)
Fall gathering
Abby - Final Vote - unanimous
Website facilitation
Kristin, Zane - Final Vote - unanimous
Event coordinator - No objections (not a board position, no vote required)
Trevor, with christie
ABM Delegate - Remains open
OFFICER REPORTS
Facilitation (5 Minutes.)
● General Report: Anthony
○ Approve Minutes (February)
○ Website Facilitation: Kristin, Christie (vice), Zane Review any Suggestions
○ Bylaws Update Responses (Vince and Officers) - Vote Collection.
We have affirmative votes from Tues/Thurs RFG, Serenity groups in Beverley. The 12/12 group abstained. Letters to groups will be
sent.
Web Facilitation
■ Refocus Website to Emphasize Newcomers and Post Covid Meetings - Listings
■ Post By-Laws on Website
■ How To Guide and Report - done and posted to website.
■ Retreat Guide for Trusted Servants - Vince
Fiduciary (5 Minutes)
● General Treasurer Report: Papa Chair/Treasurer, Vince Vice Chair
Vince reported in lieu of Papa, who is on vacation. Balance is at 9728.11 not sure with or without prudent reserve. 522.99 in donations, some from valentines, others from group and individual. thank you to park ridge, rfg, and the anorexia group, as well as lutheran general, for their donations. Summer retreat deposit was spent. $825. put in some money for valentines day event, monthly zoom and rent. We are looking to change our annual payment to squarespace for the website, in order to save costs. Online vote to approve financial report once Papa submits an official version.
OutReach (5 Minutes)
● General Report: Sean Chairperson, Hannah Vice Chair
■ NEW MEETING - 65 E Huron at St. James Commons, Meeting Room 1. Tuesdays 6:30PM - 7:30 PM. “The priceless gift of sobriety meeting” NEED SOBER INDIVIDUALS TO ANCHOR THE MEETING, LOOKING FOR SOME WOMEN TO BE OF SERVICE AT THE MEETING.
-need flyer, and outreach to north side health professionals, suggested to contact shale and hannah c for more details on that.
Inreach General Report (15 Minutes)
● General Report: Chris
● Newsletter Report (Caitlyn and Chris)
Newsletter Topic for April is “Being a sponsor has helped my recovery because..” or “something I learned from my sponsor is…”
Deadline is April 12th
Retreat 2022 - Caitlyn, Anthony, Chris
SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER 8-11 AT DeKOVEN CENTER IN RACINE, WI. theme to be coming shortly.
Retreat guide is mostly complete, feedback sought from fellow writers. Anthony to write a letter to the retreat center outlining the board of the intergroup and the roles and responsibilities of each intergroup officer for the retreat.
How-to guide for the newsletter will be posted in the drive when it is complete. Dave and Chris to work on this.
● Fall Gathering
● Co-Chair
● Budget
● Forecast Attendance, outreach, etc.
● ABM Delegates: Anthony and OPEN, I Person ABM Delegate Sought ○ FWS Report/Service
Intergroup Representatives Feedback
●As Needed
New Business (10 min.) As Possible
● In Person/Hybrid Review
● Location/Time
Intergroup Representatives Feedback
● As Needed
New Business (10 min.) As Possible
● In Person/Hybrid Review
● Location/Time
SUGGESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING REPS:
● Bylaws, remaining updates or convey assumed agreement
● Submissions to newsletter -“Being a sponsor has helped my recovery because..” or “something I learned from my sponsor is…” Deadline April 12
● Looking for New N. Michigan Ave. Group Speakers (direct ask - prescreen) and Founder Attendees (women needed). Please reach out to Chris S or other intergroup rep if interested.
● Encourage donations to IG via Venmo (@Augustine-Fellowship)
● Please submit Meeting Updates via the Meeting Update Function on the Website (reopening, etc.)
Proposed Next Meeting:
Saturday, May 21, 2022
8:00am – 9:15am
Hybrid both In-Person (preferred) and OnLine (Zoom ID Above)
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup
Treasury Report
03/19/22 - 04/15/22
Starting Balance March 19, 2022 $9,728.11
Total Intergroup Group/Individual Donations $201.00
Total Expenses $208.30
Acct. Current Balance (04/16/22) Act. $9,720.81
*The full treasury report is available through your Group Intergroup Representative or by request to: mailroom@slaachicago.org.
SLAA Online Text-Only Chat
Those who need an additional resource in their SLAA recovery are invited to SLAA Online text-only chat recovery fellowship. Find more information by visiting the SLAA website, slaaonline.org, or by emailing slaaonline@yahoo.com.
Contribute to West Chicago Intergroup Newsletter
Our friends in the West Chicago Intergroup invite members to contribute to their newsletter to share their experience, strength, and hope. According to Mark K., "Writing an article for our newsletter is one way you can serve yourself and others." For more information, email pcomind@gmail.com or visit the West Chicago Intergroup website.
Contribute to the Fellowship-Wide Newsletter: Journal
The Journal is SLAA’s fellowship-wide newsletter, which goes out to fellows around the world.
The Journal seeks submissions for the “Question of the Day” for upcoming issues (deadline):
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July/August* ABM Issue: Anorexia Withdrawal (Due May 15, 2022) What is anorexia withdrawal in your experience? What tools helped you deal with the pain of withdrawal from anorexia with out retreating back into anorexia?
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August/September: Defects Higher Power Lets Me Keep (Due July 15, 2022) Have you ever prayed for a character defect to be removed for a long time and found that it stuck around for you to learn a lesson or because it helped you or others in some way? Please share your experience, strength, and hope.
Submit responses or other contributions to www.slaafws.org/journalsubmit.
To subscribe to the Journal or read the current issue, please click here.
Thank you for reading!
Coming in May: "Withdrawal"
We invite you to share your experience, strength, and hope.
To submit, please send an email to mailroom@slaachicago.org with the subject line "Newsletter Submission"