February 2023 Intergroup News
Came To Believe
"Came to Believe": A Sonnet
Anonymous
I've heard it said not once or twice before
"Came to figure it out"? "Came to believe"
To sanity our HP must restore
With all the drama They hide up Their sleeve
I hear that willingness will be the key
Unto a strange and different kind of life
And so, I wonder, what's in it for me?
Will I be free of inner harm and strife?
Before I get to an awakening
I must surrender to what I can't see
I wonder once again how I can sing
Into a void without a guarantee
And so, the journey starts with honesty
And willingness to find new ways to be.
Announcements
SUMMER RETREAT 2023:
August 24-27, 2023
More details forthcoming!
New SLAA Meeting Update
Opportunity for Service:
A Chicagoland area treatment center is looking for SLAA speakers to share their experience, strength and hope in SLAA recovery at their Northbrook facility. This treatment center also has opportunities for SLAA members to speak virtually. Because it’s a professional facility, speakers will be interviewed by the SLAA Outreach Chair about their sobriety and experience in SLAA. To inquire, contact mailroom@slaachicago.org
Thank You from Intergroup
The Chicago-Milwaukee Intergroup would like to express gratitude to the following groups
for their contributions, as reported at the November meeting:
12x12 Living in the Solution $304.20
These contributions help with Intergroup operations so we can continue to carry the message. Thank you!
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: March: New Theme: “Our Little Plans and Designs” In my recovery, how have I set aside my own plans, lost fear of today and contributed to the flow of life through service and working the steps? How have I turned self-will into surrender? Submission deadline is March 18th.
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, January 21, 2023
8:00AM - 9:15 AM
In Person and Zoom (Hybrid): NTAC 909 W. Belmont 2nd fl. West Room
Member Name, Role , Home Group
Chris S , RFG Inreach Chair, Summer Retreat co-ordinator, RFG
Anthony P, Facilitation Chair, Tuesday - Keep Coming Back Group
Christie K , Newsletter Contributions Ed., RFG
Abby H, Fall Gathering Co-Chair, RFG
Zane W, Website Co Facilitator, RFG
Caitlyn K, Co Chair: Summer retreat, RFG
Adam G. Guest RFG
Chase M Guest RFG
Trevor V, Fall Gathering Chair/Events Coordinator, RFG
Ed O, Guest
Josh F, RFG contributions editor / RFG Intergroup Rep, RFG
Burke, Meeting Rep, 12/12 Living in the Solution
Dave S, Newsletter Editor, RFG
Kristin, Website Co Facilitator , Tuesday Solution in Suburb
Dave Sc, Intergroup Rep for Burbank Serenity Mtg
Hannah K , Outreach Chair/ Out reach Vice Chair, RFG
Papa A, Fiduciary Chair, RFG
Sean M, Outreach Chair, Sat Morning Augustine
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 3 Dave Sc. February Concept 4: Burke
OFFICER REPORTS
Facilitation (5 Minutes.)
● General Report: Anthony
● Approve Minutes: December
●Website Facilitation: Kristin, Zane
● Web Facilitation- meeting updates are happening, all are current.
● Uploading Dr. Lemke Q and A - done
● SMeetings Chicago Listings (Incorrect and Chicago West) - Has been taken care of. The website has also redirected its contact information for questions about SLAA to our phone number and email inbox.
● Defunct Meetings and Old Events to remove - Has been taken care of. ■ Setting Google Drive Permissions - Review IG members have Access - we believe all that have access should be removed.
● Drop Down Menu Project - ongoing, wordpress site may be built.
● Special Projects:
● Intergroup Position Responsibilities (besides officers) - Progress - Hannah K.? More or less done, Hannah will be setting up a meeting● Retreat Guide for Trusted Servants progress - Complete w/ Letter (completed)
● Website - Kristin, Zane
● Officer and Other Responsibilities - Progress: Identifying FUTURE Officers, 2023!! Elections February.
● Q and A
Fiduciary (5 Minutes)
● General Treasurer Report: Papa Chair/Treasurer, Chase Vice Chair
● Report Financials: General
● Approve Treasury Report - Please see existing financial report. Unanimous approval.
● Budgets for Valentine’s Day Party and Game Night Party - Event Coordinators are asked to please create budgets for events and parties, and ask for donations to these events right at the door.
● Q and A
OutReach (5 Minutes)
● General Report: Sean Chairperson, Hannah Vice Chair
● St. James and Hazelden Developments - Hazelden has now received a signed copy of the meeting space agreement. Once that is received we will start transitioning. Home Stretch! Will keep working with the core group on selecting a date, and will coordinate with the website facilitator.
● Female members who can commit are deeply encouraged. Lots of women newcomers are attending, but they need to see established women there so that we can welcome them and make them feel welcome.
● Direct Outreach? St. James and Attendance - Jeremy On-Site Lead. ● Follow-up Location, Rent, etc. - Hazelden -Long Term Project
● Suncloud outreach - Tuesdays and Fridays in the afternoon, also 7pm friday outreach speaking opportunity. Outreach committee will bereactivated on this topic.
● Sean M is willing to stay on after his service role has arrived.
● Open
● Q and A
Inreach General Report (15 Minutes)
● General Report: Chris -
● Oak park Grace Episcopal Tuesday night (now closing). Confirm
● Newsletter Report (Dave )
● Production Editor: Dave,
● Ryan W will be shadowing
● Contributions Editor/s: Christie, (check with Christie)
● Theme for this month “Step 2 - describe how you came to believe and how it brought sanity to your life” feb 15 is the deadline.
● Literature Review Subcommittee Basic Text (Anthony)
● New Proposed S.L.A.A. Basic Text Revision - Request for Feedback
Conference - first 3 chapters - Ongoing
● Update on Group Reps including suburban
● Retreat 2023 Chris, Co-Chair Election: Christie. Unanimous approval.
● Save the Date on Registration? Cost, Venmo, etc. Payment Option Open?
● Financials: Number of Attendees, subsidy need expected?.
● Donations Goal
● Registration will be open to the group by the end of January. *Inreach
Chair update: This will be ready by the end of February.
● Spring Retreat 2023 - Exploratory Committee
● Q and A
● Fall Gathering Update: Abby - Jeremy W is nominated. Unanimous approval.
● Co-Chair Nominees
● Update FG Guide?
● Q and A
● Event Coordinator: Trevor -
● Event/s Proposed - dice dojo game february 28. February 11 valentine’s day RFG. both closed events. Open events will be planned.
● Trusted Servants
● Budgets - Will be sent to the intergroup right after the meeting.
● Upcoming (In the works)
● Q and A
● Sponsorship workshop (tabled) - There is a need for this to be reactivated. The goal is to go Back to Basics.
● ABM Delegates: Anthony and Caitlyn, 2023 ABM Delegates
● 2023 Costs Overview - Orange County Confirmed for the location of the group
● Additional Delegate Search and Confirmation?
● FWS Report/Service
Proposed Next Meeting :
Saturday, March 18, 2022
8:00am – 9:15 am
Hybrid both In-Person (preferred) and OnLine (Zoom ID Above)
Visit us at www.slaachicago.org
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup
Treasury Report
01/21/23 - 02/17/23
Starting Balance (01/21/23) $11,771.30
Total Intergroup Group/Individual Donations $309.20
Total Expenses $116.29
Acct. Current Balance (02/17/23) Act. $11,964.21
*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 the Fellowship-Wide Newsletter: Journal
The Journal is SLAA’s fellowship-wide newsletter, which goes out to fellows across the world.
Upcoming themes are TO BE ANNOUNCED
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 March “Our Little Plans and Designs”
Describe your experience of coming to believe in a higher power and how it
has brought sanity to your life. Submission deadline is February 15th.
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"