May 2023 Intergroup News
"Acting As If" Until It's "Acting? As If!"
Anonymous
"Acting as if" has played a major role in my recovery. The idea of taking contrary action to act differently than I'm used to doing until it becomes more natural was and is crucial in my step six work.
As a sex and love addict, two of my biggest character defects are constantly needing validation and self-righteousness. Plenty of times as a kid, I would lash out when I didn't get school awards, rationalizing why I deserved more recognition for my achievements.
Self-righteousness manifested itself in constantly needing to be right and to correct others. I have lots of stories of correcting peers and even teachers growing up. I don't want to beat myself up for those times, but step six work in SLAA provided a fantastic opportunity to learn new, healthier patterns.
Several years ago, while working step six with my sponsor, I was in a situation where I did not receive an award I was up for at a conference. I thought one of the people who won it didn't deserve it, and I wanted to point out to him that a major concept of his presentation was used incorrectly. Instead of doing that, I employed contrary action and "acted as if" I didn't need to be right or to earn the award. I said simply, "Congratulations!" This was healthy for me, and I remember sharing about it shortly afterwards at a meeting.
Another manifestation of these patterns that I'm working on is in my dating life. I went on a date with a guy who was constantly correcting me (imagine that!)--I'm convinced he would qualify for SLAA at least for anorexia. However, in our communication, I just let him be as right as he wanted to be and had empathy for him because I've been there. That was contrary action for me instead of asserting how right I was and how, I thought, he needed help.
His life decisions are none of my business. Writing about it, too, is contrary action, instead of letting my resentment build (further) in my head.
So, my experience with "acting as if" has been, gratefully, plentiful, but of course, I am not perfect and still have a long way to go. Remembering that fact and staying present is tremendously helpful when I get stuck in the past and the future.
Today I would like to use this tool for achieving greater discipline, including with inventories, prayer, and meditation. I can act my way into doing those tasks if I work to not stay in my head.
Announcements
SUMMER RETREAT 2023:
Registration is open!!
August 24-27, 2023
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 April meeting:
Solution In The Suburbs (Deerfield) (Zoom) $60.00
12x12 Living in the Solution $421.60
These contributions help with Intergroup operations so we can continue to carry the message. Thank you!
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup Representation
The Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup is grateful to have representatives
from the following meetings :
12x12 Living in the Solution
Friday/ Sunday Beverly
Oak Park
Priceless Gift of Sobriety Meeting
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Tuesday Keep Coming Back Meeting
The Intergroup is still seeking representatives from the following meetings:
Solution in the Suburbs
Monday Night Naperville
Tuesday Morning Suburban West
SLAA From Anorexia to Healthy Relationships
Wednesday Morning Suburban West
Milwaukee Wednesday Evening Meeting
Reba Place Church
Thursday Night Naperville
Friday Morning Suburban West
Friday Evening Suburban West
Friday Night “Into Action”
Friday Night Live
Rise & Shine (St. Pauls)
Sunday Morning Suburban West Meeting
Sunday Night Women’s Meeting (WOMEN ONLY)
Sunday Night Oak Park (Newcomer Focus)
Evanston Sunday Night Group
Women Stepping Into Serenity
Please join us in developing an inclusive SLAA community that represents the entire Chicago / Milwaukee area.
Next Meeting:
Saturday, June 17, 2023 8:00am – 9:15 am
In Person and Zoom (Hybrid): NTAC 909 W. Belmont 2nd fl. West Room)
Visit us at www.slaachicago.org
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:
-
Essays
-
Fiction
-
Poetry
-
Artwork
-
Photography
Upcoming deadlines: June: New Theme: “Half Measures Availed us nothing” - how has being halfway committed to sobriety held me back in my recovery? How has jumping with both feet in my recovery helped me to change my life? Submission deadline is June 17th.
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, April 15, 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 Facilitation Chair / RFG
Anthony P, Inreach Vice Chair/ ABM Delegate, Tuesday - Keep Coming Back Group
Ian W , Outreach Chair, Website Co-facilitator / RFG
Abby H, Fall Gathering Co-Chair /RFG
Zane W, Website Co Facilitator / RFG
Caitlyn K, RFG Inreach Chair, ABM Delegate / RFG
Trevor V, Events Coordinator RFG
Jim F, 12/12 Living in the Solution IG Rep
Burke, Events co-chair, / 12/12 Living in the Solution
Dave S, Newsletter Editor / RFG
Dave Sc, Friday Serenity IG Rep
Hannah K , RFG Fiduciary Chair, / RFG
Papa A, Fiduciary Vice Chair / RFG
Ryan, Newsletter Asst Editor / Tuesday Night Priceless Gift
Christy - Summer Retreat Co-Chair / RFG
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
● Concept 6: Jim F (Concept 7 May Dave)
OFFICER REPORTS ABBREVIATED DUE TO ELECTIONS
Facilitation (5 Minutes.)
● General Report: Chris
● Approve Minutes: March - Approved
● Website Facilitation: Zane, Abby
● Web Facilitation - Requests have been answered
● SMeetings Chicago Listings -completed? Still needs follow up
● Defunct Meetings and Old Events to remove - completed? Done
● Add new events to website - any new events? Retreat was added
● Setting Google Drive Permissions - Review IG members have Access
Fiduciary email address is not included in the google group, Chris
to look into it; Word Press information, may look into shutting it
down as it was from a long time ago; confirmed the Outreach
person is getting google voice calls and forwarded emails
■ Drop Down Menu Project
● Special Projects:
■ Intergroup Position Responsibilities (Review All Positions and Edit/Add ABM Delegate and Event Coordinator positions) - Progress - Hannah K.
● Trevor/Hannah - event coordinator position description? Draft was received yesterday, will update before the next IG meeting
■ Retreat Guide for Trusted Servants progress - Anthony Guide is done, letter to the retreat center to be added to the guide
■ Passwords and logins update - Chris Ongoing, logins to be given to
specific roles; editing access is still showing to old IG members, ask for all IG members to change to view access if seen when accessing
documents
Abby/Zane to look into requesting ownership of documents Vince
created, will compile a list to send to him
■ Future ABM meeting in Chicago Will look to have a conversation at ABM to get a sense of costs, would look to make a bid for 2025, costs were an issue before; would need members to be on the planning committee, organize a night out in Chicago, and the hospitality suite at the
conference. The hosting city hosts for 2 years, and could look at
hosting the International Recovery convention in year 2.
Fiduciary (5 Minutes)
● General Treasurer Report: Hannah Chair/Treasurer, Papa vice chair
● Report Financials: General Proposed $1k donation to FWS
but want to check that all retreat costs are being reviewed
and incorporated due to offering the lower price this year
and the proposed scholarships needed; Also discussed if
we budget for another ABM delegate, currently 3 are
budget for. If we are looking into hosting ABM, we would
need ~$1k for us also to keep in mind
● Approve Treasury Report
● Q and A
OutReach (5 Minutes)
● General Report: Ian W Confirmed Mailroom email is working and forwarding to the Outreach Chair; Naperville meeting link is not working
● Full transfer of all functions.
● Hazelden POC connected to leaders of Tues. Night meeting?
Check with Jeremey to transfer meeting communications
● SLAA Speakers for Suncloud Ian to coordinate training/info
sessions with potential speakers, Hannah lead last time
● Q and A
Inreach General Report (15 Minutes)
● General Report: Caitlyn K
v Newsletter Report (Dave S, Ryan W ) Thank you to those who read the draft! Will coordinate with Caitlyn to send out the themes further in advance, May theme is “Act as If”
● Production Editor: Dave S Sill having trouble with the Mail Chimp log in, Kristin is currently sending the verification code but is no longer on the website facilitation team - Abby/Zane to look into
● Contributions Editor/s: Christie K
● Update on Group Reps including suburban/oak park groups
Caitlyn to discuss with Chris on what was previously
done; Dave to add list of meetings with reps to the
newsletter
● Retreat 2023 Chris, Christie Registration is up and open!
■ Start announcements to group
■ Theme and Save the Dates to come.
■ Food quality - results of discussion Meeting with the retreat center has happened on food quality; costs and meal plans were shared with them, they are reviewing and have said they are making improvements from last year
■ Donations Goal
● Spring Retreat 2023 - Exploratory Committee
● Q and A
● Fall Gathering Update: Abby, Jeremy
● Location Confirmed? Grace Episocopal Church in Oak Park, Theme is Outgrowing Fear, and Save the Date will be on the website next week ○ Date? October 28th, 2023
● Update FG Guide - Anthony
● Q and A
● Event Coordinator: Trevor, Burke
● Event Coordinator Position Description - Sent to Hannah this week, suggesting 3M sobriety requirement and includes best practices
● Event/s Proposed
■ Open Picnic - May 21st, 1-4PM, Winnemak Park Potluck style, lawn games, budget proposal will be sent before May IG
Discussed this being a fundraiser to IG with a suggested donation, $10? Future event ideas: Scavenger hunt, food pantry, bonfires; discussed reaching out to Oak Park or Southside members to also host
One idea was to send out one email with upcoming events: Open picnic, Summer Retreat, Fall Gathering
● Budgets
● Upcoming (In the works)
● Q and A
● Sponsorship workshop (tabled)
Intergroup Representatives Feedback
● Dave Sc - Feedback from Rise and Shine on Delegates.
Annual Business Meeting Delegates (25 min)
● ABM Delegates: Anthony and Caitlyn, 2023 ABM Delegates
● Additional Delegate Search and Confirmation.
● IFD Submissions and Reports Anthony submitted this week and it was received in time, Caitlyn to send BOT email on basic text edits, Chris also sent an email to the CLC and received a response back
■ Sobriety Requirement IFD
■ Basic Text Chapters 1-3 Feedback IFD
● Feedback from groups on various motions:
■ Friday/Sunday Beverly Meeting - “Sex and Love Addiction on the internet” pamphlet Meeting tomorrow
■ 12x12 meeting: anorexia questions as core documents of SLAA No feedback yet, regrouping next meeting
■ Tuesday KCBG - IFD on current and future issues regarding recovery
materials posted to the internet Abby following up next meeting
■ RFG - Board publishing committee’s report on the process to create
literature from the initial proposal through BOT publis
● New Proposed S.L.A.A. Basic Text Revision - Ongoing Chapter revisions to 4-8? Edit Reviewing needed. Currently a motion for changes to chapters 1-4 and an IFD for edits to 4-8, draft is available and can be sent out; Chris to follow up with CLC
ELECTIONS: (5 minutes)
3rd Delegate - Abby H
Intergroup Representatives Feedback- as needed
New Business (10 min.) As Possible
● Location/Time
SUGGESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING REPS:
● Submissions to newsletter - May Theme: “Acting as If”
● Deadline for Submissions: May 15th
● Encourage donations to IG via Venmo (@Augustine-Fellowship)
● Please submit Meeting Updates via the Meeting Update Function on the Website (reopening, etc.)?
● Retreat Dates August 24 - 27, 2023
● New Wicker Park Founders Sought - and SPEAKERS see Isaac Y. and James R.
Open Picnic May 21st 1-4PM
Fall Gathering October 28th
Proposed Next Meeting:
Saturday, May 15, 2023
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
04/15/23 - 05/19/23
Starting Balance (04/15/23) $11,702.36
Total Intergroup Group/Individual Donations $661.60
Total Expenses $34.86
Acct. Current Balance (05/19/23) Act. $12,329.10
*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 June: New Theme: “Half Measures Availed us nothing” - how has being halfway committed to sobriety held me back in my recovery? How has jumping with both feet in my recovery helped me to change my life? Submission deadline is June 17th.
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"