October 2023 Intergroup News
Renewing sobriety
Eager to do different
Limits of self will
Accepting reality
Patience
Serenity
Eclipsing my expectations
-Anonymous
Relapse
Since I got into recovery in 2015, relapse has haunted me everywhere I go. The longest sobriety I’ve had to date is 4-5 days. Usually, I’ve been lucky if I can get to a week. For years I tried to understand why this keeps happening. Maybe it was my sponsor, maybe it was the lack of a porn blocker on my phone and laptop, maybe I had a second addiction, maybe I was one of those unfortunates who seemed to be born this way. I felt like I had tried everything - porn blockers, meditation books, 30 minutes of silent guided meditation, more exercise, more sleep, more prayer, doing more step work, more meetings. While all of these are good activities for my recovery, it seemed none of them kept me sober. Only recently have I gotten an understanding as to why this keeps happening.
One thing I’ve heard since getting into SLAA is that the opposite of addiction is connection. My addiction can only exist if I am isolated. But when I used the tools of recovery in the past, I always tried to avoid phone calls. I hated them with a passion. My phone always felt like a 100lb weight when I tried to make one. I felt like I was under a microscope talking to someone one on one, and I bristled with discomfort till the call ended. Were phone calls really necessary? I was just very content being alone, and didn’t need as much connection as other people in recovery.
But that couldn’t have been more false. The truth was I desperately wanted to connect with people and be known, but feared what people would find if they did get to know me, and found being present for others exhausting. Instead, I “connected” with online prostitutes. None of it was authentic or satisfying, but the sexual high temporarily papered over any misgivings I had. I’d get disgusted with my behavior after a while and try to stop talking to these women, but I always ended up texting them again looking for another sexual thrill within a matter of days. I recently had to admit the one thing I have not consistently tried was phone calls. For reasons I don’t have time to go into, sobriety has become something I genuinely want now, and not just something I want in the distant future. I’ve surrendered more to the process in hopes of sobriety, and in doing so, I’ve learned a lot more about why I relapse.
As I’ve gone through recovery, I’ve come to see that my addiction is not my bad or evil half, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I was a lonely child growing up, and my addiction provided a “solution.” As a recovering adult it no longer works, but because I was staying isolated, my addiction still presented itself as a viable solution to my problem of being lonely. When I relapsed, it was because my addiction was providing the self-care (albeit a very self-destructive form of it) that I was not providing for myself.
That said, sobriety is still a challenge. Putting my recovery first continues to be a constant battle. But ten minutes on the phone with another program fellow several times a day does wonders to bring me back to reality, out of my own head, and away from online prostitutes. For me, I’ve come to see connection as the best way to guard against a relapse.
-Anonymous
Announcements
The Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup
Meeting has a new location
Saturday, November 18th, 2023 8:00am – 9:15 am (Recurring every 3rd Saturday of each month.) In Person and Zoom (Hybrid):
New Location: 3326 N. Ashland, Chicago IL 60657
There is parking at the Target on the Northwest corner of School and Ashland. You must park in an upper level of the garage and not on the street-level parking in order to avoid the risk of a ticket.
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 August meeting:
- Tuesday Keep Coming Back Group - $17
- Thursday Keep Coming Back Group (In-person) - $5
- Hedwig's SLAA Group (12x12 Living in the Solution) - $116.25
- Ravenswood Fellowship Group - $171.43
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
Priceless Gift of Sobriety Meeting
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Tuesday Keep Coming Back Meeting
Friday Night into Action
The Intergroup is still seeking representatives from the following meetings:
Oak Park
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: (NOTE NEW LOCATION!)
Saturday, November 18th, 2023 8:00am – 9:15 am
In Person and Zoom (Hybrid): 3326 N. Ashland, Chicago IL 60657
There is parking at the Target on the Northwest corner of School and Ashland. You must park in an upper level of the garage and not on the street-level parking in order to avoid the risk of a ticket.
The intergroup would like to remind everyone that it relies on monetary donations from groups to fund its service projects. If you are an intergroup representative, please ask your home group to consider making a monthly donation to the intergroup. When sending donations via Venmo, please write “group donation” in the comments section and specify which group the donation is coming from.
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:
November Theme: Building Partnerships. How has working the program changed the way you approach building and maintaining a healthy relationship with a committed partner? Deadline is November 15.
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, September 16, 2023
8:00AM - 9:15 AM
In Person and Zoom (Hybrid): NTAC 3326 N. Ashland
Member Name, Role , Home Group
Chris S Facilitation Chair, Retreat Co Chair, RFG
Anthony Inreach Vice Chair, ABM Delegate, Tuesday - Keep Coming Back Group
Caitlyn Inreach Chair/ABM Delegate, RFG
Abby Fall Gathering Co-Chair, Website Co-facilitator, Tuesday KCB, RFG
Dave Sc Beverly Friday/Sunday IG Rep
Jeremy Fall Gathering Co-Chair, RFG
Dave S Newsletter Co-Editor, RFG
Papa Fiduciary Vice Chair, RFG
Ryan Newsletter Co-Editor, Keep Coming Back
Jim 12 & 12 Living in the Solution IG Rep
Dave 12 & 12 Living in the Solution
Ian Outreach, Tuesday Keep Coming Back
Christie Summer Retreat Co -Chair, RFG, Friday Into Action
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 10: Abby (Concept 11: Papa)
Facilitation (5 Minutes.)
● General Report: Chris
○ Approve Minutes: August approved unanimously
○ Website Facilitation: Zane, Abby
■ Web Facilitation - new box for newsletter sign ups? Abby to look into moving the text box up where you can enter your email, currently
split from the sign up box; the hyperlink to sign up is a good option, have also looked into a pop up
■ New permanent page for SLAA Summer Retreat Chris to work with Abby/Zane
■ Setting Google Drive Permissions - Review IG members have Access No issues reported
■ Drop Down Menu Project No updates this month
■ Special Projects:
■ Intergroup Position Responsibilities (Review All Positions and Edit/Add ABM Delegate and Event Coordinator positions) - Progress - Hannah K.
No updates this month
■ Trevor/Hannah/Anthony - event coordinator position description No
updates this month
Fiduciary (5 Minutes)
● General Treasurer Report: Hannah Chair/Treasurer, Papa vice chair The reports for August and September have not been approved yet, there was confusion of a 2022 retreat rollover still being listed, as well as the 2023 retreat numbers not matching with Chris and Christie were reporting. The ABM expenses have been updated and are showing correctly. Chris is going to take a look at the financial report and work with Hannah and Papa to resolve the retreat discrepancies. There was a suggestion to hide some of the past years events and consolidate some of the line item expenses, as well as break out the funds that are for the retreat vs the rest of our balance.
● July rent was paid this month (was previously outstanding)
● The summer retreat net profit is $2153.67, per Chris, before a deposit has been paid to DeKoven. This was due to a large number of donations (thank you everyone!!), and a few people who did not show. 6 scholarships were given out. A full report will be shared once all checks are deposited.
● Fiduciary -need to submit reports to the drive. Status update.
● 2023 Retreat Financials
○ Confirm rollover amount see notes above
● Report Financials: General
● Approve Treasury Report Not approved, see notes above
● ReApprove August Treasury Report Not approved, see notes above
● Q and A
OutReach (5 Minutes)
● General Report: Ian W
○ SLAA Speakers for Suncloud Going well!
○ Outreach to far suburban meetings Ian to work with Caitlyn on connecting with suburb meetings, and Milwaukee
○ Ongoing issues with meeting’s zoom links? Intergroup zoom link? Issues have been resolved for this month with the exception of the Naperville Thursday meeting. We have decided to remove this meeting from the list until we can confirm it’s still a meeting and the zoom information is updated.
○ Q and A
Inreach General Report (10 Minutes)
● General Report: Caitlyn K
○ Newsletter Report (Dave S, Ryan W)
○ Production Editor: Dave S
■ Contributions Editor/s: Search for new contributing editors more
contribution editors are needed!
■ October theme: “Relapse” due October 15th
○ Update on Group Reps including suburban/oak park groups Caitlyn to work with Ian on this
○ Retreat 2023 Chris, Christie
■ Scored a 9.3/10 out of 10 response to the retreats survey Format, food, facilities were all positive
■ $1202.67 cash rollover ($952 already reserved for Dekoven 2024)
■ 2024 retreat - August 15-18. Save the Date!
○ Spring Retreat 2024 - Exploratory Committee
○ Fall Gathering Update: Abby, Jeremy
■ Report: currently at 16 registered compared to 23 at this time last year; continuing to announce at meetings and connecting with
professionals
■ Reviewed the budget:
● Projected income: $2770 (90 people)
● Projected expenses: $1680
● Projected net: $1089
■ Abby and Jeremy working on sending out 3 emails before the event
■ Idea to reach out to Kimmy at Suncloud to ask her to announce
■ Update FG Guide - Anthony
■ Q and A
○ Event Coordinator: Trevor
■ Event Coordinator Position Description - sent and reviewed?
■ Event/s Proposed - Burke in Oak Park?
■ Upcoming Events (In the works)
■ Q and A
■ Holiday 2023 idea - Friendsgiving
○ Sponsorship workshop (tabled)
Annual Business Meeting Delegates (25 min)
● ABM Delegates: Anthony and Caitlyn, 2023 ABM Delegates
○ Additional Delegate Search and Confirmation.
○ Chicago Hosting ABM -
○ Basic text revisions continue to be underway, may need to propose our light editing version for them to review (spelling corrections, punctuation, etc)
New Business (10 min.) As Possible
● Intergroup Representatives Feedback
SUGGESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING REPS:
● Submissions to newsletter - October Theme:
○ Deadline for Submissions:
● Subscribe to the newsletter on the slaachicago website
● Encourage donations to IG via Venmo (@Augustine-Fellowship)
● Please submit Meeting Updates via the Meeting Update Function on the Website (reopening, etc.)
● Fall Gathering October 28, 2023
Proposed Next Meeting: October 21, 2023.
8:00am – 9:15 am
Hybrid both In-Person (preferred) and OnLine (Zoom ID Above)
3326 N Ashland Ave.
Visit us at www.slaachicago.org
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup
Treasury Report
09/19/23 - 10/17/23
Starting Balance 07/15/23 $10,602.07
Total Intergroup Group/Individual Donations $325.68
Total Expenses $1960.21
Acct. Current Balance 07/14/23 Act. $10,102.54
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 November
Building Partnerships: How has working the program changed the way you approach building and maintaining a healthy relationship with a committed partner? Deadline is November 15.
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"