April 2025 Intergroup News

Content

Patterns of Behavior and Thinking Revealed in my Inventory

When I began Step 4, I thought I was listing isolated mistakes—but what I uncovered were deep-rooted patterns that shaped my entire way of thinking and behaving. A major theme was fear of abandonment. I clung to unavailable or emotionally unsafe people, confusing intensity for intimacy, and chasing fantasy relationships to avoid facing loneliness. My behaviors—stalking social media, obsessing over past connections, using seduction to feel desired—were attempts to feel in control, but they only deepened my sense of powerlessness. I also saw how often I deceived myself, minimizing harm, justifying betrayals, and playing the victim to avoid taking responsibility.

Another recurring pattern was compartmentalization. I could maintain a polished image professionally and socially while secretly acting out in ways that eroded my integrity. This disconnect let me deny the impact of my addiction for years. Beneath it all was a profound lack of self-worth—I chased validation and pushed away healthy connections because deep down, I didn’t believe I deserved real love. Step 4 didn’t solve all of that, but it gave me clarity. By recognizing these patterns, I gained the power to start breaking them, one day at a time.

- Anonymous

Announcements

Registration for Summer Retreat 2025 is Already Open!!!

Registration Link is Below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMM0f_3Bur5Aau2sZDkUcdPLmPCnHYhU0RTxliT3D7Q8Uhcw/viewform

May Intergroup Meeting

The next intergroup meeting will be held on Saturday, May 17th from 8:00am-9:15am. In Person and Zoom (Hybrid).

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

Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup Representation

The Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup is grateful to have representatives from the following meetings :

12&12 - Living in the Solution (In-Person)
Milwaukee Saturday Morning Group
Serenity Group/ Serenity on Friday

The Intergroup is still seeking representatives from the following meetings:

Evanston Sunday Night Group
Friday Evening Suburban West
Friday Morning Suburban West
Friday Night Into Action
Keep Coming Back Group - Thursday (Virtual)
Keep Coming Back Group - Tuesday
Loop Coop Meeting
Lutheran General Hospital
Milwaukee Wednesday Evening Meeting
Monday Morning Suburban West Meeting
Monday Night Naperville
Monthly Intergroup Meeting
Pelagian Meeting
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Reba Place Church
Rise & Shine (St. Pauls)
Saturday Morning Oak Park
SLAA From Anorexia to Healthy Relationships
State of Grace
Sunday Morning Suburban West Meeting
Sunday Night Oak Park
Sunday Night Women’s Meeting (WOMEN ONLY)
The Path Is Wide Enough For All
The Priceless Gift of Sobriety Meeting
Thursday Morning Suburban West
Thursday Night Naperville
Tuesday Morning Suburban West
Wednesday Morning Suburban West
Wicker Way SLA

Please join us in developing an inclusive SLAA community that represents the entire Chicago/Milwaukee area.

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 to @Augustine-Fellowship as the recipient, please write “group donation” in the comments section and specify which group the donation is coming from.

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 Theme:

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs:
How Step 5 strengthened my relationship with myself and others.

Deadline for submissions is May 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!

GREAT FACT

Intergroup Meeting Minutes

March Intergroup Minutes

GREATER CHICAGO/MILWAUKEE SLAA INTERGROUP

Agenda for March 15, 2025 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Name	Home Group	Intergroup Position
James	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	SLAA Member
Nathan	Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Alana		SLAA Member
Jeremy	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	IG Rep
Jeff	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	SLAA Member
Justin	Milwaukee Saturday Morning Group	IG Rep
Evan	12x12 Living in the Solution	IG Rep
Ian	Ravenswood Fellowship Group, Tuesday Keep Coming Back	Outreach Chair
Mark		SLAA Member
Chris V.	Sunday Night Women's SLAA Meeting	Fall Gathering Co-Chair
Chase	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	SLAA Member
Dave Sch.	Friday/ Sunday Beverly Serenity Meetings	IG Rep
Crystal	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Newsletter Co-Editor, Summer Retreat Co-Chair
Trevor	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Summer Retreat Co-Chair
Zane	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Fiduciary Chair
Burke	12z12 Living in the Solution	Events Co-Chair
Anthony	Tuesday Keep Coming Back	ABM Delegate, Inreach Vice-Chair
Abby	RFG, Tuesday Keep Coming Back	Website facilitator, ABM Delegate
Chris	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Facilitation Chair, Fall Gathering Co-Chair
Hannah K	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Fiduciary Committee
Caitlyn	Ravenswood Fellowship Group	Inreach Chair, ABM Delegate

READINGS & INTRODUCTIONS (10 Minutes)

Prayer for a Trusted Servant
Traditions
Introductions (name, group affiliation and position)
Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA IG Statement of Purpose
Review Agenda
Concept 3 - Chris V April Concept 4 Zane

Facilitation (45 Minutes.)

General Report: Chris
- Approve Minutes: February Minutes approved
- Elections
  - Summer retreat - Crystal
    - Crystal elected for summer retreat co-chair
  - Inreach chair - Dave SC and Hannah K
    - Dave SC elected for Inreach Chair
  - Outreach chair- Ian w
    - Ian elected for Outreach Chair
  - Facilitation chair - Caitlyn K
    - Caitlyn elected for Facilitation Chair
  - Finance chair- Zane
    - Zane elected for Finance Chair
  - Vice finance chair - Chase
    - Chase elected for Fiduciary Vice Chair
  - Events co chairs - Jeremy W, Luke M, Neil, Mark, Hannah C
    - Jeremy elected for Events Co-Chair
    - Mark elected for Events Co-Chair
    - Hannah K/Abby to help support co-chairs
  - Website facilitation - Abby
    - Abby elected for Website Facilitation
    - Potential vice facilitation chair - Chaya - to be discussed at the next meeting
  - Newsletter - Crystal
    - Crystal elected for Newsletter Production Editor
  - Outreach vice chair - Mark and Hannah K
    - Hannah elected for Outreach Vice Chair
  - Vice facilitation chair - Chris S
    - Chris elected for Facilitation Vice Chair
  - Welcoming of other service positions
    - Newsletter contributing editor - Justin & Jeff
  - Drop down menu project: Abby The map & filter is still being tested, will be sent out when done

Fiduciary (5 Minutes)

General Treasurer Report: Zane Valentine’s day event financials sent out (event was self supporting thank you!) great job Burke and Sara
March Fiduciary report - approved
Report Financials: General

OutReach (5 Minutes)

General Report: Ian W

Inreach General Report (5 Minutes)

General Report: Caitlyn K
- Newsletter Report (Production Editor Ryan W)
- Event Coordinator: Burke
- Fall gathering: Chris V and Chris S
- Summer retreat: Trevor

Annual Business Meeting Delegates (5 min)

ABM Delegates: Anthony, Caitlyn, Abby

New Business ( As Possible)

IFD from Evan ( if time allows) to be converted into motion at next meeting

SUGGESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING REPS:

Submissions to newsletter - April theme: “Patterns of behavior and thinking revealed in my inventory” due 4/19
SLAA Summer Retreat August 14-17, 2025 Registration is now open!
Fall Gathering October 25, 2025
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.)

Proposed Next Meeting: April 19, 2025
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

Higher Power, We ask your guidance in carrying out this work in service to the Fellowship. Relieve us of the burdens of our egos and perfectionism. Grant us the grace of humility. Remind us to place principles before personalities. Help us to focus only on the greater good of the group. Let us know that we are responsible only for doing the leg work, not the outcome. Give us the faith to trust in You and the Group Conscience. And grant us the serenity to accept the things we can not change the courage to change the things we can and the wisdom to know the difference.

Intergroup Treasury Report

Fiduciary Report

Reporting Range: 02/15/25-03/11/25

Previous Month's Balance $ 11,066.90

Expenses $ (79.95)

Income (Contributions) $ 27.00

Income (Events) $ -

Current Balance $ 11,013.95

Prudent Reserve $ (7,276.53)

Working Balance $ 3,737.42

Income

7th Tradition Contributions
- Tuesday Keep Coming Back SLAA Group $5.00
- 12x12 Living in the Solution (On Orchard) $2.00
- Ravenswood Fellowship Group $4.00
- Tuesday Priceless Gift of Sobriety $16.00

Expenses

APlus Web Host yearly Payment $9.95
Intergroup Room Rent (NTAC) Monthly $70.00

Additional

None

Thank you very much to all groups and individuals who contributed to the Intergroup (listed above).

Please continue to encourage 7th tradition contributions from your groups, and remember to indicate your group's name and "Group Donation" in the comments section on Venmo.

SLAA Online text-only chat

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.

The Journal

Contribute to the Fellowship-Wide Newsletter: Journal

The Journal is SLAA’s fellowship-wide newsletter, which goes out to fellows across the world.

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!

Newsletter topic for May:
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: How Step 5 strengthened my relationship with myself and others.

Deadline for submissions is May 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"

Newsletter of the Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup

April 2025 Intergroup News

CONTENTS

Opportunity for Service:

Fiduciary Report

Reporting Range: 02/15/25-03/11/25

Thank you very much to all groups and individuals who contributed to the Intergroup (listed above).

Please continue to encourage 7th tradition contributions from your groups, and remember to indicate your group's name and "Group Donation" in the comments section on Venmo.

SLAA Online Text-Only Chat

Thank you for reading!

Newsletter topic for May:
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: How Step 5 strengthened my relationship with myself and others.

We invite you to share your experience, strength, and hope.

April 2025 Intergroup News

CONTENTS​​​​

Opportunity for Service:

​

​

Fiduciary Report

Reporting Range: 02/15/25-03/11/25

​

​

Thank you very much to all groups and individuals who contributed to the Intergroup (listed above).

Please continue to encourage 7th tradition contributions from your groups, and remember to indicate your group's name and "Group Donation" in the comments section on Venmo.​​

​

SLAA Online Text-Only Chat

​​

Thank you for reading!

Newsletter topic for May: Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: How Step 5 strengthened my relationship with myself and others.

We invite you to share your experience, strength, and hope.

CONTENTS

Please continue to encourage 7th tradition contributions from your groups, and remember to indicate your group's name and "Group Donation" in the comments section on Venmo.

Newsletter topic for May:
Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs: How Step 5 strengthened my relationship with myself and others.