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May 2025 Intergroup News

STEP FIVE AND RELATIONSHIPS 
WITH OTHERS

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I remember believing that I would die before sharing details of my addiction. After being dumped by my high school sweetheart I felt lost, alone, and scared. The wrongs she was aware of were reason enough to end things. The wrongs that were still secrets gnawed at me. I wondered, what about sharing them? My inner dialogue immediately responded- I would die before anyone found out about those things! 


To be honest this sentiment didn’t only arise regarding the wrongs I had committed. That sentiment was also true regarding my acting out behavior- the compulsions that led me to do regrettable acts and the obsessions that brought me right back to fantasizing about those humiliating acts. Those too, I was sure, would be taken to my grave with me.


Thankfully, things got bad enough where I couldn’t help but begin admitting things. First with myself. For instance, admitting the dysfunction in the way I interacted with people I desired intimacy with. And then with another- my first therapist. Things felt so bad I let loose a deluge of the bottled-up secrets I thought I’d never share.


These desperate attempts eventually led me to recovery and the Twelve Steps.


There are some similarities between my desperate attempts described above and Bill W’s Step Five. But whereas mine was a natural desire to save my own neck before I ran out of time- Bill’s is an intentional act toward deeper recovery. Mine was most concerned with a self-determined result and Bill’s is aimed at lessening the ego.


There is an active side to his step- the act of admitting to God and another (and myself). An acknowledgement of the truth. The active Fifth step is the act of giving all of that away in admitting to God and another my exact nature. It feels like an act of preparation. When we do a formal Step Five we are preparing ourselves.


To admit also has another connotation – to allow to enter. The active side is concerned with giving away a truth. The passive side is concerned with allowing God into that truth not in a onetime act- but as a new way of life. This is the passive side- the admission of God.


We prepare ourselves by admitting to God so that we may become ready for the admission of God. 


This passive side is another way to say Grace. There isn’t any prescription for how to attain grace because Grace is not of myself. But as so many of the steps, Step Five allows an opportunity to open a door. It offers a way to prepare myself for the Grace of God to enter of Its own accord.


Grace allows me the opportunity to have a better relationship with everyone and everything in my life.
 

- Anonymous​

Announcements

Announcements

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Registration for Summer Retreat 2025 is Already Open!!!

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Registration Link is Below:

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

 

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June Intergroup Meeting 

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The next intergroup meeting will be held on Saturday, June 21st 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:

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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

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Greater Chicago/Milwaukee SLAA Intergroup Representation

 

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

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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:

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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.


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Contribute to GREAT FACT

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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:

Step 6 - Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character:
How resistance to change shows up in my recovery.

 

Deadline for submissions is June 21st.

 

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
SLAA Summer Retreat poster_2025.jpg
Intergroup Meeting Minutes

April Intergroup Minutes

 

GREATER CHICAGO/MILWAUKEE SLAA INTERGROUP

Agenda for April 19, 2025 8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
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Name
Home Group
Intergroup Position
Caitlyn
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Inreach Chair, ABM Delegate
Hannah K
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Fiduciary Committee
Chris
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Facilitation Chair, Fall Gathering Co-Chair
Abby
RFG, Tuesday Keep Coming Back
Website facilitator, ABM Delegate
Anthony
Tuesday Keep Coming Back
ABM Delegate, Inreach Vice-Chair
Zane
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Fiduciary Chair, ABM Delegate
Chase
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Fiduciary Vice Chair
Trevor
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Summer Retreat Co-Chair
Crystal
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
Newsletter Co-Editor, Summer Retreat Co-Chair
Ian
Ravenswood Fellowship Group, Tuesday Keep Coming Back
Outreach Chair
Chris V.
Sunday Night Women's SLAA Meeting
Fall Gathering Co-Chair
Steve
12x12 Living in the Solution
SLAA Member
Arnie
Sunday State of Grace
SLAA Member
Nathan
Tuesday Keep Coming Back
SLAA Member
Adam
12x12 Living in the Solution
SLAA Member
Jeremy
Ravenswood Fellowship Group
SLAA Member
Jeff
SLAA Member
Evan
SLAA Member
Dave Sch.
Friday/ Sunday Beverly Serenity Meetings
Inreach Chair, IG Rep

​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 4 - Zane May Concept 5 Dave Sch

 

Facilitation (45 Minutes.) 

  • General Report: Chris 

    • Approve Minutes: March Minutes approved

    • Drop down menu project: Abby Map is set to go live. Zane and Dave Sch will do a proofreading and report to Abby. Email to membership suggested to announce it’s out.

 

Fiduciary (5 Minutes)

  • General Treasurer Report: Zane Bank statement through April 10 does not reflect payment to FWS for ABM. Zane thanked Chase for double checking reconciliation. See Inreach: Summer Retreat, for comments on registration receipts. 

  • April Fiduciary report Approved

  • Report Financials: General

 

OutReach (5 Minutes)

  • General Report: Ian W Ideas for best practice in an outreach document to interested professionals (therapists, clergy, etc.) A letter could go to these persons but also left at meetings for members to take to those professionals they know, are using. After letters, email using a digital marketing platform and calls by phone and in person.

  • Trainings for new speakers Encourage attendance from both the initiated and the curious, brief training talk should be followed with ample time for Q&A
     

Inreach General Report (5 Minutes)

  • General Report: Dave Sch Dave is familiarizing himself with the role

    • Newsletter Report (Production Editor Crystal) April newsletter going out this week. Jeff wants to help with editing. May topic is, “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,” due May 17th.

    • Event Coordinator: Jeremy & Mark Ideas for a summer potluck (no date as yet) included kickball.

    • Fall gathering: Chris V and Chris S October 25 Fall Gathering theme is from the Grapevine writings of Bill W., “Language of the Heart.” Feedback from previous Fall Gatherings suggests to build in more time for member-to-member experience through extended breakout sessions. Speaker is Michele Day, Chicago area LCSW and CSAT.

    • Summer retreat: Trevor & Crystal Color poster ready to give out at meetings with QR code to informational webpage and registration. Request appeal for scholarships at meetings. So far 12 registrations with three prepaid. Early bird discount ends June 24. Email through digital marketing service continues.


Annual Business Meeting Delegates (5 min)

  • ABM Delegates: Anthony, Caitlyn, Abby IFDs can be found at slaafws.org where the Agenda is under ABM 2025 Information. Discussion took place on IFDs that have been authored through GCMSI. Acknowledgement of the important work of FWS but weak fundraising efforts coupled with ABM overspending require Intergroups to gather for a remote, virtual ABM August 7-10. Encouraging FWS as well as groups to refocus on its way of 60/40 contributions (to local intergroup-GCMSI and FWS).
     

New Business ( As Possible)

  • IFD from Evan to be converted into motion at next meeting No action was taken at this meeting on Evan’s proposal for a committee to reconsider GCMSI allotments to ABM and its delegates. Evan will draft a motion in an email to be brought to the Intergroup at the May 17 meeting.
     

SUGGESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR MEETING REPS: 

  • Submissions to newsletter – May 2025 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, due May 17.

  • SLAA Summer Retreat August 14-17, 2025 Encourage registration on the website using QR code on the poster. Request money for scholarships and encourage members to apply for scholarships.

  • Fall Gathering October 25, 2025 Theme, “Language of the Heart.”

  • Subscribe to the newsletter on the slaachicago.org website 

  • Encourage non-participating groups to bring in a member for service as IG rep.

  • 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: May 17, 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: 03/12/25-04/10/25

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Previous Month's Balance $ 11,013.95

Expenses $ (3,889.12)

Income (Contributions) $ 380.00

Income (Events) $ 156.04

Current Balance $ 7,660.87

Prudent Reserve $ (7,276.53)

Working Balance $ 384.34

 

 

Income

  • 7th Tradition Contributions

    • Tuesday Keep Coming Back SLAA Group    $5.00

    • 12x12 Living in the Solution (On Orchard) $29.00

    • Ravenswood Fellowship Group                         $5.00

    • Milwaukee Saturday Morning                          $267.00

    • Wilwaukee Wednesday Evening                    $30.00

    • Tuesday Priceless Gift of Sobriety                 $8.00

    • Sunday Night Ebenezer - State of Grace    $20.00

    • Individual Donations                                             $16.00

  • Retreat 2025​

    • Retreat Registration Payments                        $150.00​

  • Valentine's Day Event

    • Donations                                                                    $6.04​

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Expenses

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  • DeKoven Center (Retreat 2025 Downpayment)  $3,606.00

  • Squarespace Web Developer/ ATI                                  $213.12

  • Intergoup Room Rent (NTAC) Monthly                        $70.00

 

Additional

  • None

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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.​​

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SLAA Online text-only chat

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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.

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The Journal

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​​​​​Contribute to the Fellowship-Wide Newsletter: Journal​

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

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Submit responses or other contributions to www.slaafws.org/journalsubmit.

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To subscribe to the Journal or read the current issue, please click here.  

 

Thank you for reading!

Newsletter topic for June: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. How resistance to change shows up in my recovery.
 

Deadline for submissions is June 21st.

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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"

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