Volusia County Intergroup - High 'n Dry SEPTEMBER 2006

"The purpose of the High 'n Dry is to carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous by providing a resource in print, where alcoholics can get information about the activities and meetings in Volusia County. "

It seems almost too simple to be true, but acceptance -- accepting things exactly as they are -- can be the key that unlocks the door to happiness.

After John 3:16, it may be one of the most referenced passages in literature. It's from Page 449 of Alcoholics Anonymous or The Big Book as it is widely known:

And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment.

Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.

For me, serenity began when I learned to distinguish between those things that I could change and those I could not. When I admitted that there were people, places, things, and situations over which I was totally powerless, those things began to lose their power over me. I learned that everyone has the right to make their own mistakes, and learn from them, without my interference, judgment, or assistance!

The key to my serenity is acceptance. But "acceptance" does not mean that I have to like it, condone it, or even ignore it. What it does mean is I am powerless to do anything about it... and I have to accept that fact.

Nor does it mean that I have to accept "unacceptable behavior." Today I have choices. I no longer have to accept abuse in any form. I can choose to walk away, even if it means stepping out into the unknown. I no longer have to fear "change" or the unknown. I can merely accept it as part of the journey. I spent years trying to change things in my life over which I was powerless, but did not know it. I threatened, scolded, manipulated, coerced, pleaded, begged, pouted, bribed and generally tried everything I could to make the situation better -- only watch as things always got progressively worse. I spent so much time trying to change the things I could not change, it never once occurred to me to simply accept them as they were.

Now when things in my life are not going the way I planned them, or downright bad things happen, I can remind myself that whatever is going on is not happening by accident. There's a reason for it and it is not always meant for me to know what that reason is.

The “new” website was made live to the Internet back on July 15, 2004. Since that time, there have been over 43,547 visits to the website, and still counting. A visit is every time someone goes to the site, whether they look at one page or many; it still only counts as one visit.

Most visits in one day: 104 on July 9th, 2006
Least visits in one day: 1 on April 2nd, 2005

We have had visits from every State, except for Hawaii, Idaho and Wyoming. We have had visits from every continent; with the exception of Antarctica.

How do they find us ? They find us mostly through word of mouth, search engines, other Intergroups and GSO.

How many pages are on the website ? Currently there are 141 pages; this varies depending on how many events are scheduled on the Calendar. Each event can have up to 3 pages.

Of the 141 pages currently on the website, there are 15 pages listing over 264 meetings (plus 30 more for treatment, corrections and accessibilities) held in the different cities served by Volusia County Intergroup, and 76 different map pages for those meeting locations, plus another 4 map pages for special event locations, plus 1 map page that shows where our Volusia County Intergroup office is located. That’s 81 maps and counting.

On June 11, 2006, all NEW google maps were added to the website. If you use the maps to get driving directions, all you need to do is enter your start location, the “where you are going to” is already filled in for you.

Sixteen pages are “re-direct” pages. Re-direct pages are links to other Intergroups & Central Offices in North Florida, and to World Services and Grapevine in New York.

Did you know that currently, there are only 4 pictures used on the website ? All 4 are located on the home page. (One of the 4 is a the background image, and is used on other pages as well.) More pictures are added around the holidays.

The visits to the website have steadily increased over the past two years. If you have not looked at the website, why not go and have a look ? You may be surprised at all the things you can find.

Swing into Fall with the Last Call Picnic in the park (north pavilion) at the end of LPGA and Riverside Drive on September 10th, 2006 -- Food, fun, fellowship, games, music, door prizes, raffle, DJ and Karaoke --Drinks, chic wings, hotdogs, hamburgers -- Please bring your favorite dish from home for everyone to enjoy. Tickets $3.00 each or $5.00 per couple

Ormond Beach BBSS Anniversary Announcement On September 27, 2006 we are having our 6th group anniversary party. Italian menu with salads, coffee and tea. Please bring a dessert to share. Food and fellowship from 6pm to 7:30pm with a speaker meeting to follow from 7:30pm to 9pm. Please join us as we celebrate our growth.

Friday, September 29th, 2006 Yard Sale for the Victor E. Club, Deland---7am until???

Biketoberfest Picnic at Club Yana Saturday, October 21, 2006 from 1pm til 6pm—Lots of fun, food, and music---Speaker meeting Come join the party. Celebrate sobriety—Visit with old friends—and have a great time. Donations appreciated!!

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Volusia County Intergroup is putting together a cookbook. We have some pretty good cooks in AA. There is even going to be a cook-off in January of 2007, an event where contestants or groups bring a dish and a panel of judges (I have already volunteered) would pick the best in each category.

If you have a favorite recipe, pick up a flyer and submit it to the Intergroup office no later then December 8th. Or you can send your recipe via email to: cookbook@aadaytona.org

A member of our fellowship decides he wants to buy a parrot. He knows that another member of the fellowship owns a pet store so he goes to visit him. When Joe walks into the pet shop he sees 3 parrots sitting on a bar. He greets his friend and asks, "how much is that first parrot sitting there?"

His friend, the shopkeeper, replies, "Oh, that parrot is $500." Joe is shocked and screeches, "Five hundred dollars!" What does that parrot do for $500?" The shopkeeper says, "That parrot can recite the AA steps & Traditions!" Joe doesn't want to pay $500 for a parrot so he asks the shopkeeper how much the 2nd parrot costs.

The shopkeeper replies, "Oh that parrot is $1,000!" Joe is shocked again and asks the shopkeeper what that parrot can do that’s worth $1,000!" The shopkeeper replies," That parrot can recite the entire Fifth Chapter of our Big Book!" Joe, not wanting to pay $1,000 for a parrot, asks the shopkeeper how much the 3rd parrot costs.

The shopkeeper replies, "That parrot is $2,000!" Joe is incredulous and asks what that parrot can do. The shopkeeper replies, "I've never really seen him do anything, but the other two call him Sponsor!"

SEPTEMBER 2006 ANNIVERSARIES

5:30 Group
Donna W	7	09/26/99
Gill C	3	09/26/03
Tom C	2	9/00/04

Adventures in Sobriety
John T	30	09/27/76

Back to Basics, Deland
Cheri H	4	09/17/02
Patti K	1	09/24/05

Big Book Study, HH
Harry H	22	09/30/84
Linda N	3	09/17/03

Boulevard Group
Drew F	13	09/10/93
Kenny S	10	09/10/96
Nona B	7	09/03/99
Matt B	2	09/11/04

Came to Believe~Ormond
Royce U	1	09/07/05

Choice is Yours
Allan J	17	09/09/89
Kevin C	1	09/17/05

Deland Group
Betty M	27	09/17/79
Bob M	11	09/26/95
Roland T	2	09/09/04

Four Townes Noon Group
Ken W	35	09/18/71
Jean H	31	09/01/75
Troy Lee	22	09/27/84
Chester	17	09/28/89
Dave M	14	09/18/92
Loretta B	10	09/28/96
Ruth L	8	09/02/98
Brenda W	7	09/24/99
Carol A	4	09/02/02
Cherie H	4	09/18/02
Jeff P	3	09/29/03

Free to Be, Daytona
Chris M	20	09/01/86
Randi Z	13	09/26/93
Jim H	4	09/01/02

Friday Night Men's
Dave L	23	09/07/83
Dustin	3	09/05/03

Friday Noon Men's Discussion
Dave C	30	09/03/76
Brian R	18	09/10/88
Jim S	13	09/03/93

Grace Group
Sydney L	20	09/03/86

Grateful Group
Jim M	26	09/01/80
Cheri H	4	09/17/02
Norma C	1	09/15/05

How it Works
John C	5	09/14/01

Last Call
Diane L	30	09/10/76
Mike A	9	09/04/97
Sue H	8	09/27/98
Robin G	3	09/12/03

Lest We Forget
Karen S	15	09/23/91
Bambi H	6	09/20/00
Wendy W	5	09/26/01

New Birth Group
Paul B	14	09/02/92
Robert M	11	09/28/95
Vincent C	3	09/25/03

New Dawn Group
Thomas O	13	09/10/93
Tracy F	5	09/17/01
Blair	3	09/28/03
Kristina	1	09/20/05

OB Big Book Step Study
Betty R	13	09/24/93

Ormond Beach Group
Brian R	18	09/10/88
Jim S	13	09/03/93
Sheryl F	2	09/20/04

Pass it On
Roy	1	09/15/05

Peace of Mind
Ken R	39	09/25/67
Claudia C	25	09/15/06
Bill E	20	09/16/86
Steve H	18	09/07/88
Amy Jo F	3	09/23/03
Karen S	2	09/13/04

Riverbridge
Jim B	13	09/24/93

Road to Recovery
Eileen C	1	09/09/05

Saturday Night Alive
Chris R	29	09/24/77
Molly	6	09/17/00

Saturday Night Beginners
Jim F	21	09/07/85
Tom	1	09/26/05

Short Timers
Mickey P	8	09/27/98
Eddie N	2	09/19/04
Joseph R	1	09/05/05

Step Sisters
Leona	32	09/03/74
Dianne D	31	09/13/75
Kelly	18	09/12/88
Sue N	10	09/10/96

Sunrise Group
Tela T	25	09/16/81
Karl K	10	09/07/96
Debbie M	10	09/29/96
Wanda A	7	09/10/99
Bambi H	6	09/20/00
Sandi H	1	09/07/05

Three Legacies
Terry T	28	09/08/78
Mic M	17	09/21/89
John S	16	09/23/90
Dave F	5	09/03/01
Jeff R	1	09/01/05

Thursday Night Men's
Terry T	28	09/08/78
David B	16	09/23/90
John M	3	09/16/03

Turn the Page
Mike L	2	09/18/04

Wednesday Women's
Jeanne V	25	09/14/81
Megan S	23	09/17/83
Lynne M	5	09/28/01

Women's New Beginnings
Janet K	2	09/14/04

If you would like to submit an article for publication, or have an idea for something you would like to see in the High 'n Dry, you may contact the editor at: editor@aadaytona.org