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DISTRICT 11
A.A. Newsletter JULY 2019 http://www.whatcomaa.org/
“We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable” eprinted from AA Big Book, page 59
Dry Dock: Fourth of July BBQ and Fireworks, all day
July 4, potluck at 7pm
Birthdays for July: 41 years: Mike R.; 34 years: Bobbi
B., Chris P.; Loretta S.; 28 years: Patricia; 16 years: Roger
U., Kathryn H.; 8 years: Andrea L.; 6 years: Rick B.,
Lauren P., Jay W.; 4 years: Jane P.; 2 years: Jenny W.,
Ben T., Elizabeth P., Steve P., Manuel P.; 1 year: Anthony
M., Scott U., Colin M., Crystal B., Jodi B.
Ferndale Unity Group: Also a reminder we have a
potluck at 6 PM the second Saturday of every month for
our speaker meeting that starts at 7 PM.
Birthdays for July: 33 yrs: Jim C.; 30 yrs: Linda J.; 28
yrs: Susan D.; 25 yrs: Fred E.; 13 yrs: Dustin H.; 9 yrs:
Dave B.; 7 yrs: Heather S.; 4 yrs: Adrienne V., LaDonna
G.; 3 yrs: Bree M., Jennifer I.; 2 yrs: Paula D.; 1 yr: Chris
C., Steve P., Dan E., Jamie D., Gwen O., Emmanual F.,
Karley J.
Grateful Hearts: Hi!
Birthdays for July: 38 yrs: Amy S.; 6 yrs: Kathy W.; 2
yrs: Arica P.
SOS: Save the date! Join us at the SOS & WITS family
picnic on July 13 at Marine Park in Sudden Valley. More
will be revealed.
Ongoing Volunteers Needed for: The AA HOTLINE – 360-734-1688
Ongoing volunteers are needed to take meetings to
corrections and treatment facilities, AA Hotline and to
speak at non-AA informational meetings. Please attend
the monthly Corrections and Treatment meeting to find
out the requirements for volunteering (always the 4th
Thursday each month at 5:30 pm at Northwest Group)
Poets Wanted Here Your Newsletter Committee invites
you to participate in a monthly AA
Poem feature. Please submit your original poems to:
newsletterwhatcomaa.org – 200 words or less.
Committee Announcement :
The Newsletter Committee is still welcoming
members to write stories, write poems, and
incorporate new ideas into your newsletter! We
also need submissions from the AA population
at large! Ask for participation in your meetings
so everyone has a chance to carry the message.
Let’s create something everyone wants to read!
If you have something to say, write it down and
email it to:
DCM – Aaron D.
Hello District 11!
We had a wonderful report from our Delegate in Mt. Vernon about
the happenings of the General Service Conference in May. He
shared what he saw and felt at the conference, along with what
changes are coming. One of the most interesting for me was that we
won't be starting a 5th Edition of the Big Book this year - while the
Conference was in favor of this at first, the staff of GSO (our
General Service Office) let the group know that if we perused this,
that we would have to put some of our new technology-related plan
on the back burner, such as our new LinkedIn page and Youtube
Channel. In addition, an AA app is in the works.
If you'd like to know more, never hesitate to call me at 360-224-
1431. I can even get you connected to our Delegate Alan if you'd
like to hear it from the horse's mouth as well. :)
I hope you're having a great start to summer and I look forward to
seeing everyone at the Area July Quarterly in Mt. Vernon! Call me
if you need the details.
In love & service,
Aaron D
District 11 DCM
Phone Service – Craig C.
Whenever anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, we want the
hand of AA to always be there. And if they do it by phone in
Whatcom or Skagit County we want them to be able to talk to an
AA member first. Whatcom and Skagit Districts work together to
answer the AA Hotline 24/7. We also maintain a 12 Step Call list of
AA members who are willing to call or visit or take a suffering
alcoholic to a meeting. Corrections and Treatment and the Phone
Service are working together to support people just being released
from jail who want to get involved in AA. If you are interested in
being a part of this important service please contact c-
[email protected] or someone from the C&T Committee. We are
always in need of Hotline and 12 Step volunteers. It is rewarding
and fun and service work helps you stay sober. Our next workshop
is July 21st in Skagit County. To find out more call the hotline at
360-734-1688, send an email to [email protected], or
attend one of our regular phone service meetings. They are the 3rd
Thursday of the month at the Drydock at 6:15pm. All are welcome.
In love and service, Craig C.
Web servant – Harlow B.
To ensure that your Home Group’s information gets distributed,
send the info to the following e-mail addresses:
1) Group events – special meetings, workshops, potlucks, picnics,
alcathons, etc.
Newsletter editor at [email protected]
Web Servant at [email protected]
2) Meeting changes – adding or dropping meetings, change of
times, change of types
Web Servant at [email protected]
Schedules at [email protected]
3) New Groups – name, location, and meeting times
Registrar at [email protected]
Web Servant at [email protected]
Schedules at [email protected]
4) GSR info – new or changes to contact info. Provide full name,
mailing address, phone #, and e-mail address
Registrar at [email protected]
Web Servant at [email protected]
Remembering: Sister Mary Ignatia
(1889-1966)
Born Della Mary Gavin in 1889 in Ireland, Sister
Ignatia worked with Dr. Bob to help admit
alcoholics into St. Thomas Hospital in Akron,
Ohio, starting in 1939. She surmounted obstacles
to personally care for thousands of alcoholics over
the next several decades, both in Akron and later
at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland.
Beloved by all who were associated with or
helped by her, she was commonly referred to as
the “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous.”
In an interview with Bill W., Sister regaled the co-
founder with cherished recollections of Dr. Bob
and their work with drunks at St. Thomas:
“Dr. Bob was the essence of professional dignity.
He had a fine sense of humor and exceptional
vocabulary…. Now, as I look back over the years, I
realize that Dr. Bob was slowly but surely
preparing me for the great project he had in
mind. We often discussed the problem of
alcoholism and the tragedies caused by excessive
drinking. The individual given to alcoholic
addiction is frequently a wreck of humanity –
broken in body and soul, and heart and unable to
help himself. His loved ones suffer, too; there
were many broken homes and hearts because of
compulsive drinking.” (Recording of Sister Ignatia,
1954)
Her work in helping alcoholics was done with
much dignity and modest distinction. In
December 1949, she was presented with the
Poverello Medal of the College of Steubenville.
The medal was given to her for the A.A.
Fellowship for her untiring efforts with alcoholics
in Akron. In March 1961, Sister Ignatia received a
letter of acknowledgment for her pioneering
contributions from the White House (President
Kennedy), which she shared with Bill W. The letter
read:
Dear Sister Mary Ignatia:
Through an admirer of yours, the President has
learned of the fine work you have done in the
past at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, and, more
recently, at St. Vincent’s in Cleveland.
He has been informed that a large number of
citizens have been restored to useful citizenship
as a result of your efforts. As you have been a
strong influence for the good to many people,
you have added strength to your community and
nation.
In response to receiving a copy of the President’s
letter, Bill responded to Sister Ignatia and wrote:
We have read the marvelous letter which
President Kennedy requested be sent to you. It
reminds me that I have no words to tell of my
devotion and my gratitude to you, of the constant
inspiration you have given me and so many over
the years by your example of the finest in all that
is spiritual and eternal, as well as temporal.
Following Dr. Bob’s death in 1950, Sister Ignatia
continued her work at St. Thomas. Then in 1952,
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she was transferred to St. Vincent Charity Hospital
at Cleveland, where she was placed in charge of
its alcoholic ward. Upon arrival, the ward at
“Charity” was part of a dilapidated wing and was
in great need of rejuvenation. Through the Sister’s
urging and much assistance from A.A. members
with carpentry skills, the ward was soon
transformed and named Rosary Hall Solarium.
Sister Ignatia provided each patient who left her
care with a Sacred Heart badge. Receiving this
item was accompanied by a personal promise to
the Sister that the patient would return the badge
before they drank again.
She died in Richfield Ohio, at age 77, on April 1,
1966. There were reportedly about 3,000 people
present at the funeral, including A.A.’s co-founder,
Bill W
JULY 2019
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
St. Joes, 4pm
2
Detox, 7pm
3 Visions, 7pm
4
Detox, 7pm
Accessibility Mtg
@NW, 5:45pm
*Dry Dock 4th of July BBQ
5
St. Joes 7pm
6
Detox, 7pm
7
PCN, 7pm
8
St. Joes, 4pm 9
Detox, 7pm
*Gratitude Banquet
Planning Committee
10
Visions, 7pm
~Deadline for Newsletter~
11
Detox, 7pm
12
St. Joes 7pm
**WWA72 Quarterly
13
Detox, 7pm
**WWA72 Quarterly
*SOS/WITS Picnic
14
15
St. Joes, 4pm
16
Detox, 7pm
17
Visions, 7pm
GSR District Mtg. @ Dry
Dock, 6:30p
18 Detox, 7pm
Phone Service Mtg. @ Dry
Dock, 6:15pm
19
St. Joes 7pm 20
Detox, 7pm
Literature Mtg. @ FUG
10:30am **Treatment Quarterly
**Our Stories Disclose
Workshop
21
**Web Standing
Quarterly
22
St. Joes, 4pm
23
Detox, 7pm
3rd Legacy Committee
Mtg. @ Dry Dock,
6:30pm
24
Visions, 7pm
25 Detox, 7pm
PI/CPC Mtg. @ Dry Dock,
6:30pm
C&T Mtg. @ NW, 5:30pm
26
St. Joes 7pm
27
Detox, 7pm
**District Young Persons
Committee Quarterly
28
29
St. Joes, 4pm 30
Detox, 7pm
31
Visions, 7pm
*For information please visit whatcomaa.org.
**For information about quarterly committee meetings and area events go to www.area72aa.org
Three legacies of AA are Recovery, Unity and Service.
We serve because we are grateful for AA
saving our lives.
A Declaration of Unity This we owe to A.A.’s future:
To place our common welfare first; To keep our fellowship united.
For on A.A. unity depend our lives, And the lives of those to come
Reprinted with permission from A.A.W.S.
