December 2024
Seattle AIS Needs Your Help
by Dave M (Chair)
We Need your help!
The AIS “annual meeting” was held November 14th and revealed several opportunities for members to provide service to the organization in 2025.
At the Officer level (elected) we have openings for:
Vice Chair
Treasurer.
At the Coordinator level (appointed) we have openings for:
Phones
Outreach.
At the Volunteer level we have openings on:
Phones
LDC teams.
AIS is a 100% volunteer organization that relies entirely on people from Districts 14 thru 22 stepping up and helping us provide the following services:
Web site
Newsletter
Meeting Directory
Events
Phone
Literature Distribution Center
Outreach
As one of our members aptly stated “It takes a village” to get the job done.
Detailed descriptions of these position requirements can be found in our Standard Rules and Procedures Manual (SRPM) located on our website.
Please contact Chair@seattle-al-anon.org if you are interested in serving.
We need your help!
Celebrating Service
by Clif H - BITS Editor
Hello, BITS readers. To begin with, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for continuing to read the BITS, the newsletter prepared by and for the Seattle Al-Anon Information Service (AIS). It has been my utmost pleasure being of service these last 3 years as the newsletter editor. As with all things in life, this was not a one-man show. I’ve had the support of the many contributors, writers, editors, AIS leadership, my predecessor, and now my successor. Thank you one and all.
Being of service in this capacity has provided or enabled my personal growth in ways that I could not and did not understand when I began this adventure. I’ve worked with so many great individuals experiencing their experience, strength, and hope. Many times, I was reliant upon the Service Manual (2022-2025 Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27)) for guidance, which was the result of actually consulting it, and seeking clarity of the words by talking to others more familiar with the content. The best part for me has been meeting a more diverse scope of individuals in recovery.
Thank you all for your support and feedback during my tenure as your AIS Newsletter Editor.
While I’m stepping down from this particular adventure, I look forward to my next service opportunity.
With greatest respect to recovery for all.
STEP 12 -
Gifts of the Program
by Deborah V
In our CAL book, Having Had a Spiritual Awakening, (p. 123), Lois W. says, “I don’t think there is a spiritual part of the program. Every activity can have a spiritual motive.” I agree with Lois! Each activity has its own focus and its own spiritual gifts. We discover these through reading our literature, listening in meetings and observing the recovery of others in service. We see our lives change as we discover these gifts within ourselves and use them.
Graphic by Deborah V
Here are some of the gifts I have received by working each of the Steps:
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Awareness and acceptance
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Faith, support, and companionship
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
Surrender, openness, trust, and safety
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Honesty, courage, responsibility, perception, and clarity
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Transparency, integrity, being heard, recognized, accepted and understood
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Patience, perspective, prayer, willingness, and acceptance of help
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Humility, being willing to ask for help, and service
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Forgiveness, kindness, fairness, boundaries, detachment, respect, realistic view
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Healing, freedom from shame and guilt, gratitude, mutuality, and listening
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Growth, challenge, practice, curiosity, positive habits, consistency
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Calm, listening, intuition, awareness of feelings, serenity
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Now that my consciousness is less occupied with controlling, judging, and manipulating, I have time and space for awe, wonder, appreciation, beauty, hope, love, creativity, discretion, humor, belonging, happiness, contentment, generosity, cooperation, being “right-sized”, living for today, having a purpose
You may have found these gifts and more that I have not listed! I hope so!
Step Twelve
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Photo by Callie D
The Storm
by Stanette R
The storm
Came
Went
It caused
Tremendous
Damage
But
My
Hopes
Dreams
Are intact
I'm hearing
The Storm
Is
Coming
Back
I'll be
Battening
Down
Hatches
But
Remembering
Faith
Family
Love
Is in
The center
Of my heart
Hearth
Photo by Callie D
I may be
In the
Darkness
But
My
Higher Power
Is here
Moment
To
Moment
And my
Inner
Light
Shines
Bright
Tonight
Together
Our
Mutual
Light
Brings
Forth
Love
Releasing
by Stanette R
Releasing
Tonight
I saw you
Place
A basket
Over your
Beautiful light
I tried to pry
It off you
But realized
Your hands
Must do
The releasing
I'm standing by
Loving you
Until you
Love
Yourself
Photo by Soren S
A day will
Come in
Holy Spirit
Time
When
You will
Shine
Once
More
I'll be
Here
With
You
Rejoicing!!
Are You Ready to Welcome Newcomers this Holiday Season?
The holidays are approaching quickly. For newcomers seeking help at this time of year, please make sure that your group meeting information is correct.
Ask yourself and your group, “What did I need when I went to my first meeting?” Specific location or login instructions about your meeting can be helpful to a newcomer attending Al‑Anon/Alateen for the first time. We want everyone to feel welcome in our Al‑Anon and Alateen meetings!
Has the group’s temporary electronic meeting information been removed from your group record if you’re back to meeting in person? Is it current? If not, you can update it here.
Is there a special door to gain access to the building or a room number for the Al‑Anon/Alateen meeting?
Are there passwords or login instructions needed to join the Al‑Anon/Alateen meeting electronically?
Is there a sign on the door or chat notice to alert people if your group won’t be meeting that week? (For example, “Not meeting on Thanksgiving.”)
Is there a volunteer from the group to be a “Greeter” for those attending your Al‑Anon meeting for the first time?
Submit your Al‑Anon group changes online anytime throughout the year. For help with submitting Alateen changes, contact your Area Alateen Process Person.
The Forum, October 2024
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA.
Comfort in a Rough Place
“You are in a rough place right now,” my Sponsor said as we walked together before our meeting. I had asked him to meet me 30 minutes early to help me find some firm ground. My brother had died four days earlier, and my partner was spiraling into a drunken bottom of her own. Violence and chaos dominated my home life. Neither I nor my son felt safe in our home. I just wanted space for our shared grief and could find none. Even though I’d been in Al‑Anon eight years, I now found myself facing a new version of this baffling, cunning, and powerful disease at a time when I had no emotional energy to cope with it.
Still, my Sponsor’s simple words helped me find a little light and brought together all I had learned in Al‑Anon. Tradition Five states that Al‑Anon’s one purpose is “to help families of alcoholics” by welcoming and comforting them.
He welcomed me into the conversation by setting aside time on short notice to meet early. I mattered to him. He let me share what I was facing, just like we do at our meetings, without interruption. I rambled and cried, and he just let me. I felt comforted by his listening. He heard my pain and responded with how he saw me: “You are…” But he did not give me advice or tell me what to do. His quiet comfort gave me a little power in a situation where I felt powerless. I felt less alone, too—a key reason why we “Keep Coming Back” to our meetings.
At the time, I did not realize that his last two words were also crucial: “right now.” That period of time felt like forever while it was happening. It was overwhelming to feel so much all at once. But feelings aren’t facts. My Sponsor knew my feelings would pass eventually. They did. It wasn’t easy, but I bounced back better because of my program and its purpose of “welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics.”
By Charley B., Minnesota
Reprinted with permission of The Forum, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA.
Tradition Twelve
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.
Need a Free Newcomer Packet?
Anyone local to Seattle who is a newcomer and wants an individual newcomer packet (or in Spanish, too!), please submit your request via the New To Al-Anon page, or send an email to outreach@seattle-al-anon.org with the name and mailing address.
Group Records
Is your group not listed correctly in the meeting directories? Do you need to make group records changes?
In Person and Hybrid Groups
Submit your correct information to WA Area by using the form on the WA Area website. You may have to log in first. If you don’t have an account, you will need to set one up.
https://wa-al-anon.org/group-records-request-a-change/
Online ONLY Groups
Submit your correct information to WSO by using the Electronic Group Change form at al-anon.org. If this is the first time using that form, here are some handy instructions.
AIS will be sent a copy of the changes by WA Area and by WSO via the Area Group Records Coordinator.
AIS will make the change as soon as possible. For Online ONLY groups, please allow up to 10 days for the change to appear on the AIS meeting directory. If your listing is correct on WA Area AND WSO, but not on AIS, please email meetingdirectoryeditor@seattle-al-anon.org.
Requesting Phone Volunteers
Contact the Phones Coordinator
Phones@seattle-al-anon.org or call/text 206-625-0000
Concept of the Month
by Allen L
Concept Twelve
The spiritual foundation for Al-Anon’s world services is contained in the General Warranties of the Conference, Article 12 of the Charter.
Just the idea of Al-Anon’s General Warranties sounds imposing. As listed on page 17 of the 2022-2025 Al-Anon Alateen Service Manual (P-24/27) the General Warranties of the Conference are quite simple and direct.
In all proceedings the World Service Conference of Al‑Anon shall observe the spirit of the Traditions:
1. that only sufficient operating funds, including an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle;
2. that no Conference member shall be placed in unqualified authority over other members;
3. that all decisions be reached by discussion, vote and whenever possible by unanimity;
4. that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy;
5. that though the Conference serves Al‑Anon it shall never perform any act of government; and that like the fellowship of Al‑Anon Family Groups which it serves, it shall always remain democratic in thought and action.
Imagine how peaceful my life could be if I applied these ideas to my personal and business relationships!
1. I don’t need MORE, I just need enough.
2. I don’t have unqualified authority over others and no one has unqualified authority over me.
3. Whenever possible we make decisions by agreement; not through manipulation or coercion.
4. I don’t make myself crazy trying to get even!
5. I am not responsible to govern others and they don’t govern me.
Concept Twelve
The spiritual foundation for Al-Anon’s world services is contained in the General Warranties of the Conference, Article 12 of the Charter.
AIS Council Meeting
The next Council meeting is Thursday, December 12th, 2024, 7:30-9:00 pm. Check the AIS website calendar (https://www.seattle-al-anon.org/events) for the zoom link.
AIS Board Meeting
The next Board Meeting will be Thursday, Jan 16th, 2025, 7:00 -8:30 pm. Check the AIS website calendar (https://www.seattle-al-anon.org/events) for the zoom link.
A Glimmer of Hope After the Storm
by Callie D
Bomb cyclone! It sounded like a party band or major household appliance. I received a group message from my supervisor to be prepared for a power outage with flashlights and blankets. I already had blankets in my car, and grabbed a battery fueled lantern. At the change of shift I looked at my weather app and it didn’t look like anything was coming. Then suddenly, in the early evening, our area was plunged into darkness!
Due to being prepared, I wasn’t caught off guard and actually felt a little excitement with the novelty of a power outage. My lantern was bright enough to light up several rooms. I will admit, though, that I was quite relieved when I got home and the lights were on! I could cook up a meal and binge watch my favorite shows with gratefulness.
Over the next couple days, I ventured out to hike and discovered permanently altered landscapes with fallen old-growth trees and impassable trails. I took an unfamiliar route one of the days, and ended up frustrated, sore, and nearly lost my boots in the mud! The protective forest had bare patches now, where urban sights and sounds intruded upon the formerly serene landscape.
Living in the aftermath of a loved one’s drinking is like having a “bomb cyclone” perpetually on the horizon. When I am psychologically prepared for the potential high winds of dysregulated behavior, I can wrap myself up in the blanket of detachment. Detachment can take many forms based on taking inventory of my capacity to deal with the issues that alcoholism brings.
by Callie D
Some days I know that I must wrap myself in a thick comforter of detachment and avoid direct contact with the alcoholic, altogether. Other times it is effective to disengage with appropriate boundaries, both internal and external. In my experience, ongoing alcoholism erodes the core essence and values of a person. It leaves in its wake a belligerent, reactive, irrational, chaotic, argumentative, self-involved darkness. I have gone in with “magical thinking” too many times hoping to get the “core essence” of my loved one, and ending up ambushed and wounded.
Just like with the “bomb cyclone,” the key is to be prepared and not “surprised” by the typical behavior of the “storm.” I have witnessed bizarre alcoholic characteristics, sometimes all within the same day! Some of these alternate personalities include: the victim, the comic, the interrogator, the risk taker, the raging accuser, and by contrast; the jovial generous funster!
“Accepting the things I cannot change.” There lies my glimmer of hope after a devastating storm. Now to focus my energy on what I can change, and begin clearing the debris from my path!
Subscribe to The Forum
Al-Anon’s monthly magazine features timely sharing’s from Al-Anon and Alateen members, suggested meeting topics, and the latest information on worldwide Al-Anon recovery. Experience and insight you won’t find anywhere else!
Thank you for your donations and your support of AIS!
Our funding now comes primarily from:
Donations by Members, Groups, and Districts
Literature Sales
Please send all AIS mail, including checks for literature orders and donations, to:
Seattle AIS
505 Broadway E #400
Seattle, WA 98102-5023
And More ...
MEETING SCHEDULE: Registered Al-Anon groups in the Greater Seattle Area. Hybrid, Concurrent, and in-person meetings are listed.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Many events happen throughout the year. Take a look here for events happening this month.
Please visit our Member Resources section for the most up-to-date information on:
List of AIS Officers and Coordinators
Where to Send Donations
District Representatives and Business Meeting Information
AIS Financial Information
Meeting News
News from the Meeting Directory Editor
Meeting changes received since those reported in the September BITS.
Wednesday, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Auburn AFG, new in person meeting (10/22)
Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Terrace View AFG Phone Meeting, closed (11/7)
Thursday, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Hope for Today AFG, name change to Hope for Today Snoqualmie AFG (11/24)
Wednesday, 7:00 – 8:30 PM Auburn Alateen Our Place, new meeting (11/24)
Sunday, 7:00 – 8:00 PM Covington Alateen, new meeting (11//27)
Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:00 PM Wednesday Alateen, new meeting (11/27)
Seattle Al-Anon Information Service
Meeting Directory Editor