Sunday

Thunder Heart AA

• Meeting location is wheelchair accessible

Coalville Care Group

• Meeting location is 86 East Center Street at the Coalville Fire Station

Serenity Happy Hour

• New location: 1600 West Antelope Drive, Layton UT 84041, Davis Hospital Classroom #1

Acceptance

• New location: 255 East 400 South, Salt Lake City UT 84111

Monday

Greater Kearns

• Meeting location is wheelchair accessible

Gay Men’s Stag

• New location: 255 East 400 South, Salt Lake City UT 84111

Tuesday

Happy Destiny

• Meeting location is wheelchair accessible

Wednesday

District 11 GSR meeting

• The correct address is 1131 South Main Street, Centerville UT 84014 (Episcopal Church)
• This meeting occurs on the second Wednesday of each month

Jaywalkers Round Table

• Meeting canceled

Saturday

Trans*

• New location: 255 East 400 South, Salt Lake City UT 84111

Hispanic Meetings

Grupo Hispano

• 717 South 300 West Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
• Daily: 12 pm – 2 pm and 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Grupo Salt Lake

• 1020 North 1400 West (rear of the building), Salt Lake City, UT 84116
• Daily: 8 pm – 10 pm (Summer), 7:30 pm – 9 pm (Winter)
• The Saturday night meeting is open ended

Grupo Fe y Esperanza

• 3646 South Redwood Road #302, West Valley City, UT 84119
• Daily: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Grupo Un Nuevo Dia

• 2850 South Redwood Road suite B15, West Valley City, UT 84119
• Daily: 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Grupo Primer Paso Ogden

• 2346 South Washington Blvd., Ogden, UT 84401
• Daily: 7:30 pm to 9 pm (Winter). 8 pm to 9:30 pm (Spring)

Grupo Experiencia Personal

• 1800 South State Street, Orem, UT 84097
• Daily: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Grupo Despertar Feliz

• 7820 South Allen St (612 West), Midvale, UT 84047
• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 7:30 pm to 9 pm

What services are needed?

How can we best provide them?

What’s working?

What isn’t?

What is your experience?

Sunday, February 17th from noon – 2pm at the Central Office.  All are welcome, wanted and needed.

For more information about some of the positions see the following pamphlets from AA World Services

• Your DCM
• Public Information
• Cooperation with the Professional Community

The South Enders group meeting has changed from 7:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Crazy Ladies: 10am – 2pm

An AA Group: 2pm – 6pm

I remembered when I was vibrant and dynamic. I could keep my own gaze with confidence. I commanded what I did rather than hoped for it. I had a plan (WHAT A LAUGH). Age may have played a factor in all this as well while I studied the deepening lines on my face (damn those clichés) and thought – How did I become this? Long had it been since I bothered to look at myself. The person I saw that day and the one I remembered were two different people. But one in the same. How confusing was that day, huh?
I had been to A.A. before. 15 years ago I received a month sobriety chip. I loved the program but then paid a visit to an old friend and returned to old habits. I told myself, if I could do it for 30 days, I could do it for an eternity, when I was ready (I said I loved the program, not grasped it).  After that point I still held A.A. in high regard, though only as a good alternative lifestyle, when the time came.
This time, my motivation wasn’t the rock bottom moment which I shared. At least not at first. It was simply for my most recent drunk buddy. “Sure,” I told myself, “it was him who got me into this stupor. I might be messed up, but damn, he fell asleep at the bar!” In my opinion, that was a line you just didn’t cross!
So I took it upon myself to be the good friend that got him some help.  Being his coworker also, I pestered him all day.  Eventually, he caved and agreed to a meeting with me that night. There were a few stipulations, but I figured if I could just get him there, A.A. could put the whammy on him. So I set it up.
I made sure to arrive a little early to tell the people how things needed to go in order to keep him (HA!) “Please don’t call any attention to us. We just want to observe.”, I instructed. I think we all know how that went. Chips, hugs and names were exchanged, and to make a long story short, he never went back but I did, and continue doing so. Eventually, even though he still suffers, I realized what had taken place, and thanked him for being a supportive friend by getting me through those doors.
It hasn’t been peaches ‘n’ cream by any means. I still get cravings and mood swings, have picked up and put down step 4 several times, am seeking another sponsor, and am trying to tough my way through these things labeled “Service Work”. I already see a monumental improvement across the board. I’m not drinking, going to meetings, and trying to carry the message. The one that works for me is: “If you want to continue drinking, that’s your business. If you want to STOP drinking, that’s OUR business.” And so it is.

Thanks for letting me share.

~ Danny S.
Salt Lake City, UT

One of the major amendments to the bylaws was the addition of the Standing Committees.  We’ve had a full year of active involvement from those committees.  These committees were designed to plan and implement all the services that Central Office offers.  This allows AA members the opportunity to get involved and provide service to our community.  Here’s a little review of what the Committees accomplished this year:

The Archives Committee was approved after the bylaws were amended and Meg G. led that committee to go through the task of sorting through old papers, Grapevines, books, pictures, tapes, ad infinitum.  We now have Grapevines catalogued and available from the 1950’s to current issues.  Digital copies of old speaker tapes were made and are available at the office and online.  Please come by and view their hard work.  John N. will be assuming the position of Archives Standing Chair and if you’d like to participate, please call Central Office for his contact information.

Shar C. led the Activities Committee with the help of Kimmie S.  This committee has the responsibility of planning our fellowship events during the year.  Thanks to these ladies, Joel  and Penny R. and many more that helped with our picnic, garage sale, chili cook off, etc.  The Standing Chair position is open for this year Happy New Year!  At your Central Office, we are bringing in the New Year with some changes to our Board of Trustees and Standing Chair positions.  In November and December the Central Office representatives voted to replace the outgoing Board positions and Standing Chair positions.  I will serve as Chair, Wendy W. as Co Chair, Meg G. as Trustee, Betty H. as Trustee and Mike O. as Alternate Trustee while Kent S., Adam U., Jeremy C. and Rich W. will return for one more year!  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chair, Nick R. and Trustees, Kimmie S., Al L. and Sean B.  We will benefit from their contributions for a long time.  We were able to amend our bylaws and implement those changes successfully and without much turmoil because of their commitment and desire to create a successful, service oriented Central Office.

One of the major amendments to the bylaws was the addition of the Standing Committees.  We’ve had a full year of active involvement from those committees.  These committees were designed to plan and implement all the services that Central Office offers.  This allows AA members the opportunity to get involved and provide service to our community.  Here’s a little review of what the Committees accomplished this year:

The Archives Committee was approved after the bylaws were amended and Meg G. led that committee to go through the task of sorting through old papers, Grapevines, books, pictures, tapes, ad infinitum.  We now have Grapevines catalogued and available from the 1950’s to current issues.  Digital copies of old speaker tapes were made and are available at the office and online.  Please come by and view their hard work.  John N. will be assuming the position of Archives Standing Chair and if you’d like to participate, please call Central Office for his contact information.

Shar C. led the Activities Committee with the help of Kimmie S.  This committee has the responsibility of planning our fellowship events during the year.  Thanks to these ladies, Joel  and Penny R. and many more that helped with our picnic, garage sale, chili cook off, etc.  The Standing Chair position is open for this year.  If you would like to stand for the position, please come to the Rep meeting on January 8th at 6:30 pm at Central Office

The Bylaws Committee was led by Linda B. and she will continue serving in this position.  The Bylaws Committee has the responsibility of overseeing review and changes to the current Bylaws.  It is a tedious job but Linda takes it on with gusto!

Another important function of our Central Office is the Hotline.  This phone service is available 24/7 for people searching for a solution, a meeting, a ride to a meeting and contacts.  Volunteers answer the phone during office hours but, after office hours, our goal is to have alcoholics living in the solution answer those calls rather than an answering service.  Tim H. organized the effort this year and did a great job.  Melinda A. will be taking over for Tim – if you’d like to give her a hand, please call Central Office for her contact information.

Doug R. has been the editor of our newsletter, The LIFELINE, for the past 3 years and has done an incredible job.  His attention to detail and dedication to a quality publication will provide an easy transition for Gina F.  She will chair the Newsletter Committee for the New Year.  Doug will continue to serve Central Office as the Volunteer Coordinator on Fridays and as a resource to our newsletter. Once again, please contact Central Office if you would like to help out with the newsletter.

If you’ve been to Central Office lately you will have noticed some big changes in our literature stock.  While we have many new titles and are always stocked, our prices have been reduced across the board to better serve the needs of our members and groups.  Chris H. has been responsible for all of our strides made in this area.  He will continue on as our Literature Chair for the New Year.  He is always in need of help during inventory.

Wendy W. led the Outreach Committee this year.  Her committee has worked extremely hard at contacting our groups listed on our meeting schedule to ensure they are open and represented at Central Office.  This is important, especially to newcomers, that a meeting listed on the schedule is there.  The All Groups meeting commenced this year, as well.  Groups from around the valley sign up to host a meeting and provide a potluck dinner.  All Groups meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 6 pm and it’s a great way to meet people from different groups and share the message.  Wendy also has a teleconference meeting once a month with our Delegate and other Central Offices in the state of Utah to enhance communication with all branches of service.  She will serve Central Office as Co Chair and the Area as Secretary.  The Outreach Standing Chair position for the New Year is open.

The reason Central Office has been able to operate on less money and provide more services is in large part due to the volunteers.  Central Office is staffed by all volunteers.  We have a paid bookkeeper that comes in for a couple of hours each day to ensure our books are up to date and our bills are paid.  Karen S. does an awesome job.  But, everything else is done by volunteers.  Betty H. chaired the first ever Volunteer Committee and we owe great thanks to her for getting us started on the path of self-support.  Betty will serve on the Board this year as Trustee and Susan L. will assume her responsibilities as Volunteer Chair.  Please contact Central Office if you are interested in service in this capacity.

Last, but certainly, not least is our Website Committee.  Jonathan H. has totally reinvented our website to provide easy access to meeting schedules and information pertinent to alcoholics in the area, as well as, nationally.  Please visit our website at www.saltlakeaa.org.  Jonathan will serve us again this year as our webservant.  If you have any talents to give in this area, please contact Jonathan at webservant@saltlakeaa.org.

If you have any questions and/or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to email me at board@saltlakeaa.org.

Once again, Happy New Year!

Christy R.
Chairperson, Board of Trustees

I tried alcohol when I was ten years old. Some friends and I got into his mother’s liquor that she had under the sink. It was vodka and whiskey. I can’t remember everything that happened, but I recall laughing a lot while talking with a religious leader who rarely laughed. At 13 I found a bottle of whiskey left over from a party that I hid in my drawer. Again, I can’t remember everything that happened, but I recall laughing, jumping around on my bed, falling down a lot, and waking up, naked and bruised. 14-17 was a lot of alcohol, weed, laughing and jumping around, more nakedness, more bruises, cops, handcuffs, upset parents, more drinking, more cops, more upset parents, some legal fees, and then some sobriety while I did some service for the popular religious organization in Utah.

I returned from my religious service in a foreign land believing that I would live happily ever after, but that didn’t happen. My curiosity found alcohol again. I was without defense. I took one drink, and it turned into thousands thereafter. Again, there was the laughter, jumping around, nakedness, bruises, close calls with the cops, upset parents, bars, parties etc. . . It was during this time that I found the courage to look inside myself and see that I was homosexual, and that the religion I was raised with was not the one for me. That was a painful experience filled with tears and mixed emotions. My understanding of life, God, and happiness twisted and shattered. Alcohol consumed me. I drank, I partied, I raved, I sobbed in anger, bitterness, and sorrow. Then there was a deep emptiness. I would drink and laugh at parties, but inside I felt so far away – so alone. I would wake up in the night drunk and crying not knowing why I was crying. There was no joy left in drinking.

I couldn’t stop drinking. I wanted to stop, but I couldn’t. This perplexed me, made me laugh a little bit, and then it scared me. I was in something worse than a bad situation. Deep inside I knew it. I contacted a friend and told her what was happening to me. She shared her story with me and I knew that she knew exactly what I was talking about. Her honesty exposed me to the cold fact that I have a progressive disease, and that it will kill me if I drink. I dumped the remainder of my booze, sobered up at her place for a few days, got introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous, and I haven’t had a drink since.

Alcoholics Anonymous has presented me with a way to live happily without drinking. I don’t ever have to drink again, and I don’t want to. I work the steps and they work for me. I have respectfully set aside the religion of my up-bringing. I am content with the sexuality I have been given. I cherish a flexible understanding of Higher Powers, I enjoy a beautiful life today and I owe it to the miracle of Alcoholics Anonymous. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. Reach out in humility, and you too will be rocketed into the fourth dimension of living.

The Acceptance Group
361 North 300 West SLC
Sundays 3:00pm