J.A., of Baltimore, Maryland, writes, “…So often I think I am the doctor writing the prescription and that God is merely a pharmacist — my pharmacist. Only the other day I prescribed my cure and sent it in to be filled. The result was a disaster. So today I pray that God’s will be done and that I be given what I need, not what I want or think that I need. But there are times when I can ask that a character defect be removed.…”

S.S. of Somerville, Massachusetts, reports, “On December 8, 1985, I will have eleven months of sexual sobriety thanks to God and SA and sexually sober people I’ve called nationally as well as our own group. I still feel in withdrawal because each attractive man I meet I over-respond to but my program helps me to not act out and my interactions with men are changing and new and I feel a lot of hope today!

From G.A. in Iceland: “Dear fellow members,
My name is G.A. and I would like to tell you how SA got started in Reykjavik, Iceland.

B.C., of Apple Valley, Minnesota, writes, “Here is our check for GSO support.… M.J. celebrated one year along with me just recently. We have had from four to eight members normally at a Friday evening meeting.…”

Salt Lake City groups report they have hit upon a way to help support the 12th Step work of the SA Central Office. They pass the basket around a second time for loose change only—no bills—and send that to Central Office. They were surprised at what this amounted to after just one month.

Cleveland’s first marathon was successful. Members from various surrounding states attended. One member reports, “There was real togetherness within the fellowship. It was the first time for all of us that we had gotten together with other groups.

B.T. of Salt Lake City, Utah writes, “I think now that I’ve been in SA for 2 years (it always seems to take 2 years) that I’m just getting to the program. I thought in the beginning that I didn’t really lust because I didn’t body watch but now I see that it was wanting people to think I was clever, smart, witty, to think I was so understanding, etc. on and on.

D.B. of Richmond, Virginia writes, “There have been many changes in my life as a result of SA. First and foremost, has been my admission and acceptance that I am an alcoholic. After admitting I was a sexaholic, I still had a deep pit in my gut that I was still not being honest with myself.

J.P. of Nashville, Tennessee says, “Nashville SA is small, but still there.”

R.S. of Marina del Rey, California writes,
Last night I admitted I was a hateaholic.

B.S. of Stuart, Florida writes, “Thank you. Everything I get from you keeps me going. We have 2 meetings per week, 3 members. I am the old timer (6 mos. sobriety) so I need help from others.”

P.C. of St. Louis reports, “Four weeks ago I was introduced to SA. I frankly have found the program very beneficial and a source of strength. Although I am also a recovering alcoholic 5 1/2 years now since my last (hopefully) drink, I did not realize that SA was a disease like the alcoholic addiction.

SA Office Telephone. The SA office phone is now being answered during working hours. Nan, our non-sexaholic secretary, will be picking up the calls, unless she’s out getting the mail, etc. You can leave any messages with her without fear of jeopardizing your anonymity.

Jesse L. has made the suggestion that the writing and revision effort on the SA booklet should be frozen where it is, with the exception of going back to the original wording of the statement on sobriety and including the First Step Inventory.

Jesse L. has raised the question of going back to the previous wording of our sobriety statement on page 4 of the SA booklet. The revised statement currently reads:

We need stories from regular SA members with uninterrupted sobriety of one year or more according to our SA concept of sexual sobriety. This means no sexual experience with the self or others other than the spouse and progressive victory over lust for at least one year.

Seven pieces have been included with this newsletter for your perusal. Make whatever use of them you can, and if you care to, please comment.

The next Western Regional Convention—open to the whole fellowship, of course—is being hosted by the Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Vancouver, and Victoria groups and is slated for June 7, 8, and 9.

First off, Rick and Jeannette want to “thank everybody for making it possible.” And we want to thank you, Rick and Jeannette, and all the anonymous ones we don’t have names for who helped put it together and made it work. And we thank God for helping us all!

To Everyone in SA,
Hi! And welcome to all the newcomers.