At SAICO in Tennessee, we are entering the summer season with a positive, upbeat outlook on life. The weather is better and things are looking up. The deficit that we had to carry for the last two years has shrunk to about $1,000 since the first quarter. Once again, the generosity of SA members has helped make this possible. Across the nation, reports have come in from intergroups who are considering a special collection for SAICO on a regular basis. Some are looking at a formula for doing this. Others are adding a special appeal at certain times.

Jerry L., the General Assembly Delegate for the Southwest Region put a pencil to the problem and gave this analysis:

An operating deficit of $1,000 per month works out to about $2.40 per member per year. If every member of SA would donate $1.00 per quarter, or $4.00 per year, SAICO would be operating at an $8,000 surplus.

An extra collection for SAICO gives us members an occasion to remind ourselves that the fellowship goes beyond the boundaries of our local region, intergroup, and home group. In another boundary-stretching exercise, the region is supporting an outreach to the new SA groups in Iran by supplying literature and helping with the efforts to translate the literature into Farsi. We in the Southwest Region believe that Twelfth Step work can be done by intergroups and regions, as well as individuals.

Take Care,