Dear ESSAY
Dear Essay, The theme for this issue is Sobriety in the Holidays. I’d like to share a holiday memory.
Editors’ Corner
Dear Essay readers: Welcome back to Essay — or, if this is your first time to read the Essay, welcome to your SA meeting in print online. We hope you will subscribe to Essay to benefit from our meeting in print every quarter.
What’s Going On in SA
The trusted servants of the Fellowship have had a busy year. In the business meetings held this past week, the following actions were taken:
Dear ESSAY
Dear Essay, Thank you do much for the new edition of Essay. I really love the SA publication!
Editors’ Corner
Dear Essay readers: Welcome back to Essay — or, if this is your first time to read the Essay, welcome to your SA meeting in print. In addition to our usual articles on Meditations, Practical Tools, Steps and Basics, we are adding to this issue a new Literature Corner and a Humor page.
Discussion Topic
What have been seasonal sobriety or Fellowship challenges for you or your groups?
Dear ESSAY
This is a letter of concern. As I travel internationally to SA groups and have international sponsees, I am becoming more and more aware that we are an international organization. As Bill S. said recently, “We will soon have more members outside of North American than inside.” Since this is true, we must become more intentional in our efforts to include participation at all levels of all members.
Editors’ Corner
Dear Essay readers: When we arrive at our first SA meeting, the motivation is almost always a mix of fear and of pain. That’s what it takes to get our attention, it seems. When we sit in an SA meeting and identify with the shares of one another, the realization dawns that we can find freedom from the pain and the fears.
Finance Report
The preliminary financial results of fiscal 2015 were all good news. The budget began with a possible shortfall of $26,000. With good year-end results, this became a $17,000 surplus instead, in spite of many computer repairs and necessary updates to SAICO office equipment. This surplus goes directly into the Prudent Reserve for future projects.
Discussion Topic
What solutions to despair have worked for you?
