November 14—16, 2008 Border City Round-up

24th Annual Border City Roundup
Holiday Inn City Center
700 Rogers Avenue
Fort Smith, AR
Holiday Inn telephone: 479-783-1000

Speaker Meetings, Fellowship, Banquet at the Roundup site above.
(Time schedule was not available to post).

Marathon Meetings held at the Pioneer Groups
500 N. F Street
(Corner of North 5th St. and North F Street)

Click here to view and download the flyer

See you there!!!

In Memory Of “Cowboy Bob G.”



We are saddened to announce the loss of our much-loved friend and sober and active member of the A.A. Fellowship, “Cowboy Bob.”

Bob Graham remained sober from July 24th, 2001 until he passed away on October 9th. 2008 -- through the help of God, and the Program of Alcoholics Anonymous, the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, the help he received at the Harbor House… and many members in the Fellowships of both A.A. and N.A. that he tried to help to achieve and maintain sobriety.

Cowboy Bob Graham didn’t care who you were or what you were or whether you were a member of the Fellowship or not… if you needed help, Bob was there to offer his help.

Cowboy Bob’s family invites all of you to attend the Family Visitation, Rosary Service and Funeral Service and burial, in Memory and Farewell of our dear friend and family member. (An A.A. Memorial will be held at the Pioneer, at a later date, and you are invited to that, also).

Rosary Service and Family Visitation: will be on
Monday, October 13th, 2008, 6:30 P.M. at the Lewis Funeral Chapel, 4817 Kelly Hwy, Fort Smith.

Funeral Service: will be on
Tuesday, October 14th, 10:00 A.M. at Saint Boniface Church,
1820 North B Street, Fort Smith.

Burial: will be at New Hope Cemetery, on Murray Spur, Oklahoma (Between Pocola and Spiro) immediately following the funeral service.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. You do not need to be a member of the Fellowships or of a particular religious denomination to attend the services.

For additional information, details or questions, call Dallas B.
(479) 522-4391 or visit www.fortsmithaa.com

Fort Smith A.A. Intergroup Office is Open Again

The Fort Smith Intergroup Office is open again. Located on North 12th Street, the hours will be Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Morals and Sobriety

I've noticed that we don't hear much about "Morals" in sobriety -- in our meetings. I don't know if it's because talking about morals seems religious to some folks and they are offended by it -- or, if it's just something that we'd rather evade.

Our 4th Step specifically refers to a "moral" Inventory.

When I was newly sober in AA, I wanted to avoid any "moral" discussion. Primarily, because I was happy to keep my lower standards for my behavior.

Then, I came face to face with the fact that I was going to have to change... if I wanted to stay sober for the long-haul.

For me, my spirituality would not be spirituality -- without making moral choices and moral decisions.... followed by taking actions that are congruent with my moral ideals for myself.

When I make moral choices -- I feel good about me and who I am. And, for me, feeling good about me -- was a strange concept... I didn't know what it was like to legitimately feel good about myself.

Perhaps, it was because my self-esteem was so low -- because I had continued to try to lower my moral standards to meet my circumstances.... until I reached a stage of pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.

For me, it was critical for me to change and to continue to continue changing... so that eventually I would feel good about me. Without developing a positive and healthy self-esteem... I somehow knew that my sobriety would be precarious.

In part of Chapter 5, How it works -- that is read in A.A. meetings around the world -- there is a reference to "We claim spiritual
progress rather than spiritual perfection."

Often, what I hear someone say that this means -- is an improvement in their God consciousness.

I believe that it goes much further than that.

How can we possibly be making progress in our God-consciousness -- if we are not making progress in our moral choices and moral decisions -- and in our moral actions that we are taking?

My Grandmother used to have a little saying that she shared with me, that I'll pass on to those who may have an interest in it. "To know if a man means what he says when he talks much of Godly things -- watch him. And, when he thinks that you or no one is watching him -- does he appear to be acting like he might be full of the devel?"

In love and service

Dallas B.

The Fort Smith Intergroup Office has closed. The manager ill and has resigned. It has no money. And, again, it has no Big Books available.

There was an Emergency Meeting called for by the current Intergroup Committee "Executive Director", Terry L., and that meeting was held today. Terry requested rather than discussing the past problems and financial accountability questions, that the focus of the meeting should be directed towards solutions.

Evidently, John, the Office Manager is ill and has resigned. John, has served as the paid Office Manager, and evidently has not drawn full pay for the last several months. And, only three people, including Terry, a temporary treasurer from a Men's Meeting, and one other person showed up for the last regularly held monthly Intergroup meeting. They indicated that the Intergroup has been having financial problems since February 2007, and has experienced a lack of interest and representation by local groups and meetings.

A few suggestions and ideas were offered as to why there has been a lack of interest and a lack of financial support by the local Groups. It was also mentioned, that the GSO Guidelines for Intergroups identified a few problems, including getting away from the practice of the 12 Traditions can cause any well-intentioned Intergroup effort to fail.

An offer was made by one member in attendance, that he would serve as manager of the Intergroup Office, for no pay or salary, on the condition that the Intergroup was operated in accordance with the GSO Guidelines for Intergroups, and the 12 Traditions.

A motion was also made to scrap the old Intergroup and it's failed efforts, form a new Intergroup Steering Committee, composed of the numerous members that showed up for the Emergency Meeting, and start with fresh efforts and a new start for a new Intergroup. Terry L., the Executive Director, of the now failed Intergroup, said that he was not going to accept any motions or voting on solutions at the Emergency, and has decided to table the discussion for a future date to consider any voting nominations. However, there was a request for 7th Tradition donations and a basket was passed.

Obviously, there is a need for an A.A. service office, Intergroup or Central Office in the Fort Smith, area. The Intergroup opperated very successfully for a number of years, up until the most recent years, under the guidance of the existing Committee and management of the office.

One of the first Spiritual Principles that was passed on to me, when I first came into A.A. was: "If nothing changes -- nothing changes." And, "If you keep doing the same old things -- you'll continue to get the same old results. And, expecting different results, is a classic case of insanity."

Not until the Fellowship of all the local groups come together in a joined effort, to either fix the old problems or to start with a fresh clean effort to operate by AA Guidelines and Traditions -- nothing will change.

Bill W., in the book 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, warned and cautioned us of problems that would cause our efforts to fail -- if we don't maintain our efforts in line with the tried-and-tested Spiritual Principles of the 12 Traditions -- that have been passed on to us by our Founders and the Pioneers of A.A.

In the meantime, if you need to purchase a Big Book, the Pioneer Group, located at 500 North F. Street, has come books available for sale.

If you need help or meeting information, or for a 12 Step Call for a suffering alcoholic -- please show up to one of the many meetings held daily at the Pioneer Group, 500 North F. Street, or try calling their telephone number at: (479) 785-2202. If there is no answer, call Dallas B. (cell phone) (479) 522-4391.

If you would like to volunteer your services and time and efforts towards 12 Step work, especially until the Intergroup office problem is fixed... call Dallas B., at the number above, or contact us using the contact form on this website.

In Service to you, and best wishes, for John's health!

Watch Bill W. Videos!

Now, you can watch A.A.'s Co-founder, Bill Wilson, on video telling his story and speaking on the 12 Traditions, at the Recovery Site www.Step12.com

Listen and watch Bill W., as he tells his story.

Watch Father Martin, give his famous Chalk Talks on Alcoholism

See the A & E Intervention Videos.

Watch stories of success and defeat as alcoholics attempt to achieve and maintain sobriety.

You can see this and more at: www.Step12.com

The 32nd Annual
Springtime in the Ozarks
A.A. Convention
April 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2008
Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center
Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Theme:
"Love and Tolerance Is Our Code"

For complete information and flyers, visit the
Arkansas A.A. District 1 Website


The 68th Annual
Old Grandad A.A. Convention
July 25, 26 and 27, 2008
Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa
Hot Springs, Arkansas

The oldest AA Convention west of the Mississippi

For complete information and flyers, visit the
Arkansas A.A. District 1 Website

Also .... if you'll be traveling to any of these cities, be sure to visit District 1's Great A.A. web site for meeting schedules!

BEAVER, BELLA VISTA, BENTONVILLE,
BERRYVILLE, CAVE SPRINGS, DECATUR,
EUREKA SPRINGS, FAYETTEVILLE, GARFIELD,
GENTRY, GRAVETTE, HARRISON,
HUNTSVILLE, JASPER, PRAIRIE GROVE,
ROGERS, SILOAM SPRINGS, SPRINGDALE,
WEST FORK

Arkansas A.A. District 1 Website

P.S. Thanks Randy, for the great web site!

What Alcoholics Anonymous means to me.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my most favorite days of the week.

On Thursday – I get to speak with my sponsor and spend some time checking in and letting him know about what’s going on in my life, how I’m doing, whether or not I’ve had any problems, whether I’m facing any problems, and I get a chance to listen for some bits of wisdom that’s going to roll out of his mouth. Sometimes – it feels like I’m a little kid waiting for the next Christmas-on-Thursdays to come! I feel so very fortunate to have the opportunity to have a sponsor who causes me to feel that way. I have a sponsor that I can look at – and honestly say in my heart and soul – that he is the best example in all of A.A. , that I want what he has, I want to do what he has done and do what he does, and to be what he is. It’s pretty awesome for this little kid to have a real-live-action Hero that I look up to.

An Alcoholic Suicide Epidemic --
and it isn't necessary, nor is it a requirement for recovery....

I recently talked to some A.A. members that live in a small city that probably has less than 200 members in the A.A. Fellowship. And, they appear to be having an alcoholic suicide epidemic in their area.

The Pioneer will be holding it's annual Fall Fest on September 15th. from 10:00 am until 9:30 pm.

We're currently updating our AA website with a new design and a lot of new features for members of Alcoholics Anonymous in Fort Smith, Arkansas!