The Buzz

Marin Unity Day Reminder

12 Concepts Workshop this Saturday

Step by Step Workshop: Step Ten

The 2023 Step by Step Workshop series continues with a Step Ten workshop, “Continued to take personal inventory”. Bring your Big Book and join Alex T. at Mount Tamalpais United Methodist Church in Classroom 1 (410 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley) for step guide activities and pizza on October 28 @ 1pm.
 

Central Office Closure this Saturday

Central Office will be closed on October 21, however our Pop Up Bookstore will be at Marin Unity Day at Hamilton Center (600 Palm Drive, Novato).  So if you are in need of A.A. literature, please stop by and see us at Unity Day from 12pm to 4:30pm

Gratitude Month is Coming

Gratitude Month in November is an important way to express your gratitude for your gift of sobriety. The additional contributions from Gratitude Month support A.A. service entities and the essential services that San Francisco and Marin Intergroup provides. Talk to your groups now to get ready for Gratitude Month. Contribute online at aasfmarin.org/contributions.

Halloween Party and A.A. Meeting

Volunteer at Central Office

Central Office volunteers are essential to the work of Intergroup and help us reach our primary purpose of serving the alcoholic. Volunteers answer the helpline, assist customers who visit the Central Office bookstore and help with special projects. If you have one year or more of continuous sobriety, consider committing to a weekly 2-hour shift. Central Office is located at 1821 Sacramento Street, San Francisco. Please reach out to [email protected] with questions. And consider being of service to your local Central Office.

Service Opportunities for the Week …

• SF H&I (in person) is October 21.
  • Orientation @ 11am
• Marin Public Information (in person) is October 26.
  • Orientation @ 7pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:30pm

We Must Enjoy our Lives

For the love of our higher power, please share this information and encourage your A.A. fellows to subscribe to The Buzz. The Buzz is produced by San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. To learn more about Intergroup, check out our Annual Report.   
 

Your San Francisco and Marin Intergroup | Central Office

SF Unity Day

San Francisco Unity Day is October 7 at 10am-3:30pm! Come to First Unitarian Universalist (1187 Franklin St., SF) and meet representatives from Intergroup, San Francisco General Service, H&I and Living Sober. Participate in orientations and workshops and hear about the value of service beyond the A.A. groups. Online participation is also available. Also, be sure to save the date for Marin Unity Day on October 21 in Novato.

October Edition of The Point

The latest edition of The Point, featuring stories, poems and art by local A.A. members, is out now! Read it here. Also, The Point is looking for stories about gratitude in A.A. for a special printed edition in honor of Gratitude Month in November. Reach out to [email protected] for more information or join us for The Point Writers Workshop at SF Unity Day this Saturday, October 7 at 11am.

Central Office Closure This Saturday

Central Office will be closed on October 7, however our Pop Up Bookstore will be at SF Unity Day at the First Unitarian Universalist Church. So if you are in need of A.A. literature, please stop by and see us at SF Unity Day from 10am-3:30pm.

Pop Up Bookstore Volunteer Needed

Intergroup is looking for a volunteer to sell A.A. literature at our monthly Pop Up Bookstore in Marin. The Pop Up Bookstore is on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Marin General Service meeting at Vivalon (Jackson Cafe, 930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael) from 6:45 – 9:30pm. The volunteer processes literature sales, so familiarity with computers is necessary. The sobriety requirement is 2+ years and it is a 1 year commitment. For more information, reach out to [email protected].

As a reminder for A.A. groups, the Marin Pop Up Bookstore is a great way to purchase A.A. literature from Intergroup and have it delivered to Marin. Encourage your meeting’s literature person to place an order the Saturday before the Pop Up so it can be picked up at the monthly Marin General Service meeting.

NCCAA 75th Annual Fall Conference

The Northern California Council of A.A. (NCCAA) is hosting a weekend-long gathering of A.A.members and members of A.A. sister Program Al-Anon. The event is the oldest A.A conference and is filled with guest speakers (many from the Bay Area), marathon meetings, special events, prize drawings, literature and Spanish speakers. NCCAAs Fall Conference is October 13-15 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fresno.

Intergroup News

The following news was shared at San Francisco and Marin Intergroup’s October 4 meeting. Please take this back to your group and any other A.A. meetings you attend.

TAKE AWAY MESSAGE

Here is the message to take back to your group and any other A.A. meetings you attend.

• Central Office has updated the A.A. meeting schedules for San Francisco and Marin. Drop by Central Office (1821 Sacramento Street, San Francisco) during regular hours: Tuesday through Friday between 10am-6pm and Saturday between 12pm-4pm to pick them up for your A.A. group, or order them online.
   
• Gratitude Month is in November and it’s a time to express your gratitude for your sobriety. These additional contributions support A.A. service entities so talk to your groups now to get ready for Gratitude Month!
   
• San Francisco and Marin Intergroup needs Central Office Volunteers to answer the phone lines, greet customers, and assist with special projects. Minimum of 1-year sobriety. For more information about this weekly shift opportunity, please email [email protected].

Intergroup Service Committee Opportunities

Remember: Anyone can join our service committees; you do not need to be an Intergroup Rep to participate.

• San Francisco Public Relations needs volunteers for Sunday Streets in the Excelsior on October 15 from 12pm-5pm. SFPR is also presenting at the Women’s Resource Center on October 16 @ 11am and is looking for female participation. To get involved contact [email protected] and join the next committee meeting on October 10 @ 4pm. Additionally, representatives from SFPR met with members of the Marin Public Information Committee and explored ways the committees can work together. For more information reach out to [email protected].
   
• The Communications Committee provides a wide-range of communications support to Intergroup, including The Point and The Buzz. To get involved contact [email protected] and join the next committee meeting on October 10 @ 5:30pm. Also, check out the current edition of The Point here. The Point is looking for stories and art submissions about gratitude for the November special edition. Please send your writings, poetry and/or art to [email protected].
   
• To best serve San Francisco and Marin Alcoholics Anonymous, Marin Teleservice and San Francisco Teleservice have merged into one Teleservice Committee. Teleservice is switching from our current AT&T landline to VOIP on October 16. This will allow for greater volunteer participation, be more cost-effective, and better control of the system.  To get involved, contact [email protected] and join the next committee meeting on October 16. Orientation is @ 6pm followed by the business meeting @ 6:45pm. 
   
• Outreach Committee works to attract more participation from the Fellowship at Intergroup. Please share this brief announcement at any meetings you attend that do not currently have an IGR. And help us reach our goal of 20 new IGRs by year end – we are currently at 7 right now. To get involved at the committee level, contact [email protected] and join the next meeting on November 1 @ 6pm.
   
• The Tech Committee continues to work on numerous tech projects including maintaining the website and working on a web hosting issue, rolling out training for the new VOIP system for Teleservice, and the Airtable database. If you are familiar with Airtable or WordPress, the Tech Committee would especially like your help! Email [email protected] to join and attend the next meeting on November 6 @ 6pm.

Committee/Entity Liaison Reports

• Marin General Service announced that Marin Unity Day on October 21 in Novato will have a delegate report and a sobriety countdown, followed by an A.A. meeting. Check out aasfmarin.org for details.
   
• San Francisco H&I brings A.A. meetings and literature into hospitals and institutions in San Francisco. They will have a table at SF Unity Day and orientation @ 2pm this Saturday, October 7. SF H&I is hosting another orientation this month on October 21 @ 11am. They will not have any orientations or business meetings in November or December. Click here to check out the A.A. Guidelines for Treatment Facilities.

Service Opportunities for the Week …

• Marin Accessibilities Committee (online) is October 9 @ 7pm.
• Marin County Young People in A.A. (MCYPAA) (in-person) is October 9 @ 7:15pm.
• Communications Committee (online) is October 10 @ 5:30pm.
• SF Public Relations (online) is October 10.
  • Business Meeting @ 4pm
• Marin H&I (in-person) is October 10.
  • Orientation @ 6:15pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:15pm
• San Francisco General Service (online) is October 10.
  • New GSR Orientation and Concepts Study @ 6:45pm 
  • District Meeting @ 7:30pm
• Marin Bridging the Gap (online) is October 11.
  • Orientation @ 6pm
  • Business Meeting @ 6:15pm

We Must Remain Grateful

For the love of warm days, please share this information and encourage your A.A. fellows to subscribe to The Buzz. The Buzz is produced by San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. To learn more about Intergroup, check out our Annual Report. 🐝  
 Your San Francisco and Marin Intergroup | Central Office

Step by Step Workshop: Step Nine

The 2023 Step by Step series continues with a Step Nine workshop, “Made direct amends…wherever possible”. Bring your Big Book and join Robert C. at Mount Tamalpais United Methodist Church (410 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley) for step guide activities and pizza on September 23 @ 1pm.

Updated Newcomer Packet at Central Office

We’re delighted to announce an updated Newcomer Packet at Central Office. Inside, you’ll find essential resources for new A.A. members, including a self-assessment, FAQs, and pamphlets on sponsorship and spirituality in A.A. The front cover features a QR code to our online meeting schedule and there’s space on the back for collecting phone numbers. To purchase the Newcomer Packet, click here.

Volunteers Needed for Sunday Streets

San Francisco Public Relations Committee (SFPR) is looking for volunteers to help with Sunday Streets SF, a six-series event happening throughout San Francisco. The next one in Western Addition (@ Golden Gate and Webster) is September 24 and they are looking for volunteers at the A.A. information table during the 3:30 to 5:15pm shift. Help carry the message to the suffering alcoholic who may not yet know about A.A. For more information, email [email protected].

Associate Editor for The Buzz

The Buzz is in need of an Associate Editor that helps draft the weekly content for The Buzz. It’s a one-year commitment and one-year sobriety requirement. Serving on The Buzz is a great way to stay on top of what is happening in the San Francisco and Marin fellowship. Email [email protected] for more information and to step up for this commitment!

Attracting More Intergroup Reps

Please read this announcement from the Intergroup Outreach Committee at A.A. meetings you attend that do not have an Intergroup Representative (IGR):

“We are encouraging meetings that don’t have an Intergroup Rep (IGR) to consider appointing one. IGRs are the liaisons between A.A. groups and San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. 

“Of the 900+ meetings in San Francisco and Marin, only 42 have active IGRs. They vote on matters that affect Intergroup and A.A. at the local level, such as Central Office, money, literature, our website and more. IGRs also keep groups up to date with local information on service opportunities. IGRs ensure that local A.A. groups have a voice at Intergroup. If you have  questions please come up to me after the meeting or check out the flier.” 

Unity Day Activities this October

Save the date for San Francisco and Marin Unity Day events. Meet representatives from Intergroup and various service entities, participate in orientations and workshops and learn about the importance of service. Save the date for SF Unity Day on 10/7 from 10am-3pm and for Marin Unity Day on 10/21 in Novato from 12pm-4:30pm.

Coastal Hike and A.A. Meeting

Service Opportunities for the Week …

• California Northern Coastal Area (CNCA) (hybrid) is September 23 @ 12:30pm.
• Marin Teleservice (online) is September 26. 
  • Orientation @ 6:30pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:30pm
• Marin PI/CPC (in person) is September 28.
  • Orientation @ 7pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:30pm

We Must Be Willing to Give

For the love of healthy lives, please share this information and encourage your A.A. fellows to subscribe to The Buzz. The Buzz is produced by San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. To learn more about Intergroup, check out our Annual Report. 🐝  
 

Your San Francisco and Marin Intergroup | Central Office

Step by Step Workshop: Step Nine

The 2023 Step by Step series continues with a Step Nine workshop, “Made direct amends…wherever possible”. Bring your Big Book and join Robert C. at Mount Tamalpais United Methodist Church (410 Sycamore Ave., Mill Valley) for step guide activities and pizza on September 23 @ 1pm.

Step Nine Workshop September 2023

12 Concepts Workshop this Saturday

SF Womens Concepts July - Dec

Have you Downloaded the Grapevine App?

AAGrapevine has launched The Grapevine and La Viña apps. Subscribe to the digital magazine and archive for $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. With a digital subscription, you’ll be able to read the new magazine each month, explore the Grapevine or La Viña archive, send stories to friends, listen to the audio of each article in the magazine, listen to the podcast, enter your own sobriety date for a daily calculation, build your own spiritual maintenance daily checklist, and much more. Download the apps for free from the Apple App Store for iPhone or from Google Play Store for Android.

Marin Pop Up Bookstore this Monday

Don’t forget to pre-purchase your A.A. literature and chips by Saturday, September 16 @ 2pm via the online bookstore for pick-up on Monday, September 18 at the Marin General Service meeting in the Jackson Cafe at Vivalon (930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael). Select A.A. literature will also be available for purchase 6:45-9:30pm. 
 

pop up flyer x4

Thank You Grateful Givers!

Grateful Giver contributions support important 12th Step services at San Francisco and Marin Intergroup, including running Central Office, selling A.A. literature, publishing the meeting schedule and our website at aasfmarin.org. If you’d like to sign up as a recurring Grateful Giver to support the work of San Francisco and Marin Intergroup, click here and thank you for your support!
 

Service Opportunities for the Week …

• SF H&I (in person) is September 16.
  • Business Meeting @10am
  • Orientation @ 11am
• SF Teleservice (online) is September 18. 
  • Orientation @ 6pm
  • Business Meeting @ 6:45pm

• Marin General Service (hybrid) is September 18.
  • New GSR Orientation @ 7pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:30pm
• HelpChat Committee (online) is September 19 @ 6pm.

We Must Continue Trying

For the love of blue skies, please share this information and encourage your A.A. fellows to subscribe to The Buzz. The Buzz is produced by San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. To learn more about Intergroup, check out our Annual Report. 🐝  
 Your San Francisco and Marin Intergroup | Central Office

September Edition of The Point

The latest edition of The Point, featuring stories, poems, and art by local A.A. members, is out now! Read it here. Would you like to submit art or write for The Point? Share your experience, strength and hope with the San Francisco and Marin fellowship. Click here for details. 

Grapevine App Now Available

AA Grapevine has launched The Grapevine and La Viña apps. Subscribe to the digital magazine and archive for $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. With a digital subscription, you’ll be able to read the new magazine each month, explore the Grapevine or La Viña archive, send stories to friends, listen to the audio of each article in the magazine, listen to the podcast, enter your own sobriety date for a daily calculation, build your own spiritual maintenance daily checklist, and much more. Download the apps for free from the Apple App Store for iPhone or from Google Play Store for Android.

Intergroup News

The following news was shared at San Francisco and Marin Intergroup’s September 6 meeting. Please take this back to your group and any other A.A. meetings you attend.

• Intergroup has raised our prices for A.A. World Services literature starting September 6. As you may know, A.A.W.S. raised their prices in April 2023 and Intergroup purchased a substantial amount of literature to delay the price increase. However, it is now time to raise our prices. We will sell Alcoholics Anonymous, The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Living Sober, and The A.A. Service Manual at the same price as aa.org. All additional A.A.W.S. literature and pamphlets will increase by 20%. To get A.A. literature visit us at Central Office or purchase online at shop.aasfmarin.org. Please share this updated literature price list with your meeting’s literature person.
   
• Check out San Francisco and Marin Intergroup’s Mid-Year Review of our financials. This is part of Intergroup’s efforts towards greater financial transparency. We encourage you to share this mid-year financial review with your groups, and we are grateful for your 7th Tradition contributions.
   
• Please read this announcement from the Intergroup Outreach Committee at A.A. meetings you attend that do not have an Intergroup Representative (IGR): “We are encouraging meetings that don’t have an Intergroup Rep (IGR) to consider appointing one. IGRs are the liaisons between A.A. groups and Intergroup. Of the 900+ meetings in San Francisco and Marin, only 42 have active IGRs. They vote on matters that affect Intergroup and A.A. at the local level, such as Central Office, money, literature, our website and more. IGRs also keep groups up to date with local information on service opportunities. IGRs ensure that local A.A. groups have a voice at Intergroup. If you have  questions please come up to me after the meeting or check out the flier.”
   
• Intergroup needs Central Office Volunteers to answer the phone lines, greet customers, and assist with special projects. Minimum of 1 year sobriety. For more information about this weekly shift opportunity, please email [email protected].
   

Intergroup Service Committee Opportunities

Remember: Anyone can join our service committees; you do not need to be an Intergroup Rep to participate.

• San Francisco Public Relations needs volunteers for the Reentry Resource Fair on September 8 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. They are also participating at Sunday Streets in the Western Addition on September 24 and Project Homeless Connect on September 27 at Bill Graham Civic Center Auditorium. To get involved contact [email protected] and join the next committee meeting on September 11 @ 7pm.
   
• The Communications Committee provides a wide-range of communications support to Intergroup. The committee has merged together with The Buzz and The Point for a trial-period. The committee is looking to fill The Buzz Associate Editor position. To get involved contact [email protected] and join the next committee meeting on September 11 @ 5:30pm. Also, check out the current edition of The Pointhere. The Point is looking for stories and art submissions for the October edition. Please send your writings, poetry and/or art to [email protected].
   
• Teleservice now serves San Francisco and Marin Counties. The ad hoc transition committee meets weekly to best determine how the Teleservice committees come together and support the still-suffering alcoholic. To get involved, contact [email protected]. For now, they continue to hold two separate business meetings. Join the San Francisco Teleservice meeting on September 18 @ 6:45pm and the Marin Teleservice meeting on September 26 @ 7:30pm.
   
• The Tech Committee is working on numerous tech projects including a potential web hosting issue, training for the new VOIP system for Teleservice, and the Airtable database. The committee is looking for members to better support San Francisco and Marin Intergroup and local A.A. meetings. If you are familiar with Airtable or WordPress, the Tech Committee would especially like your help! Email [email protected] to join and attend the next meeting on October 2 @ 6pm.
   
• Outreach Committee works to attract more participation from the Fellowship at Intergroup. Please share a brief announcement at any meetings you attend that do not currently have an IGR. To get involved at the committee level, contact [email protected] and join the next meeting on October 4 @ 6pm.

Committee/Entity Liaison Reports

• Marin Accessibilities Committee raises awareness of the possible barriers in accessing the A.A. message and participation in the A.A. program of recovery. Their next meeting is September 11 @ 7pm online and for more information [email protected].
   
• San Francisco H&I is encouraging A.A. groups to get H&I Representatives if they don’t have one, and continue to pass the pink can! SF H&I is currently serving 26 in-person meetings. The next SF H&I business meeting is September 16 @ 10am followed by orientation @ 11am. Did you know that the pink can tradition started in 1957 with an idea for self-funding and some pink paint?

Associate Editor for The Buzz

Want to know how The Buzz is put together? If so, volunteer for the Associate Editor position. The Associate Editor helps draft the weekly content for The Buzz. It’s a one-year commitment. Serving on The Buzz is a great way to stay on top of what is happening in the San Francisco and Marin fellowship. Email [email protected] for more information.

Job Opening at Central Office

San Francisco and Marin Intergroup is looking for a new Central Office Assistant Manager. Check out the job description here. This position is available immediately. Please spread the word to your A.A. groups.

12 Concepts Workshop Reminder

Join the 9am Online Daily Women’s Meeting of A.A. for a 12 Concepts: Women in Service workshop. This is an introduction to the 12 Concepts of A.A. and how to apply them at every level of service. This monthly series continues with “Concepts IV – VI” on September 16 @ 10:30am to 12pm online. 

National A.A. Technology Workshop This Weekend

The National A.A. Technology Workshop (NAATW) is hosting an immersive eventon September 8-10 about the theme “Solving, Sharing, and Scaling Solutions”. Those interested in using technology in service to A.A. are encouraged to attend, to share their experience, gather ideas and bring learnings back to their groups. This is a hybrid event, so you can participate virtually.

Marin Pop Up Bookstore

It’s almost time for the monthly pop up bookstore in Marin. Need a new book to read with a sponsee or pamphlets to offer at your meeting? Pre-purchase your A.A. literature and chips by Saturday, September 17 @ 2pm via the online bookstore for pick-up on Monday, September 21 at the Marin General Service meeting in the Jackson Cafe at Vivalon (930 Tamalpais Avenue, San Rafael). Select A.A. literature will also be available for purchase 6:45-9:30pm. 

Service Opportunities for the Week …

• Golden Gate Young People in A.A. (GGYPAA) (online) is September 10 @ 6pm.
• Communications Committee (online) is September 11 @ 5:30pm.
• SF Public Relations (online) is September 11.
  • Orientation @ 6:30pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7pm
• Marin Accessibilities Committee (online) is September 11 @ 7pm.
• Marin County Young People in A.A. (MCYPAA) (in-person) is September 11 @ 7:15pm.
• Marin H&I (in-person) is September 12.
  • Orientation @ 6:15pm
  • Business Meeting @ 7:15pm
• San Francisco General Service (online) is September 12.
  • New GSR Orientation and Concepts Study @ 6:45pm 
  • District Meeting @ 7:30pm
• Marin Bridging the Gap (online) is September 13.
  • Orientation @ 6pm
  • Business Meeting @ 6:15pm

We Must Believe

For the love of ourselves, please share this information and encourage your A.A. fellows to subscribe to The Buzz. The Buzz is produced by San Francisco and Marin Intergroup. To learn more about Intergroup, check out our Annual Report. 🐝  
 

Your San Francisco and Marin Intergroup | Central Office