Bellaire Club of Houston

Newsletter – May 24-31

wordjunky01 — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:55:37 +0000

Week of May 24 – 31

MEMORIAL DAY BLOWOUT

No need to hit those freeways out of town this weekend. You can stay home and join in all the fun at the Bellaire Club with all your friends and the friends you have not met yet. You will be safe here.

Starting Sunday at 1:15, right after the monthly birthday meeting of the Sunday 12:15 Noon Meeting we will kick it off with the Grand Opening of the monthly Game and Cupcake Social. Guided along by board member, Jonathan L., the event will include games like Bingo, Chess, Dominoes, Checkers, Poker, Bridge or whatever game members attending can get going. We have plenty of room for plenty of games, so let’s get this tradition started with a bang.

Come back Monday for either the Monday Men’s Meeting or the Women’s Health and Healing Meeting,both at noon. Following the meetings we will be treated to traditional fare like hot dogs, Frito pies andwatermelon plus anything else our creative cooks decide to bring. This gets us in the mood for a special Memorial Day speaker, veteran Jerry C. His is a colorful story you will not want to miss.
Following the speaker meeting will be more games of bingo or anything else you can get going.

CAPTIVATING CAPTURED AUDIENCE

Rick W. has for years now taken time off from his very busy career to lead a meeting at one of the nearby prisons on Friday afternoons. He always welcomes anyone willing to tag along to share their recovery with inmates eager to hear fresh voices from the outside world. To get involved, you must first be approved by the Texas Department of Corrections. Rick will handle this, but he will need your full name, date of birth, drivers license number and address as it appears on your license. To get the ball rolling, send this information to Rick at rickwhite77401@yahoo.com and Rick will take care of the rest. All who have gone out to the meetings with Rick have reported it to be a most gratifying experience. Your voice will be appreciated.

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Beginning this week, various groups meeting at the Bellaire Club will celebrate the AA birthdays of those who sobered up this month. We congratulate all of them and hope them another successful year of sobriety.
At the 10:00 AM Open Door Group. Greg W. will be celebrating five years sobriety.
At the daily (except Saturday) 6:30 PM 12 & 12 Group one of the leaders, Ronald C. will celebrate 13 years
Busiest group this month will be the Thursday Women’s Emergency Room Group meeting at 6:30 PM where the celebrants will be Traci E. with seven years, Davasha S. with 12 years,Peggy S. with 20 years, Patty J. with 21 years, and B.J. McC. with 22 years sobriety.
At Taco John’s Saturday Noon Meeting, Mark W. will be celebrating his first year of sobriety
At the Sunday Noon Group meeting at 12:15, Davasha S. will celebrate 12 years, Jeff T., 17 years, Peggy S., 20 years and Andrew E., 24 years.
At the Wednesday 6:30 AM Red-Eye Special Meeting, Baroque F. will celebrate one year of sobriety
Our congratulations to all of these celebrants of major milestones in their sobriety.

If you are looking for a nice gift to give any of the celebrants, may we suggest making a donation in their honor of any amount you choose to the Bellaire Club so instrumental in their sobriety? That gift will be most appreciated by the celebrants as well as the club. Ask anyone behind the counter for a card.

AND TODAY’S LEADER IS . . .

The 12 & 12 Group that meets daily except Saturday has this roster of leaders. Thursday will be Ryan; Friday, Julio; Sunday, Ronald; Monday, Johnny M.; Tuesday, Lawauna S. and Wednesday, Ralph.
Jeff T. will be chairing and leading the Thursday Noon Meeting.
Chairing The Thursday Women’s Emergency Room Group this month is Ann N. who has invited Amy D. to be the leader. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM.
The Friday Two Dollar Meeting that meets at 12:15 is being chaired this month by Jane E.and Davasha S. will lead the meeting this Friday.
Don’t forget Taco John’s regular Saturday Noon Meeting.
The group formerly known as the Saturday Speakers Meeting at 6:30 PM now is an Open Discussion Meeting with a speaker the last Saturday of the month and is in search of a new name. Several have been suggested. Drop by and offer yours.
The 11:00 AM. Sunday Speaker’s Meeting being chaired by Doug DeB. will have Jim H. as the speaker this Sunday. With 36 years sobriety, Jim can be found at the West Chase Nooners Group and the Bunker Hill Tuesday Night Group as well as the Sunday Speaker’s Meeting.
Arch A. will lead the special monthly birthday celebration of the Sunday Noon Meeting this Sunday at 12:15.
The Monday Noon Hope and Healing Women’s Group is being led this month by Alice G. Next month Koi D. will take the lead.
And over on the men’s side, at The Monday Men’s Meeting, Larry A. or Barry K. are manning up and leading the group.
Rick W. and Robert P. will continue to chair the lively Blankety-Blank It’s Tuesday Noon Meeting
The new and well receivedThe Red-Eye Special Group thatmeets every Wednesday at6:30 AM, is celebrating its fifth month with Larry A. and Robert P. there to guide it along.
Robert P. will chair the Wednesday Noon Meeting, the Where-U-At Group and has announced that Will G. will be the leader.

For a complete list of all meetings held at the Bellaire Club, please go to our website bellaireclub.org and click on Meeting Schedule.

PARTING THOUGHTS (BY A FEW OLD SOLDIERS)

Be content with what you are and wish not change; nor dread your last day nor long for it.Marcus Aurelius
Better to fight for something than live for nothing. George S. Patton
Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul. Douglas MacArthur

Filed under: Newsletter

Newsletter May 17 – 23

wordjunky01 — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:37:31 +0000

HOW SWEET IT WAS – DRUNK POETS SOCIETY

Last Saturday’s offering, If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother by the Bellaire Club’sDrunk Poets Society was most well received by the impressive number who showed up for the 8:00 PM function. Soft lighting providing a warm and appealing atmosphere welcomed each one of them. They were treated to a solid evening of great poetry, most of it original, some of it classic, all of it most appreciated. The crowd and the readers represented not only some of our own members, but many from other clubs and groups throughout the area. Some of them, very early in sobriety seemed encouraged by this creative emotional outlet. David D., that seasoned and smooth moderator, was there to guide things along so that there was never a lag in the entertainment.

A special shout out to Sarah L. who made such luscious cupcakes for the occasion. They were consumed at first sight! And, sure to bring a smile to the treasurer’s face, we ended up with a basket of $50.00.

The next offering by the Drunk Poets Society will be a non-themed evening of poetry reading some time in August and again in November, becoming a quarterly affair in 2013. Details will be available as we get closer to the dates.

SOBER BY DEGREES

This is the time for proms and graduations and the strains of Pomp and Circumstanceseem to fill the air. Our congratulations go out to anyone with Bellaire Club connections who is graduating this month or next. This week the newsletter would like to honor all of those who have gone on to get a degree or degrees since sobering up. This is done not only to honor a praiseworthy accomplishment, but to inspire anyone in sobriety with examples of what can be achieved once you sober up and work the program. And what a most impressive lineup of grads we have attending the Bellaire Club these days. You may not realize who you have been sitting next to. (Do you wonder if when they picked up that desire chip, they ever thought that one day they would be picking up a diploma?)

Gabby G. just finished her classes for Emergency Medical Technician at Houston Community College, received her certification and will be pursuing her paramedic license in the fall.
Rick W. earned a (BBA) Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in Finance and Marketing from the University of Houston in 2007, two years after he opened Meyerland Service Station.
Deb M. received an (AS) Associates of Science degree her second year in the program as well as her Bachelor of Science in her third year, 2011. She is currently working towards her Masters. All at the University of Phoenix Online.
Mary F. received her (BS) Bachelor of Science in Business Management, making the Dean’s List at the University of Phoenix, Houston Campus in 2008 as well as a(MBA) Master of Business Administration there also in 2010.
Ronald C. earned a (MS) Master of Science in Chemistry at Texas Southern University in 2008.
Bryce G received a (MBA) Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Houston Campus in 2007
Victoria H. received a (DrPH) Doctor of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in 2003
David D. earned a (BA) Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2000, a (MA) Master of Arts from Rice University in 2003 and his(PhD) Doctor of Philosophy) from Rice University in 2007. All degrees were in History. By the way, David earned his GED in a Mississippi prison.

On their way to joining the list are:

Margaret D. who will receive her (ABM) Associate in Business Management in the spring of 2013 from Houston Community College, Central Campus
Jeff T. who is currently working toward his (ADN) Associates Degree in Nursingat Wharton County Junior College. This will allow him to take the State Board Exam to become a Licensed Registered Nurse. After that he plans to work as a nurse while finishing his (BDN) Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA

What an activity-packed weekend celebration we have in store for us. Starting Sunday, May 27 following the Sunday 12:15 meeting will be the kickoff of what will become a monthly Game and Cupcake Social. Honchoed by Jonathan L., the event will include Bingo, Chess, Checkers, Dominoes or Poker or any other game members can get going.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: On Monday the 28^th, following the two gender-specific noon meetings, we will celebrate with hot dogs, Frito pies and watermelon. Then at 2:30, a very special veteran, Jerry C., will share his colorful story at a special holiday meeting. After that will come a few rounds of Bingo or any other games members can rustle up.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE

Rick W. is looking for volunteers to tell their story in the prisons on Friday afternoons. You must first be approved by the Texas Department of Corrections, so Rick will need your full name, date of birth, Texas Drivers License number and address as it appears on your Texas Drivers License. Send to rickwhite77401@yahoo.com You will need your drivers license as ID to get in once approved. Not only is this a great opportunity to do 12^th Step work, but you will be presented to a most appreciative audience eager to hear anyone from “the world.” The world being anything outside of prison.

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Please join in congratulating all who are celebrating years of sobriety at the club, always offering proof that this program works if you work it!

Mark W. has achieved one year sobriety will be who will celebrate at Taco John’s Saturday Noon Meeting.
Baroque F. will celebrate his one year of sobriety at the Wednesday 6:30 AMRed-Eye Special Meeting.
Greg W. has five years and will celebrate at the 10:00 AM Open Door Group.
Traci E. with seven years will be celebrating at the Thursday Women’s Emergency Room Group meeting at 6:30 PM.
Davasha S. has 12 years and will celebrate at both the Women’s Emergency Room Group as well as the Sunday Noon Meeting at 12:15.
Ronald C. with 13 years will celebrate with the 12 & 12 Group.
Jeff T. will celebrate his 17 years with the Sunday Noon Group.
Peggy S. with 20 years will celebrate with the Women’s Emergency Room Groupas well as the Sunday Noon Meeting at 12:15.
Patty J. has 21 years and will celebrate at with the Women’s Emergency Room Group.
B.J. McC. will celebrate her 22 years sobriety with the Women’s Emergency Room Group.

Our congratulations to all of these celebrants of major milestones in their sobriety.
If you are looking for a nice gift to give any of the celebrants, may we suggest making a donation in their honor of any amount you choose to the Bellaire Club so instrumental in their sobriety? That gift will be most appreciated by the celebrants as well as the club. Ask anyone behind the counter for a card.

AND TODAY’S LEADER IS . . .

The 12 & 12 Group that meets daily except Saturday has this roster of leaders. Thursday will be Ryan; Friday, Julio; Sunday, Ronald; Monday, Johnny M.; Tuesday, Lawauna S. and Wednesday, Ralph.
Arch A. has announced that Steve T., a newcomer to our club meetings with multiple years of sobriety will be leading the Thursday Noon Meeting.
Chairing The Thursday Women’s Emergency Room Group this month is Ann N.who has invited Anne Marie K. to be the leader. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM.
The Friday Two Dollar Meeting that meets at 12:15 is being chaired this month by Jane E. and the ever dependable Margaret D. will lead the meeting this Friday.
Don’t forget Taco John’s regular Saturday Noon Meeting.
The group formerly known as the Saturday Speakers Meeting at 6:30 PM now is an Open Discussion Meeting with a speaker the last Saturday of the month and is in search of a new name. Several have been suggested. Drop by and offer yours.
The 11:00 AM. Sunday Speaker’s Meeting is being chaired by Doug DeB. and he has scheduled Ben H. to tell his story Sunday. With 10 years sobriety, Ben is a well known figure at meetings all about town, including Faith Lutheran and Taco John’s Saturday Noon Meeting.
Arch A. is chairing The Sunday Noon Meeting and Mark Z. will be on hand to lead the meeting this Sunday at 12:15.
The Monday Noon Hope and Healing Women’s Group is being led this month byAlice G. using the new format.
And over on the men’s side, at The Monday Men’s Meeting, Larry A. or Barry K.are manning up and leading the group.
Rick W. andRobert P. will continue to chair the lively Blankety-Blank It’s Tuesday Noon Meeting
The new and well receivedThe Red-Eye Special Group thatmeets every Wednesday at6:30 AM, is celebrating its fifth month with Larry A. and Robert P. there to guide it along. They have asked Baroque F. to take the lead Wednesday.
Robert P. will chair the Wednesday Noon Meeting, the Where-U-At Group and has announced that Gary S. will be the leader.

For a complete list of all meetings held at the Bellaire Club, please go to our website bellaireclub.org and click on Meeting Schedule.

MOUTH OF THE SOUTH

The Arch A. and Robert P. mantra: People who look for jobs, find jobs. People who wait for jobs, wait for jobs, has once more worked for one of our members. Margaret D. has accepted a job with a mobile pet grooming service. Congratulations!

PARTING THOUGHTS (ON WORDS TO LIVE BY)

Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Betty Smith(A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.)
You don’t get to choose how you are going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you are going to live. Now. Joan Baez
Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.Chinese proverb

Filed under: Newsletter

Newsletter May 3 – 9

wordjunky01 — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:10:14 +0000

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR – THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

What a great event that turned out to be. We had a very respectable crowd and everyone seemed to be having a good time hanging out and noshing on all the goodies we had to offer. The long anticipated, first ever Chili Cook-Off came off with surprising ease. We ended up with ten entries of most acceptable chili. We took no leftovers!

There could only be three winners and first place went to Felicia B. who won with her Really Chili, an outstanding chicken and bean chili, followed by Arch A. offering his Kick-ass Tex-ass Chili in second place with Mary F.’s Beginner’s Luck Chili coming in third.

Jane E. won the blue ribbon for best decorated site, and following her mother in second place was Mary F. with Julie F., the “domino queen” bringing home third place.

Lots of eating, visiting and playing games in the lounge went on all afternoon, with Bingo and auctions and raffles to keep interest high.

The event culminated with a most dynamic presentation of her story by Wilma W.

From all of this we brought in one of the largest baskets in memory. Treasurer Larry A. reports that so far we show a $1,310 total with $76.00 coming from auctions and $41.00 from Bingo. The Raffle brought in $510.00 and Door and Donations, $638.00. Income from the Special Speakers Meeting is estimated at $45.00

Even with the best of intentions, it seems someone always gets left out when we list the special thanks due to certain individuals who made outstanding contributions toward the success of an event. However, there is no doubt that in this endeavor, one stood out above all others.

Special kudos are due Mary F. She always seems to find the time between managing a challenging and demanding career and full-plated family life to give her all to the club. She almost single handedly organized and led the anniversary celebration to success. Her tireless efforts, giving generously not only of her time but her treasure as well, were most rewarding for the club. Mary looks for what needs to be done and does it or sees that it is done. Thanks, Mary. A grateful club is thrilled you were there.

Others contributing their time and effort setting up were Mary Kate B., Kathleen, Carol, Susan, Robert S. and Genny. There was Cathy S. with her beautiful flower arrangements throughout the club. And Robert P. and Anne Marie K. behind the coffee bar all afternoon. Our chili judges were Delta, Charles, Karen, Kathleen and her husband. Logan DeV. helped with the addressing and mailing of invitations.

And, of course, all who attended and gave so generously to the events.

DRUNK POETS SOCIETY: IF IT IS NOT ONE THING, IT’S YOUR MOTHER!

Don’t forget our next great event, the Drunk Poets Society’s Spring offering, If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother, Saturday, May 12 at 8:00 PM. Since its inception five years ago, the event has drawn more and more outstanding original poetry contributed by sober alcoholics throughout the Houston area. Anyone is welcome to share their work or simply read a favorite poem with special meaning to them. Or, you can come and just listen. We try to create a warm, inviting environment to make everyone comfortable. And seasoned moderator, David D. is always on hand to make certain everything progresses fluidly. In addition, there will be renown Bellaire Club sweets to eat and auction.

CRYSTAL BALL GAZING

Plans are being formulated for a special Game Night or Game Afternoon at the club. Bingo, chess, dominoes, checkers, Scrabble will be available. Watch for date and details.

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Actually, an old kid with a new set of threads. The Saturday Speakers Meeting has revised its format and has become a regular Open Discussion Meeting with a Speaker the last Saturday of the month. The group still meets at the regular time, Saturday at 6:30 PM.

LAST ONE OUT TURN OFF THE LIGHTS

We ask that all group chairs, leaders or any responsible person make sure before locking up the club that the coffee pots are off as well as the lights and AC. A quick run through before locking usually does the trick.

THE GRADUATE (HERE’S TO YOU, MRS., MS., MR., DR. ROBINSON!)

Its graduation time and the newsletter would like to honor with a special section the last week of the month all those who have earned an academic degree since sobering up. Needed are details like degree, field, school, etc. Also included will be those presently working toward a degree. This is a great opportunity to be recognized for your achievements as well as service work to show fellow travelers what can be accomplished in sobriety.

AND TODAY’S LEADER IS. . .

Please support all the groups meeting at the Bellaire Club. Remember: you may not need a meeting, but you may be needed at a meeting.

The 12 & 12 Group that meets daily except Saturday has this roster of leaders. Thursday will be Ryan; Friday, Julio; Sunday, Ronald; Monday, Johnny M.; Tuesday, Lawauna S. and Wednesday, Ralph. Come see how it works.
Chairing The Thursday Women’s Emergency Room Group this month is Ann N. and Thursday’s leader will be Amy.
The Friday Two Dollar Meeting that meets at 12:15 is being chaired this month by Jane E. She has asked Bill E. Bill has been around a long time and has been active in meetings at the Bellaire Club as well as the Men’s Center and other inner city groups.
Don’t forget Taco John’s regular Saturday Noon Meeting.
The former Saturday Speakers Meeting at 6:00 PM now is an Open Discussion Meeting with a speaker the last Saturday of the month.
Our own Davasha S. with 12 years sobriety come Saturday will be telling her story at the 11:00 AM. Sunday Speaker’s Meeting being chaired by Doug DeB. And what a great story that is. The story of a REAL alcoholic with so many strikes against her who overcame it all to be named one of the top five women chefs in Texas.
Arch A. is chairing The Sunday Noon Meeting in May and he has asked Mike R. to lead the meeting this Sunday at 12:15. Mike was a fixture at all the noon meetings until he got a job. Still see him on noon weekends, but also at evening and night meetings.
The Monday Noon Hope and Healing Women’s Group with its newly revised meeting format is being led this month by Ann N.
And over on the men’s side, at The Monday Men’s Meeting, Larry A. or Barry K. are manning up and leading the group.
Rick W. ‘s bud, Lynn L. has moved to Dallas, but Robert P. will step in to fill the gap at the Blankety-Blank It’s Tuesday Noon Meeting.
The Wednesday 6:30 AM Red-Eye Special Group continues its fifth month with Larry A. and Robert P. there to guide it along. Georgia T. will be leading the meeting for us.

For a complete list of all meetings held at the Bellaire Club, please go to our website bellaireclub.org and click on Meeting Schedule.

WORD OF THE WEEK

Word: Carom
Pronunciation: Kar-uhm
Definition: To collide and rebound; glance. A shot in billiards in which the cue ball strikes two other balls. In pool it is a shot in which an object ball strikes another ball before falling into a pocket.
Use in a sentence: The drunk driver’s car caromed off the guardrail to strike the tree. Bill says that it was fun to carom around an exclusive golf course. (p. 4)

PARTING THOUGHTS (ON SUCCESS)

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. Michelangelo
Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson
The road to success is always under construction. Lily Tomlin

Filed under: Newsletter