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Seventh Tradition Matters
The following is a contribution to the SCAnner, which encourages any member to do the same. Use the “About Us” link for more information.
From an Enthusiastic Member of the Fellowship
SCA’s 7th Tradition states: “Every SCA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”
At the last two SCA International Service Organization Annual Conferences, in March, 2011 and April, 2012, ISO passed motions regarding several 7th Tradition matters.
In 2011, ISO adopted a suggested worldwide contribution formula for groups and intergroups in an effort to help ensure consistency in the funding by groups of their regional intergroups, and upwards to ISO itself. This is as follows:
“It is suggested that, after paying their rent and other expenses and accumulating a prudent reserve, SCA meetings donate their surplus funds to their respective SCA Intergroup, and that SCA Intergroups forward 30% of these funds to the SCA International Service Organization. If an SCA meeting does not belong to an Intergroup it is suggested that their surplus funds be sent to ISO.”
“It is suggested that, after paying their rent and other expenses and accumulating a prudent reserve, SCA meetings donate their surplus funds to their respective SCA Intergroup, and that SCA Intergroups forward 30% of these funds to the SCA International Service Organization. If an SCA meeting does not belong to an Intergroup it is suggested that their surplus funds be sent to ISO.”
In 2012, ISO affirmed the acceptability of direct individual SCA member contributions to ISO, and increased the limit for such contributions. ISO also affirmed and restated the existing limit for one-time bequests by SCA members to ISO in wills. The motion passed is as follows:
“Raise the annual allowance of direct individual contributions from SCA members to SCA-ISO to $5,000 per year and maintain the allowance of single bequests from SCA members at $5,000.”
“Raise the annual allowance of direct individual contributions from SCA members to SCA-ISO to $5,000 per year and maintain the allowance of single bequests from SCA members at $5,000.”
When tackling 7th Tradition matters, SCA as a fellowship and SCA members, like other 12 Step Recovery Programs and their members, have the experience of Alcoholics Anonymous as the first 12 Step Program to examine, and rely on.
Bill W., co-founder of AA, has this to say about the 7th Tradition, as explored in the AA Pamphlet “Self-Support – Where Money & Spirituality Mix,” which contains extracts of his writings from various sources:
We Cannot Skimp
“Our spiritual way of life is safe for future generations if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas and AA as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid. When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all those who still suffer.”
(The Language of the Heart, page 221)
We Cannot Skimp
“Our spiritual way of life is safe for future generations if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas and AA as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid. When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all those who still suffer.”
(The Language of the Heart, page 221)
and:
A Collective Obligation
“Now, where do AA’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things? Why should we provide these functions with money? The answer is simple enough. Every AA service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office… or the world service Headquarters….. Though not costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that AA must everywhere function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we are all going to foot the bill.”
(AA Grapevine, October 1967)
The full text of this pamphlet can be viewed here:
http://aa.org/pdf/products/f-3_selfsupport.pdf
“Now, where do AA’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things? Why should we provide these functions with money? The answer is simple enough. Every AA service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office… or the world service Headquarters….. Though not costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that AA must everywhere function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we are all going to foot the bill.”
(AA Grapevine, October 1967)
The full text of this pamphlet can be viewed here:
http://aa.org/pdf/products/f-3_selfsupport.pdf
These days, it is more likely that a basket or envelope will be passed around at meetings than a hat, but ISO has no hat. ISO is, however, able to receive electronic or mail contributions. There is news on this front as well.
This year also saw changes to billing details for PayPal and Credit Card payments in an effort to enhance member anonymity. As a result, when contributions are made to ISO via PayPal and Credit Card, only references to “ISO” show up in third party financial institution Credit Card statements. Members’ private PayPal email statements and receipts will, though, show fuller details. Similarly, checks can be made payable simply to “ISO” or “International Service Organization” when they are mailed in. Some details may be added to the back of the check during processing (including mention of SCA), but many cancelled checks are no longer returned to clients, and are destroyed after processing. If bank statements include electronic copies of checks, often only the front of the check is shown. Members with particular concerns might prefer to use PayPal or a Credit Card.
ISO is able to receive electronic contributions via the following link, which also details how to mail in contributions by check drawn on a US bank:
http://www.sca-recovery.org/donate.html
http://www.sca-recovery.org/donate.html
The SCA Statement of Purpose reminds us that: “Our primary purpose is to stay sexually sober and to help others to achieve sexual sobriety.” Tradition Five reminds us that: “Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the sexual compulsive who still suffers.”
In relying on ourselves, we have only ourselves to rely on, and others are relying on us! The 7th Tradition matters!
New Wednesday SCA Telephone Meeting
The
following is being posted to the SCAnner, ISO List, Inreach Committee List,
Outreach Committee, Fiduciary Committee, Online Intergroup Ops. List, and
members of the Sunday telephone meeting.
We are very
pleased to announce that a new weekly telephone meeting will be starting on
Wednesday, October 31, 2012 under the auspices of Online Intergroup. The
meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. New York time every Wednesday. Services like www.timeanddate.com can tell you the equivalent time in
your location. The new Wednesday meeting will largely mirror the existing
Sunday telephone meeting. The meeting will be conducted in English.
All SCA
members worldwide are welcome to attend, as are members from other “S”
fellowships, and anyone qualifying under SCA’s Third Tradition.
The meeting
will be hosted via the Calliflower Conference Call system that is currently
being used by the Sunday telephone meeting, ISO and several ISO Committees.
This allows most people to call in free via Skype to Skype bridge, free or at
low cost via Google Voice or Gmail Call Phone depending on where you live, and
at normal local tariffs via regular phone to local numbers provided by Calliflower
in many areas. In rare cases, long distance charges may apply.
If you wish
to attend a telephone meeting, or are already a participant in the Sunday
meeting and also want to attend the Wednesday meeting, please register in one
of the following ways:
Ø
Send
an email with your first name and last initial, plus the email address to which
your Calliflower invitation and weekly reminders should be sent, to: oimoderator@gmail.com.
Ø
Sign
up via the SCA website at: http://www.sca-recovery.org/telephoneaccess.htm.
Please specify which meetings you wish to attend, e.g.
“Wednesdays” or “Sundays” or “Wednesdays and Sundays.”
General background information on
participating can be viewed in previous SCAnner postings about the Sunday
telephone meeting:
http://www.scanneronline.org/2011/07/new-sca-telephone-meeting.html
http://www.scanneronline.org/2012/07/telephone-meeting-anniversary.html
Online
Intergroup is excited to be offering this additional meeting option, and we
hope it will prove to be a success. Its viability will depend not only on
members attending, but also on members getting involved in telephone meeting
service, and chairing in particular. Both telephone meetings are looking for
volunteers, and training is offered.
An updated
flyer for the telephone meetings is also being distributed throughout the
fellowship. Please circulate it and pass this news on to groups and members
everywhere!
In service,
Kevin – SCA Toronto
& Online Intergroup
12-Step Retreat in New York
The following information was provided by the organizers of the retreat, which is not affiliated with SCA, although some members do plan to attend. We provide this information in the spirit of recovery.
|
SCA Toronto Step Study Group
“The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it.” – Alcoholics Anonymous, Chapter Six, “Into Action” – Page 83.
SCA Toronto is putting on a Step Study Group so members who wish
to can work through the 12 Steps together in a group setting.
Details of the Step Study are as follows:
LOCATION: St.
Andrew’s United Church, 117 Bloor Street East, Toronto
DAY: Wednesdays
TIME: 7:30 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m.
START
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black”>Wednesday, October 24, 2012
The Step Study is expected to last up to a year, and, as well as the 12
Steps, will include a section on drafting Sexual Recovery Plans. Space is
limited, and priority will be given to SCA members.
This is a great opportunity for members who have not worked through the Steps
to do so, or for members who have had difficulty completing certain Steps to do
so in a structured setting, or for members who have completed the Steps to do a
refresher. We will use a variety of materials, but the Step Study will largely
be based on “Hope & Recovery” and “Hope & Recovery – the
Workbook.” Members attending should have copies of these books. A list of
other resources we will be using will be provided to participants at a later
date.
It is intended that this Step Study will take a thorough and comprehensive
approach to the 12 Steps and recovery from sexual compulsion. Please note this
is a special purpose group and not a regular meeting, and consistent attendance
over the full course of the Step Study is encouraged. The first three meetings will be open for people to see
if they wish to attend, then thereafter the group will be closed to only those
members who have attended up to that point.
More details will be provided to interested members. Please confirm by email to
scatoronto@hotmail.com if you will be attending.
One-Day Workshop in Los Angeles
GETTING STARTED,
OR RESTARTED
An S. C. A. Workshop
OCTOBER 13, 2012
9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
PLUMMER PARK
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(Park in North lot. Workshop is at South end of park)
Please Bring:
AA Big Book
AA Twelve&Twelve
SCA Little Blue Book
Large Spiral ring notebook
Pen / pencil
This workshop is for the Newcomer or any Member
struggling with their Sexual Compulsion, Sex Addiction
or Love Addiction. Though COURT CARDS ARE
NOT SIGNED at these workshops, we encourage attendance by anyone who is court-appointed to attend regular
SCA meetings, and who is interested in asking questions,
finding out more about SCA, and making your time with
us productive. In addition to an introduction to SCA, we will examine “The Tools That Help Us Get Better”
including the “Twelve Steps of SCA”. More experienced
members, and those starting over in SCA are welcome to add to the discussion too. We need not stay for the
entire alotted time, if our examination of the Program is
exhausted, but please make an effort to begin at the same
time as the rest of us.
“SCA’s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in
their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life can expel
the obsession to act out and enable the sufferer to become
happily and usefully whole.”
“More sobriety brought about by the admission of sexual
compulsion and by attendance at a few meetings is very
good indeed, but it is bound to be a far cry from permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life. That is just
where the remaining Steps of the SCA program come in.
Nothing short of continuous action upon these as a way
of life can bring about the much-desired result.”
(Adapted from AA’s 12 & 12)
Donation: $5.00
Suggested donation to pay for materials.
None turned away for lack of funds.
Net proceeds go to SCA / LA Intergroup.
Contact: workshops@scalosangeles.org
More Info: www.scalosangeles.org
Public Service Video
David N., our Literature
Distribution Chair in New York, has volunteered to initiate the process of creating a video
which will be used to carry the message of recovery in SCA to the
still-suffering addict.
The Outreach Committee is forming a committee to create the
format and content of this video. If you are interested in participating in
this process, please contact Joe S., Chair of the Outreach Committee, by email
at: outreach@sca-recovery.org.
Telephone Meeting Anniversary
Online
Intergroup is pleased to report that the Sunday telephone meeting, held each
Sunday at 4 p.m. New York time, is celebrating its first anniversary next week!
The meeting
has been going well, and has grown nicely over the past year. We now have some 70
members signed up, of whom roughly 10 attend a given meeting. Like any meeting,
there is a small core group of people who attend most weeks, and a larger group
of people who attend now and then.
The format
of the telephone meeting is much like many face-to-face meetings. We start with
basic readings from SCA literature such as the Statement of Purpose, Characteristics
and Steps, then we usually have a short special reading to do with recovery
from sexual compulsion, from SCA’s or other recovery literature. Alternatively,
sometimes a member will give a long share for 10 to 15 minutes. After that,
members share about the reading or whatever is going on in their recovery and
lives for a few minutes each. We finish the meeting with a reading of the SCA
Closing Statement.
After the
meeting, which is usually an hour long, members who want to can stay on the
line and talk informally for a while as a form of fellowship, which gives
people an opportunity to socialize and ask questions. We have an email contact
list for members of the phone meeting who sign up for it, that is only
circulated to the members on it. That way, people can be in contact with each
other between meetings if they wish.
Most members
report that it is a warm and friendly atmosphere, despite the electronic nature
of the Calliflower conference call connection. Telephone meetings are a great
means of recovery for those who are unable to get to face-to-face meetings, who have limited meetings in their area, who are travelling, who are perhaps confined by illness, or have special concerns about
anonymity and the like. Members currently attend from various parts of North
America and Europe, and we have just registered our first member from
Australia!
Online
Intergroup hopes to expand this option and put on a second weekly telephone
meeting in addition to the Sunday meeting in the next few months. To do so, we
are in need of service people willing to moderate, and to undertake the other
service associated with a telephone meeting, such as handling email requests
from members wanting to sign up. Volunteers need to have unimpeded access to a
computer at meeting time. The technological know-how required to chair is
rudimentary, and training is offered.
If you are
interested in attending, or getting involved in telephone meeting service,
please sign up via the SCA website at http://www.sca-recovery.org/telephoneaccess.htm or send an email to oimoderator@gmail.com.
Please pass
this information on to your groups and any members who may be interested!
In service,
Kevin – SCA Toronto
& Online Intergroup
One Day Workshop Seminar in Los Angeles
THE TOOLS THAT HELP US GET BETTER
We have already done workshops on the Tools of Dating in recovery, Sponsorship, Writing, and all Twelve Steps, Prayer & Meditation, A Sexual Recovery Plan, Abstention and Socializing. The next workshop will cover the remaining Tools That Help Us Get Better, with the Tools of Literature, Meetings, the Telephone, the Slogans and Service.
SATURDAY
JUNE 23, 2012
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
PLUMMER PARK
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
Fiesta Hall (Diff erent location than others in the series)
West Hollywood, CA 90046
(Park in North lot. Workshop is at South end of park)
Please Bring:
SCA Little Blue Book
AA Big Book
AA Twelve & Twelve
Large Spiral ring notebook
Pen / pencil
Donation: $5.00
Suggested donation to pay for materials.
None turned away for lack of funds.
Net proceeds go to SCA / LA Intergroup.
Contact: workshops@scalosangeles.org
For More Info: www.scalosangeles.org
This workshop is for the Newcomer or any Member who struggles with their Sexual Compulsion or Love Addiction.
Toronto 2012 ISO Conference Final Bulletin
The following was posted to the ISO List today:
Greetings! This is the final bulletin for those
attending the ISO Conference from April 20 – 22, 2012 in person, with
up-to-date weather and other pertinent information, plus a recap of
previously-posted items.
WEATHER
The
weather is expected to be intermittently rainy and cool for much of the
conference weekend, with temperatures ranging from 2°C/36°F to 13°C/56°F, but there should be some sunny, blue
skies. You should allow for the evenings being chilly, and the days being quite
temperate. A medium-weight jacket should mostly be sufficient. Please keep an
eye on the forecast for changes.
Current,
Two Day & Fifteen Day Forecast:
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/toronto
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0696?ref=topnav_weather_savedcity
Detailed
Two Week Forecast:
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/toronto/ext
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/caon0696
Past
Week:
http://www.timeanddate.com/weather/canada/toronto/historic
AREA MAP
Downtown
Toronto (including conference locations):
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=205123194091200925702.0004b00056661129b9196&msa=0
AIRPORT TRANSIT
Lester B. Pearson International Airport
(YYZ):
1)
Taxi or Airport Limousine – $50 to $70 one-way.
2)
Airport Shuttle Bus – $23.95 one-way, $39.95 return.
http://www.torontoairportexpress.com/
3) TTC Airport Rocket Bus/Subway (Adult single
$3).
Take Airport Rocket Bus to Kipling Station, then subway
eastbound to Bloor Station, change southbound to College Station, walk south
one block to Delta Chelsea Hotel.
http://www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Airport_service.jsp
4) GO Transit Bus/TTC Subway (Adult single $5 + $3 = $8 or
Return $10 + $6 = $16).
Take GO Transit Bus to York Mills Station, then subway
southbound to College Station, walk south one block to Delta Chelsea Hotel.
http://www3.ttc.ca/Riding_the_TTC/Airport_service.jsp
http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/fares/farecalculator.aspx?New=#frcity
Note: 3 &
4 are cheaper options but take longer, involve changes & are difficult with
luggage.
Billy Bishop Toronto City
Airport (YTZ):
Take
Ferry (free) from Airport to Toronto
Mainland (Bathurst & Queen’s Quay West).
Then EITHER 1) Shuttle Bus (free) to Royal York Hotel, cross to
Union Subway Station, and take TTC Subway from Union Station to College
Station, walk south one block to Delta Chelsea Hotel.
(Adult single $3).
OR 2) Taxi or Airport Limousine to Delta Chelsea Hotel ($10 to
$15 ride approximately).
PRE-CONFERENCE MEETINGS
FRIDAY,
APRIL 20, 2012
The
519 Church Street Community Centre
519
Church Street, Toronto
(Subway
Station: Wellesley)
Literature Development, Room 303 –
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Contact
John F. to attend)
Archives Working Group, Room 304 –
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Contact
Sid W. to attend)
EXCHANGE
RATES
The US dollar has
strengthened against the Canadian dollar in the past few months, and the two currencies are now roughly at
par, with fluctuations. The current rate of exchange is approximately US $1.001
to CDN $1.00. Allowing for commissions, you should expect to receive slightly
less in Canadian currency than the same figure in US dollars. When spending,
the currencies and amounts can generally be regarded as equal.
RECAP
OF PREVIOUS INFORMATION
RESTAURANTS:
HOTEL
& GENERAL INFORMATION:
http://www.scanneronline.org/2012/01/toronto-2012-iso-conference-registration.html
http://www.scanneronline.org/2011/07/iso-annual-conference—toronto-april-20—22-2012.html
RENDEZVOUS INFORMATION
For
those who are attending the self-pay meal before the conference on Friday
evening, please join us at Trattoria Mercatto in the Eaton Centre at 4:45 p.m.
promptly.
For
those who will be joining us at the start of the conference proper, please be
in the Baker Room on the Second Floor of the South Tower of the Delta Chelsea Hotel (take the Blue Elevators) for a prompt
start at 6:00 p.m. sharp.
We
look forward to meeting you all this Friday!
Yours
in recovery,
Kevin
– SCA Toronto
ISO
Host Committee