The Marina Dock February 2003 Newsletter

The Marina Dock Newsletter February 2003

Dear Marina Dock members and patrons alike,

Thank you one and all for your ongoing much needed financial support. We have a very successful holiday season. Huge crowds of people, including many out-of-towners, visited our establishment over Christmas and the New Year. We had another wave of Texans. In fact, I ran into two ladies from Houston at the 3:30 pm meeting last week. Deanne and her friend, it turns out, heard about us from Robert H, a long-time Marina Dock/Dry Dock member who moved back to Houston some years ago.
I forgot to get their addresses, but if anyone knows how to reach them please feel free to e-mail them or mail the newsletter to them. I talked on Robert on Deanne's cell phone and he said he would be out to visit us in a few months.

We Had a Party

I completely forgot to mention the two buffets that we hosted over the Christmas and New Year's Eve. Many people were grateful we were there on two crucial nights that can present problems for people in recovery.

Seasons of Grace

There was an interesting review in yesterday's Chronicle on a book written jointly by the Dean of Grace Cathedral, Rev, Alan Jones and John O'Neil, the president of the Center for Leadership renewal. "True spirituality is based on gratitude… Thank You. Don't just say it. Feel it. Try this. Close your eyes. Sit up straight. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, think… thank you. Do it again please. Thank You".
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others" (Cicero).

Lots of us talk about "Spirituality" these days, many have a hard time defining it, or, more importantly, cultivating it. Jones and O'Neil see genuine, spirituality as "the art of self-simplification". "Stop trying to get more and give thanks for what it is". It sounds like an interesting read, the kind of book that requires one to take personal inventory.

The article ends with a summary: "True spirituality as a process of self-simplification and truth telling for the sake of love offers an antidote to the consumerist power-driven images that dominate our culture. Being open to gratitude is a way of being subversive and rebellious in a culture that too easily cheapens us".

Membership Discount Continues

The membership drive had been quite successful. Just to remind everyone the offer extends to the end of February: A saving of $150 for two year's membership, a $60 saving on a year's membership and a $15 saving on six months membership.
Our goal is to reach a total of 400 paying members by April 15th. Again, all membership dues and donations are 501 (c) (3) tax deductible.

Enclosed Financial Report

All paying members and donors will receive an enclosed financial statement for the year ending 2002. If you have a question regarding your statement, feel free to contact us for discussion.

Thank You

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped us out over the years. I also need to point out to those who feel they have given enough already that they should not feel pressured to give more.
I have not yet refined our system to the extent that we can differentiate between those who have given and those who would still like to give.
I know a lot of yearly and six month members still get a return envelop with the envelope and may find it offensive. Please! Please! Disregard the envelope, unless, of course you really want to contribute more.

Good News

We received a single donation to cover about 50 new chairs. The problem now is that I am having a hard time finding chairs similar to the ones we now use.

Until next time, the solution is love,

Anthony T. Murray ("Irish Tony")

marinadock.org