marinadock.org

Non-Profit Corporation

The Marina Dock Newsletter April 2002

Dear Marina Dock members and patrons alike, thank you for your continued support over the last sixteen years (and two months!). Yes, quite a few people who are still supporting us now were there at the beginning too. All support, by the way, moral as well as financial, is greatly appreciated, especially at this time of the year.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

You will have noticed that the interior improvements are still in progress, and we apologize for the continued inconvenience. Thank you especially to those groups that meet in the Middle Room and have withstood the worst of the disruption. Your good humor and patience are an example to us all. The good news is that we are closing in on a deadline. As far as the soundproofing goes, I have to say that Richard W. is doing a most professional job. 

PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

Speaking of pipes, we have now removed the long stainless steel sink from the West Room. This will be replaced by a smaller unit in the corner, which will allow more space by the windows where we plan to put a nice built-in window seat. 

We intend to lay down a new carpet in the Social Room and the West Room within the next month, once the heavy construction is complete.

Further ideas include a more efficient use of our social room space and installing an attractive display cabinet for our refreshments.

It was Churchill who said, “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us” (28 October 1943 to the House of Commons). Well, soon our building will be in great shape and we can build on the daily story of recovery at the Marina Dock in even better surroundings.

We’re also in the process of re-arranging the staffing hours.  Soon you may see some new faces behind the counter or some familiar ones at unusual times.  As always, my gratitude goes to these unsung heroes who keep the Marina Dock in operation through a combination of hard work, good humor, flexibility and the putting of spiritual life into practice on a daily basis.

By the way, don’t forget to get a copy of our new look and updated meetings and workshops schedule, from the Marina Dock or our website.

“Do not worry about what others are doing - each of us should turn the searchlight inward and purify his heart as much as possible.”

(Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948)

THE NEW WORKSHOPS

Our new workshops series is under way to much acclaim and are proving popular, especially Swami Satyambrananda’s Relaxation and Meditation workshop on Sunday evenings.

The new Health and Fitness Workshop has been launched with Rick M and needs support.  I urge you to check it out – it’s every Tuesday evening at 7:45 pm. Rick has put a lot of time and effort into making this workshop available for everyone, so please support it.

The format of the Health and Fitness Workshop will be Speaker/Discussion. Speakers will focus on how physical fitness, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle have enhanced and facilitated their recovery. 

Of course, that’s not the end of the workshops – stay tuned for details of the next AA Secretary’s Workshop at the Marina Dock and for others in the summer!

TOLERANCE (KEEPS US SOBER) *

Spring is always a special time for tolerance, and there’s always plenty to test your limits around this time. It’s always worth remembering your program the next time you’re stuck behind that person in Walgreens with the three dozen coupons, when you’re waiting in those sub-zero conditions for the N Judah, or when someone else takes your parking place outside the Marina Dock:

“Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us, they, like ourselves, were sick too. We asked God to help us show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend.

When a person offended we said to ourselves, “This is a sick man. How can I be helpful to him? God save me from being angry. Thy will be done.”

We avoid retaliation or argument. We wouldn't treat sick people that way. If we do, we destroy our chance of being helpful. We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one.”

(Alcoholics Anonymous page 67)

At times, tolerance and patience are short in supply, and negative thoughts about people, places and things come to the fore. That shadow, “the thing a person has no wish to be” (Carl Jung 1875-1961) is, in some way, part of us all. It is only through a process of increased consciousness and a spiritual awakening that each of us, in our own way, comes to terms with this negativity and arrives at a state of self-acceptance and forgiveness. There’s no rationalizing this - as they stand, pure logic and facts simply bounce off the emotions that are felt and experienced. Only through unreserved surrender can we hope to reach some self-defined goal of charisma and peace. Moreover (ironically), this individual experience of
“at-onement” brings a sense of real human community with our fellows. If we act within the spirit of love and tolerance for others, then all our daily lives become free of fear and conflict. In sum – “Learn to let go. That is the key to happiness.” (Buddha)

* A contribution from Guy B.

ECONOMICS

Every day, I read conflicting reports and forecasts about recovery of the economic kind (can we 12 Step the economy?).

It reminds me of the Trinity College Dublin professor who declared that if you laid all the economists in world end-to-end they still wouldn’t reach a conclusion.
I personally believe that we are still in a belt-tightening mode and may stay that way until the spring of next year.

“Mistakes are easy, mistakes are inevitable, but there is no mistake so great as
the mistake of giving up.”

(William Blake 1757-1827)

Despite hard times, our supporters keep coming up trumps for us. So thank you most sincerely for your generous contributions, as ever, you the few that make it possible for the many.

When giving, you might be as heartened as I am when I hear of someone with their first 90 days or see a testimonial which pays tribute to our raison d’être, like the one which recently came in over the internet:

“The Marina Dock has become my second home. A year ago, when I first entered a recovery program, I didn't want AA, didn't want meetings, and didn't want a sponsor
(I found my sponsor through the Marina Dock). I thought I could find the answer to my problem by only reading the Big Book!

The past year has been amazing for me and the Marina Dock has been an integral part of my recovery. The rooms have made me very aware of how important this fellowship of AA is to my sobriety.

I thank God that you are there 18 hours a day, every day, and I can't believe it, but I’m now a meeting secretary at the Dock. You've saved my life!”

Money matters

Unfortunately, the last two months (February and March) have seen a substantial decline in financial contributions.  Forgive me if I sound like Chancey Gardner (the late Peter Sellers) from the movie “Being There”, but if we prepare the soil now and nurture it, in the spring we will flourish.  We fully understand that everyone is feeling the pinch now and that there is an IRS deadline looming. However, if you have those few extra bucks to spare then we certainly will appreciate your selfless gesture. Thank you again for your generosity. It’s worth remembering that we make a living by what we get, and that we make a life by what we give. 

The solution is love. Until next time,

Anthony T Murray (“Irish Tony”)