Big Al celebrates 40 years!

 Big Al celebrated his 40th year milestone at the AA center on high st. In a town of characters, Al is number one character, and an example of service for us all. Opening and making coffee for decades, also a member of the Friday night Central Park Group, Alfred has been informing, teaching, welcoming, going on commitments, and generally spreading the good news of sobriety. He always reminds us that he has his car outside, his keys and license in his pocket, and that nobody is going to tell him what to do! 84 years old and going strong, We love you Al.

Leon P. (Orange AA)

With sadness, I report that Leon P.  from Orange passed on, after a long battle with the cancer. Longtime buddy of John T.  and great friend of Clinton Central park. Obituary is here Obituary

Local Live meetings

Some live meetings are happening in the area. Social distancing or masks are recommended, particularly indoors

• Clinton Alcoholism and Addiction Information Center 256 High St. Clinton (across from Sonny's liquors, on the main business street)
• M-F 12-1 & 7:30pm
• Sat 11am &7pm
• Sunday 9:30am & 7pm 
• MWF - Lunenburg CBB United Church 6:00 - 7:00 PM 
• MWF -Leominster Barett Park  outside 8am
• TTS - Leominster Barett Park outside 10am
• Wednesday - Clinton Central Park  outside Wed 5pm
  
• Wednesday Maynard  Eagles Club, 65 Nason St.    7:45-9 p.m.
• Wednesday Gardner  EARLY SOBRIETY, Knights of Columbus, 110 South Main St. 7-8pm  
• Wednesday Princeton  Prince of Peace Church, Route 62 and 31 8-9pm
  (outside)
• Thursday - Bolton  CBB12  1st Parish church Rt117 near 495
  673 Main St. Outside 7:30pm
• Thursday C12 Berlin St. Joseph's Church, Rte. 62 7:30 p.m
• Friday St. Camillus  BB Discussion, 333 Mechanic Street Fitchburg, MA
• Saturday Leominster Lake Whalom Meeting - Our Lady of the Lake, 1400 Main St.   outside 6:30-7:30pm
• Saturday Milbury Traditions Federated Church Center7:30-8:30 p.m.
• Saturday Clinton Central Park Sat Morning- outside Sat 8am
• Saturday Lunenburg Sat OD New Freedom United 39 Main St.    5:30 p.m. 
• Sunday Fitchburg Morning  Masonic Hall Klondike & Thorndike St. 10:15 - 11:30 am
  
• Sunday Ashburnham  Community Church, Rt. 12 6:15 p.m. (outside)
  
• If you hear of others please comment or contact rocky to update this post

Local Zoom meetings

Worcester Area Intergroup (see links of interest) has compiled a list of local Zoom hosted AA meetings. Some home groups have started back up with their commitment schedules, just online. Plus there  are lots of discussion, study groups, and meetings of all sorts. The listing is on a public spreadsheet , click the link below..

AA Virtual Meeting List

COVID-19 Fallout

Most of the churches and venues hosting AA gatherings are closed for a while to minimize transmission of COVID-19 until the state guidelines change. The "Links of Interest" list on this page provides handy links to online meetings and speakers and recordings and the complete Clinton MA meeting list.

Note: At present the noontime meetings at the Clinton Alcoholism and Addiction Information Center 256 High St, will continue. In addition a few temporary additional meetings have been arranged at the center until Shamrock, Central Park and Sterling are reopened, with a speaker/discussion format. At all these please practice social distancing

• Monday 7:30-8:30
• Tuesday 7:30-8:30
• Thursday 7:30-8:30
• Friday 7:30-8:30 

Elsewhere:  

• Sober Sunset at the DAM
  When: 1/2 hour before sunset, 1/2 hour after(when its nice out)
  Where: The top of the Wachusett reservoir dam on rt 70, bring a beach chair, blanket, folding chair, watch the sun go down with light music, meditate if you like. Update: DCR have roped off the area, no longer happening

Stay sane and safe, help others, maintain connection....

"This too shall pass"

Update: 3-23-2020 The state has issued a stay-at-home guideline, and limited gatherings to less than 10. It would be prudent for at-risk folks to remain at home. Big Al and a few others have been keeping the Center open. Not sure how much longer this can continue.

 

UPDATE: 28-Aug-2020 Who would have believed this would go on so long? Good Shepherd church sent us some (3 pages) requirements for reopening which looked unworkable to us (including taking attendance) , so we declined and will revisit in a few months. Restaurants, sporting events, hotels and airlines OK , but no AA meetings inside churches??

In my newcomer head

An oldie that Father Leo heard on the radio after an intense experience. Heard it a million times, but never really heard it until I heard Father Leo refer to it in his story. You will recognize the song.
----------------------------------------------------------------
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now those days are gone, I'm not so self assured.
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being round,
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me

Lennon, McCartney


 

OLD TIME AA

 Old Time AA


Many years ago back in the day.
The halls were filled with old timers.
Great memories, great people, it's different today.
Jack the Barber would say
”We’ll make it together. Come along for the ride, we’re in the back room come on inside.
Stay away from denial aisle, I saved you a chair, try to identify, don’t compare”.
John T. would say “This is serious business.”
God, I miss the old timers that aren’t here today. They spread the message near and far
and said the famous four words “Get in the car.”
Thank God for our founders Bill & Bob.
I can still hear Henry the cop saying “Get a job”. 
What ever happened to keep it simple?
Trust God, Clean house, Help others is what the steps mean,
 the perfect recipe to stay sober and clean.
Otto and Frenchy got sober before they drank Canada dry,
they helped many people and that's no lie.
We still have Kathy , Phil, Rock, Big Al, Leon, Austin, Ernie, Father Will, and both Tom B’s.
They make time for the newcomer with a cup of coffee.
Nibben O’Toole helped many a man, yes he was the greatest Sox fan.
I learned so much from Mike Burdell, he didn’t say much but he said it so well.
We’ve lost biker Jack, Frankie Mac, Turkey Bob, Darlene, Shine and Chappie, 1 step Eddie.
Lets not forget John the Indian and Johnny V.
Ann would trick us with nicotine gum for a laugh, she spent her whole life giving back.
 Roland and Leo would tell you what you needed to know and 100 different ways of where you can go.
They’d shake their heads when they heard “No Shame”.
I miss those old timers, they'd remember your name.
Father Fred, Zeus and Irish Pat, thank God I got to know those people,
they don’t make them like that.
They wore hats, busted chops and had funny nicknames,
and made it to commitments in snow sleet and rain.
Jimmy Q and I are so blessed we learned from the best and spread it to the rest.
John T. , I close my eyes and the wisdom you shared.
You were the best sponsor ever and can’t be compared.
I close my eyes and hear what they’d say.
Thank God for all the great people that aren’t here today.
Thank God for Old Timers and Old time AA.


Paul L.
Clinton Central Park Group