Bill Wilson

“Every A.A. has been, in a sense, a prisoner. Each of us has walled himself out of society; each has known social stigma. The lot of you folks has been even more difficult: In your case, society has also built a wall around you. But there isn’t any real essential difference, a fact that practically all A.A.s now know.  Therefore, when you members come into the world of A.A. on the outside, you can be sure that no one will care a fig that you have done time. What you are trying to be—not what you were—is all that counts with us“

Why A.A.s Carry the Message Behind the Walls

Many A.A. members are unaware of the important work being carried out by corrections committees. To those involved, however, corrections work is an opportunity to carry the A.A. message to the confined alcoholic who wants to live sober, one day at a time. Through a corrections committee working with corrections personnel, alcoholics are reached who might never otherwise find the A.A. program.

An active corrections committee is a vital link to prisons and jails, providing professionals and other workers in correctional facilities with information about A.A., literature, and guidelines for setting up A.A. groups on the inside. . . . .

Corrections Workbook Pg 4

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Bill W. wrote to a prison group in 1949

When sharing about Corrections service, we can refer to an excerpt from a letter that our cofounder Bill W. wrote to a prison group in 1949:

Every A.A. has been, in a sense, a prisoner. Each of us has walled himself out of society; each has known social stigma. The lot of you folks has been even more difficult: In your case, society has also built a wall around you. But there isn’t any real essential difference, a fact that practically all A.A.s now know.  Therefore, when you members come into the world of A.A. on the outside, you can be sure that no one will care a fig that you have done time. What you are trying to be—not what you were—is all that counts with us

CORRECTIONS for District 45 – September 21^st, 2022

Greetings:

I was privileged to attend the Voting Assembly in Vernon with some of our other service people from District 45.  We got to vote in 7 people onto the General Service Committee with another 7 to be appointed by November.  We were able to deal with all of the Motions including those dealing with money.  It was inspiring to hear the Minority voice speaking up as well as a lot of good questions at the microphone.

This past weekend was the District 45 Roundup in Chilliwack.  On Saturday at 11 am, Corrections was able to hear the story of Theresa O. from Abbotsford, share her story from the Inside – Out and the important part that A.A. was able to play in her life then and even up until now.  Her talk was recorded and should be posted shortly on our Podcast portion of our Chilliwackaa.org website.  I will encourage you all to hear what she has to share with us.

Please consider announcing this at your groups and let me know if anyone is interested or has any questions:

“Would you be willing to spare at least one hour a month

to help support our Inside AA members?”

Blueberry Hill group – Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Village – WEBEX – HYBRID

There is a meeting every Saturday from 10 – 11 am.  Last Saturday, we only had on outside participant and that was on Webex.

Keep It Straight group – Mountain Institution

We have two meetings back to back with about 7 in the first meeting and about 5 in the second meeting.  There were no outside AA participants for the past two weeks because Jean and I were tied up with other A.A. responsibilities.

We are working on bringing a GSR and Alternate GSR to the District meeting (and other A.A. meetings and Events) from this Institution.

One of our Inside A.A. members (who has reading challenges) asked for an Audio CD set of the Big Book and Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions and will be paying for them.  Owen C, our Literature Chair has also thrown in “Living Sober”.

Living Right group – Ford Mountain Correctional Centre (Provincial)

Jeff and I are going up.  The meeting starts at 6 pm for the regular meeting and then we do the Steps through the Big Book in the next hour.  There has only been one volunteer going up for the past two weeks.

Open the Gate to Freedom group – Kent Institution

We are hoping to get a regular meeting going sometime in Mid October.

The Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) continues to be a source of Twelve Step calls.  I see on average 2 -3 individuals a week.

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“CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS”

MISSION STATEMENT

To carry the A.A. message of:  recovery, unity and service.  To inform, teach and unite our Corrections Volunteers and prospective Corrections Volunteers.

NEXT:  CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS MEETING

Wednesday October 5^th, 6 pm

Zoom ID        285 909 9992                       Pass   427248

Our CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS Round Up will be held:

Saturday, March 25^th, 2023

Level Ground Church in Abbotsford.

Pen Pal Plus Program continues to grow, with over 50 fellows and 10 women participating in this important tool of recovery.

Live meetings (less than an hour away) are now happening at: 

Ford Mountain Correctional Centre (Provincial)

Fraser Valley Institution (Minimum & Medium)

Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Village

Mountain Institution

Mission Medium

Mission Minimum – No A.A. meeting for a month because the one volunteer was away

Pacific Institution

Upcoming Events

A.A. (GVIS) Vancouver Corrections Round Up        

November 5^th, 2022

Saturday        9:30 am – 9:30 pm   Cost:  $20.00

Heritage Hall                                                

12460 Harris Road             

Pitt Meadows, BC

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If you or your group would like to learn more, I would be only too happy to speak with you or offer a presentation.

YILAS, Clifford T.

MAY REPORT

Corrections:

CORRECTIONS COULD SURE USE SOME HELP

I had encouraged each of you to ask the question at your next Business meeting if you would consider having a Corrections presentation or a Corrections Representative.

I attended the Steps and Traditions group (at Carmen United) on March 23^rd.  It was excellent that one of their next speakers at the group had been incarcerated and had witnessed the value of having Outside A.A. members coming in to reach out to the still suffering alcoholic.

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District 45 is starting this year with four full time volunteers and one part time volunteer. 

To assist in Corrections, you may help in any number of different ways, (your choice):

1. Attend inside A.A. meetings.  We have one Provincial Correctional Centre and three Federal Institutions in District 45.  Feel free to attend once a month.
2. Help to create a Corrections Committee for District 45.
3. Attend our Corrections Connections meetings (once a month).  District 45 Chilliwack as well as Abbotsford, Mission and White Rock are active participants in this endeavor.
4. Participate in the local Pen Pal Plus program or the Corrections Correspondence Service.

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District 45 Registered Inside A.A. groups

Living Right group – Ford Mountain Correctional Centre (Provincial)

I went for the first time on Thursday – March 17^th.  There were 6 people in attendance with one person getting out on April 19^th and one person getting out in August.  The August fellow filled out a Pre-Release form which is now in the hands of our Area 79 Corrections Chair.

We were to go tomorrow evening but they are in a Covid protocol, hence a lock down.

We have two volunteers for this site.

Open the Gate to Freedom group – Kent Institution

The Structured Intervention Unit (SIU) continues to be a source of Twelve Step calls.

We have two active volunteers for this site.

Keep It Straight group – Mountain Institution

They continue to have their own Inside A.A. meetings on Monday and Friday.  We were planning to open up after this Easter Holiday weekend, but they are now having a large Covid outbreak and will be in quarantine for the next while.

We have two A.A. volunteers for this site.

Blueberry Hill group – Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Village – WEBEX – HYBRID

There is a meeting every Saturday from 10 – 11 am

We have one consistent A.A. volunteer from the outside and two or three on Webex.

__________________

“CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS”

MISSION STATEMENT

To carry the A.A. message of:  recovery, unity and service.  To inform, teach and unite our Corrections Volunteers and prospective Corrections Volunteers.

NEXT:  CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS MEETING

Wednesday May 4^th, 6 pm

Zoom ID         285 909 9992              Pass    427248

Our Pen Pal Plus Program has 44 fellows and nine women utilizing this tool of recovery.

What’s Happening in Corrections

Sundays                     International Corrections Meeting every Sunday

First & last Sunday of month at 3 pm PDT all others at 8 am PDT

Zoom ID 239 990 5603 Pass 765110

Sun 29 May 6 pm      D 43 (Langley) CORRECTIONS CORNER – Last Sun, Monthly

Zoom ID 240 916 8319 Pass 122820

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Pre-Conference Highlights

The Report Back for the Corrections 6 Agenda items took over an hour.

Our Person In Custody Motion (PIC) from our District 45 was being discussed by 93 Areas throughout North America and will be discussed at this year’s General Service Conference, which is happening this week.

The Best part of attending an Area 79 BC/Yukon Quarterly or Assembly is hearing our:

First Timers Sharing . . .

• Going to our A.A. meetings was like driving my car around and seeing the sights.  Coming to this Service Assembly was taking the time to look under the hood!
• Working at the group level and participating in District allowed me to see how the pieces of the bones of AA fit together.  Coming here this weekend, I got to witness the blood flowing . . . . .

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If you or your group would like to learn more, I would be only too happy to speak with you or offer a presentation to you and your group.

YILAS, Clifford T.

APRIL REPORT

Corrections:

I love and appreciate what Ted did for Corrections on the new website!

You can also easily scroll down to Nancy McCarthy’s article in the Corrections Today magazine and read it right there or copy it to your own computer!

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I had encouraged each of you to ask the question at your next Business meeting if you would consider having a Corrections representative.

Last month there were three groups interested or would like more information. 

I will be attending the Steps and Traditions group (at Carmen United) next Wednesday (March 23^rd) at 8 pm for a (15 – 20 minute) Corrections presentation with a Q & A right after.

Owen will be getting back to me about a time for the Early Bird group.

The Agassiz Lion’s Den has agreed to have such a position.  We just need a willing person to step up to the plate.

CORRECTIONS NEEDS YOUR HELP

To assist in Corrections, you may help in any number of different ways (your choice):

1. Attend Inside A.A. meetings.  We have one Provincial Correctional Centre and three Federal Institutions in District 45.
2. Help to create a Corrections Committee for District 45.
3. Attend our Corrections Connections meetings (once a month).  District 45 Chilliwack as well as Abbotsford, Mission and White Rock are active participants in this endeavor.
4. Participate in the local Pen Pal Plus program or the Corrections Correspondence Service.
5. Participate in our Pre-Release program in which you may help our Inside A.A. member as they transition into the local A.A. community (upon their release)

Living Right group – Ford Mountain Correctional Centre (Provincial)

Will open tomorrow (Thursday – March 17^th) for the first time in over two years.

We only have one volunteer for this site.

Open The Gate To Freedom – Kent Institution

I was able to do a Twelve Step call over the phone this afternoon.  The fellow also asked to participate in our Pen Pal Plus program.

We only have two active volunteers for this site.

Keep It Straight group – Mountain Institution

They continue to have their own Inside A.A. meetings on Monday and Friday.

We have only two A.A. volunteers for this site.

Blueberry Hill group – Kwìkwèxwelhp Healing Village – WEBEX – HYBRID

There is a meeting every Saturday from 10 – 11 am

We have one consistent A.A. volunteer from the outside and three or four on Webex.

This District is starting this year with three full time dedicated volunteers and one part time volunteer.  As you can see, there is a need for more.

_________________

“CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS”

MISSION STATEMENT

To carry the A.A. message of:  recovery, unity and service.  To inform, teach and unite our Corrections Volunteers and prospective Corrections Volunteers.

NEXT:  CORRECTIONS CONNECTIONS MEETING

Wednesday April 5^th, 6 pm

Zoom ID         285 909 9992              Pass    427248

Our Pen Pal Plus Program has 41 fellows and nine women utilizing this important tool of recovery.

What’s Happening in Corrections

Sundays                     International Corrections Meeting every Sunday

First & last Sunday of month at 3 pm PDT all others at 8 am PDT

Zoom ID 239 990 5603 Pass 765110

Sun  20 Mar 11 am    Area 79 Corrections Sharing Session

Zoom ID 788 412 9377 Pass Nanaimo AA

Sun  27 Mar 6 pm      D 43 (Langley) CORRECTIONS CORNER – Last Sun, Monthly

Speaker:  Sherri P from Burleson, Texas

Zoom ID 240 916 8319 Pass 122820

PASSING IT ON (New)

This is a Report where I explain the purpose and value of an:

1. Escorted Temporary Absence
2. Non-Security Escort Driver

If you or your group would like to learn more, I would be only too happy to speak with you or offer a presentation to you and your group.

YILAS, Clifford T.