Alumni Connection
Join us at Ashley for our next Recovery Enrichment Day on Saturday, May 19th. AA archivists, Wally P. and Carver B. will be here for “Back to Basics” – a one-day, intensive 12-Step workshop. Wally P. is the originator of the Back to Basics Beginners’ Meetings, which have grown to more than 6,000 groups and produced more than 700,000 recoveries since its’ reintroduction into the 12-Step community in 1997. This “original” 12-Step meeting format was a phenomenal success during the 1940’s and 1950’s but had become an all but lost piece of history until Wally rediscovered it.
June is all about the swing for our Annual Alumni Golf Outing. Come on out to Rolling Road Golf Club on Monday, June 18th for a fun day of golf and fellowship, and help support the Ashley Scholarship Fund. Foursomes are filling up fast – so sign up today!
For more information on these and all of our events, visit www.AshleyTreatment.org/events
Development
This month the Ashley team will be heading into the heart of Manhattan on Thursday, April 19th for our annual Dinner at the Yale Club. This year’s event will feature NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime broadcaster, Cris Carter, as keynote speaker, and John & Louise Finnerty as our honorees. All proceeds will benefit the Ashley Scholarship Fund and help those unable to afford the cost of treatment find their path to healing and restore their dignity.
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are still available. For more information, visit our event page here or email Development@AshleyTreatment.org
If you can’t make it to NY in April, consider joining us at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore on Thursday, May 3rd for the 11th Annual Mae Abraham Luncheon. This year’s lunch will feature Ashley’s own Dr. Burnadette Soulonias as the keynote speaker and honor Carol O’Hara. Carol completed treatment at Ashley in 1993 and has never looked back. She is a member of the Ashley Baltimore Leadership Council, a regular facilitator of the Fourth Week Group and a volunteer at many Ashley functions.
Support the Annual Mae Abraham Legacy Luncheon and help give women a life of freedom in recovery. All proceeds from this year’s event will benefit Ashley’s women’s treatment programs.
Sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available. For more information, visit our event page here or email Development@AshleyTreatment.org
We hope to see you at one of our upcoming events!
Month 4 – Step 4
April represents the next in a year-long series of articles focusing on the 12-steps. We’re taking one step per month and sharing some insights and experiences to help others with their program, as well as those working with sponsees.
Last month, we discussed Step 3 – turning our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him. Now having enlisted some help, we are ready for Step 4:
“Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”
Step 3 is transitional – helping us turning our beliefs into actions which will lead to change. Step 4 calls us to do an internal inventory which will help us understand how we have been an active participant in our addiction.
Dr. Bob summarizes steps 1, 2, and 3 simply, “trust God”, and now that we have made a decision to trust God we can start to take action. With step 4, we begin the process, which Dr. Bob calls “cleaning house”. This is a major portion of all 12 step programs, as we need to work on what’s going on internally.
This step takes courage and has been a stumbling point for many alcoholics and drug addicts over the years. Fr Martin said, “We must resolve the guilt of the past because you cannot live with guilt, sober.” When we are able to look fearlessly at our past and be honest with ourselves the change will begin. Many have experienced this “spiritual awakening” as a result of their work in the “action” steps. Next month we will discuss the 5th step, “Admitting to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
There is no “correct” or “proper” way to work the steps. Different sponsors may take different approaches. The key is to find a way that works best for you and leads to long-term, healthy sobriety!
Next month: Step 5 – Admitting the exact nature of our wrongs …!
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Alcohol awareness month was established in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc., (now Facing Addiction with NCADD). The purpose was to help reduce the stigma often associated with alcoholism by empowering communities to reach out to the public about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery. To learn more, visit the the NCADD website.
We’re also very happy to let you know that the Emmy Award Winning Documentary, Bill W: The Creative Force Behind Alcoholics Anonymous, which Ashley Addiction helped bring to PBS, is now available for streaming on any of the following platforms.