Mexico Beach, Florida
This information was provided by Steve M. (14 Feb 1984) and Ed M. (5 Jan 1989).
The Surfside Serenity Group was founded by Jim M. in October 1987. Other early members included Ralph K., Steve M., and Frank T. in October 1987. (Original history includes Carolyn M., wife of Ed M. and lists the startup date as February 1988.)
The group met at the First United Methodist Church on 22nd St., Mexico Beach from the time it was started until April 2005 when it moved to the Community Center, Mexico Beach, behind the Fish House Restaurant.
Apparently, the first meetings were held on Thursday at 7:30 P.M., Central Time. Later, Monday, Wednesday and Friday meetings were added. The Thursday evening meeting was dropped although a Thursday noon Women's meeting was held for many years. The Monday and Wednesday meetings were dropped in the late 1990s due to non-attendance. The Sunday meeting was added in April 2005.
Current meetings (at the Community Center) are Sunday, 5:00 P.M., (CT) closed Big Book, Steps & Traditions; and Friday, 7:30 P.M. (CT) closed discussion. The last Friday of each month is birthday night and is an open meeting.
Membership has fluctuated over the years. It reached a high point of 26 around 2002 but currently is 12.
Bay County Correctional Facility, Florida
This group was founded and received its group number on Feb 19, 1998. Alan L., an inmate, was the driving force behind this group being organized. It meets in the Bay County Correctional Facility every Wednesday night at 7 PM and Friday nights at 6 PM. The original meeting schedule was Wednesday night and Sunday night for a Big Book study. Walt L was a long time outside sponsor who attended on Wednesday nights. When Walt moved away, there was a 2 year period where this group had no outside sponsor and was supported by the in house treatment program, Addictions Treatment Unit. In Jan 2003, the Big Book study was moved from Sunday night to Friday night. Current sponsors are Hugh S and Doug D.
Non inmates must go through a screening process by CCA to obtain entrance to the prison. DOC credentials are not sufficient.
The group has an excellent library of AA literature which members may check out at will.
Panama City Beach, Florida
The Group started in May 1988 in a rehab center called Crossroads. George and Jean Rash started the meeting in which they provided coffee and donuts and the patients were invited to attend a real A.A. meeting.
As the name of the group indicates it was a study of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.
Jean was still working for the airlines and was gone for weeks at a time so George traveled from Vernon to Panama City every Sunday to make the coffee. George would grab someone coming in the meeting and ask them to chair the meeting and everyone read a paragraph or two just as we do today.
In December 1997 Crossroads closed their doors and the group moved to the CAYA Club in January 1998. The first meeting was on January 11, 1998 in unit 35 of the Promenade Mall.
I started chairing the meetings at that time as I had a key to the place and knew how the format had been:
A simple start With a Quiet Time
Serenity Prayer
Welcome visitors
Start the reading where we left off the Sunday before.
There were no chips or other reading and we have kept to that format.
When the CAYA Club moved in 2002 the meeting went with them.
The group pays the CAYA Club 75% of the basket each month for rent and coffee. Donuts are furnished by the group. The group sends $30.00 or $40.00 each month to the Intergroup in Panama City and $40.00 when we accumulate it to New York.
I am looking for someone who would like to chair the meeting on a weekly basis. Or if not chair open up the club and get the donuts and see that someone chairs the meeting. This also entails keeping the books of the group and making out the checks to mail to Inter Group and New York.
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UPDATE! as of October 2007: |
Panama City, Florida
In the spring of 2005, two AA members within the Panama City area determined that there was a need for a morning meeting as none existed at that time.
Hulda L. and Brenda M. obtained approval from Serenity Junction, Inc. to hold a 07:45-08:45 am meeting each weekday at 922 Jenks Ave., Panama City.
This 07:45 am meeting was well received and within a short time was expanded to include Saturdays as well.
The meeting became a group with the name "SUNRISE SERENITY" on the 10th of December, 2005 with 12 active members.
The first Group Officers were elected June 2006. GSR: Pam S.; Alt GSR: Scott G.; Secretary: Mike C.; Treasurer: Nathan L.
Sunrise Serenity currently holds 6 daily "Open Discussion" meetings averaging between 8 and 21 in attendance.
On December 21, 2006, the group started 5:30 pm, "Closed Discussion" meetings, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday evenings.
In March 2007, the group started a Step Study meeting on Thursday mornings.
By June 1st, 2007 the parking at 922 Jenks had become insufficient, due to the growing attendance, and the group moved to a new location: Trinity Lutheran Church on 11th St. and Balboa.
July 17th, 2007 the group had their first Adaptive Big Book Study on Tuesdays at the 07:45 am meeting.
October 11th, 2007 the group had their first Traditional Big Book Study at the Thursday 5:30 pm meeting.
The group's attendance, as of October 2007, now ranges from 15-20 for the morning meetings and 12-15 for the 5:30 meetings. The Birthday meeting attendance, however, is usually about 40 -44 people.