The purpose of our Intergroup is to more effectively reach the sex addict in the Orange County area who still suffers.  We meet the second Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:15 p.m. in the Albright Room at the First Methodist Church of Costa Mesa, 420 W. 19^th St., located at the end of the 55 Freeway across from Triangle Square.  All SAA members are welcome.  If you can’t make it, meeting minutes are published on our website.  We are still a young organization and need your ideas!

As the SAA International Conference Fades into the Distance…

Many members of Orange County SAA groups attended and/or presented at the annual SAA International Conference over the recent Memorial Day weekend.  Attendees enjoyed lots of informative sessions, fellowship meetings, speaker dinners, entertainment, and much more.  Feedback indicated it was inspiring to see so many fellow recovering sex addicts in one place.  Truly, we are not alone.

The Orange County Intergroup rented a 15-passenger van to transport SAA members to and from the International Conference on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, at no charge, saving the riders who took advantage of this offer $40 per day.

Now it’s time to plan for the next Orange County 1-day retreat on Saturday, August 23, at Mariners Church in Irvine.  More information is available elsewhere on this website.

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My Share

Each month, we publish a personal but anonymous story of recovery. Stories should be written in the first person (“I”); speak from your experience, strength, and hope; and be limited to approximately one typewritten page. Please submit your story to ocisaa.newsletter@gmail.com. We may edit submissions for reasons of space, clarity, and appropriate language. Here is this month’s story:

Reflections on SAA

I have been attending SAA meetings for two years and have nearly 18 months of sobriety.  In this essay, I offer some reflections on my experience.

I am an addict.  It was difficult for me to accept this fact.  With the aid of SAA I have been able to achieve sexual sobriety, but the “lust of the mind” is still with me, ready to spring into action.  To address this problem, I have to grapple with what is normal lust, which is difficult.  We live in a highly sexualized society.  It is almost impossible to conduct routine tasks on the Internet without being confronted with provocative images.  The Internet is a danger zone for sex addicts.  Easy and open Internet access for a sex addict is like having gallons of whiskey always on hand for an alcoholic.  Carrying an unblocked smart phone for a sex addict is like packing a bottomless flask of gin for an alcoholic.  These technological changes have had a profound impact on the problem of sex addiction, creating an epidemic of sex-distracted men.  What is normal lust?  We are being encouraged at every turn to stoke our lust, not to recognize and redirect it appropriately.

Our highly sexualized society extends well beyond the Internet.  Many forms of print media use provocative images to catch our attention and manipulate us.  Women enjoy dressing up, for men and for each other, especially in SoCal, and clothing today is designed to be alluring.  Our culture encourages the pursuit of pleasure for pleasure’s sake; it does not encourage the pursuit of personal growth.  I am not “making excuses.”  We face a challenging terrain on our journey, and it is important to map this terrain.

I like to think of SAA meetings as “lodge” meetings.  Groups like the Masons take “good” men and help them become “better” men.  SAA is no different.  It is our goodness that brings us to the meetings.  Our goal of becoming better men permeates every meeting and every share.  We have our rituals; we have spirituality; we have personal bonds.  Most important of all, we have the potential for personal growth.

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Announcements & Newsnotes

OCI Officer Vacancy

Our Intergroup’s Vice Chair position is vacant.  This is a great opportunity to be of service, and it requires no special expertise.  It’s estimated that the duties will take about four hours per month, plus meeting one evening a month.  If you are interested and want to learn more, please contact Ron R. at ocisaa.chair@gmail.com.  Or, you may attend the next monthly Intergroup meeting on July 10.

A Few Intergroup Representatives Still Needed

If your meeting still lacks an Intergroup rep, please tell your secretary that you need one.  For more information, contact us at ocisaa.inreach@gmail.com.  We highly recommend you find someone to fill this service position.

A Note to Event Promoters and Organizers: For those requesting announcements to run in our newsletter, please use the following format – and order – as much as possible:
Who: Are you a committee (of the Intergroup, for example), or an individual SAA meeting group, or another type of organization or individual?
What: Is this a workshop, breakfast, retreat, or another type of event?
Title: What is the name of your event?
When: Give the date and starting and ending times of your event.
Cost: What is the suggested contribution, or is it a set fee, or is no one turned away for lack of funds?
Description: In a sentence, or several sentences, say what is unique or especially appealing about your event.
Where: Event address, along with any cross-street info or parking tips you think are important.
More Info: Who to call for more information?  List a telephone number, email address, and/or website.
Please give us as much lead time as possible, and note that submissions are subject to editing for clarity and space.

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SAA Meeting News

New Meetings:

Thursday, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Closed, men only
707 E. Chapman, Orange 92866
Building is close to Orange Traffic Circle, white with green trim, no suite number; parking lot adjacent to building
Contact Chris B. (949) 278-3642

Friday, noon-1:00 p.m.
Closed, men only
St. Matthew’s Church
1111 W. Town & Country Rd., Unit 14, Orange 92868
In the Town & Country Business Center North (look for “Gondola Subs”), around the back
Contact Casey (323) 375-7322

Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Closed, mixed
Book study/Check-in
First Southern Baptist Church, Dining Room
6801 Western Ave., Buena Park, CA 90621 (just north of Orangethorpe Ave.)
Contact Maurice B. (714) 683-8663/motrago@hotmail.com or Eli R. (714) 650-0132

Sunday, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Closed, mixed
United Methodist Church, Room 2
13000 San Antonio Dr., Norwalk, CA 90650
Contact Eli R. (714) 650-0132 or Gary H. (562) 882-0729, email eliminatorfundeck24@gmail.com

Monday, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Women’s SAA Book Study Meeting: reading & sharing on the SAA Green Book; general open sharing
Open to women only
Costa Mesa Alano Club, 2040 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa
For more information call Lori, 949-444-1554

Changes:

New location—
Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Mixed/Closed/Step/Tradition/Topic
Formerly held at Novus Mindful Life Institute, 6695 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach
Moved to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 370 Juniper Ave., Room 104, Long Beach
South of 4th Street at Carroll Park North
Enter parking lot off Carroll Park North
For more information call 949-478-5617

Two meetings have suspended operations until a new location is found—
Monday and Wednesday, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Men Only/Open/Book Study
Formerly held at 23151 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods
Call Scott, 949-547-3412 for updates

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Orange County Intergroup Officers and Committee Chairs

Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. — Tradition 2

Chair: Ron R., ocisaa.chair@gmail.com
Vice Chair: Vacant, ocisaa.vicechair@gmail.com
Digital Communications: Neal B., ocisaa.digicom1@gmail.com (Assistant: John R., ocisaa.digicom2@gmail.com)
Inreach: Greg R., ocisaa.inreach@gmail.com
Outreach: Maurice B., ocisaa.outreach@gmail.com
Literature: Ron C., ocisaa.literature@gmail.com
Treasurer: Brian A. (Vice Treasurer: Carol M.), ocisaa.treasurer@gmail.com
Secretary: Earl Q., ocisaa.secretary@gmail.com
Parliamentarian: Mike K.

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Website

If you have ideas or suggestions for the website, please contact our Webmaster, Neal B., at ocisaa.digicom1@gmail.com.