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“Well it is time to share my experience on the message of
service, so the Panel 58 Delegate can share these things on
Wednesday at the Conference. Being a self centered person I
constantly have to find some way to get out of head, what
better way than being involved in Service. Whether it is
greeting that newcomer at the door when they enter our
rooms, or being willing to stand for Area Officer or
Committee Chair I have to be come willing. I must do this
service thing or I shall perish and I will miss out on all
the joys of service. Our book tells us that contact with
newcomers and others in AA is a joy, so I must suit up and
show up on a daily basis, and that is what I have done for a
long time for this old lush. In doing this my higher power
has enabled me and thousands like me to experience lots of
highs and lows, and I would not trade those moments for
anything that I felt while chasing John Barleycorn. I know
that not all members because of numerous circumstances
have been able to experience some of those same things in
service, however their moments of joy are just as important
to them as are mine. It can be that GSR who is on fire for
General Service and whats to go to PRAASA but can not afford
to go, so she does what we have been shown and turns to her
home group for assistance. Seeing 5 General Service people
show up at her home group for moral support and the loving
Group Conscience come to her assistance when she expressed
her need was Service in Action. The smile on this girl,s
face when members of this group were giving her $15.00 or
$20.00 for her flight, or agreeing to pay for her hotel room
was the highlight of my year so far. On the flip side the
day before I saw an example of disservice in AA when after
loving discussion on a Agenda item at the Assembly some
members thought it was ok to clap and high five when their
proposal was passed, and then do the same when a proposal
that they did not agree on do the same thing. The good thing
about this disservice it was only a few members who were
disrespectful of the process of the Group Conscience.
Hopefully that GSR that was on fire only remembers that good
example of Love thru Service.”
(Message ID 5.004)
Jan
28, 2008 =====
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Unity is a key to to communications
and participation. It is one of many keys, but it just may be
the most important key. If I am not striving to be a worker
among workers, I simply will not be able to hear anyone, except
those agree with me. This was a problem that dogged me for all
my years prior to applying the 12 Steps of A.A. as a way of
life. It is sometimes almost impossible to listen to others,
especially those with whom I disagree. But, the reward for
making the attempt to communicate, (two ways, listening and
sharing) is that I become “part of” instead of “apart from”.
I believe that
we are handicapped in our efforts to reach out to all of the
diverse groups in A.A., by a subtle attitude of “Let’s wait
until they demonstrate that they want to be reached”. “They”
continue in ignorance, because we too often sit in our home
groups and wait for them to come to us. Is there one specific
community in A.A. that I can identify as under-served through
A.A.’s lack of commitment to approach this community?
Absolutely – those groups in “front-line” Alano Clubs. By
“front-line” Alano Clubs I mean those Alano Clubs, oftentimes
inner-city clubs, that haven’t a single GSR or Intergroup Rep;
whose membership is unaware that A.A. members, through local H &
I Committees, carry A.A.’s message into hospitals, institutions
and jails; where groups seldom, if ever, make a contribution to
help pay for A.A’s services to the groups – GSO, the Central
Office, the local District. There are many other populations
within A.A. that we continue to miss the mark in our efforts to
connect them to all of A.A. We can do a much better job.
Service
Sponsorship is truly one of the great gifts we have in A.A.. It
has the same effect as regular sponsorship, it simply address a
more specific area of my life. The effect: by asking for help
in my service efforts, I am made right-sized – I need help; I
can’t do it alone. If that was all service sponsorship offered,
that would be enough, but there is so much more. I gain from
the experience of someone who has gone before me. I don’t need
to “reinvent the wheel”. On top of all that, I have made
wonderfully committed friends through these relationships.
Who are our
leaders in A.A? I believe it is those who “labor in the arena”,
who actually stand up to do what needs to be done. Those who
withstand the close-minded criticism and continue to serve as
they believe that God would have them serve. Or, as stated in
the 2nd Tradition, “Our leaders are but trusted
servants”. So, our leaders are our servants. I had a very wise
member of A.A. once say, “If you want to be a leader in A.A., be
a servant”. I like that simple direction.
(Message ID 5.003)
Jan
23, 2008 =====
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How is Unity a Key to Communication and Participation?
If I believe that I have "the only answer" to any given
topic of sobriety, then I only pigeon-hole myself into
"old thinking", which causes me to stay stuck. If I
believe that "we" is an active noun, and that "we"
collectively arrive at the solutions to the problems we
face in our day-to-day lives and our service work, then
"I" can provide my input, be a part of the "we", and
allow others to do the same.
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If
our Common Welfare does not come first, what’s the big
deal? "I" am limited in my perspective. Yes, I do have
experience in sobriety. However, my limited thinking
being selfish and self-centered is not condusive to
anyone's welfare except my own. Even then, I can be so
misguided that this selfishness and self-centeredness
can cause my own failures, and usually does. However,
if I allow myself to think outside of myself, and to
take into consideration the welfare of others, then at
least I am thinking "outside of self" which is a step in
the right direction. It may still be selfish and
self-centered, however, and it is the fellowship - the
collective group conscience that provides me with the
solution, and the right to be wrong.
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Why are “Principles before Personalities” important to
these ends or are they? Well, we all spout that off
don't we? "Principles before Personalities" ad nauseum.
It was in my first year of sobriety that I caught myself
saying this, along with the others in the meetings I
attended, and realized that I had absolutely no idea to
what I was referring! What are these principles to
which we keep referring? Well, I asked my then sponsor
to help me. He gave me a listing of them Honesty,
Humility, Perseverance, Willingness, Brotherly Love,
Integrity, Discipline, Service, Teachability,
Forgiveness, God-consciousness - these were some of them
on the list. I then spoke with others, and found that
they had some of the same words describing the
principles, but also had some others. I can't recall
them all. But my point is that we all glean from the
program what we need. "Take what you like and leave the
rest". How apropos when I hear the chanting at the end
of the reading of the Twelve Traditions!
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Are we effectively reaching out to all the diverse
groups in Alcoholics Anonymous? I know that I did not.
As DCMC, I have to say that I did not go out to visit
any groups other than one that I know of. I don't know
what caused that fear. Perhaps it was merely that I had
such a full plate, that I really didn't have the time to
schedule in meetings other than my regular ones I
attend. So, there's room for growth. I believe that if
I had more time (ie not working full time and going to
school full time) that I would have been able to go out
to more groups in my District. I'll keep coming back.
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How have you found Service Sponsorship to be helpful?
Tremendously. I call my service sponsor and/or check
with people who have gone before, such as our Past
Delegates, or our Past Trustees, to make sure that I am
staying "right sized". I have a limited perspective,
and the guidance of those who came before me is
invaluable.
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What is the key to keeping A.A. strong? Is there only
one key thing? Why is this the key? The one thing that
I can do to keep the fellowship strong is to stay sober
one day at a time. I believe that if there were only
one key, that this would be it. However, I don't
believe that there is only one key thing. I believe
that what the Big Book says is true "we find a man to be
unthinking when he says sobriety is enough" or something
to that effect. If I just say "I'm sober" and do
nothing with it, then sure - I am sober- and sure, I am
not in high speed chases from the police at 120mph
placing others lives in jeopardy; I am not yelling at
the people in the trees; or having conversations with
people who don't exist (ok well, so I still do the
latter from time to time!). But service, being of
service in all that I do - making myself available to
help others - that is another key. Working the steps is
another key. Attending meetings and going to fellowship
events - another key. So we have at least a three sided
key to sobriety - Recovery, Unity, and Fellowship. If I
let one fall by the wayside, I have found my foundation
in recovery to be lop-sided, and I feel "off".
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Do
our Leaders strive for Unity within our Groups ? I
certainly hope so. However, I think that is a question
that I cannot answer myself. What I can do is ask
myself that question within my Group.
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Who are our leaders in A.A.? (You might look to
Tradition Two for a start on this one) Our leaders are
whomever steps up to the plate to take actions they
believe are in the best interest of AA as a whole. They
are humble enough to have the knowledge that they alone
cannot conceive of what is best for all - and that much
learning from others is needed. Of course, they are
still limited in their perception, but we trust our
trusted servants to act on what they believe is "a
loving God as expressed in our group conscience". As
long as they remain servants to the groups, and not
dictators or directors, then I believe we are safe.
(Message ID 5.002)
Dec.
8, 2007 ==== |
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If we can not be united in our fellowship how can we expect outsiders to understand that we only deal with drinking not with using drugs. This is not a social club or a hide out from the law. This is a life saving program for those that want it. The personalities are what make and break AA for a lot of people. The principals should never be overshadowed by any individual. The Traditions of AA are the rules for the group just like the Steps are the rules to recovery. Yes I said rules- look at what happens when they are bent or broken. Diversity in AA is a funny thing – the more diversity is talked about the more the special interest groups want to be left to themselves. The inclusiveness of AA needs to welcome all people with a drinking problem and keep them as one group not special groups with in the fellowship. Do we have unity or do we have a lot of different meetings with no connection except some books. No general service reps, no intergroup reps, no relationships with AA as a whole? Our leaders are but trusted servants the ultimate authority is a loving God. Do we elect the the best people for the job in AA or do you vote by peer pressure or popularity with no regard to the newcomer who is not yet here. Do some members have a private agenda that is different than that of AA’s as a whole? The principles of AA are the most important thing for its survival. That being said it is the survival of AA for the newcomer that should anyways remain the principal of our common welfare. We are responsible and the unities that we provide will keep the program right were it should be.“ (Message ID 5.001) Nov. 28, 2007 ==== |
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