[Sugah]

I don't share a lot on here about my direct involvement with the fellowship, but we had an event yesterday that I just had to talk about.

I am the CPC/PI chair for my AA district (Cooperation with the Professional Community/Public Information). I was sitting with my husband, our DCM, waiting for folks to show up for a committee meeting prior to the regular district meeting. We were talking with one other woman who'd come early to open the church and make the coffee. Our district seems to have gone up and down in district-wide service participation, and six weeks ago at this non-existent committee meeting, we were definitely at an ebb stage. My husband asked the question, "How do we get people involved?" My answer (read: opinion) was that many folks equated service with huge time commitments and it scared them away. Then we talked about the many events we have annually and how none of them have as their sole focus the many different kinds of service.

Well, long story short, we tossed out the idea of a service picnic during the regular district meeting, and inside of five minutes, we nailed down a date, a name for it ("The ABC's of Service"), my husband offered up our house and grounds (we have five acres and are centrally located within the district - so no money laid out to rent a hall or a pavilion in a local park), and I walked away with the blessing to make a flyer for distribution. I started working with our trusted webservant on getting the word out, setting up the format, etc., and my husband started making phone calls. We had a pile of people in our front yard, including lots of folks from all over western PA, and folks got up and shared on service in the home group, the district, the area, all the related committees, etc. They also talked about what service has done for their sobriety. People left with a five-page handout on all the various areas of service along with a lot of ideas on how to help newcomers get involved.

With the 50/50 tickets we made available during the meal (before the actual meeting) and the hat we passed, we covered the cost of the burgers & dogs, and the covered dishes that everyone brought were wonderful. It was a wonderful day for all three sides of the third-legacy triangle.

I just wanted to share that, as well as ask for input. What do you do with your AA district or within your home group to get and keep folks involved in AA service?

Peace & Love,
Sugah