wanted:your ESH

[bballdad]

I`m Tommy and I am a alcoholic
gratefull to be here today,and to be sober

I believe we need more meetings on step 12 where we can share our experience trying to carry the message to the alcoholics who still suffer outside the rooms of AA,and get involved in ways to particapate in those areas.

I do not know any where there are meetings on step 12.We seem to focus on other things way too much.Maybe that is why there are so many stale AA meetings who seem confused about why they are here,and maybe that is why we have many members who drift off after years of soberiety.In my area,many groups want to pass that off on the Inter Group Committees and District Committees...





How about sharing your experience,strenght and hope..and if you wish,opinion

thanks in advance

[Sugah]

Home group level service is the most important service in AA, IMO. Sure, we need district/area level service, but that's so the home group can focus on the most important thing: carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

I started a thread around here somewhere that didn't get a whole lot of response, and I hope that's because the majority of folks here are newcomers. Something that we've run into in our community is retirement rather than rotation. We "middle-timers" (5-15 years) have done our best to energize the ones who've been around for a long time, encouraging them to remain in service. We've seen that those in service seem to have less trouble staying sober (imagine that!) than those who don't, so we try to get the newcomers involved as soon as possible. If they're willing to get a sponsor and begin step work, they're ready for service.

Service jobs are limited only by one's imagination and respect for the traditions. We have someone who keeps tabs on the literature rack and lets the GSR or secretary know when we need more. We have someone else who keeps inventory on the coins. Of course, we have key holders and coffee makers and a chair, but many meetings dispense with a greeter, someone to shake hands as folks come through the door. That's an excellent job for a newcomer. They get to meet people and feel part of our home group family. Someone is in charge of supplies, in charge of making sure the coffee cans for cigarette butts are utilized, that the books and readings are picked up after the meeting and that nothing is left on the floor. Those things are all integral to keeping a meeting running smoothly and making sure we are welcomed at our meeting places. We also maintain a temporary sponsorship list and make sure names & numbers are collected for newcomers. We give rides. We take phone calls at 4am.

On a public information level, we adopt literature racks in the community. We check them regularly and make sure they're full. We set up tables at health fairs and make available relevant PI literature. Our district CPC/PI chair calls on home groups for volunteers to speak at DUI meetings. Our district Corrections chair schedules volunteers to take meetings into the local jails. We really don't have local treatment facilities, but if we did, we'd be sending folks there, too.

We talk about these things in discussion meetings and the relevancy of service to personal recovery. If one is thinking about someone else, or following through on a commitment, it's really hard to slip into the "poor me's" that I hear often proceed that first drink.

Good topic. I hope it takes off.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[sugErspun]

I think the greatest service is sitting down with someone who may be confused with the nature of their condition, talking to them.

One alcoholic talking to another is where it all starts - the foundation if you will.

In my area, and definitely of my opinion - those meetings which stress service to the group more than they stress sitting down with the newcomer and carrying the message to those who cannot get out to it (institutions) - those meetings are unattractive to me.

My home group - on any given meeting day - will have 10-15 cars in the parking lot an hour before the meeting, with one member reading the book with a newcomer. The topic at the meetings often is along the lines of "How am I giving away what I was so freely given?"

I love that group.

[RufusACanal]

It would be especially worthwhile if my Home Group revisited member experiences on individual 12 Step call work through discussion of best practices; I will suggest it this next week. If I am recovered, I have a responsibility to reach out to other active alcoholics who need my help, though I believe the Group is working the 12th Step by being in existence. Adding my name to the call lists at the Central Office, going to Detoxes and hospitals as well as passing my card to anyone who comes in contact with those in need of help is my way of being available to others. 12th Step work is the members individual responsibility for the new life given to them.

[Rob B]

My journey into recovery started with a caring individual's 12th step, I was on step zero.

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs"

I love this step for several reasons.
First it gives me a promise, I will have a spiritual experience and it tells me how and why. This has happened to me, I have recovered from alcoholism, not to be confused with cured.

Second: It gives me my marching orders, carry the message to alcoholics.Being a paperboy for God was not my 1st occupation choice growing up, however the pay is sweet, I get to live and be reasonably happy and feel useful, not a bad deal.

Third: It tells me to practice these principles in all my affairs, implying that I will always have room to grow. None of us has this deal mastered, my behavior at times clearly indicates this.

Good thread, the realm of the Spirit is always a good topic.

[nandm]

Originally Posted by Sugah

Home group level service is the most important service in AA, IMO. Sure, we need district/area level service, but that's so the home group can focus on the most important thing: carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

Thank you. That is where it starts. I have found that many people claim to have a home group who only show up once a year to pop in, get a cake, get a coin, preach and then they are gone for a year. I think that is where I get the most frustrated is people who make the rounds at birthday time but are never there any other time to give back, they just to come in when they have the opportunity for it to be about them.

I was taught that the home group is the base for the 12th Step. It is where I can greet a newcomer, give them a Big Book, answer their questions, etc... It is where I can learn about giving back what I have been given. If I am not there to support my home group by attending the business meetings being an active participant in service work for my group then I am not as effective with my 12th Step. Giving back is being there to make sure that the doors are open, carry the message, and help the newcomer to feel welcome and give them hope.

Thank you for the topic. It is a good one

[Tazman53]

You know I have seen an awful lot of successful 12th step work done right here at SR. In my area we have step study meetings and every 12th meeting unless a newcomer comes to the meeting the 12th step is covered, we also carry the message to the jails, prisons and rehabs in our area.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

One of my favorite reads in the Big Book hear Bill W. talk about the light shining thru his window.

That's why it's so important for the people with long term sobriety to stay around for the newcomer.

I used to notice the serenity in the people that'd been sober for a while. I fianlly can realize, I've developed it in myself.

There's a great reward in watching someone new in the program turn their lives around.

I'm glad, I stuck around for the miracle.

[CAPTAINZING2000]

btw


do you have open meetings to bring the topic up?

[REZ]

There are many ways of doing 12step work. I have done the thing where you go into hospitals or institutions. I think that is important, but not as important as other types of service, such as: talking to newcomers, making them feel welcome, sponsoring people, chairing meetings, opening up meetings, or holding a service position, such as secretary, treasurer, etc.

[jimhere]

Originally Posted by sugErspun

I think the greatest service is sitting down with someone who may be confused with the nature of their condition, talking to them.

One alcoholic talking to another is where it all starts - the foundation if you will.

In my area, and definitely of my opinion - those meetings which stress service to the group more than they stress sitting down with the newcomer and carrying the message to those who cannot get out to it (institutions) - those meetings are unattractive to me.

My home group - on any given meeting day - will have 10-15 cars in the parking lot an hour before the meeting, with one member reading the book with a newcomer. The topic at the meetings often is along the lines of "How am I giving away what I was so freely given?"

I love that group.

My experience echoes both sugEr's and Rob's. My home group is a lot like sugEr's. As for service, I concur that the greatest service I can perform is to lead another alcoholic through the steps to God. All of our other services should make that possible and set the stage for that. Too often we mistake activity for action and fall into the trap that service is recovery, when in fact it is the other way around. True service is the result of an awakened spirit. Faith without works is dead, but works without faith is dead as well.

In my belief, anyone who hasn't had an experience with the first eleven steps shouldn't be sponsoring others. It is a spiritual law that you can transmit what you have as well as what you don;t have. If I haven't written an inventory, the people I sponsor won't either. If I haven't finished every amend I'm consciously aware of, the people I sponsor won't either. It is also real easy to get way involved with service and working with others and use the work to avoid the work.

But when I am actively engaged in the rigouros disciplines on Steps 10 & 11, after I've surrendered in the first nine steps and cleared away what gets in the way, then I have something to give away-a spiritual experience. There is a New Testament saying: "By it's fruits it shall be made known." When I can live in 10 & 11, 12 happens.
Jim

[Signal30]

In my opinion beginners meetings are kinda 12 step meetings. Expierenced AA members are usually there to assist the newcomer with the first step, sponsorship, info about or disease etc.

Tom

[bballdad]

tks for the sharing of experience everyone