Putting it all out there.....

[Tazman53]

Okay the reason I asked the question about the group conscience is die to this beginners group I go to. This is a huge meeting for my area, usually 50-60 people, about half of them are newcomers, many of them I see as lost, they are grasping at straws that for the most part are not there.

The focus of this meeting is steps 1-3, there are things I would love to see changed for the good of the newcomer, I have decided to make this my new home group, I plan on still attending my old home groups meetings and still making coffee there, but wanted to try and make a difference for the newcomers at this meeting.

They never mention anything about a group conscience and I have been going to this meeting for over a year so I feel my hands are tied in a way.

I have asked folks that have been going to this meeting longer then me who is in the home group? No one knows any one in the home group!!!!

Things I would like to see changed in this meeting for newcomers is the following:

1. Inviting folks to become home group members of that meeting.

2. As part of the beginning of each meeting asking anyone willing to be a temporary sponsor to raise thier hands to where newcomers seeking a sponsor will know who is available.

3. Having a monthly group conscience.

4. Providing a BB & a 12X12 to newcomers who want one.

Am I going overboard on this? I just see so little that is being done at this meeting that could be the life line a newcomer needs.

I am open to any critisism or suggestions on this matter, this has bugged me for quite a while.

[RufusACanal]

Good stuff Taz. What you are suggesting is action. My Home Group waits till the end of the meeting to invite Temporary Sponsors to sign the book for new folks and for new folks to go thorugh the same book to find a Sponsor. We encourage Home Group membership after every meeting as well; never hurts to promote the welfare of the Group. I provide the small carry around Big Books that I purchased some years ago from Anonymous Press; the Twelve and Twelve I allow others to purchase. Group Conscience meetings are the anchor for any group. Informal, informative and coherent, GC meetings connect the group to provide the best service to all.

[Tazman53]

Thanks Rufus, this meeting is tonight and I am in a quandry as to how to ask for a GC? One is NEVER mentioned!! Perhaps I should simply request one after the meeting?

[RufusACanal]

Just an idea, I would suggest the suggestion that a GC is needed and then see if folks are willing to schedule time.

[Tazman53]

Well I am just going to have to pray for the guidance and strength to do the right thing, I have had this fear of stepping on toes and have tried to find even one person who is a home group member there, it is like the meeting has been running on auto-pilot for years with no direction except they discuss steps 1-3.

[Emimily]

at my home group (and just about every single meeting i go to), there's a pause to discuss AA business. why not take that pause to mention that you'd like to have a group conscience with the home group members next week, or something? i wouldn't call one the day of because sometimes people can't make it the same day. my home group meets at 8 p.m., and our group conscience only lasted 45 minutes last night! it was amazing. shortest one ever. absolutely fabulous.

[Barto]

Have a group conscious to have a group conscious (among the other things).

[NOMOMERLOTMAMMA]

Taz,

I would bring it up in the meeting, just throw it out there. Possibly, you aren't the only person wondering about this.

Your ideas sound very good to me!

[GlassPrisoner]

Taz, see my post in the other thread.

What you are referring to is what we call a Business Metting. Normally, we announce a business meeting 3 weeks prior to the actual meeting, so anyone who wants to chime in can attend.

Some groups have scheduled meetings (Once a month, or quarter) while others are on demand or as needed.

A group conscience, on the other hand, is (to me) a informal "vote" on something along the lines of who makes cofee, etc., which is done impromptu.

[sugErspun]

We have a business meeting once per month. Group conscious has been called during a meeting before, but typically it is brought up at the business meeting.

I was actually at a meeting one time where they stopped the meeting to have a group conscious right there during the meeting in the form of a vote - unreal. The newcomers had no idea what was going on and the chair got an earful afterwards....

[Carol87]

Perhaps the format is different for the simple reason is IS a newcomer's meeting with a high rate of turnover as newcomers feel more comfortable at a 'regular' meeting? Do the newcomers far outweigh the members with significant sobriety? Who chairs the meetings? Newcomers or routinely by members who have worked the steps and have ESH to share?

Just rambling thoughts ....

[ananda]

We had a group concious only once during a meeting. That was when someone's family was taking pictures of their family member getting a chip (and other pictures too).

It was handled smoothly with the group and the family didn't end up feeling bad (I don't think). It took about 1 and 1/2 minites.

Generally we save things for our business meetings once a month.

Carol brought ups some thoughts I had as well.

[NoelleR]

I'm with GP on this -- but then I got sober at a gay AA center, where there were/are 50-60 meetings a week.....one becomes a member of the center (which would be like Home Group Membership), but I always had my own fave meeting...the one where I got sober (mebbe a mini-home-group...? lol)

There were monthly business meetings for the center (only members allowed to vote); things being discussed that affected all the small group meetings (as a whole), but group consciences were always held at the specific meeting, as they were all distinct, one from the other

....and sugarEspun....I can see your point...re:group-conscience being held at the business meeting level.........but there can, and are, valid reasons for having one at the regular meeting level (even in the middle of the meeting).....the meeting I got sober at was a womens meeting (no men), and at the time, there were no others meetings available....close-by; when a man came in, in obvious need of a meeting, a group conscience was held to open the meeting, for that night only, to men, so as to help that individual.....and if explained well, even newcomers should understand the need for group-consciences (plus it's a good edcational/informative tool for them).......at any time.

Hey ananda....good reason for a gc; since the tradition states anonymity at level of press...and one can't tell if a person with a camera is or isn't 'press' it's always a good rule-of-thumb to state 'no cameras.' After saying that, our monthly meetings used to have a person who took pictures of the celebrants while standing at the podium.....always made me feel important....kinda like the Pres giving a state-of-the-union report (but only my 'state' lol), and he would give prints to the celebrants a week or so later; to me that was nice service-work..........I still have mine......... (o:

.....and Taz....goodonya.....I feel most of your ideas are good....and I wouldn't hesitate to bring them to athe group's attention....what's the worst that could happen.....? lol keep on keepin' on


NoelleR

[Barto]

Originally Posted by NoelleR

I'm with GP on this -- but then I got sober at a gay AA center, where there were/are 50-60 meetings a week.....one becomes a member of the center (which would be like Home Group Membership), but I always had my own fave meeting...the one where I got sober (mebbe a mini-home-group...? lol)

There were monthly business meetings for the center (only members allowed to vote); things being discussed that affected all the small group meetings (as a whole), but group consciences were always held at the specific meeting, as they were all distinct, one from the other

....and sugarEspun....I can see your point...re:group-conscience being held at the business meeting level.........but there can, and are, valid reasons for having one at the regular meeting level (even in the middle of the meeting).....the meeting I got sober at was a womens meeting (no men), and at the time, there were no others meetings available....close-by; when a man came in, in obvious need of a meeting, a group conscience was held to open the meeting, for that night only, to men, so as to help that individual.....and if explained well, even newcomers should understand the need for group-consciences (plus it's a good edcational/informative tool for them).......at any time.

Hey ananda....good reason for a gc; since the tradition states anonymity at level of press...and one can't tell if a person with a camera is or isn't 'press' it's always a good rule-of-thumb to state 'no cameras.' After saying that, our monthly meetings used to have a person who took pictures of the celebrants while standing at the podium.....always made me feel important....kinda like the Pres giving a state-of-the-union report (but only my 'state' lol), and he would give prints to the celebrants a week or so later; to me that was nice service-work..........I still have mine......... (o:

.....and Taz....goodonya.....I feel most of your ideas are good....and I wouldn't hesitate to bring them to athe group's attention....what's the worst that could happen.....? lol keep on keepin' on


NoelleR

Hey, what about me? LOL.

[Emimily]

there's my post! i thought it went missing... wrong thread.

[NoelleR]

Must be my 'sometimers' kickin' in.....lol thx for the reminder.........

Just know this Barto........you're always in my heart.......although my conscience may not let me say some things at some times....hmmmmm lol

[Barto]

Originally Posted by NoelleR

Must be my 'sometimers' kickin' in.....lol thx for the reminder.........

Just know this Barto........you're always in my heart.......although my conscience may not let me say some things at some times....hmmmmm lol

Whew, for a moment there I was feeling left out. LOL.

[tiburon88]

I think giving a Big Book and/or 12 and 12 to the newcomer is a good idea. Sometimes newcomers cannot afford the cost of the Big Book.

[ananda]

I am trying to make a habit of giving a BB to any newcomer. But to some extent that will depend on my budget. We don't have so many that it's overwhelming. Our groups use to do it, but since I came back I noticed they don't seem to be doing it anymore.

[barb dwyer]

Find the GSR for that group ... and ask them.

I agree that a business meeting is probably the place to be with that one - when You've a grou that's almost all newcomers - they're so focused on getting through .. tonight .. they don't really SHOW UP at other meetings that relate to 'their' group.

Our group had an 'burning desires' spot at the end of the meeting and that's when you'd ask stuff like who the GSR was ... or the GSR announces the monthly business meeting. Someone will know.

The group I was GSR for - was exactly like this group you're describing.

IT was 'barely' structured ...
meaning as far as working steps and stuff like that -
and that was for a reason ...
because the majority of people in that group ...
were doing everything they could ..
just to get through the NIGHT,
much less anything much more than that.

Business meetings were quarterly.

Groups like that -
are where you master your First step story,
12th (-sp) and Fifth step.

That group met nightly -
Tues were BB study
Thurs was 12X12.

Other than that - the structure was ...mostly COPING.
And I mean - just basic day to day sober COPING.

People like us Taz - like you and me - go to that meeting to show 'what it looks like' ... not to lay out reality for these people.
It's a LOT of saying the same thing, over and over, for every new group let out of jail, or just getting fined, or just finding themselves attending an AA
Start laying a lot of 'should's' "this way is the only AA way's"
and all that on people still this poisoned .... and ....
You're gonna run more off by trying to make them 'do' stuff...
than you'll inspire to move forward.

Just my experience with it.
But man o man - when you see one 'get it'...
it's the BOMB!
meeting for the first time.

The focus I tried to keep with that group-
Helping peeps find a sponsor.
Giving them a BB.
Listening.
Guiding them to other groups ...
as they cleaned up and got ready.

When it's as RAW ... as it was in that group -
you simply couldn't ASK too much structure of these people.
It was basically a continual detox ... for 50 peeps at a time.

An INTENSE group ... but rewarding as all get out also.

Just something to keep in mind.

[barb dwyer]

oh - forgot -

while a Group Conscience ... can be asked for my anyone - only a Servant of the Group can schedule it and announce the date.

The GSR, Secretary and Treasurer.... have to get together and schedule it. That does NOT necessarily require a business meeting to do. A vote can be taken in house for like a week and see if it's something they want to do.

Then they will take that 'AA realted Announcements' part of each meeting for like a weeek - so everyone will know when it is going to be.

[barb dwyer]

YOu can stop a meeting getting out of hand or something and ask for a meeting group conscience - but as far as the organised kind I *think* you're asking for - that (in the group I was in) was a scheduled thing.

[Tazman53]

Thanks Barb, this newcomers group has a care of Oldtimers/midtimers (Is that a word?LOL) and for many is like a revolving door, but there are folks who are getting it, I really feel that with just some minor changes more would get it.

A GSR is supposed to be elected from the home group, yet I have the present GSR for that group asking me about me becoming the GSR!!!!!??????

[barb dwyer]

they're probably burnt out !

happens really fast in a group like that.

the group *I* was GSR for (notice I say WAS) was impossible to organize.

believe me. I'm GOOD at it. (organizing stuff like that)
and I have NEVER ..
met more resistance to change than when trying to serve that group.
I at least got them handing out books again (they'd stopped) and got them ordering pamphlets.
You're find that pamphlets are going to be your hottest item.
peeps don't want to come right out and ASK stuff when they're that new.

but make all the info you can - available to them.

I strongly recommend not going in and trying to change anything at first.

get the twelve concepts ...
and learn about the GSR position first.

[Tazman53]

get the twelve concepts ...
and learn about the GSR position first.

Already printed them out, just waiting for the guy to get back with me. In regards to change there are only 2 I think would help the newcomers the most, I being asking at the beginning of every meeting for thos willing to be tmporary sponors to hold up their hands to where new comers would know who they could ask without being rejected and free BBs to newcomers. I know this group can easily afford the literature.