Group Inventory

[sugarbear1]

I just thought I'd add this.

It's almost that time of year when my home group (Wednesday meeting at 7:30 p.m.) holds it's Annual Group Inventory. We're having a Happy Hour Breakfast and Fellowship at 8-9 a.m. on the 30th, then our members will have the inventory.

We're putting our Group Conscience on paper this time (we hadn't done this yet and it's about time to have it handy at each meeting) and we have a few more items to discuss along with the actual Inventory. We often have other people present to observe so they can learn something (!?!) and take it back to their home group (they haven't taken a group inventory before now). I chose not to be present last year, it wasn't yet my home group, although I was invited (still new, very tired, very lazy, probably still fearful then).

Not sure what I'm seeking. Pre-employment papers were gone over with sponsor and then a big book study tonight. Just need to pass the physical and work will begin on the 25th. I don't think my HP got me this far to drop me from the work I am so good at. Sponsor and spouse are picking up their new Lexus GS450h tomorrow. Apparently the color is a blue made only for this specific vehicle (I forget the name, some kind of cobalt steel blue?).

Hanging on SR and watching whatever is on antenna tv.....

Has your group done a Group Inventory?

[UpperbucksAAguy]

Group Inventory Format

Welcome to the "_______________________" group inventory. My name is

______ and I'm an alcoholic. Let's go around the room and introduce ourselves.

We will start by reading a passage from page 63 and 64 from the Big Book...

"Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which is a

personal housecleaning, which many of us had never attempted. Though our

decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at

once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves

which had been blocking us. Our liquor was but a symptom. So we had to get

down to causes and conditions. Therefore, we started upon a personal inventory."

Would you please join me in the Third Step prayer followed by 5 minutes of silence

for meditation. God, I offer myself to thee...

Would anyone who came in late please identify themselves...

Now is a good time to make any other announcements specific to your

group...

I will now read a paragraph on "Group Inventory" from the pamphlet "The AA

Group"

Many groups periodically hold a "group inventory meeting" to evaluate how well

they are fulfilling their primary purpose: to help alcoholics recover through A.A.'s

suggested Twelve Steps of recovery. Some groups take inventory by examining

our Twelve Traditions, one at a time, to determine how well they are living up to

these principles.

Groups interested in taking regular inventory will find a review of the Tenth Step

helpful. The following questions, compiled from A.A. shared experience, may be

useful in arriving at an informed group conscience.. Groups will probably wish to

add questions of their own."

Past inventories have shown us not to use this time to make motions and vote on

new issues, when we did, this process took weeks rather than a few hours. This

process is useful for arriving at an informed group conscience. We will individually

as well as assign someone from the group to take notes of what comes up and

bring those issues of importance to our regular business meetings. So no motions

for changes of our meeting will be presented during this inventory process. The

point will be continually stressed that this is not about business, it's about

discussion. Questions will be allowed to anyone, from anyone through-out the

inventory.

For new revisions go to The Jaywalker Twelve Step Site

Following questions quoted from the A.A. pamphlet “The

AA Group”

"The following questions, compiled from A.A. shared experience, may be useful in

arriving at an informed group conscience. Groups will probably wish to add

questions of their own:"

I will read each question out load for the groups consideration. Notes will be taken

of suggestions given by the group for considerations to bring up in the business

meeting (group conscious).

1. What is the basic purpose of the group?

2. What more can the group do to carry the message?

3. Is the group attracting alcoholics from different backgrounds? Are we seeing a

good cross-section of our community?

4. Do new members stick with us, or does the turnover seem excessive? If so,

why? What can we as a group do?

5. Do we emphasize the importance of sponsorship? How effectively? How can we

do better?

6. Are we careful to preserve the anonymity of our group members and other A.A.s

outside the meeting rooms? Do we also leave the confidences they share at

meetings behind?

7. Do we take the time to explain to all members the value to the group of keeping

up with the kitchen/housekeeping chores and other essential services that are partand-

parcel of our Twelfth Step efforts?

8. Are all members given the opportunity to speak at meetings and to participate in

other group activities?

9. Mindful that holding office is a great responsibility not to be viewed as the

outcome of a popularity contest, are we choosing our officers with care?

10. Are we doing all we can to provide an attractive meeting place?

11. Does the group do its fair share toward participating in the purpose of A.A. —

as it relates to our Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service?

12. What has the group done lately to bring the A.A. message to the attention of

professionals in the community—the physicians, clergy, court officials, educators,

and others who are often the first to see alcoholics in need of help?

13. How is the group fulfilling its responsibility to the Seventh Tradition?

Does anyone have any questions of your own to add for consideration?

For new revisions go to The Jaywalker Twelve Step Site

Is Our Group Aligned With The Twelve

Traditions?

From the pamphlet "The AA Group."

"Some groups take inventory by examining our Twelve Traditions, one at a time, to

determine how well they are living up to these principles."

The following questions were taken from the core of what is said in the Big Book

page 564 568 and the Twelve and Twelve. I will read the corresponding Tradition

out of the Big Book then the consideration. If you can answer yes to any of these it

is against the Twelve Traditions

One: Does our group put the interests of any individual above the welfare of the

group or of AA as a whole?

Two: Does our group do anything that misrepresents the conscience of the

majority of the group?

Three: Does our group exclude anyone with a drinking problem from attending the

group?

Four: Does our group do anything that does not conform to AA principles and

affect other groups or AA as a whole?

Five: Does our group do anything that conflicts with our carrying the AA message

to alcoholics who want a way out from their drinking problem?

Six: Does anything we do affiliate, endorse or bind the group, actual or implied, to

any related facility or outside enterprise?

Seven: Are donations received from anyone other than an AA member?

Eight: Are there any fees besides meeting expenses being charged for Twelve

Step work,

ie: fellowship, sponsoring, step work, counseling?

Nine: Is there a governing individual or exclusive group authority that dictates

organization?

Ten: Does our group do anything that publicly states an opinion or takes sides on

any issues or controversy outside of AA?

Eleven: At the general public level of press, radio, film, and television, does the

group publicize any individual AA member's name or picture as a self-appointed

representative of AA?

Twelve: Does our group give personal distinction to any AA member either among

fellow alcoholics or the general public that puts their opinions above the

conscience of the group or AA?

For new revisions go to The Jaywalker Twelve Step Site

THE GROUP TENTH STEP

INTO ACTION~CHAPTER 6

Taken from the Big Book of AA and the book "Big Book Awakening"

Quoted from the pamphlet "The AA Group"

"Groups interested in taking regular inventory will find a review of the Tenth Step

helpful."

I will now read the Big Book one paragraph at a time from pg.84 through pg.85 and

consider the following questions which have been compiled from the Big Book and

A.A. shared experience, taking notes of considerations for later discussion.

pg.84-¶2-L2

How have I focused on or blamed others in the group rather than to continue to

take personal inventory of my own conduct? Have I failed to set right any of my

own mistakes as I’ve gone along?

pg.84-¶2-L5

Have I entered the world of the Spirit, the ability to go to that place within and bring

that out into the group?

pg.84-¶2-L6

How have I lacked understanding and effectiveness in my group?

pg.84-¶2-L8

How have I exhibited selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear in my group?

And When these crop up, have I ignored them and just stayed in self instead of

discussing them with someone immediately and not made amends even if I have

harmed anyone? Have I focused my thoughts only on myself and how I can meet

my own needs?

pg.84-¶2-L14

How have I been unloving and intolerant towards others in my group and not made

Love and tolerance of others my code?

pg.84-¶3-L1

How have I personally continued fighting anything or anyone in the group?

pg.85-¶1-L1

How have I personally let up on my spiritual program of action and rested on my

laurels, believing that what has been achieved or accomplished in the group is

enough or all there is?

pg.85-¶1-L4

Have I failed to seek growth and maintenance of my spiritual condition? How has

that effected my group?

pg.85-¶1-L6

How have my thoughts or actions been self serving rather than trying to carry the

vision of God’s will into all of my groups activities, “How can I best serve Me?"

pg.85-¶2-L4

Have I personally sensed the flow of God’s Spirit in the group and To some extent

have I become God-conscious. Receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from

God through the group?

pg.85-¶2-L7 and pg.85-¶3-L1

To grow in understanding and effectiveness we must go further and that means

more action. In prayer and meditation consider what thoughts have come and what

actions may be taken to move the group beyond where it is today?

Final discussion on inventory:

This next part of the process is comparable to Steps 5&6, acknowledging out loud

the things we found objectionable in our inventory, the defects we have found (5),

and becoming ready to bring everything to God as manifested through our group

conscious (6). Experience has shown that failure to follow through with this at a

group level is comparable to not doing Step 6&7.

We will now discuss each item we've listed from our inventory. Remember, this is

about discussion, no motions will be made at this time. Following discussion on

each item we will vote whether or not it's necessary to bring it to our regular

business meetings (group concsious) for further consideration. If there are a lot of

things on our list we can vote by show of hands on their importance and bring them

to the group - most important first.

In closing the inventory:

Is there any Secretaries announcements?...

Thank you all for your participating in the group inventory.

Let's close with the Seventh Step Prayer..."My Creator, I am now willing ..."

[UpperbucksAAguy]

That is how my HOmegroup does it. We are over a year since our last one . We usually ask someone from another group ( preferably the DCM) come and facilitate