What Is An Informed Group Conscience?

Use as you might see fit...

"The group conscience is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive action is taken. This is achieved by the group members through the sharing of full information, individual points of view, and the practice of A.A, principles. To be fully informed requires a willingness to listen to minority opinions with an open mind.


On sensitive issues, the group works slowly - discouraging formal motions until a clear sense of its collective view emerges. Placing principles before personalities, the membership is wary of dominant opinions. Its voice is heard when a well-informed group arrives at a decision. The result rests on more than a "yes" or "no" count - precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience. The term "informed group conscience" implies that pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the group votes."

I especially enjoy reading "wary of dominant opinions..."

It'll Be Different This Time - I Swear!

"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink."

I could ask what is so challenging about that statement but I know. Even I didn't understand that this means I am doomed to take the next drink... unless

"Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink."

Unless I get help. Alcoholics Anonymous has given me that help.

I Want To Pay Attention To This

Bob Pearson at the 1986 General Service Conference (found at Facebook)...

I echo those who feel that if this Fellowship ever falters or fails, it will not be because of any outside cause. No, it will not be because of treatment centers or professionals in the field, or non-Conference-approved literature, or young people, or the dually-addicted, or even the "druggies" trying to come to our closed meetings. If we stick close to our Traditions, Concepts, and Warranties, and if we keep an open mind and an open heart, we can deal with these and any other problems that we have or ever will have. If we ever falter and fail, it will be simply because of us. It will be because we can't control our own egos or get along well enough with each other. It will be because we have too much fear and rigidity and not enough trust and common sense.

If you were to ask me what is the greatest danger facing A.A. today, I would have to answer: the growing rigidity -- the increasing demand for absolute answers to nit-picking questions; pressure for G.S.O. to "enforce" our Traditions; screening alcoholics at closed meetings; prohibiting non-Conference-approved literature, i.e., "banning books"; laying more and more rules on groups and members. And in this trend toward rigidity, we are drifting farther and farther away from our co- founders. Bill, in particular, must be spinning in his grave, for he was perhaps the most permissive person I ever met. One of his favorite sayings was, "Every group has the right to be wrong." He was maddeningly tolerant of his critics, and he had absolute faith that faults in A.A. were self-correcting.

And I believe this, too, so in the final analysis we're not going to fall apart. We won't falter or fail. At the 1970 International Convention in Miami, I was in the audience on that Sunday morning when Bill made his brief last public appearance. He was too ill to take his scheduled part in any other convention event, but now, unannounced, on Sunday morning, he was wheeled up from the back of the stage in a wheelchair, attached with tubes to an oxygen tank. Wearing a ridiculous bright-orange, host committee blazer, he heaved his angular body to his feet and grasped the podium -- and all pandemonium broke loose. I thought the thunderous applause and cheering would never stop, tears streaming down every cheek. Finally, in a firm voice, like his old self, Bill spoke a few gracious sentences about the huge crowd, the outpouring of love, and the many overseas members there, ending (as I remember) with these words: "As I look over this crowd, I know that Alcoholics Anonymous will live a thousand years -- if it is God's will."

I can be waaaaay too rigid!

[btw - Micky, you complete a-hole, I am not gay but that doesn't mean I judge those who are. Not like you, you anti-Christ nothing.]

2010 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous

For any of my friends out there who might not know... (no, not you Steve E., you know, lol)

Here's the link to the info at AA.org

And here's an excerpt from that site;

"The 2010 International Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous will be held July 1-4 in San Antonio, Texas with the theme “A Vision for You.” A.A. members and guests from around the world will celebrate A.A.’s 75th year at this event with big meetings held Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning in the Alamodome. Other meetings, scheduled or informal, will take place throughout the weekend in the San Antonio Convention Center and local hotels."

And... this is important...

"Convention registration and housing reservations will open in fall 2009."

Hope to see y'all there!

Some of My Best Friends Are...

IMPO - this can sometimes be the beginning of a statement that may have some prejudice behind it. I'm using it anyway :)

I imagine there will always be some level of discussion within the rooms of AA over addicts in meetings. Some of my best friends are recovering drug addicts!

There, I said it...

Now, I passionately believe in singleness of purpose. And I believe in suggesting to our legal system they use more common sense when they mandate folks to AA. I also feel NA comes on a bit harshly when dealing with alkies in NA meetings.

Hey, I can have opinions and feelings galore - and what difference would they make? Why? Because we've already dealt with this within our literature. This certainly appears to be a solution that works under any and all circumstances;

"What would the Master do?"

Kudos to those who know where this originates...

The Foundation Principle

From the second paragraph in Step Seven in the 12&12, page 70;

"Indeed, the attainment of greater humility is the foundation principle of each of A.A.'s Twelve Steps. For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all."

Somehow, that's not complete...

"Nearly all A.A.'s have found, too, that unless they develop much more of this precious quality than may be required just for sobriety, they still haven't much chance of becoming truly happy."

Wait, there's more...

"Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency."

When the rubber hits the road... when reality bites you in the a**... this foundation is absolutely necessary.

You Never Know

You never know when you might be sponsoring your sponsor.

Yes, when I first heard that I thought "what the hey?" Then I saw it happen and I knew.

Moving forward...

Perhaps it was a newcomers' perception though, after a year, most of the fog ought to have lifted. And, perhaps it is what it was... I don't know. Of course the words and the statement themselves bear a quick look.

"I will always be the teacher and you will always be the student!" Said forcefully according to the person who related it to us.

Well, if indeed you have said anything like that to your sponsees (pigeons, whatever), I have this for you - "Oh Hell NO!!!"

G.roup O.f D.runks?

More that I can identify with from "Came To Believe."

Pgs. 86-87;

"It took some time for my guides to get me to talk to God through prayer. Before then, I used the Fellowship of A.A. and the people in it as my higher power. They were real, compassionate, and understanding, and they made me feel welcome. But my distorted sense of justice told me there was no reason for God to forgive me, so I still felt ashamed and guilty when His name was mentioned."

And... distorted I was, along with ashamed and guilty. In following years came;

"I had to have something bigger to tie to. The Fellowship as a higher power just was not enough."

Now, many years later, another truth has emerged for the same reasons.

"I have developed an enormous faith in God. He is good. My understanding is that everything He sends my way is for my benefit. But the growth of this understanding has taken time, as well as a relinquishing of my resistance to change. I needed the trials and tribulations I have had, so that I could surrender and give up self. Only in complete acceptance of the utter defeat of my pride and ego could I begin to win."

As Fr. Tom might say - this is one that has yet to make the longest trip there is - the twelve inches from my brain to my heart...

Tell My Blood

From "Came To Believe" page 73;

"I don't believe in condemning people. I have never condemned you, and the day I do will be the day I die. Condemnation is for people who are so small that they put other people down to make themselves feel big."

My God forgives me...

4th Step Resentment Prayer

Cool - I joined Facebook this weekend and have already discovered something of value there to pass on here...

Dave M. writes (or copies and pastes, I can't tell);

4th Step Resentment Prayer

"God, Please help me to be free of anger and to see that the world and its people have dominated me. Show me that the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, has the power to actually kill me. Help me to master my resentments by understanding that the people who wrong me were perhaps spiritually sick. Please help me show those I resent the same Tolerance, Pity and Patience that I would cheerfully grant a sick friend. Help me to see that this is a sick man. Father, please show me how I can be helpful to him and save me from being angry. Lord, help me to avoid retaliation or argument. I know I can’t be helpful to all people, but at least show me how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one. Thy will be done."

This has been derived from pages 66 and 67 in the Big Blue Book.

The Next Right Thing?

Why... oh why... do we tell newcomers to just do the next right thing and then unleash them upon the world?

Our literature tells us on Page 87, paragraph 1: "Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas."

Thought - how many newcomers do I know who've actually made a conscious contact with whatever God they understand? I sit in a noon meeting where we often begin by introducing ourselves with our sobriety date and better than 3/4 of forty odd folks have less than a year of not drinking, somewhat quality dry and sober time. Later on, during the sharing, perhaps half pass - more pass when the topic is a Step.

And we have the audacity to tell them "just do the next right thing?"

If any of us were able to do the next right thing don't we think that would have been to not pick up the next drink of alcohol continuing to destroy those we love? Certainly that would have been the next right thing!

Powerlessness. I've lost the power of choice when it comes to drinking alcohol. When it comes to drinking alcohol I'm incapable of doing "the next right thing!" Why do we think these new folks are different?

Or is it our need to sound good and sound profound that drives this insanity?

I Am Your Disease

Because today a young and promising life was sadly snuffed out... by alcohol.

I AM YOUR DISEASE

I hate meetings.
I hate Higher Power.
I hate anyone who has a Twelve Step program.
To all who come in contact with me,
I wish you death and I wish you suffering.
Allow me to introduce myself.
I am the Disease of Alcoholism.
Cunning, baffling, and Powerful.
That’s me.

I have killed millions, and I am pleased.
I love to catch you with the element of surprise.
I love pretending I am your friend and lover.
I have given you comfort, have I not?
Wasn’t I there when you were lonely?
When you wanted to die, didn’t you call me?
I was there. I love to make you hurt.
I love to make you cry.
Better yet, I love when I make you so numb you can neither hurt nor cry.
You can’t feel anything at all.
This is true Glory.

I will give you instant gratification and all I ask of you is long term suffering.
I’ve always been there for you.
When things were going right in your life, you invited me.
You said you didn’t deserve these good things and I was the only one who would agree with you.
Together we were able to destroy all the things good in your life.

People don’t take me seriously.
They take strokes seriously, heart attacks, even diabetes they take seriously-fools that they are.
They don’t know that without my help, these things would not be made possible.
I am such a hated disease.
And yet, I do not come uninvited.
You choose to have me.
So many have chosen me over reality and peace.

More than you hate me,
I hate all of you who have a 12 step program.
Your program, your meeting, your higher power:
All weaken me and I can’t function in the manner I am accustomed to.

Now I must lie here quietly.
You don’t see me.
But I am growing, bigger than ever.
WHEN YOU ONLY EXIST, I MAY LIVE.
WHEN YOU LIVE, I ONLY EXIST.
But I am here.
Until we meet again,
If we meet again,
“I WISH YOU DEATH
AND I WISH YOU SUFFERING” !!

Anonymous

Who's Suffering?

Continuing to follow through on yesterday...

"If we lean too heavily on people, they will sooner or later fail us, for they are human, too, and cannot possibly meet our incessant demands."

Oh yes, we are constantly demanding in one form or another...

"In this way our insecurity grows and festers. When we habitually try to manipulate others to our own willful desires, they revolt, and resist us heavily."

Yes, manipulation became a habit even if we don't want to admit it...

"Then we develop hurt feelings, a sense of persecution, and a desire to retaliate. As we redouble our efforts at control, and continue to fail, our suffering becomes acute and constant."

Again, we have placed ourselves in a position to be hurt by our words and deeds. Plus, we go whining and blaming others for our sorry situations. "Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink." We're right back where we began...

Twisted Relations - Egomania

From the Fourth Step in the 12&12 on page 53;

"But it is from our twisted relations with family, friends, and society at large that many of us have suffered the most. We have been especially stupid and stubborn about them. The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being. Our egomania digs two disastrous pitfalls. Either we insist upon dominating the people we know, or we depend upon them far too much."

Thank God for an insightful and experienced sponsor! This part of our literature was true of him and he was able to pass this truth along to me with certainty.

April - Alcohol Awareness Month

And my first thought runs "every month ought to be..."

How do you feel when you read these online?

From the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

When many people think of alcohol abusers, they picture teenagers sneaking drinks before high school football games or at unsupervised parties. However, alcohol abuse is prevalent within many demographic groups in the United States. People who abuse alcohol can be:

* College students who binge drink at local bars.
* Pregnant women who drink and put their babies at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome.
* Professionals who drink after a long day of work.
* Senior citizens who drink out of loneliness.

Or, from eHow.com;

How to Celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month

Alcohol awareness month is a great opportunity to show support for recovering alcoholics and raise awareness for alcohol safety. There are many ways to celebrate alcohol awareness month, some of the most rewarding and fruitful ways are within a school system through education about alcohol and its possible dangers. Follow some steps to help you celebrate alcohol awareness month and keep the spirit of the month alive and vital.

"Step Two" - Start doing some reading on new alcohol related information. Attend a seminar or class on awareness to stay current on information; visit an AA or ALANON meeting to connect with the population most affected by alcohol.

I had thought an alcohol abuser was someone in an old, tattered, dirty raincoat in an alley with cuts on their face. Today I know quite differently.

Celebrate? I don't know about "Celebrate" but I am curious about the suggestion for anyone to come and visit us in a meeting for the sake of connecting...

Who To Trust?

A sponsee came to me tonight with an extremely difficult personal situation. I mean really, very, very, challenging. We spoke through what we needed to speak through then right before we parted he posed the question of trust. Not sure who to trust because the violation occurred within.

From page 68;

"For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity."

Simple eh? :~)

Significant April Dates in A.A. History

Significant April Dates in A.A. History

April 1935 - Dr. Silkworth told Bill to quit preaching at drunks & tell them of obsession & allergy.
April 1950 - Saturday Evening Post article "The Drunkard's Best Friend" by Jack Alexander.
April 1958 - The word "honest" dropped from AA Preamble, "an honest desire to stop drinking".
April 1966 - Change in ratio of trustees of the General Service Board; now two thirds (majority) are alcoholic.
April 1970 - GSO moved to 468 Park Ave. South, NYC.
April 1, 1939 - Publication date of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA's Big Book.
April 1, 1940 - Larry J. of Houston, wrote "The Texas Prayer", used to open AA meetings in Texas.
April 1, 1966 - Sister Ignatia died.
April 2, 1966 - Harry Tiebout, M.D. died.
April 3, 1941 - First AA meeting held in Florida.
April 3, 1960 - Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J., died. He was Bill W's "spiritual sponsor."
April 7, 1941 - Ruth Hock reported there were 1,500 letters asking for help as a result of the Saturday Evening Post Article by Jack Alexander.
April 10, 1939 - The first ten copies of the Big Book arrived at the office Bill and Hank P shared.
April 11, 1938 - The Alcoholic Foundation formed as a trusteeship for A.A. (sometimes reported as May 1938)
April 11, 1941 - Bill and Lois finally found a home, Stepping Stones in New Bedford.
April 16, 1940 - A sober Rollie H. catches the only opening day no-hitter in baseball history since 1909.
April 16, 1973 - Dr. Jack Norris presented President Nixon with the one millionth copy of the Big Book.
April 19, 1940 - The first AA group in Little Rock, Arkansas, was formed. First 'mail order' group.
April 19, 1941 - The first AA group in the State of Washington was formed in Seattle.
April 22, 1940 - Bill and Hank transfer their Works Publishing stock to the Alcoholic Foundation.
April 23, 1940 - Dr. Bob wrote the Trustees to refuse Big Book royalties, but Bill W insisted that Dr. Bob and Anne receive them.
April 24, 1940 - The first AA pamphlet, "AA", was published.
April 24, 1989 - Dr. Leonard Strong died.
April 25, 1939 - Morgan R interviewed on Gabriel Heatter radio show.
April 25, 1951 - AA's first General Service Conference was held.
April 26 or May 1, 1939 - Bank forecloses on 182 Clinton Street.
April 30, 1989 - Film "My Name is Bill W." a Hallmark presentation was broadcast on ABC TV.

[Glenn C. laboriously gathered these dates in his research a long time ago and it is to his immense credit I reproduce them. (No thanks to bsmedia)]

I Don't Feel Like It

Do you ever just get the feeling you simply don't want to write anything today? I do...

Yeah, I know it's April Fool's Day. I sure don't feel like writing one of "those." And, yes, it's the beginning of the Fourth month therefore we'll focus on the Fourth Step this month. All the Daily Reflections will either be about the Fourth Step or the Fourth Tradition.

Then, when we have the inevitable moment of silence at the beginning of our meetings after a topic is requested and none is offered we'll either have a "can you bottom this?" First Step meeting or a Fourth Step meeting within which we'll hear "pass," "pass," and more "I'll pass." Because so few are working a Fourth Step with a sponsor and so many have court papers and want out asap.

Man, we saw a stack of court papers that had to be at least two inches thick last Monday. I sure wish Judge B. would start mandating addicts to NA rather than AA.

Oh well, so much for not feeling like writing anything...