Area Elections

This October Area 83 will be having their elections for new Area Officers (Area chairs are elected at the December Area Meeting). Remind your district GSR's that they are an important part of this day, we need them. It is a long day but one where so often I have seen God's Will prevail. Our 3rd legacy voting procedures ensures that fair elections are held. Stay and see for yourself just how unique we are.

Did you read the General Service Conference Report ?

Conference reports were handed out at the last Area Meeting to the DCM's, for distribution to Districts and GSR's. Of particular interest to Self Support Chairs are 3 well written opinions on Self Support, on pages 23, 24 and 25. Including one by our own Delegate, Dot D. Is A.A. Self Supporting ? Read an opinion on page 23 ? Contempt prior to investigation ? Read some thoughts on page 24.

Step 12: 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.

We need time and money to carry this message, this is our 7th tradition, giving of our money and time to reach the still suffering alcoholic.

Just so you know

Did you know that some members of Alcoholics Anonymous give directly to GSO, through a monthly personal donation ? I didn't until recently when a member shared with me that she was giving money monthly to General Service Office. I was intrigued and called GSO to find out more details. I was told that currently they do accept monthly donations and that it is appreciated.

I asked how the donations were processed and was told that they do not automatic processing through visa or direct withdrawal (yet....) but if you are interested in contributing monthly to GSO you may send the 12 postdated cheques and they will cash them monthly.

Just another way to show your gratitude and help continue GSO's ability to carry the message to the still suffering Alcoholic.

Yours in Service,

Sheree N.
Area 83 International Self Support Chairperson

A Few Reminders

I will be participating in a Service Panel at the Brockville Service Day, September 13th, I will be having two speakers as well as an open discussion on Self Support. I have confirmed Brian MC of Ottawa as one of the speakers and I am still awaiting confirmation from the second speaker. Those of you close to Brockville could be a valuable asset during our open discussion on Self Support.


The next Area Meeting is Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. for directions or the address please email me.

Please support your Local Service Days and enjoy sobriety and the fellowship at these events.

Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Yours in Love and Service,

Sheree N
Area 83 Self Support Chairperson

Fall Elections

Fall Elections

“Our Twelfth Step - carrying the message - is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence.

Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven't been given the truth may die.

Hence, an A.A. service is anything whatever that helps us to reach a fellow sufferer ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.'s General Service Office for national and international action. The sum total of all these services is our Third Legacy of Service.”

Bill Wilson 1951

This fall Area 83 International as well as many of the groups and districts will be holding their elections for new service positions.

Our principle of rotation ensures that we never become experts in our position and allows new members opportunity to serve Alcoholics Anonymous.

Standing for, electing, and voting for these positions is an important part of giving back to Alcoholics Anonymous, and must be taken seriously.

It is the important to put “personalities before the principles” from our 12^th Tradition (12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.) when election and/or voting.

There are many things to consider when nominating and/or voting someone into a service position.

1) Do they want the position?

2) Do they have the capacity to fulfill the position?

3) Are they the right person for the position?

Unique to A.A. is our 3^rd Legacy voting procedures which can found in our Service Manual. While each group/district is autonomous, following these procedures can help ensure that “gods will” prevails in our elections.

Time and time again have I seen fairness prevail when 3^rd legacy voting procedures were followed.

Many groups/districts invite an active members from outside their group who knowledgeable on the traditions and/or concepts to facilitate their elections. This is a great idea.

It is a good idea to pass out copies of the 3^rd legacy voting procedures to your group/district to ensure that members are aware of the procedures this also gives newer member a chance to learn more about our spiritual voting procedures.

Please remember that the GSR is one of the most important roles in your group they are the final part of a communication link from our General Service Office. Without an active GSR your group may not be informed on what is happening in A.A. as a whole.

GSO→Area→District→Group (GSR is the link)

Remember to ensure that your GSR is eager to do the job and also has the capacity and time to perform the job. Enthusiasm is only half the job, the second half requires commitment, discipline and hard work.

Sheree Nicholson

Area 83 Self Support Chairperson

21 Things YOU can do to encourage Self Support at the Group Level.

1) Think about how much money you are giving in the 7th Tradition if you can give more do so. For example, if you have been sober awhile and you financial situation is better then when you were a new comer, but you are still giving a loonie or twoonie. Maybe you could give $5.00.

2) Attend business meetings and listen to your treasurer’s report, ensure that the splits are being sent.

3) Review your group’s prudent reserve; is it too much or too little?

4) Talk to your sponsees about the 7th tradition, its history and how it ties into their spiritual growth. If you are unsure on how to do this, give them the brochure. Self Support; Where money and Spirituality Mix. They can be ordered free from the General Service Office.

5) Practice love & tolerance at Business Meetings (Group, District & Area).

6) Carry the message from GSO to Area to District to Group, don’t be the broken link in the communication chain.

7) Bring a Friend to your next District Meeting.

8) Invite a District Self Support Chair to your next business meeting to help educate your newcomers to service.

9) Be informed? Read Box 459 and know what is happening at the General Service Office.

10) Read and understand the traditions and concepts and how they apply to your spiritual life.

11) Subscribe to Grapevine. Did you know the traditions were first introduced in the Grapevine? Many new ideas are. Pass read grapevines to newcomers.

12) Participate in the Birthday Giving Plan.

13) Make sure your group has Self Support Flyers on the bulletin board.

14) Be active and stay active, at any level of service.

15) Discuss the new Green Self Support Card at your business meeting.

16) Show a newcomer how to make coffee.

17) Nominate new people for service positions in your group.

18) Attend a Service Day in your District even if you have been to a lot of them, support the people putting on these days.

19) Attend a Delegates Report and carry this message back to your friends and sponsees,.

20) Show that gratitude is an action word.

21) Leave the fellowship money in your will (no more than $3,000.00 will be accepted).

Spring 2008 Assembly Update

Our 3rd Assembly (for this 2 year term) was one that had a lot of great debates and learning for our newcomers, while, it ran later than normal because of floor motions, the benefit was that many newcomers got to see the process in action. As both floor motions when defeated went back for discussion when the someone from the minority shared their view. F0r those of you newer to service one of the unique things about A.A. is that we give the minority side, the chance to share their opinion. After hearing the minority opinion if just one person who voted with the majority wishes to change his/her vote, we can vote to go back to discussion on the motion. This happened twice today.

Only in A.A. (that I know of) if is such loving tolerance extended.

Our Self Support Workshop was a skit about the story of Self Support. We also handed out worksheets asking for your opinion on the following topics.





1) Self Support; Contempt Prior to Investigation


2) Communications & Participation; The Key to Unity & Self Support.




We had a Self Support Meeting this morning with 9 in attendance. We had a discussion on the progress or sometimes lack of we felt we were making in the Districts. The general opinion was the lack of response from the groups.



Jim B. reported that he recruits "Self Support Champions", who are well respected members in his District that volunteer to do Self Support Presentations,.

Miles C. reported that contributions to the 7th tradition are up at his group since they began reading the Green Self Support Card, this has enabled his group to support other levels of A.A.

Jim A. reported that he has bought some subscriptions to Box 459 and that he is distributing these to groups that don't attend the District meeting.

We welcomed a new Alternate DCM/Self Support Chair from District O2 and listened to her sharing.

We discussed the theme Communication & Participation; The Key to Unity and Self Support.

My thanks to Miles C. Tom C, Joe A, and Jim A. for participating in the Self Support Skit Saturday afternoon, you guys did a great job and the skit was well received.

And as always my thanks to the District Self Support Chairs for their ideas, enthusiasm and support. It is not always a well received topic but remember , without money and service there is no Alcoholics Anonymous.,

Your in Service,

SN
Area 83 Self Support Chairperson,

March Self Support Tip

Dear Self Support Chairs,

Our Assembly is fast approaching; I look forward to connecting with you there. We will hold our usual meeting Sunday morning above the Atrium. At which time will continue our discussion on “moving forward”, as presented by Jim B. at our last meeting.

For the self support Workshop in Kingston this month, I have written a short fictional skit that incorporates the message of Self Support. Join us at the workshop when 4 of our District Chairs will perform this skit for us.

I have a fun idea for our last workshop in the Fall and will be looking forward to discussing it and getting some help.

Is Your Presentation Engaging?

People learn and retain information in different ways; some learn visually, some learn hands on (by doing), some learn through listening etc…. While repetition is a great way of learning (hearing the same thing over and over again) the message doesn’t necessary have to be repeated the same way.

Your presentation could incorporate many different ways of carrying the message

.

For example;

o Use pamphlets (GSO Approved of course)

o Visuals; such as white boards or your presentation board

o Orally - give your presentation

o Provide handouts for later reading

o Flyers

o Overhead projectors

Some of the feedback I hear is that the message is old and all we talk about is money, while there is no shame in talking about money, the message of self support is about time and money, and the service structure. I remind people that the message is important to our fellowship and must be carried to the new person.

So the Self Support Tip for March is to review your presentation and see if there are ways you could incorporate some of the tips above.

I have posted this information on our Blog www.area84selfsupport.blogspot.com

Yours in Love and Service,

Sheree

Area 83 Self Support Chair

Self Support Letter - February

Dear Self Support Chairs/Alternate DCM’s, I have updated our Blog with some information for February. This month I decided to share with you some of what is happening in other Districts.

This morning I had a great conversation with a District Self Support Chair, we agreed that education is the key to our 7^th Tradition; we must get the message out there especially to the newcomer. Sometimes to patiently inform our membership that a Loonie doesn’t go as far as it did 20 years ago.

One of the first things I do when I go to a different group is check out their bulletin board, I look for service flyers, self support flyers and information on our Area 83. I am always surprised at the lack of information that is current. As a self support chair you could carry materials whenever you go to a new/different group and if they don’t have flyers and Self Support brochures find out who the GSR is and leave the information behind. This is a great way of getting the information out to groups that do not attend District meetings. In my opinion these groups cut themselves off from the “branch” of A.A.

• Check out the Blog for a picture submitted by Gari V. of some well designed

• Keep sending me information on what you are doing so I can post it to the Blog, sharing our experience is huge part of our fellowship.

• Also a reminder that the Assembly is coming up, Sunday at the Assembly, there are 2 motions under old business that deal with money, it is important to know this and to ensure that your Districts are aware of these motions.

• Saturday our committee has a workshop in the afternoon, I have asked several Self Support chairs to participate in a skit called The Story of Self Support; it is fictional, with a strong self support message throughout it.

• Book early: for the Ambassador Hotel as it does fill up some years. The Ambassador Conference Resort, 1550 Princess Street, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7M 9E3, 613-548-3605, 1-800-267-7880

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything or wish me to participate in your service days and workshops.

In Love and Service,

Sheree N.
Area 83 Self Support Chairperson

February Self Support Tip/Information

Submitted by Gari - District Committe Member -District 42

The idea of Self-Support Cans was sent out to the groups and this month the District voted that it would not be using them (all votes except one abstention were against the use). The groups felt that if the District needed financial assistance for anything, they just needed to let the groups know and the money would be forthcoming. Background with this District is that the groups have NOT been supporting the District. Now, with an active Self-Support Chair, many discussions at the district level and the info going back to the groups... we may actually be able to develop a prudent reserve!!!

My past experience with these cans (in Arizona) was very good. Another gal and I put together the cans and took responsibility for distribution of cans and collection of money. Virtually every group was willing to at the least, set them out in the meeting room... some groups even announced them or passed them around at the meeting after their 7th Tradition. I am including pictures for you in case they may be of use to someone else.

In Service & Lovin' It!

Gari

DCM D42

Miles C – Self Support Chair -District 30

Miles reports that the 4^th tradition has tripled in his group over the last year; as a result of this they have been able to send more money to District and over $700.00 to The General Service office. I asked Miles what he believed caused this huge increase and he said that he thought it was a combination of things, including reading the new green Self Support Card, as well as informing the group about inflation and their responsibility.

January Self Support

What is Self Support ? Recently I heard a speaker say that service was a natural result of a higher power working in our lives, that if we had a good connection with a power greater then ourselves, we would want to help the fellowship through time and money, and we would do this without grumbling. This comment made me think about my own program and wonder if i did service work for the right movtives. And I realised I have no motives, I do service work naturally, I rarely think about doing it and yet I am always doing it. Doing service work has helped me grow, it has been fun, frustrating, and has been a great teacher. Why do I share at this personal level this month ? Because I want to know what Self Support means to you and your Districts. Send me in a paragraph or two, ask old timers, newcomers and those in between.

So the topic for January is What does Self Support meant to you ?

The second important issue is.... what is your presentation saying ? Service work is fun, it is interesting and it helps you grow spiritually, it is our 12th step, our recovery in action. Are you telling people this or giving them heck ? Remember we are here to share our experience, strength and hope, not berate people. I feel a good presentation should contain some of the following elements.

1) A definiton of Self Support
2) The Rockfeller Story
3) Our Service Structure - group, district, area, general service office , world services, grapevine

I will be contacting 2 District Chairs to present at the Area Assembly this March, please contact me if this interests you.

Remember Dr. Bob, in his last address to our fellowship said that our steps boil down to 2 things

"Love and Service" are we sharing this message.

In Love and Service.