Self Support Quiz
1. What year was A.A. founded.
1935
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
The New York office had greatly expanded its activities, and these now consisted of public relations, advice to new groups, services to hospitals, prisons, Loners, and Internationalists, and cooperation with other agencies in the alcoholism field. The headquarters was also publishing "standard" A.A. books and pamphlets, and it supervised their translation into other tongues. Our international magazine, the A.A. Grapevine, had achieved a large circulation. These and many other activities had become indispensable for A.A. as a whole.
Nevertheless, these vital services were still in the hands of an isolated board of trustees, whose only link to the Fellowship had been Bill and Dr. Bob. As the co-founders had foreseen years earlier, it became absolutely necessary to link A.A.'s world trusteeship (now the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous) with the Fellowship that it served. Delegates from all states and provinces of the U.S. and Canada were forthwith called in. Thus composed, this body for world service first met in 1951. Despite earlier misgivings, the gathering was a great success. For the first time, the remote trusteeship became directly accountable to A.A. as a whole. The A.A. General Service Conference had been created, and A.A.'s over-all functioning was thereby assured for the future.
3. When were the traditions introduced?
In 1946, in the Fellowship’s international journal, the A.A. Grapevine, these principles were reduced to writing by the founders and early members as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of A.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.
4. When were the concepts introduced?
The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
John D. Rockeffer Jr.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?
12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___1967__article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
2,000
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute _$1.00_ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradition speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
The 7th Tradition
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?
Service
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
April
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
The Delegate
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help __I___ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ___I___am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
Each group is autonomous there for it is determined by group conscious usually at a business meeting.
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO?
Self Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix.
17. Self-Support: Where Money and __Spirituality_ Mix.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Self Support – Where Spirituality and Money Mix
Twelfth Step work is the lifeblood of Alcoholics Anonymous – carrying the message to the next suffering alcoholic. Without it, the Fellowship would wither and die. Yet even at its simplest level this vital contact between one alcoholic and another involves an investment of time and money.
“Let’s begin with my own sponsor, Ebby,” writes Bill W., in the book of Alcoholics
Anonymous Comes of Age. “When Ebby heard how serious my drinking was, he
resolved to visit me. He was in New York; I was in Brooklyn. His resolve was not
enough; he had to take action and he had to spend money.
“He called me on the phone and then got into the subway; total cost, ten cents. At
the level of the telephone booth and subway turnstiles, spirituality and money began to mix. One without the other would have amounted to nothing at all.” “Right then and there, Ebby established the principle that A.A. in action calls for the sacrifice of much time and a little money.”
Another important story is this Rockefeller Story; One potential A.A. patron, however, when approached by the pioneering members for money, instead helped to lay the groundwork for A.A.’s Tradition of self-support: “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,” said John D. Rockefeller Jr., while at the same time endorsing the work of the fledgling Fellowship.
This marked a turning point in A.A. history and, as the reality of Mr. Rockefeller’s
statement sank in and A.A. members began to see the truth in the old cliché, “Who pays the piper calls the tune,” the seed of the Seventh Tradition took root.
With the realization that A.A. must steer clear of outside contributions. In order for A.A.’s survival contributions would have to come from individual A.A. members and groups. As Bill W. put it in1957, “Our spiritual way of life is safe for future if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas, and A.A. as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid.
“When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being
prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful
for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all
those who still suffer.” (The Language of the Heart, p.221)
“Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of
things?” asks Bill W. in an October 1967 article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should
we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters …
“Though costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued
expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that A.A. must function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we all are going to foot the bill.
How can groups participate?
To help support A.A.’s essential services, the General Service Office suggests that
individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan tailored to meet the group’s financial situation.
Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A.A.
literature, local meeting lists), and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities.
The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the
district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the
area delegates and the G.S.Rs.
The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad
geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference, holds
area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information
at all levels of service.
The local intergroup or central office, which may provide phone service for
Twelfth Step calls and other inquiries; coordination of group activities; A.A.
literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the
professional community activities.
A.A.’s General Service Office, which functions as a storehouse of A.A.
information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes
A.A.’s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and
others interested in A.A.
Twelfth Step work is the lifeblood of Alcoholics Anonymous – carrying the message to the next suffering alcoholic. Without it, the Fellowship would wither and die. Yet even at its simplest level this vital contact between one alcoholic and another involves an investment of time and money.
“Let’s begin with my own sponsor, Ebby,” writes Bill W., in the book of Alcoholics
Anonymous Comes of Age. “When Ebby heard how serious my drinking was, he
resolved to visit me. He was in New York; I was in Brooklyn. His resolve was not
enough; he had to take action and he had to spend money.
“He called me on the phone and then got into the subway; total cost, ten cents. At
the level of the telephone booth and subway turnstiles, spirituality and money began to mix. One without the other would have amounted to nothing at all.” “Right then and there, Ebby established the principle that A.A. in action calls for the sacrifice of much time and a little money.”
Another important story is this Rockefeller Story; One potential A.A. patron, however, when approached by the pioneering members for money, instead helped to lay the groundwork for A.A.’s Tradition of self-support: “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,” said John D. Rockefeller Jr., while at the same time endorsing the work of the fledgling Fellowship.
This marked a turning point in A.A. history and, as the reality of Mr. Rockefeller’s
statement sank in and A.A. members began to see the truth in the old cliché, “Who pays the piper calls the tune,” the seed of the Seventh Tradition took root.
With the realization that A.A. must steer clear of outside contributions. In order for A.A.’s survival contributions would have to come from individual A.A. members and groups. As Bill W. put it in1957, “Our spiritual way of life is safe for future if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas, and A.A. as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid.
“When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being
prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful
for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all
those who still suffer.” (The Language of the Heart, p.221)
“Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of
things?” asks Bill W. in an October 1967 article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should
we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters …
“Though costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued
expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that A.A. must function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we all are going to foot the bill.
How can groups participate?
To help support A.A.’s essential services, the General Service Office suggests that
individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan tailored to meet the group’s financial situation.
Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A.A.
literature, local meeting lists), and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities.
The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the
district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the
area delegates and the G.S.Rs.
The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad
geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference, holds
area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information
at all levels of service.
The local intergroup or central office, which may provide phone service for
Twelfth Step calls and other inquiries; coordination of group activities; A.A.
literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the
professional community activities.
A.A.’s General Service Office, which functions as a storehouse of A.A.
information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes
A.A.’s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and
others interested in A.A.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Ask it Basket is a part of our Service Information Day, attendees during the day are asked to put their questions in a "basket". Then at our final workshop these questions are answered by someone on the Area Committee (Past or Present).
This will be an electronic version of that. Here is the first question, it is one that came to mind one weekend when I was working on this Blog. For years at Service functions I have been repeating the Declaration of Responsibility but where did it come from ???????
Question One Where,when and why was the Declaration of Responsibility introduced ? What is it's history ? Who wrote it ?
My thanks to Anne M, Past Delegate, who did a fabulous job of supplying me with the answer.
“Marking AA's thirtieth year we shall, in this month of July, 1965, hold our International Convention at Toronto. It is most fitting that the chosen keynote for this gala occasion will be ‘AA's Responsibility.’ There we shall review the three decades of AA life that are now history. Stirred by gratitude beyond expression, we shall give thanks to God whose Grace has made it possible for us to achieve the quality of responsibility, individual and collective, that has brought our Fellowship into its present state of well-being and worldwide reach….At Toronto, we shall therefore be asking ourselves, ‘What sort of heritage are we leaving, for the use of all those future generations that will people our Society? Is this heritage as good as we can make it? While there is yet time, what can we still do that may multiply our assets and decrease our liabilities?’”…
“Our first concern should be with those sufferers that we are still unable to reach. Let's first humbly realize that throughout the world of today there are 20,000,000 alcoholics, 5,000,000 of these being in the United States alone. Of course, these vast numbers are in all stages of sickness. Some cannot be reached because they are not hurt enough, others because they are hurt too much. Many sufferers have mental and emotional complications that seem to foreclose their chances. Yet it would be conservative to estimate that at any particular time there are 4,000,000 alcoholics in the world who are able, ready and willing to get well--if only they knew how! … When we remember that in the thirty years of AA's existence, we have reached less than ten per cent of those who might have been willing to approach us, we begin to get an idea of the immensity of our task, and of the responsibilities with which we will always be confronted.”…
“These facts point straight to our next responsibility: that of intelligently and lovingly sponsoring each man and woman who comes among us asking help. The care and concern with which we individually and collectively do this can make all the difference. Besides, this is the greatest expression of gratitude that we can give for what we ourselves have received. Without much doubt, a million alcoholics have approached AA during the last thirty years. We can soberly ask ourselves what became of the 600,000 who did not stay. How much and how often did we fail all these? …
In conclusion, it is only fair to say that we of AA have been able in most areas of our lives together to make substantial gains in both our willingness and our capability for the acceptance and discharge of responsibility, something that our great gathering in Toronto will symbolize and demonstrate.”
Bill’s essay is available from the Grapevine Archives.
This will be an electronic version of that. Here is the first question, it is one that came to mind one weekend when I was working on this Blog. For years at Service functions I have been repeating the Declaration of Responsibility but where did it come from ???????
Question One Where,when and why was the Declaration of Responsibility introduced ? What is it's history ? Who wrote it ?
My thanks to Anne M, Past Delegate, who did a fabulous job of supplying me with the answer.
“Marking AA's thirtieth year we shall, in this month of July, 1965, hold our International Convention at Toronto. It is most fitting that the chosen keynote for this gala occasion will be ‘AA's Responsibility.’ There we shall review the three decades of AA life that are now history. Stirred by gratitude beyond expression, we shall give thanks to God whose Grace has made it possible for us to achieve the quality of responsibility, individual and collective, that has brought our Fellowship into its present state of well-being and worldwide reach….At Toronto, we shall therefore be asking ourselves, ‘What sort of heritage are we leaving, for the use of all those future generations that will people our Society? Is this heritage as good as we can make it? While there is yet time, what can we still do that may multiply our assets and decrease our liabilities?’”…
“Our first concern should be with those sufferers that we are still unable to reach. Let's first humbly realize that throughout the world of today there are 20,000,000 alcoholics, 5,000,000 of these being in the United States alone. Of course, these vast numbers are in all stages of sickness. Some cannot be reached because they are not hurt enough, others because they are hurt too much. Many sufferers have mental and emotional complications that seem to foreclose their chances. Yet it would be conservative to estimate that at any particular time there are 4,000,000 alcoholics in the world who are able, ready and willing to get well--if only they knew how! … When we remember that in the thirty years of AA's existence, we have reached less than ten per cent of those who might have been willing to approach us, we begin to get an idea of the immensity of our task, and of the responsibilities with which we will always be confronted.”…
“These facts point straight to our next responsibility: that of intelligently and lovingly sponsoring each man and woman who comes among us asking help. The care and concern with which we individually and collectively do this can make all the difference. Besides, this is the greatest expression of gratitude that we can give for what we ourselves have received. Without much doubt, a million alcoholics have approached AA during the last thirty years. We can soberly ask ourselves what became of the 600,000 who did not stay. How much and how often did we fail all these? …
In conclusion, it is only fair to say that we of AA have been able in most areas of our lives together to make substantial gains in both our willingness and our capability for the acceptance and discharge of responsibility, something that our great gathering in Toronto will symbolize and demonstrate.”
Bill’s essay is available from the Grapevine Archives.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Self Support Quiz
Hi Friends, in preparation for the Assembly I have created a fun Self Support quiz, some answers are a little hard, some are quite easy. Answers will be supplied at the Assembly as part of my presentation, as well, I will post them on-line at the end of March. Let me know how you do.Self Support Quiz
1. What year was A.A. founded.
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
3. When were the traditions introduced?
4. When were the concepts introduced?
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?(Circle one)
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___________article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute ________ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradtion speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?(Circle one)
a. Service
b. Recovery
c. Unity.
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help _____ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ______am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO ?
17. Self-Support:Where Money and ____________ Mix.
1. What year was A.A. founded.
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
3. When were the traditions introduced?
4. When were the concepts introduced?
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?(Circle one)
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___________article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute ________ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradtion speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?(Circle one)
a. Service
b. Recovery
c. Unity.
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help _____ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ______am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO ?
17. Self-Support:Where Money and ____________ Mix.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Concept 1
TWELVE CONCEPTS OF WORLD SERVICE
CONCEPT 1
The Twelve Concepts for World Service represent the third of the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous – the first legacy being Recovery, as represented by the Twelve Steps, the second being Unity represented in the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill W. in 1952 and adopted by the 12th Annual General Service Conference of AA in 1962.
What are the Concepts?
• they are an interpretation of AA’s world service structure
• they reveal how the service structure arrived in its present form
• they detail the experience and reasoning on which our operation stands today
• they record the “why” of our service structure so that the experience and lessons of the past are not forgotten or lost
What do the Concepts do?
• The Steps hold us together
• The Traditions hold the group together
• The Concepts hold A.A. together
Concept 1 reads:
The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. This concept is illustrated in the inverted triangle with the groups at the top and the General Service Board at the bottom.
The groups assumed that responsibility and authority for AA service activity at the St. Louis International Convention in 1955 – when on behalf of Dr. Bob, the Trustees and AA’s old-time leaders, Bill made the transfer of world service responsibility to the entire fellowship.
The service structure was not always this way – how did this come about?
Our founders had established the original world service structure – creating The Alcoholic Foundation, later the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous – to perform services for AA as a whole that could not be performed by single groups or areas – literature, public relations policy for AA as a whole, helping new groups get established, a regular magazine.
However, responsibility and accountability remained with the Trustees who in turn looked to the founders, the old timers for guidance – many believed it should remain such, that a representative conference to whom they would be accountable would not work – and the membership at large was more concerned with group life than world services.
When in 1948 Dr, Bob became ill, it became evident that AA could not forever remain dependent on the founders for direction, that a new broad based representative structure was required, to provide direction to the trustees and a link between the board and the many groups, to ensure the continuation of world services.
There was another reason for this shift of responsibility – Tradition Two which states – For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. The main principles were clear – AA groups are to be the final authority and their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated authority only.
Tradition Two was written and published in 1945. The first experimental General Service Conference was held in 1951 to see if the Tradition could be successfully applied to AA as a whole including trustees and founders, whether the conference could and would assume ultimate responsibility for the world service organization. By 1955, even the skeptics were convinced that the General Service Conference representing the group conscience of AA world wide was going to work and work permanently. And so “final responsibility and ultimate authority” was transferred to the fellowship as a whole.
The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill to detail how this world service structure would work. That structure has survived the decades – today, still ultimate responsibility remains with the group – Concept 1. And our role, as General Service Representatives, is to serve as the link between our group and AA as a whole – carrying the message from and to the group from district, area, GSO.
CONCEPT 1
The Twelve Concepts for World Service represent the third of the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous – the first legacy being Recovery, as represented by the Twelve Steps, the second being Unity represented in the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill W. in 1952 and adopted by the 12th Annual General Service Conference of AA in 1962.
What are the Concepts?
• they are an interpretation of AA’s world service structure
• they reveal how the service structure arrived in its present form
• they detail the experience and reasoning on which our operation stands today
• they record the “why” of our service structure so that the experience and lessons of the past are not forgotten or lost
What do the Concepts do?
• The Steps hold us together
• The Traditions hold the group together
• The Concepts hold A.A. together
Concept 1 reads:
The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. This concept is illustrated in the inverted triangle with the groups at the top and the General Service Board at the bottom.
The groups assumed that responsibility and authority for AA service activity at the St. Louis International Convention in 1955 – when on behalf of Dr. Bob, the Trustees and AA’s old-time leaders, Bill made the transfer of world service responsibility to the entire fellowship.
The service structure was not always this way – how did this come about?
Our founders had established the original world service structure – creating The Alcoholic Foundation, later the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous – to perform services for AA as a whole that could not be performed by single groups or areas – literature, public relations policy for AA as a whole, helping new groups get established, a regular magazine.
However, responsibility and accountability remained with the Trustees who in turn looked to the founders, the old timers for guidance – many believed it should remain such, that a representative conference to whom they would be accountable would not work – and the membership at large was more concerned with group life than world services.
When in 1948 Dr, Bob became ill, it became evident that AA could not forever remain dependent on the founders for direction, that a new broad based representative structure was required, to provide direction to the trustees and a link between the board and the many groups, to ensure the continuation of world services.
There was another reason for this shift of responsibility – Tradition Two which states – For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. The main principles were clear – AA groups are to be the final authority and their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated authority only.
Tradition Two was written and published in 1945. The first experimental General Service Conference was held in 1951 to see if the Tradition could be successfully applied to AA as a whole including trustees and founders, whether the conference could and would assume ultimate responsibility for the world service organization. By 1955, even the skeptics were convinced that the General Service Conference representing the group conscience of AA world wide was going to work and work permanently. And so “final responsibility and ultimate authority” was transferred to the fellowship as a whole.
The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill to detail how this world service structure would work. That structure has survived the decades – today, still ultimate responsibility remains with the group – Concept 1. And our role, as General Service Representatives, is to serve as the link between our group and AA as a whole – carrying the message from and to the group from district, area, GSO.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
March Self Support Tip
Hi Friends, March is an important month as we will be having our first Assembly for the new 2 year term. The Assembly is the business meeting for our Area and is very important. If you can attend plan to do so. Sunday is the Assembly, Saturday is the Service Information Day with an Agenda full of service workshops, that will help inform you and ultimately "carry the message to the alcoholic that still suffers".
While not all Districts can afford to send all their Chairs to the Assembly, there are ways to reduce costs, so if your District can't afford to send you here are some tips.
1) Come for one day only, share the mileage with a couple of program friends or chairs from your District.
2) Staying the night ? Share your room with a service sponsee or friend or a couple of friends, lots of rooms have two queen size or double beds in them.
3) Ask around see if anyone is willing to share their room with you.
4) Ask around see if anyone has a spare spot in their car.
5) Even if your District is sending you for the weekend, and paying your way, why not bring a newcomer or service sponsee to introduce them to the Assembly.
I hope to meet you all at the Assembly and look forward to hearing how Self Support is going in your District.
Yesterday I did my first presentation at a District 6 Service Day and enjoyed meeting their District GSR's I was given great ideas on how to better explain the self support message.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have ideas for our Blog or need any assistance.
Yours in Service,
Sheree
While not all Districts can afford to send all their Chairs to the Assembly, there are ways to reduce costs, so if your District can't afford to send you here are some tips.
1) Come for one day only, share the mileage with a couple of program friends or chairs from your District.
2) Staying the night ? Share your room with a service sponsee or friend or a couple of friends, lots of rooms have two queen size or double beds in them.
3) Ask around see if anyone is willing to share their room with you.
4) Ask around see if anyone has a spare spot in their car.
5) Even if your District is sending you for the weekend, and paying your way, why not bring a newcomer or service sponsee to introduce them to the Assembly.
I hope to meet you all at the Assembly and look forward to hearing how Self Support is going in your District.
Yesterday I did my first presentation at a District 6 Service Day and enjoyed meeting their District GSR's I was given great ideas on how to better explain the self support message.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have ideas for our Blog or need any assistance.
Yours in Service,
Sheree
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
February Self Support Tip - Is Your Presentation Ready ?
It is now a month into your new position as Self Support Chair, it is time to get your Self Support Presentation ready for action, (if you haven't done this already).
Once your presentation is ready ask the General Services Representative's (GSR's) if you visit their open and/or business meetings to talk about the importance and the history of AA being self supporting. You can also volunteer to set up a table at your District Service Day's, Round-ups, Birthdays and Conferences.
A self support presentation should focus on the need for money (dollars) and time
(service) and how without both of these our fellowship can not exist.
A presentation could include the history of Self Support, The Rockefeller Story, and information on how the Group, District and GSO spend the money forwarded on plus much more.
Keep your presentation brief (no more than 15 to 20 minutes), concise and practical, be ready to answer questions, remember questions are a sign of interest.
Add a little personal touch (not too much) something about how you came to be aware of the importance of being Self Supporting.
Read the comments section of Polls on our Blog, members have been kind enough to
leave behind their comments, read these comments they are importnat and may come up during or after your presentation. Remember to be mindful of the person who simply can't afford to dig a little deeper, respect this. Our goal is to educate our membership on our history and its current financial needs.
Some of the information you need is available on this Blog, more information can be obtained from a GSC approved pamphlet- Self Support - Where Money & Spirituality Mix, The Service Manual (starting at page S1). Visit the self support page on GSO's web site at www.aa.org
Have information available to leave behind such as flyers for their bulletin boards, addresses for our Area Treasurer, GSO and your local Intergroup. The pamphlet Self Support - Where money and spirituality mix is free, just call GSO and order some, while you’re calling, why not order Birthday envelopes for handing out as well.
I made up little kits that contain sample presentations. and other materials. If you haven't received your kit, email me your address and I will mail it to you. If you would like an electronic version of a Self Support presentation please email me, and....if you have an electronic version or your Self Support presentation please email it to me, to share with other Districts, as one of my goals is to create interaction between District Chairs, we all help each other.
My thanks to Debra, DCM, District 14 , she kindly scanned a bunch of flyers and articles for me, I now have electronic versions of the flyers which you can print off for your Districts, if you would like any of these please email me.
Remember to use the supplied presentations as examples, create your own, approve
it with your District Table and then enjoy your next 2 years as your District's Self Support Chairperson.
Already our Blog is becoming interactive between Area & District, so I thank you for taking the time to give me feedback and comments, it will help me as your Area Chairperson to know what you need and how I can support you in your role.
Keep coming back to the Blog as I am updating it all the time, as well, I have a new Poll coming up on the weekend, the final question supplied to me from our Delegate Dot.
At any time if I can be of assistance please don't hesitate to contact me.
In Love & Service,
Sheree
Area 83 Self Support Chairperson
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Sunday, January 7, 2007
January 6 2007 Area Committee Meeting - Report
My Name is Sheree, I am an alcoholic, and currently serving as your Self Support Chair (Area 83 International).
Thanks again for the opportunity to serve I am honored.
As the Area Self Support Chair I feel my role is to build awareness of the vital need for our fellowship to be self supporting, through money and time (service). To do this effectively I have decided to use one of my favorite forms of communication – The Internet. Information on the Internet can quickly shared, is easily accessible and I love using it.
url - http://www.area83selfsupport.blogspot.com/
I have created an Area 83 Self Support Blog. On it currently is an introduction to the Blog, How to use the Blog and information take from our service manual on the 3rd Legacy. I have included copies of the Blog with my report. The Blog includes an action tip for your Self Support Chair. If you don’t have a Self Support Chair please let me know and I will contact your Alternate DCM and ask them to fill this role.
Each month I will add a Self Support Tip or Idea, I have prepared 21 months of ideas already, I will then email the link out to the Area Committee , the District Self Support Chairs and anyone else who is interested.
For January I have introduced the Anniversary Plan, its history and how to send money to the General Service Office, I have also created a flyer that can be printed off and photocopied for the groups. The flyer can be obtained by emailing me at area83iamresponsible@yahoo.com, there are a few copies at the back and I have sent it to our Secretary to be included in the minutes. I hope that by doing this we can create conversation and action in the area of Self Support.
For Each District I have created a little package containing;
1. Welcome Letter
2. Copies of the Blog
3. Birthday Envelopes
4. Birthday Flyer
5. Pamphlet – Self Support – Where money and Spirituality Mix
6. Copies of Self Support Presentations from when I was District Chair (note these presentations where provided to me by other District Chairs and are meant to help you create your own presentation)
7. Guidelines Created by District 26 when I was Self Support Chair (these again are meant to help you create your own District Guidelines).
8. Misc. Flyers
I hope this information will be helpful in getting your Self Support Chair started. I can be reached for more information any time by emailing or calling me.
I am of course available for your service days, round-ups and conferences; I would be happy to attend or send my display for your local Self Support Chair to use.
And …send me your minutes I want to read what is happening in your Districts.
In Love of Service,
My Name is Sheree, I am an alcoholic, and currently serving as your Self Support Chair (Area 83 International).
Thanks again for the opportunity to serve I am honored.
As the Area Self Support Chair I feel my role is to build awareness of the vital need for our fellowship to be self supporting, through money and time (service). To do this effectively I have decided to use one of my favorite forms of communication – The Internet. Information on the Internet can quickly shared, is easily accessible and I love using it.
url - http://www.area83selfsupport.blogspot.com/
I have created an Area 83 Self Support Blog. On it currently is an introduction to the Blog, How to use the Blog and information take from our service manual on the 3rd Legacy. I have included copies of the Blog with my report. The Blog includes an action tip for your Self Support Chair. If you don’t have a Self Support Chair please let me know and I will contact your Alternate DCM and ask them to fill this role.
Each month I will add a Self Support Tip or Idea, I have prepared 21 months of ideas already, I will then email the link out to the Area Committee , the District Self Support Chairs and anyone else who is interested.
For January I have introduced the Anniversary Plan, its history and how to send money to the General Service Office, I have also created a flyer that can be printed off and photocopied for the groups. The flyer can be obtained by emailing me at area83iamresponsible@yahoo.com, there are a few copies at the back and I have sent it to our Secretary to be included in the minutes. I hope that by doing this we can create conversation and action in the area of Self Support.
For Each District I have created a little package containing;
1. Welcome Letter
2. Copies of the Blog
3. Birthday Envelopes
4. Birthday Flyer
5. Pamphlet – Self Support – Where money and Spirituality Mix
6. Copies of Self Support Presentations from when I was District Chair (note these presentations where provided to me by other District Chairs and are meant to help you create your own presentation)
7. Guidelines Created by District 26 when I was Self Support Chair (these again are meant to help you create your own District Guidelines).
8. Misc. Flyers
I hope this information will be helpful in getting your Self Support Chair started. I can be reached for more information any time by emailing or calling me.
I am of course available for your service days, round-ups and conferences; I would be happy to attend or send my display for your local Self Support Chair to use.
And …send me your minutes I want to read what is happening in your Districts.
In Love of Service,
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
January - Happy Birthday
As we start the new year, many of us will have the honour of celebrating another 365 days of sobriety.
Did you know ??????????
In 1956 the Conference approved a plan whereby older members would remind other members of their responsibility toward the General Service Office. It was named the Anniversary Fund Plan.
In 1961 The Finance Committee recommended the adoption or continued use of the so called Birthday Plan to provide "Supplementary" support of A.A.'s world services. Under the plan, individual members on their A.A. birthdays, can contribute one dollar for each year of sobriety. The plan went into effect immediately and A.A. members began contributing annually a sum equivalent to the number of years they had been sober.
In the same year, 1961, the desirability of an annual contribution of $3.00 per member was reaffirmed. In 1963 the conference again emphasized the $3.00 annual contribution, focusing on the nature of this contribution as an individual responsibility. And in 1973 the Conference recommended that the sum of $3.00 per year per member be changed to $3.65, thus making a sobriety contribution of a penny a day.
Members wishing to express gratitude for sobriety through individual contributions to their General Service Office might add to a base figure of $3.65, one dollar for each year they have enjoyed sobriety as a member of A.A.
Groups and Districts of course can celebrate in the same manner.
Please Make Cheques Payable to: General Service Board
(Please do not send cash, suggested Birthday Contribution; one dollar per year of sobriety. Some give more, but not to exceed $1,000.00 per year.)
Address: The General Service Office
Post Office Box 459
Grand Central Station
New York, N.Y. 10163-0459
Self Support Chairs - Tip
Order Birthday Envelopes for distribution to the GSR's. Photocopy the Happy Birthday Poster for Distribution to the groups. Talk about the Birthday Contribution.
Email me at area83iamresponsible@yahoo.ca for a copy of the Birthday Flyer, for your group or District.
Did you know ??????????
In 1956 the Conference approved a plan whereby older members would remind other members of their responsibility toward the General Service Office. It was named the Anniversary Fund Plan.
In 1961 The Finance Committee recommended the adoption or continued use of the so called Birthday Plan to provide "Supplementary" support of A.A.'s world services. Under the plan, individual members on their A.A. birthdays, can contribute one dollar for each year of sobriety. The plan went into effect immediately and A.A. members began contributing annually a sum equivalent to the number of years they had been sober.
In the same year, 1961, the desirability of an annual contribution of $3.00 per member was reaffirmed. In 1963 the conference again emphasized the $3.00 annual contribution, focusing on the nature of this contribution as an individual responsibility. And in 1973 the Conference recommended that the sum of $3.00 per year per member be changed to $3.65, thus making a sobriety contribution of a penny a day.
Members wishing to express gratitude for sobriety through individual contributions to their General Service Office might add to a base figure of $3.65, one dollar for each year they have enjoyed sobriety as a member of A.A.
Groups and Districts of course can celebrate in the same manner.
Please Make Cheques Payable to: General Service Board
(Please do not send cash, suggested Birthday Contribution; one dollar per year of sobriety. Some give more, but not to exceed $1,000.00 per year.)
Address: The General Service Office
Post Office Box 459
Grand Central Station
New York, N.Y. 10163-0459
Self Support Chairs - Tip
Order Birthday Envelopes for distribution to the GSR's. Photocopy the Happy Birthday Poster for Distribution to the groups. Talk about the Birthday Contribution.
Email me at area83iamresponsible@yahoo.ca for a copy of the Birthday Flyer, for your group or District.
Sunday, December 3, 2006
How to use this website and it's purpose
The 12 Months of Self Support
As your Area Self Support Chair I plan on communicating ideas each month that will help District Self Support Chairs generate awareness of Self Support. One of the ways I plan on doing this is by having a monthly Self Support idea/tip. These ideas will focus on service and or money and I hope they will generate conversation and your own ideas. Remember that I am your Self Support Chair, I welcome your ideas and feedback. I also intend to read the District Self Support reports and post ideas, challenges from your reports, so please send me your reports.
One of the things I look forward to is your comments, on the ideas, on how the ideas worked or didn't work and for your own ideas. I would like to build a community where we exchange ideas and tips.
Please bookmark this website and come back to it each month. I have prepared 2 years of ideas and each month will update it with a new idea.
We will meet in person at Assemblies and this will give us the chance to share even more.
A.A.'s Legacy of Service - By Bill W., Page S1 of the A.A., Service Manual
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 Twelveth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.'s General Service Office for nation and international action. The sum total of all these services is our Third Legacy of Service. Service include meeting places, hospital cooperation, and intergroup offices; they mean pamplets books, and good publicity of almost every description. They call for committees, delegates, trustees, and conferences. And, not to be forgotten they need voluntary money contributions from within the Fellowship.
These services, whether performed by individuals, groups, areas, or A.A., as a whole, are utterly vital to our existence and growth. Nor can we make A.A. more simple by abolishing such services. We would only be asking for complication and confusion.
Concerning any given service, we therefore pose but one question: "Is this service really needed ?" If it is, then maintain it we most, or fail in our mission to those who need and seek A.A,............Continued on page S2, S3 of the A.A. Service Manual
As your Area Self Support Chair I plan on communicating ideas each month that will help District Self Support Chairs generate awareness of Self Support. One of the ways I plan on doing this is by having a monthly Self Support idea/tip. These ideas will focus on service and or money and I hope they will generate conversation and your own ideas. Remember that I am your Self Support Chair, I welcome your ideas and feedback. I also intend to read the District Self Support reports and post ideas, challenges from your reports, so please send me your reports.
One of the things I look forward to is your comments, on the ideas, on how the ideas worked or didn't work and for your own ideas. I would like to build a community where we exchange ideas and tips.
Please bookmark this website and come back to it each month. I have prepared 2 years of ideas and each month will update it with a new idea.
We will meet in person at Assemblies and this will give us the chance to share even more.
A.A.'s Legacy of Service - By Bill W., Page S1 of the A.A., Service Manual
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 Twelveth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.'s General Service Office for nation and international action. The sum total of all these services is our Third Legacy of Service. Service include meeting places, hospital cooperation, and intergroup offices; they mean pamplets books, and good publicity of almost every description. They call for committees, delegates, trustees, and conferences. And, not to be forgotten they need voluntary money contributions from within the Fellowship.
These services, whether performed by individuals, groups, areas, or A.A., as a whole, are utterly vital to our existence and growth. Nor can we make A.A. more simple by abolishing such services. We would only be asking for complication and confusion.
Concerning any given service, we therefore pose but one question: "Is this service really needed ?" If it is, then maintain it we most, or fail in our mission to those who need and seek A.A,............Continued on page S2, S3 of the A.A. Service Manual
I am Responsible......
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am repsonsible.
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