There are two A.A.'s. The one that most people think is A.A., the meeting-based fellowship and then the one that Doctor Silkworth described. He saw a fellowship growing up out of the recovered alcoholics going back into Towns Hospital and working with other alcoholics. He said that had became the basis of a rapidly growing fellowship.

It is so true that most think that meetings are the basis. Otherwise you wouldn't hear stuff like "I drank because I quit going to meetings." And Dennis is right, most people's idea of a Twelfth-Step call is taking someone to a meeting. Or that handing someone a meeting schedule with phone numbers is Twelfth-Step work.

Most of the groups around here are so far from actually practicing the Three Legacies it's not funny. Hell, most don't practice the first one of recovery, so how they practice the other two? What Dennis said is true, if the group is not practicing recovery, there can be no truly informed group conscious because the group is asleep. And this carries through into our district service structure, and then into the area, and ultimately into the General Service Conference and the General Service board.

The whole tree is sick and dying, from the roots up.
Jim

--- In GSOwatch@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis" <gratefuldennis@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Gary;
>
> I have always liked the way you have described your group. Many members are
> now doing the same like Jim up in Washington. Getting back to basics in my
> opinion may eventually be the only way to secure AA's future.

>
> Peace,
>
> Dennis M.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Gary Becktell
> To: GSOwatch@yahoogroups.com

> Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 6:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [GSOwatch] Re: A case in point?
>
>
>
> Some groups carry the AA message with a lot of sweetness and attention
> to the newcomer and visitor, some do not. Some groups carry the AA message 7
> days a week, some have only one meeting a week. Some group's members know
> each other outside the meetings, they know their spouses and children and
> pets and where each other live, some do not. Some groups will detox alkies
> in their homes, help them get back on their feet, some groups don't. I could
> go on and on.
> There is a lot of room in AA for individuality to shine and still
> carry the message of AA to the drunks. Those that think their Group has the
> only way are just being small. Young people's Groups have lots of outside
> activity that they do together, giving emphasis to the idea that "We are not
> a glum lot". Some meetings that are more populated with older members put
> the emphasis on helping older members. Some Groups cater to the down and
> out, others to the upward and mobile. They all can carry the AA message. I
> have seen groups that have many well-to-do members that feel that every
> alkie is on his own, financially. I have seen groups of mostly poor that
> will give their last dollar to feed someone's kids. Many of the biggest ego
> groups I have been around don't do much more than talk big, they are not
> willing to see what other groups do that helps alkies and change their ways.
> A group that isn't changing may be dying, because they don't take their own
> inventory and change accordingly. My Big Book says that none of us does it
> perfectly, and that may be old information, I doubt it.
> Over the years I have seen people that are doing very little, in
> comparison to what is possible, because they want to spend their time
> bragging about how great they are but don't want to inventory or see what
> other groups are doing. The biggest fallacy is that they don't go out and
> find the drunks, the drunks are supposed to come to us asking for help.
> Thank God that Bill didn't believe that when he found Dr. Bob.
> I believe that the AA message is that some drunks have found a way out
> that includes the 12 Steps, service to each other and the drunk that may
> cross their path, (with a lot of effort to get that path in the way of as
> many alkies as possible), and a lot of loving protection and attention (yes,
> some may not seem so loving, but it is). There are 1001 ways to get that
> message out there and help the drunks to our way of life. No group does it
> all.
> A lot of you know me and have heard about my Home Group, but almost
> every one of you would disapprove of some of what we do because you don't do
> it and don't think it is right. So, what. We have the biggest bunch of long
> time slippers in this area that are now sober the longest we have ever been
> in our lives, some with a few years, others with many. We know that we don't
> do everything that could be done, but we all do it, and do it a lot. I had a
> 12th Step call on Saturday and today I got 2 calls from men that I didn't
> call. They wanted to know why. I LMAO.
>
>
> G
>
>

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: bbfreeaa
> To: GSOwatch@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 4:59 PM
> Subject: [GSOwatch] Re: A case in point?
>
>
>
> I agree with much of what you wrote here Greg but I still contend that
> Tradition 5 was never intended to mean that we carry whatever message suits
> our whims. If folks want to carry a different message, they need to join or
> start a new program...just don't call it AA!
>
> Furthermore, I don't like blaming their actions on Tradition 2 either.
> Remember, Tradition 2 refers to "a loving God as he MAY express himself...".
> He may not! And that usually happens when self gets in the way, which is
> exactly what one does when they choose to alter our message in any form or
> fashion. It is simply the height of arrogance (self) to think I know better
> than 70+ years of AA History.
>
> I still contends that it all boils down to whether I am carrying the AA
> message or the BB message. My book offers clear cut directions without any
> offer of a "Plan B".
>
> B
>
>
> --- In GSOwatch@yahoogroups.com, Greg <Greg@> wrote:
> >
> > You bring up a good point , Bill.
> > I think if you ask any AA group what their primary purpose is, they
> will most likely reply with that part of the preamble which tells us
> that-"Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to
> achieve sobriety."
> > But when it comes to the "how" part of carrying "its" message, each
> group is autonomous. (Tradition 4)
> > In your example you give two ways, both correct, how a group might go
> about carrying the message. As long as "a loving God speaking through the
> group conscience" decides the way it will carry its message, they have that
> right to be wrong.(Tradition 2)
> > It is unfortunate that a lot of groups have decided to stray so far
> from the directions in the big book. So what.Thats what the first one
> hundred said they did. Yet It is also my recovery experience from those that
> loved me up when I got here and informed me what they did to stay here..
> > I agree with sherry, when he was told : "If you want what we have ,

> you gotta do what we do"

> > Greg
> >
> > --- On Sun, 11/1/09, bbfreeaa bbfreeaa@ wrote:
> >
> > From: bbfreeaa bbfreeaa@
> > Subject: [GSOwatch] Re: A case in point?
> > To: GSOwatch@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 10:52 PM
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I get a kick at times at the convoluted twist that some get out of the
> carry "its" message phrase. The notion that there are multiple "AA" messages
> is absurd.
> >
> >
> >
> > "To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main
> purpose of this book." That's one. "Sobriety-Freedom from alcohol, through
> the teaching and practice of the twelve steps is the sole purpose of an AA
> group." (Bill W 1958) And another. Where we get the notion that each group
> has its own "version" of the AA message couldn't be more wrong. There is the
> "AA Message" and then there is something else.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is not to say that some groups don't carry distorted
> messages...they do. But Tradition doesn't give the the green light to do so.
> It's just another case of twisting our Traditions.
> >
> >
> >
> > B
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In GSOwatch@yahoogroup s.com, Greg Greg@ wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Hi,
> >
> > > Tradition 5:Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual
> entity having
> >
> > > but one primary purpose-that of carrying its message to the
> alcoholic
> >
> > > who still suffers.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Each group needs to find out what "its" message is, before they
> >
> > > are going to carry it. Not all groups have the same message, nor
> carry
> >
> > > it. Not all groups know what their message is.
> >
> > >
> >

> > > It sounds like your wife's ex-pigeon couldn't wait to fly the coop!

> >
> > >
> >
> > > I
> >
> > > was sponsoring a guy, Billy, who drove the van full of clients from
> the
> >
> > > local rehab to our step meeting. He couldn't make coffee for the
> >
> > > meeting because he had to drive the people and couldn't get there
> early
> >
> > > enough nor stay late enough to clean and lock up. I "gave" him the
> new
> >
> > > position of picking up cigarette butts from the ground where the
> re-hab
> >
> > > clients usually tossed them. Billy was WILLING TO GO TO ANY LENGTHS
> TO
> >
> > > STAY SOBER and was grateful for the job and service to his home
> group.
> >
> > > He kept the job for about a year , when he rotated it to the new
> >
> > > driver!!!
> >
> > > I gave Billy his 8yr coin two years ago. The following night he had
> a heart attack and died sober at a meeting.
> >
> > > I loved him and he kept me sober.
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Greg
> >
> > >
> >
> > > --- On Fri, 10/30/09, egrott2 edg36p@ wrote:
> >
> > >
> >
> > > From: egrott2 edg36p@
> >
> > > Subject: [GSOwatch] A case in point?
> >
> > > To: GSOwatch@yahoogroup s.com
> >
> > > Date: Friday, October 30, 2009, 10:18 PM
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > All:
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > A few days ago (in another thread, on a poorly labeled subject
> line), I posed the question: what IS our message? I guess I was pushing some

> buttons and what I got back was the "party line" - e.g. "...to show

> precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose..." (BB, 1st ed.
> forward). Also, some folks replied with useful information about how they
> carry that message in their groups.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Good.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > However, today my wife had a sponsee fire her because "...no one is
> going to tell me what to do..." The offense was that my wife suggested this
> sponsee could do a service position that was on the floor for election at
> our group conscience where this sponsee was not present. She was elected to
> this position, contingent upon her willingness to do the job. When she found
> out, she fired my wife and quit the group because "...she was raised in a
> dictatorship" (she was born in another country) "and no one is going to tell
> her what to do..."
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > I see more and more of this in our rooms around here.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Whatever happened to a spirit of love and sacrifice?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > What has become of generosity of spirit and willingness?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Why do drunks today believe that AA is comprised of a meeting for an
> hour when they find it convenient?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Why have we completely lost our sense of humor?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Does this have anything to do with GSO and perhaps this discussion
> group?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > I think maybe (how's that for commitment?) .
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >

> > > I'm proud of our home group. I see drunks recover there and find a
> spiritual solution. I know that this woman has had a spiritual experience as
> a result of these steps.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > But, there's a fundamental component of our message and our program
> that is missing here.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > I don't think this woman needs to drink more - I hope not. But, I am
> mulling where we might have missed the boat in telling her about what really
> comprises our message and program. I wonder if we (my home group, all of us,
> AA as a whole) offered our best and our all?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Not everyone "gets it" - but this one really surprised me.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > I wonder...?
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Thanx,
> >
> > >
> >
> > > Ed
> >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>

> ----------------------------------------------------------

>
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