About Those A.A. Group Problems
June 13, 2006 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
I may stick with this theme for a short while. Looking back, I’d be completely willing to say that were it not for the Blue Point Traditions Group I might not be sober today. Why? For the simple reason that they were there and functioning with a meeting when it was time for me to stroll on in. Had their doors been locked or had it been a choir practice that night rather than a meeting, who knows?
The same can be said of your group! And of my current group – The SouthSide Group here in Savannah.
I have also had the dubious pleasure (?) of seeing some pretty sick outfits. I feel that those “sick” groups (and this is MHO) are “controlled” by sick people, the “dominant opinion.”
And the ego of the dominant opinion wouldn’t be able to squeeze into the same room as my ego…
So I try to offer the tried and true solutions brought about by years of experience which General Services provides for us through the literature. This is from the same brochure as yesterday’s post – “The AA Group… Where It All Begins”
About Those A.A. Group Problems…
“Group problems are often evidence of a healthy, desirable diversity of opinion among the group members. They give us a chance, in the words of Step Twelve, to ‘Practice these principles in all our affairs.’
Group problems may include such common A.A. questions as: What should the group do about members who return to drinking? How can we boost lagging attendance at meetings? How can we get more people to help with group chores? What can we do about one member’s anonymity break, or another’s attempts to attract the romantic interest of newcomers? How can we get out from under those old-timers who insist they know what’s best for the group? And how can we get more of the old-timers to share their experience in resolving group dilemmas?
Almost every group problem can be solved through the process of an informed group conscience, A.A. principles, and our Twelve Traditions. Some groups find that their G.S.R. or D.C.M. can be helpful. For all involved, a good sense of humor, cooling-off periods, patience, courtesy, willingness to listen and to wait – plus a sense of fairness and trust in a ‘Power greater than ourselves’ – have been found far more effective than legalistic arguments or personal accusations.”
A Sober, Clean Day To All,
Mark
