The AA Tools Of Recovery
June 5, 2007 by Mark
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
We may have found a counselor practicing something unheard of, or unknown, at least to a few of us. I’ll back that up by placing my trust in the Hindsfoot web site where I’ve found enormously helpful information about AA before.
Mike P’s new “pigeon,” “sponsee,” apparently has been given an assignment with which to gain his release from what Mike? Rehab? Detox? The assignment is to find the “100 Tools of AA.”
I’m hoping that someone out there has heard of 100 Tools because we haven’t. Searched for it at the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo! and no results for either “100 Tools of AA” or “Tools of AA.”
I was able to find “AA Tools” with the link to Hindsfoot above where I’ve discovered seven “AA Tools of Recovery.” No, not 100… 7!
- Abstinence
- Meetings
- Sponsor
- Telephone
- Literature
- Service
- Anonymity
Quoting Hindsfoot (I’m not sure who wrote this piece)
“The first principle made it clear that the way an alcoholic kept from getting drunk was not to take even the first drink. The next five were the things that not only got people sober but kept them sober. Good sponsors like Bill and Raymond noted that those who relapsed and returned to drinking had almost invariably failed to do one or more of these five things in any serious and dedicated way. And the seventh principle was a constant reminder that A.A. meetings could not function properly unless members could talk about all of their feelings and anything that was bothering them, in an accepting and shame-free atmosphere, without worrying about whether it was going to be repeated outside of the group. That was a solemn pledge which the members of the group had to make to one another.”
How about it folks? Can anyone add to this?
WOW where to start… This is something I run into more than I’d like to admit, but it’s pretty common, but this kind of thing really gets me EXCITED !
Obviously the counselor doesn’t know that much about A.A. — I’ve never of “100 tools of AA”. Of course I won’t argue I can’t count the number of ways my life has improved since working through the Twelve Steps… Perhaps the counselor had to “google” AA tools and somehow landed on a page that was selling Batteries by the bulk… HOW would he know the differnce?
We can do better!
Someone who’s been sober a lot longer than myself brought up a few things for me to think about at a workshop last year… When we look back through A.A.’s history, we don’t have to look far to find “FRIENDS” of Alcoholics Anonymous — People who weren’t alcoholics who did a tremendous amount of work for Alcoholics Anonymous — Sister Ignatia, Doctor William D. Silkworth, Ruth Hock, John D. Rockefeller – to name a few. If you’ve studied the history, you can add to the list rapidly. Here’s the point to consider: How many “FRIENDS” can we mention that are in the spotlight helping A.A. today? —
All those professional people, who are getting paid to help knot-heads like me, are really starting off at a tremendous dis-advantage. If you approach any of them, they’ll tell you they’ve heard of Alcoholics Anonymous, but very few of them can tell you what Alcoholics Anonymous does or doesn’t do. The point: Noone knows more about A.A. than it’s members. It’s in the Big Book, and I believe it: You can help when no one else can.” I know a man who has just become a doctor. He told me that A.A. was mentioned one time in one of his classes, but there was no talk about it. How can we expect these professionals, to know anything about A.A. if nobody has ever told them? or more bluntly, “How will anyone know if we don’t tell them?”
That’s where Cooperation with the Professional Community – also known to some old-timers as C.P.C. .. From the AA Guidelines regarding Cooperation with the Professional Community:
C.P.C.—Members of these committees provide information about A.A. to those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession.
This group includes health care professionals, educators, members of the clergy, lawyers, social workers, union leaders, and industrial managers, as well as those working in the field of alcoholism. Information is provided about where we are, what we are, what we can do, and what we cannot do.
This is a GREAT opportunity to contact the District C.P.C. Chair and find out what can be done. Maybe set up an appointment with the Counselor… maybe even the entire staff where the Counselor works and have some folks on a C.P.C. committee give a presentation.
Of course, the pigeon will still have to do whatever the counselor says, but hopefully, the counselor will be a bit more educated in matters concerning A.A. before dishing out “assignments”. Who knows… we might even make a new “FRIEND” in the process!
John
I think this is brill. Just get a newbie to get out there and hunting and reading, I really think that task stuff works for me, discovering answers to specific questions. If you find the 100, be sure to post them.
Thanks both! Joe, you may have an excellent point there – something my first sponsor was good at.
John, that’s also a great thought!
Mike P. – if you can, might be an idea to contact the PI chair in Patchogue (Intergroup Office) on Main St. If you recall, I was the PI chair for a while “back in the day.” lol…
That is a fine, fine seven tools list
This Just In !!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS A FISHING TRIP TO TEST THE NEWBIE TO SEE IF HE REALLY HAD A SPONSER AND A HOME GROUP.
I think it did more for me than him, i got to speak to people i never would have ..the jokes on me I love it …thanks to all
The “joke” is on a lot of us dude… [big grin]
Joe ^ was right…