A lot of thoughts and energies went into this…
Mike left a comment today, the gist of which was that some folks were reading letters from a prison inmate at a meeting, looking, in some apparently misguided way, for help for the inmate. The inmate was not attending the meeting. The folks offering the readings also offered comments on the inmate’s daily living challenges. At an AA meeting. Then looking for feedback from the meeting.
Of course this felt awkward, even angering some. My first thoughts ran along the line that this was somehow a violation of our Fifth Tradition.
Then …read more

Bill W. spoke through his Grapevine writings in August, 1945. This is just one of many things he said* that I find interesting;
“Personal glorification, overweening pride, consuming ambition, exhibitionism, intolerant smugness, money or power madness, refusal to admit mistakes and learn from them, self-satisfaction, lazy complacency – these and many more are the garden variety of ills which so often beset movements as well as individuals.
While we AA’s, as individuals, have suffered much from just such defects, and must daily admit and deal with them in our personal lives if we are to stay sober and useful, it is nevertheless …read more

From “The Language of the Heart” page 90;
“Our AA Traditions are those attitudes and practices by which we may deserve, as a movement, a long life and a useful one. To this end, none could be more vital than our Tenth Tradition, for it deals with the subject of controversy – serious controversy.”
Sounds familiar… try to remember that Bill wrote this in July, 1948.
“On the other side of the world, millions have died even recently in religious dissension. Other millions have died in political controversy. The end is not yet. Nearly everybody in the world has turned reformer. Each group, …read more

From Silkworth.net ;
Tradition Two: For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving GOD as HE may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
*****

Do I criticize or do I trust and support my group officers, AA committees, and office workers? Newcomers? Old-timers?
Am I absolutely trustworthy, even in secret, with AA Twelfth Step jobs or other AA responsibility?
Do I look for credit in my AA jobs? Praise for my AA ideas?
Do I have to save face in group discussion, or can I yield in good spirit to the group conscience …read more

From the The Traditions Checklist ;
Traditions Checklist – Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
1. Am I in my group a healing, mending, integrating person, or am I divisive? What about gossip and taking other members’ inventories?
2. Am I a peacemaker? Or do I, with pious preludes such as “just for the sake of discussion,” plunge into argument?
3. Am I gentle with those who rub me the wrong way, or am I abrasive?
4. Do I make competitive AA remarks, such as comparing one group with another or contrasting AA in one place with …read more

Just a thought this am…
“Is my brand of AA so attractive that other drunks want it?”
From Silkworth.net;
Tradition Twelve: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Why is it a good idea for me to place the common welfare of all AA members before individual welfare? What would happen to me if AA as a whole disappeared?
When I do not trust AA’s current servants, who do I wish had the authority to straighten them out?
In my opinions of and remarks about other AAs, am I implying membership requirements other than a desire …read more

As usual, always worthy of consideration, any day, any time, imho.
From Silkworth.net;
Tradition Eleven: Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

Do I sometimes promote AA so fanatically that I make it seem unattractive?
Am I always careful to keep the confidences reposed in me as an AA member?
Am I careful about throwing AA names around – even within the Fellowship?
Am I ashamed of being a recovered, or recovering, alcoholic?
What would AA be like if we were not guided by the ideas in Tradition Eleven? …read more

As usual, always worthy of consideration, any day, any time, imho.
From Silkworth.net;
Tradition Ten: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

Do I ever give the impression that there really is an “AA opinion” on Antabuse? Tranquilizers? Doctors? Psychiatrists? Churches? Hospitals? Jails? Alcohol? The federal government? Legalizing marijuana? Vitamins? Al-Anon? Alateen?
Can I honestly share my own personal experience concerning any of those without giving the impression I am stating the “AA opinion”?
What in AA history gave rise to our Tenth Tradition?
Have I had a similar experience in my own AA …read more

Once again, from the Traditions Nine Checklist
Tradition Nine: AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

Do I still try to boss things in AA?
Do I resist formal aspects of AA because I fear them as authoritative?
Am I mature enough to understand and use all elements of the AA program – even if no one makes me do so – with a sense of personal responsibility?
Do I exercise patience and humility in any AA job I take?
Am I aware of all those to whom I am responsible in …read more

Traditions Nine Checklist
Tradition Nine: AA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

Do I still try to boss things in AA?
Do I resist formal aspects of AA because I fear them as authoritative?
Am I mature enough to understand and use all elements of the AA program – even if no one makes me do so – with a sense of personal responsibility?
Do I exercise patience and humility in any AA job I take?
Am I aware of all those to whom I am responsible in any AA job?
Why doesn’t …read more