Just a quick questions. A lady was refused a 32 yr medalion because she had missed 3 business meetings in a row. Would like some feedback on this. And is it a general practice to always provide a medalion on a persons sobriety date when birthday begins with year one.? What other ways are sobriety birthdays celabrated?
Refused her medallion because she missed some business meetins?? Who in the hell made that decision, the group or one particular person? That just about takes the cake, in my opinion, as for the weirdest thing I've ever heard as per AA issues. I agree with Larry, this lady needs to find a new group or she needs to help straighten out this one! Sheesh!!!
My group has a grace period, which allows members to announce their anniversary up to two weeks into any given month. If they can't make it to the business meeting on Saturday mornings then they have two weeks from there to inform us that they're celebrating. I had a proxy representing myself on a couple of occasions, just in case I couldn't make it. He would inform them of my intentions, so there would be no confusion about my celebration. It is AA folks, not a museum of perfect people. The group should exercise some common sense before alienating anyone, especially a member in good standing with some quality sobriety under their belt. It's just my take though, so don't attack the person just the argument.
Never heard of it.. I know people who only come to meetings once a year to get thier coin. Never even go to business meetings. That just stinks in my opinion.....
I'm with Mark on this one, my response would have "kiss my lily white....." somewhere in it, not very spiritual I know, but that just means I have room for growth woot!!!!
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it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Huh. In my home group, there is a list, and if you want to, you sign up. Then we know when your Birthday comes around and what chips to buy.
That said sometimes it just doesn't work, expecially with long term sobriety chips. Stockpile of one year chips abound, but we don't give out too many over 20.....
I've been on the recieving end of that, no big deal.
However, if we (the meeting) are judging that you aren't sober (enough, or the right way, or the right QUALITY of Sobriety), and we won't AWARD you a chip for not making the business meetings?
I'd buy a chip; a BIG, SHINY, BLING ENCRUSTED CHIP. And I'd put it in a bezel on a chain and wear it when I walked in with a cake for me. And maybe have one made into a ring, and two into earrings.
But I'm kind of an A-hole that way.
-- Edited by Rainspa on Thursday 16th of June 2011 06:50:43 PM
-- Edited by Rainspa on Thursday 16th of June 2011 06:56:20 PM
Surely, if a member has over 32 years sober and they were denied a chip, wouldn't and shouldn't it be that member's responsibility to help 'educate' these morons on AA? I can understand them not ordering a chip if this person hasn't been making meetings, then just 'shows up' for a 32 year chip, but this post says the member was 'denied the medallion", so I'm 'assuming' they had already ordered it. (???) Oh well, it still takes the cake for one of the weirdest things I've heard about in A.A. Lordy Mercy!!!
However, even tho it does seem wrong, I would hope that the Lady with 32 yrs. of sobriety has acquired enough humility over those God given years to not make a huge deal out of it. Its only after all, a coin, or medallion, or chip or whatever ... Remember, we cannot afford resentments.
In reality, yes, it's only a plastic chip; however, the principle of individual members being denied their recognition for having stayed sober for 30 days, 6 months, 1 year or 32 years, IS a big deal, imho. I'm quite sure there's other groups (AA) in her area that might be very happy to have a member with that amount of sobriety to share her es&h. Nope, we can't afford those resentments, but we can't hide under a rock in life, either. I think the book tells us we are not doormats, and any group that denies me my rightful chip would most definitely get a full dose of the AA traditions before I told them where they could stick their 'AA group'! On that note, I'm off to my high school reunion and will 'see' you all on Sunday!
Thanks to all of you sane folks. I myself was appalled, I was chairing that night and was disappointed and embarassed. She may not look for a new group, but this little lady is. Resentment is a killer and I quite frankly want to live and I want it to be happy, joyous, and free. By the by, I'm praying on the resentment. Ain't being sober a kick!!!
