How many of your groups have a group conscience meeting? My group does not. Issues are brought up to the group secretary and discussed between the previous secretaries.
What an interesting topic, everyone. This topic seems to be getting some extra attention as of late, or maybe it's just another case of "AA" déjà vu to me. It's still a great topic anyway, so thank you. A lot of groups in my area have suffered similar fates. They've either disbanded or have to fend for themselves -alone. In "AA", and in most places nowadays, 10% of the people do 90% of the work. And the group conscience only exists between certain factions, not with the entire group. So it doesn't surprise me that people eventually get tired of it all, and then walk away from this fellowship altogether. It's a darn shame, that's for sure. The group is made up of many members, though, not just a few, and the group conscience should emphasize that. We might disagree on some topics, but our group conscience allows these issues to be resolved collectively not individually. And any group that doesn't is doomed to fail, period. All we can do, though, is make suggestions. And if you don't agree with the outcome, than find yourself another group -it's that simple. I hope this helps.
-- Edited by Mr_David on Monday 5th of March 2012 03:31:15 AM
each group is autonomous and is therefore free to run its affairs in anyway it likes provided it doesn't affect other groups or AA as a whole.
Having said that I have noticed that the most successful groups seem to be well organised and offer opportunities for their members to be involved in all aspects of AA. Through the group conscience, the group participates in and contributes to AA as a whole. Part of this is the 7th tradition, but another important aspect is teaching members about service and traditions in AA. Rotating positions such as secretary, chair, GSR, intergroup representative, treasurer, greeter, dishwasher etc give members the skills they will need to particpate in rewarding service at other levels in AA and it is all vitally important to the fulfillment of our primary purpose.
Groups that do this seem to be strong and positive, great places to get the full benefit of AA.
In my hometown we have around 60 meetings but I would struggle to identify more than four or five functioning groups. Sadly it seems many of our fellowship are visitors to all groups and members of none. Some of the meetings manage to have a conscience meeting, but they are held together by just two or three committed members, the rest are just a passing parade. As a result service positions don't get rotated, and many miss out on the joy of service. My home group was like this for the past two years. We had a conscience meeting and asked ourselves whether we were doing anything towards the primary purpose. the answer was no, so we closed down, and went off to support other better functioning groups.
My home group has a Saturday and a Sunday meeting...at the same place with Sunday being only 30 minutes later in start time than Saturday. Our business meeting is every 3rd Sunday and because of group conscience will vary to Saturday the next time. All those who do service are trust servants and the full membership is encouraged to participate in each business meeting. We do group inventories and more and it is one of the better attended meetings on this side of the island (East). I've rotated service often and am a standing alternate if someone is going to be missing and needs back up which isn't available. I am the remaining co-founder member of AA at the Bay, Hilo which was founded 18 years ago by two drunks and an alcoholic/addict who wanted to sit and meet by the ocean side and help each other get and stay clean and sober. It's still happening and we have had attendance upwards to 75 members including fellows as far away as Germany and Iraq. Yes this is a tourist atmospher and were posted in the hotels.
Give it support and help it grow and it will keep you sober. Jerry
Each of the groups I attend hold monthly business meetings. The format is typically- Secretary's report, Treasurers report, GSR Report, Old Business and New Business. The spirit of job rotation among the groups is strong. From reading the post above, I guess I can consider myself fortunate to have sound functioning groups.
Jerry