OMG! Business meetings are horrid sometimes. Especially when the prior treasurer "lost" a ton of money months before, nobody can agree on squat, and resentments are flying everywhere. It would seem the bigger the group, the worse and more contentious the business meeting. I love service, but DANG, I was ready to pull my hair out today. Folks with over 30 years sobriety were hashing it out and going for the jugular...or so it seemed. A newcomer asked "how come we don't spend reserves on cookies?" after all this arguing. Everyone was so tired and cranky that he got his head bit off in the form of "You want freakin cookies? Make a motion and put it on the agenda for next month. This is how AA works. Get used to it." LOL.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Oh mercy, well I shall make sure I do not attend one of those until I am entrenched. I am a newbie so I probably would have bunkered under a table until it was over with and then raised my hand and said "any coffee left?"
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Breast cancer survivor (10 years!). Diabetic (meds and diet control it), and now.... recovering alcoholic.
This post made me laugh. I am treasurer of my group and the business meetings are something right out of a reality tv show. I often wonder how we manage to get anything decided, but slowly and surely our little dysfunctional group manages to pull it together and do what needs to be done. It is sheer entertainment though. I have to think of it that way or I might just go nutter butters from just being there. I wouldn't trade it for anything. We may be a bunch of loons, but I am really proud to be in the loony bin with these folks. *lol*
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I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
Thanks Vixen for that 'positive' post ... we have a hard enough time getting people to stick around after a meeting for the group conscience meeting ... or even to come early for them ... But I'm with you, they can be 'entertainment' if you have the right 'frame of mind' ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Silly stuff mostly ... unless it's to vote for officers so to speak ... like the GSR 'n such ... also budget stuff like how much to send up to state level for support and how much to allow for pamphlets, chips, books, rent, etc. ... whether to add more meetings to the schedule, who will be in charge of what and so on and so forth ...
Everybody has a different take on the direction the group should go and things can get amusing at best ... I could go on, but the message here should be that we all need to participate in these meetings ... especially after we've completed working the steps ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Last month I called my sponser and asked about the time of the business meeting and stated I wanted to go and see what one was like, just sit quietly and observe. Before I knew it, I was voted to chair the speaker meetings as well as obtain the speakers for this month. As I was kicking and screaming inside of my head, my sponser leaned over with a smile and said, "forgot to warn you, you might be asked to do something!" Tonight I completed this month with the last speaker and I can truly say I really enjoyed it, got to meet five fantastic new friends and stayed sober through it all. What impressed me most of all was the sincere thanks that EACH speaker gave me, for their opportuity to be of service.
Oh yeah, .... mrpeel is absolutely correct ... and I forgot to warn you, you may wind up with a job at one of these meetings ... they can bring up an order of business, nominate, and vote before you have a clue as to what's happening ... LMAO ... AND you might get caught in the process ... caught with a job you didn't even know existed ... it happens!!! ... it can be hilarious for the unsuspecting 'new-comer' ... fun to watch, for me anyway ... HeeHee
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
We usually just figure out who the chairpeople are 3 months out and rotate positions when needed.
If you stick to the primary purpose and don't try to be too organized, I think things work best.
There should be set percentages that are paid to district, zone, state and NY offices per quarter, after rent, literature and other expenses. Then a small amount for prudent reserve.
Here is a good pamplet if interested. www.aa.org/pdf/products/f-3_selfsupport.pdf
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Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
I finally quit trying to hold a business mtg (small group) as the new secretary, where there had been no business meetings for apparently years! One guy did the money, same guy chaired all the time, and basically no one had any use, or respect, for any guidance from the AA literature on home groups, business, positions, districts, areas, service structure, etc. They wanted to spend the money on donuts rather than Big Books, and who was I to suggest otherwise-not being a locally born native (and a woman-gasp!!)--they became almost hostile. So after a year of hitting my head against a brick wall I got the message and moved on. In contrast, over the years I have gratefully experienced awesome business mtgs in other localities that taught me much about the strength and heart of our fellowship, when the historical wisdom is attended to and carried out as suggested. :)
When I went to a meeting tonight there was a business meeting at the same time in another room. I was in that room first. When I found out what was going on I got the heck out of there! Thanks for the heads up!! :) Apparently there are many fights about coffee......
At the second meeting I attended Ever I was invited to join the business meeting afterwards.. I didn't know what the heck that was, but my instincts told me I didn't want to know. Guess my instincts were right:)
