I go to a Step Meeting once a week. They never give out chips.
My thought is....if this is the first meeting someone is attending and is ready to pick up a white chip and they don't give them out, what affect, if any, this may have on them. I have been to quite a few meetings and this is the only one which doesn't give out chips. I love my chips and can get them at other meetings on my milestone mark. I am mainly concerned for the newcomer.
The meeting was started about 20 years ago. I thought about bringing it up, but someone brought it up in a share that it had been suggested they give out chips at the meeting, but one of the people who started the group said they are not going to change. That person is still there.
I carry around chips that cover the first year in my purse at all times. It's come in handy after meetings where people announce sobriety dates but no chips were given. :) I like to also keep meeting schedules in my purse and give them out - sometimes give them to people who want a chip and circle the meetings I know are good for that. We have a couple speaker meetings that make a huge deal out of chips. I have really never been much into it - but I do a lot of stuff for others more than for myself - and of course, it does always end up benefiting me when I give back. I always let people know they can inspire others and give back from day one. I'll never forget at my first meeting when a lady said she had 22 days of sobriety! I almost fell off my chair!!! Then to hear others say they had years???? wo!
Are you the most useful to God focusing on issues with a group you have little or no control over? Could you have some control in a group conscious meeting? Where and in what state of being could you be more useful to your HP?
You're a smart gal - I'm sure you'll come up with a solution that works for you and your HP.
-- Edited by justadrunk on Thursday 16th of January 2014 09:42:33 AM
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Thanks for everything. Peace and Love on your journey.
It is important but more important as a BB meeting that they be able to give books. The white chip was important, but getting the BB at my first meeting was a gesture even more powerful.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I go to 8 meetings a week, Chips are only given out at 2 of them. Didn't think much of it, but I can see what you mean for the newcomer. I do wish more of them did it.
Maybe I am being too concerned over this... Sobriety dates are not recognized at this meeting either.
I just love watching the faces of people going up to get their chips. Whenever I reach a milestone and get mine I always get teary eyed because it is a symbol to me that I have reached a length of time in my sobriety which I didn't think was possible. We use an expression at the meetings....."it lets other people know it is working".
Maybe there is quiet a bit of ego with me, but I love my chips and am proud of them....everyone of them.
-- Edited by betterthanyesterday52 on Thursday 16th of January 2014 11:31:27 AM
I go to 8 meetings a week, Chips are only given out at 2 of them. Didn't think much of it, but I can see what you mean for the newcomer. I do wish more of them did it.
Just passed 2 months on Sunday.
God bless!
Congrats d_willing....That's awesome. How's your stepwork coming along?
if its their 1st meeting then they wont know about the tokens so there shouldn't be any effect. the big book is a much better thing to give out. tokens don't keep me sober. whats in the big book does.
Congrats d_willing....That's awesome. How's your stepwork coming along?
Thanks SC! I go to 3 step meetings and a BB each week. My sponsor is SLOWLY taking me through the Big book. We are on "How it Works". We haven't really started on the steps yet, but I have done 1-3 on my own and I am working on some worksheets for step 4. I don't really know if I am doing it correct, but at least I'll have something for when we get started. I feel like I am getting anxious to get going. I have been saying the 3rd step prayer every morning, and to be honest, since I have been doing it, I can see myself changing for the better each day. My sponsor has a lot on his plate so we are just meeting for dinner every other week, and before a Saturday morning meeting each week. I call him everyday as well to check in. I have expressed I am anxious to get going. In all, I am feeling pretty good right now and think I am in a good place. A lot of the meetings around me don't have a lot of focus on the steps, so I seek out the step and bb meetings. My health is good, my home life is getting much better, and I don't miss the drink today. I just need to remain vigilant!
That's beautiful...Here is a thought for you. I also did the first three steps on my own. There is a line right after step 3 that stood out for me....
Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.
BB pg 64
That tells me..though the decision I made in step 3 is a vital and crucial one...It won't keep me sober alone for very long. I need action...Step 4....When? At once. Why don't you run that by your sponsor and see what he thinks. Tell him you are ready. That's exactly what I did with mine. Once I had started I asked about the format I had layed out....Just to make sure I was doing it right. It was fine. You know what I've come to learn about the fourth step? I think the only wrong way to do it....Is simply not doing it. You sound committed to this....That's awesome.....Music to my ears d_willing.
Stepchild wrote:That tells me..though the decision I made in step 3 is a vital and crucial one...It won't keep me sober alone for very long. I need action...Step 4....When? At once. Why don't you run that by your sponsor and see what he thinks. Tell him you are ready.
You are probably right, I should ask him. That would be going out of my comfort zone, my mind says "I don't want to be a nuisance." I will talk to him about it this Sat. morning during our meeting before the meeting.
I wish there were those around my area that took the steps as seriously as you do, I know a lot of them see the importance and have done them, but few refer to them in meetings, and I see many who are miserable and struggle with sobriety, not because of their lack of meetings, I see them at many, but I guess their lack of work on themselves through the steps. I see it, and I don't want that for me. Whats the point of being sober if I am going to be miserable and not help others. Sure I guess it means I'll live a bit longer, but I will drag those around me slowly down with the ship as a dry drunk. No thanks!
You are probably right, I should ask him. That would be going out of my comfort zone, my mind says "I don't want to be a nuisance." I will talk to him about it this Sat. morning during our meeting before the meeting.
This was a life or death deal for me....I didn't have a comfort zone. If I had shown something to my sponsor from the book and he disagreed with it.....That would have left me no choice but to find another. My sponsor told me start writing...Just like the directions said I should. I couldn't play around with this....If I drank again....I don't think I'd be here right now. That's why I take it seriously.
-- Edited by Stepchild on Thursday 16th of January 2014 03:39:44 PM
Hardly any, like less than 1% of our groups give out chips. It doesn't make any difference as to whether a person gets sober or not, just like any other external circumstance. The only chip I ever got was a thirty year one, but I was not damaged by the long wait.
You beat me to it, LOL ... ... ... I was go'n to post that I went to a meeting, carrying my dip and salsa, only to find out ... there were no chips ...
Seriously, If I'm not mistaken, I've heard, or read, that there was a Nun, or a Sister that gave a medallion to one of the early members for completing their detox or something ... it was to remind them of their accomplishment of getting sober and to give them 'spiritual strength' to continue to seek recovery ... maybe from that the chip system was born ??? ... ask Dean or John or PC or MikeH,B,D ...
Personally, I like it ... It does not seem a necessity for me personally, but I do like that it can, and does, give most newer members a 'renewed' sense of 'HOPE' ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
"Why do AA members use tokens, medallions, and chips to mark sobriety? When did that practice start?"
"A. The chip system is thought to have begun in Indianapolis in 1942. The tradition is believed to have started with Doherty S., who originally brought A.A. to Indianapolis. Doherty himself, in a letter to Bill, seems to indicate the practice originated in Indianapolis in 1942.
"Nell Wing wrote in 1962 about the history of the chip system: "The chip system might have begun in Indianapolis.reference was made in a letter from Doherty to the start of giving out chips and tokens. This was in 1942. I imagine this would be about right, because most of the early groups started in 1940 and it would take about a couple of years to think of anniversaries and marking any time of sobriety. I asked Bill about this and his memory is that the system started in Indianapolis."
"In Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers, it indicates that Sister Ignatia in Akron, working at St. Thomas Hospital, also used medallions: Sister Ignatia gave each of her newly released patients a Sacred Heart medallion, which she asked them to return before they took the first drink. She would occasionally give out St. Christopher medals as well (page 195)."
"We dont know precisely who started this system first, or when and how it spread to other groups. As with many things in AA, the exact nature of the history eludes us!"
The above information comes from this site: http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=287#siete
The chips I had the other night were very good, but the pickles set my mouth on fire. Oh, I always have loved to drink pickle juice....never have heard of anyone else doing this before. I wonder if it has to do with vinegar and I need to check and make sure it doesn't have alcohol in it before I do it again. Darn it, I just now thought of that.
BTY ... You give a whole new meaning to "I'm going to go get myself 'pickled'", LOL ... ... ... (I heard or read somewhere that vinegar taken in small doses daily is very healthful ... guess it wouldn't matter if was in the form of pickle juice or not, LOL) ... ha! ... check it out and let us know :P ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
Just found your posting, Pappy....I will...although I didn't have enough nerve to drink the zesty pickle juice by itself, as my mouth burns so much after eating the pickles. "I'm going to get myself pickled"...you're too funny, Pappy!
