Carol M.
Interested AA - Home Group: Northeast Discussion Group
I started service work early in sobriety when I was given the key to the church where my home group met. I opened the church for the meeting for many years and learned how to be accountable. Over the years I have had the honor and privilege to chair and asked to lead at meetings. I have been elected to several service positions such as Secretary, Treasurer, Group Institution Rep (GIR), coffee maker, coffee pot cleaner and many years ago, ashtray cleaner! I was and still am willing to do whatever needs to be done to help.
The greatest gift of all was the opportunity to be a member of the Area 53 Correctional Facilities Committee and an Outside Sponsor for the Marysville West Central Community Based Correction Facility (CBCF). I recently rotated out of this position after 15 years of service, but I have so much gratitude to have been able to serve AA in this way. To see the new women become excited to come to meetings, to see the light come on in their eyes and to have a newfound hope for a new way of life such as I have been given is priceless. Today I sponsor one of those women who has over 3 years of sobriety!
Thank you Alcoholics Anonymous for the gift of service!
Greg G.
GSR – Into the Solution Group & District 22 Treasurer
I appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the impact of service work on my sobriety. As my sobriety has evolved over the years, so has my service. I began as the pamphlet and coin person for my home group. This helped with my development of accountability as my homegroup depended on me to keep our pamphlets and sobriety chips in stock. It also had the added benefit of my becoming familiar with the Central Office. I enjoyed going there. With all the items they had (coins, AA trinkets, and a selection of books), I felt like a kid in a candy store. I picked up several books for my own use. After this, I became the group’s secretary and my service expanded from there. I joined a group that was taking a meeting into a prison. I do not know how much I helped the inmates, but it sure helped me. Some of them worked a strong program and it helped encourage me. I remember one guy singing, “Have a holly jolly Christmas” while setting up chairs. I reflected that if he can sing in prison, this program is powerful. It was gratifying to meet up with inmates after they were released and see them making it in the program on the outside. I had the privilege of being able to attend one man’s graduation for a technical degree in computers, after he was released.
Another phase of my service has been with Area 53. I began as an Alternate General Service Representative (GSR) and then became the GSR. After a couple of years, I became the District Committee Member and Treasurer for the District. It was interesting to see how the structure of AA
works. Sometimes, there were disagreements, but it was always about what was best for AA and the struggling alcoholic.
Reflecting on this service, I noticed a common theme of accountability. My group depended on me to purchase supplies. The inmates looked forward to the meeting each week. The area depended on me to be a channel of communication between the area and the groups. With this accountability, I found myself attending meetings even if I didn’t feel like it at the time. However, I always felt better afterwards. My service in AA has helped me stay connected to my fellow alcoholics and stay
grounded in the program.