When I began my recovery almost 30 years ago, the notion of service was almost like on-the-job training. I picked up a white chip at the noon meeting and returned for the 6:00 pm and stayed for the 8:00 pm meeting. I was not employed and I had a sheet to get signed for the DUI I received for my last drinking escapade. Upon reading some of the Alcoholics Anonymous book, suggested by Skip after the noon meeting. I was confused by some of what I had read. I asked an older member to help clarify some items and was told if I wanted to talk with him, he would talk as we cleaned up the ashtrays (smoking was allowed then).
That was only the beginning. From there I learned hands-on how to take care of our meeting place. do the coffee bar chair meetings. stay after to help newcomers (Big Book learning required). Being Grapevine Rep, taking meetings into the local prison, serving at alcathons and the many other efforts have kept my sobriety fresh, worthwhile and meaningful. Sponsorship was also a hands-on learning experience utilized by the unconditional love I found within the men and women of these rooms.
After almost 5½ years of traditional recovery, I ended up homeless having to move from Brevard County to the Central Florida area working on the road and returning on weekends. My sponsor told me in order to keep my sobriety, service is always required, and to provide that service in any way I could.
I learned of the Corrections Correspondence Program at GSO and for the on-the-road years, I was able to write to inmates and receive their letters describing not only their difficulties, but also their growth in sobriety. Several stopped writing when they were released, found home groups and sponsors, and said farewell. I also helped with the hands-on work at many groups I visited, remembering from my sponsor these people aren’t strangers, they are just friends I haven’t met yet. Many times I drove the last vehicle out of the parking lot. having talked with a newcomer and assuming temporary sponsorship for the moment.
I still feel required to do service. I know I can’t get anyone sober, but on page 132 of Alcoholics Anonymous it states “We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others”. So we are not completely powerless as long as we are trying to help other alcoholics.
Service work also takes the form of writing articles for the Intergrouper, the A4 Grapevine and any other newsletter or AA-based publications. In the January 2019 Intergrouper there is an article on writing and submitting stories. This is definitely a needed service for our Central Florida AA community. It’s been my honor and privilege to have been able to submit several stories over the past year, even though I consider myself only a fair writer. At last count, there are 136 AA groups listed in our Intergroup area. If only one person from each group wrote and submitted one story, we would have no problems in printing stories for the future Intergroupers.
Please consider this much-needed service and step up to the plate. Every sober alcoholic has at least one story they can share with us. Thanks!
~Dennis W., Sanford, Fl.