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Home > Archive > Recovery aa > September 2005 > What do Intergroups do ?
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What do Intergroups do ?
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| Charley O 2005-09-30, 12:08 pm |
| "Anotherone" <anon@knowwhere.com> wrote in message
news:mgakj1lbcgkvu4og6ql9vt3p465jdfk3dh@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 27 Sep 2005 23:12:23 GMT, "Charley O"
> <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
> No it is not. Intergroup requires a good knowledge of our traditions
> and the ability to apply them to whatever local issues the intergroup
> is currently dealing with.
> Certainly any newcomer who wants to get involved should be encouraged
> but they should be there with someone else from the group with more
> recovery.
> Why would you leave Intergroup to people who don't know what to do?
Keeping a meetings list up to date - answering the phone - stock and sell AA
literature ? You don't need to be an "oldtimer" to handle these jobs.
Anybody with 6 months (and a sponsor), a year, or 2 years, should be able to
take care of it.
Perhaps you are getting the Intergroup confused with the AA service
structure (GSR, DCM, delegate) where it is suggested a minimum of 2 years
continuous sobriety to participate.
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Charley O wrote:
> "Anotherone" <anon@knowwhere.com> wrote in message
> news:mgakj1lbcgkvu4og6ql9vt3p465jdfk3dh@4ax.com...
>
>
> Keeping a meetings list up to date - answering the phone - stock and sell AA
> literature ? You don't need to be an "oldtimer" to handle these jobs.
> Anybody with 6 months (and a sponsor), a year, or 2 years, should be able to
> take care of it.
>
> Perhaps you are getting the Intergroup confused with the AA service
> structure (GSR, DCM, delegate) where it is suggested a minimum of 2 years
> continuous sobriety to participate.
Intergroup representatives were also the ones that voted whether or not
to denote meetings as (G) or Gay in the meeting lists. Hopefully they
went back to their groups for a group conscience but who knows if they
did. When I was an intergroup rep in the 1970's one of my first
intergroup meetings in Orange County was taken up by the debate and
vote whether meetings should be listed as Gay. It was very divisive
and the pro-gay homosexual activists won out. Many oldtime AA were
outraged at the time.
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| Mark Warner 2005-09-30, 12:08 pm |
| tedw wrote:
>
> When I was an intergroup rep in the 1970's one of my
> first intergroup meetings in Orange County was taken up by the debate
> and vote whether meetings should be listed as Gay. It was very
> divisive and the pro-gay homosexual activists won out.
And you've held your resentment all this time. TedW, Heal Thyself!
--
Mark Warner
lose .inhibitions when replying
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| Mark Warner wrote:
> tedw wrote:
>
>
>
> And you've held your resentment all this time. TedW, Heal Thyself!
LOL, Orange County? Must not be the Orange County in Calif.
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| Charley O 2005-09-30, 12:08 pm |
|
"tedw" <tedw2@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1127924706.517211.15270@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Charley O wrote:
>
> Intergroup representatives were also the ones that voted whether or not
> to denote meetings as (G) or Gay in the meeting lists. Hopefully they
> went back to their groups for a group conscience but who knows if they
> did. When I was an intergroup rep in the 1970's one of my first
> intergroup meetings in Orange County was taken up by the debate and
> vote whether meetings should be listed as Gay. It was very divisive
> and the pro-gay homosexual activists won out. Many oldtime AA were
> outraged at the time.
>
Were you one of the ones who preferred to have them designated (H) for homo
?
This may have seemed like a big deal at the time but I'm a believer in the
old story - getting born is a big deal, dieing is a big deal, and getting
married is a big deal *for a moment* - but everything else is small change.
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F.H. wrote:
> Mark Warner wrote:
>
> LOL, Orange County? Must not be the Orange County in Calif.
Yup, it was Orange County California. I was the intergroup rep for the
Saturday Night Speakers meeting at the Friendship Clug in Orange.
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| Sorry Mark. No resentment.
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| Virtualoso 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| In article <1127953668.043568.59690@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, tedw
<tedw2@earthlink.net> wrote:
> .... I was the intergroup rep for the
> Saturday Night Speakers meeting at the Friendship Clug ...
Better than the winner at the Friendly Chug!
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| Craig S. 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| "Charley O" <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote in message
news:p4y_e.331834$5N3.289137@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> Keeping a meetings list up to date - answering the phone - stock and sell
AA
> literature ? You don't need to be an "oldtimer" to handle these jobs.
> Anybody with 6 months (and a sponsor), a year, or 2 years, should be able
to
> take care of it.
>
> Perhaps you are getting the Intergroup confused with the AA service
> structure (GSR, DCM, delegate) where it is suggested a minimum of 2 years
> continuous sobriety to participate.
Some folks are more inclined to become involved in the "service structure"
than others. Looking back, it seems like mostly what the "service
structure" accomplishes is giving those people involved in it another good
reason to keep the plug in the jug for another day.
"People who don't know what to do" has never been much of a hinderance in AA
at any level as best as I've been able to tell. It's just about a bunch of
drunks not being drunk. The rest of it is just wheel spinning, busy work
and ego bolstering.
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| Virtualoso 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| In article <yYH_e.17775$L45.695@fe07.lga>, Craig S.
<cspurlocktakethisout@takethisoutcharter.net> wrote:
> "Charley O" <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote in message
> news:p4y_e.331834$5N3.289137@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> AA
> to
>
> Some folks are more inclined to become involved in the "service structure"
> than others. Looking back, it seems like mostly what the "service
> structure" accomplishes is giving those people involved in it another good
> reason to keep the plug in the jug for another day.
>
> "People who don't know what to do" has never been much of a hinderance in AA
> at any level as best as I've been able to tell. It's just about a bunch of
> drunks not being drunk. The rest of it is just wheel spinning, busy work
> and ego bolstering.
That may be a touch more dourly dismissing than is useful. I've seen
quite some number of "lowerbottom drunks" that found service
involvement very practically useful to get back in more functional,
responsible shape, at the same time making themselves useful to others
and taking a contributing place among others important to them and to
the advantage and benefit of others. If that's what's going on, that
can be a good deal for all, too.
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| Craig S. 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| "Virtualoso" <workarts@safe-mail.net> wrote in message
news:280920051945524527%workarts@safe-mail.net...
> In article <yYH_e.17775$L45.695@fe07.lga>, Craig S.
> <cspurlocktakethisout@takethisoutcharter.net> wrote:
>
sell[vbcol=seagreen]
able[vbcol=seagreen]
years[vbcol=seagreen]
structure"[vbcol=seagreen]
good[vbcol=seagreen]
in AA[vbcol=seagreen]
of[vbcol=seagreen]
work[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> That may be a touch more dourly dismissing than is useful. I've seen
> quite some number of "lowerbottom drunks" that found service
> involvement very practically useful to get back in more functional,
> responsible shape, at the same time making themselves useful to others
> and taking a contributing place among others important to them and to
> the advantage and benefit of others. If that's what's going on, that
> can be a good deal for all, too.
Sure, but I still see that more as exercises to (re)build the individual
rather than to "run" AA. The latter seems to be the more frequent
identification of the dynamics, though. It's like the janitor choosing to
sweep up the auditorium every Tuesday evening because it needs swept. Of
course, that just happens to be when the symphony rehearses.
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|
| Craig S. wrote:
> "Virtualoso" <workarts@safe-mail.net> wrote in message
> news:280920051945524527%workarts@safe-mail.net...
>
>
> sell
>
>
> able
>
>
> years
>
>
> structure"
>
>
> good
>
>
> in AA
>
>
> of
>
>
> work
>
>
>
> Sure, but I still see that more as exercises to (re)build the individual
> rather than to "run" AA. The latter seems to be the more frequent
> identification of the dynamics, though. It's like the janitor choosing to
> sweep up the auditorium every Tuesday evening because it needs swept. Of
> course, that just happens to be when the symphony rehearses.
>
>
In my experience there isn't much around as dysfunctional as a bunch of
drunks getting together to organize and "fix" something. Kind of fun
though if you don't take it too seriously. My first meeting as a gsr was
"stunning" to say the least. I was 4 years or so and thought I would
finally see the wisdom and leadership of AA old-timers. Sheesh! Such a
yelling and confusion and dissension. And politicking and persuasion. I
guess we got the job done, whatever that was.
John
| |
| Virtualoso 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| In article <pbJ_e.4218$wg7.2889@fe06.lga>, Craig S.
<cspurlocktakethisout@takethisoutcharter.net> wrote:
> ... It's just about a bunch of
> work and ego bolstering.
>
> Sure, but I still see that more as exercises to (re)build the individual
> rather than to "run" AA. The latter seems to be the more frequent
> identification of the dynamics, though. It's like the janitor choosing to
> sweep up the auditorium every Tuesday evening because it needs swept. Of
> course, that just happens to be when the symphony rehearses.
Given AA's purpose, and just why it's got a comparative minimal amount
of "running" for that reason, the rebuilding/recovery of drunks IS both
the former and the latter... even without a line of distinction betwixt
and between. Especially considering that the folks being "served" are
there for the very same reason(s). At best, that is. '-)
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| Anotherone 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 14:49:57 GMT, "Charley O"
<gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>"Anotherone" <anon@knowwhere.com> wrote in message
>news:mgakj1lbcgkvu4og6ql9vt3p465jdfk3dh@4ax.com...
>
>
>Keeping a meetings list up to date - answering the phone - stock and sell AA
>literature ? You don't need to be an "oldtimer" to handle these jobs.
>Anybody with 6 months (and a sponsor), a year, or 2 years, should be able to
>take care of it.
>
>Perhaps you are getting the Intergroup confused with the AA service
>structure (GSR, DCM, delegate) where it is suggested a minimum of 2 years
>continuous sobriety to participate.
>
Round here (Glasgow, Scotland) they are the same. Reps from each group
get together, deal with local issues, telephones, hospital liason etc
and delegates from these meetings go to regional meetings etc.
How does it work where you are?
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| Robert McGregor 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
|
"John" <John6328@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:KIJ_e.410770$xm3.55771@attbi_s21...
> Craig S. wrote:
>
> In my experience there isn't much around as dysfunctional as a
> bunch of drunks getting together to organize and "fix" something.
> Kind of fun though if you don't take it too seriously. My first
> meeting as a gsr was "stunning" to say the least. I was 4 years or
> so and thought I would finally see the wisdom and leadership of AA
> old-timers. Sheesh! Such a yelling and confusion and dissension.
> And politicking and persuasion. I guess we got the job done,
> whatever that was.
>
Amongst the least expected, (and more daunting) of my "post graduate"
experiences, was venturing into the community, sober; then observing
negligible behavioural difference between stalwart citizens at
committee level, and AA members at "group conscience" level.
Bob
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| Charley O 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
|
"Anotherone" <anon@knowwhere.com> wrote in message
news:2cumj1pt2mfi2c82n4a6g5ts11psn7gucf@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 28 Sep 2005 14:49:57 GMT, "Charley O"
> <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
> Round here (Glasgow, Scotland) they are the same. Reps from each group
> get together, deal with local issues, telephones, hospital liason etc
> and delegates from these meetings go to regional meetings etc.
>
> How does it work where you are?
LOL - Don't have a sponsor eh ? You can find a complete description on how
it is supposed to work in the "AA Service Manual". Every healthy group
should have one. If your group doesn't I would suggest leaving it and
finding a better group.
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| nipntuk 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:55:07 +0100, Anotherone <anon@knowwhere.com>
wrote:
>On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:10:59 GMT, "Charley O"
><gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
>Where did I mention no sponsor?
>
>Try just reading what's there, and not inagining things.
>
Sarge imagines himself a Grande Poobah of Recovery
------------------------------
Visit http://www.nacer.org for the real 'Survivor Yucatan'
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| Charley O 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
|
"nipntuk" <carp_dm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8s3oj15abcs7b7gobapavqpt7ingkkndp2@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:55:07 +0100, Anotherone <anon@knowwhere.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> Sarge imagines himself a Grande Poobah of Recovery
>
Which nipntuk is NOT !!
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| Charley O 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
|
"Anotherone" <anon@knowwhere.com> wrote in message
news:593oj15l9mf4amfcse7h0gp0d6l0c2aspk@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:10:59 GMT, "Charley O"
> <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
>
> Where did I mention no sponsor?
>
> Try just reading what's there, and not inagining things.
>
I did, I did, I did - I read the handwriting on the wall.
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| nipntuk 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:20:02 GMT, "Charley O"
<gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
>"nipntuk" <carp_dm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:8s3oj15abcs7b7gobapavqpt7ingkkndp2@4ax.com...
>
>Which nipntuk is NOT !!
>
Another notch on the gratitude belt.
------------------------------
Visit http://www.nacer.org for the real 'Survivor Yucatan'
| |
| Virtualoso 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| In article <KIJ_e.410770$xm3.55771@attbi_s21>, John
<John6328@mchsi.com> wrote:
> In my experience there isn't much around as dysfunctional as a bunch of
> drunks getting together to organize and "fix" something. Kind of fun
> though if you don't take it too seriously. My first meeting as a gsr was
> "stunning" to say the least. I was 4 years or so and thought I would
> finally see the wisdom and leadership of AA old-timers. Sheesh! Such a
> yelling and confusion and dissension. And politicking and persuasion. I
> guess we got the job done, whatever that was.
Suit Up
Show Up
Shut Up
Do Your Best
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| Craig S. 2005-09-30, 12:09 pm |
| "John" <John6328@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:KIJ_e.410770$xm3.55771@attbi_s21...
> I guess we got the job done, whatever that was.
You got that right. I can remember all the gyrations that went on with
group and district elections all leading up to the big show - the area
assembly! But after a number of years, I got the distinct impression that
nothing much ever really was accomplished besides the elections themselves
and deciding which districts would be hosting the upcoming assemblies.
There was a period when much time and energy was expended on whether or not
the assembly should be smoking or non-smoking. Society has made that a
non-issue, although there was still quite a bit of discussion about how and
how often to take smoke breaks. (You know, really important stuff.)
The only thing accomplished that I would consider to be of substance was the
establishment of a state-wide toll free telephone number for AA. Other than
that, it was simply wheel spinning that kept sober drunks out of mischief,
regardless of how much they got puffed up over it all. I'm sure I succumbed
to being puffed up as well on some level, but it all got pretty old after a
while.
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| Grace 2005-09-30, 12:10 pm |
| nipntuk wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:20:02 GMT, "Charley O"
> <gate1038spamfree@att.net> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Another notch on the gratitude belt.
>
That last post had a Schaxie flavor. Maybe he is a cross between Sarge
and Dave. There's a lovely thought. A pedophile thump. Yikes!
| |
|
| Virtualoso wrote:
> In article <KIJ_e.410770$xm3.55771@attbi_s21>, John
> <John6328@mchsi.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Suit Up
> Show Up
> Shut Up
> Do Your Best
Yeah, that works
John
| |
|
| Craig S. wrote:
> "John" <John6328@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> news:KIJ_e.410770$xm3.55771@attbi_s21...
>
>
>
>
> You got that right. I can remember all the gyrations that went on with
> group and district elections all leading up to the big show - the area
> assembly! But after a number of years, I got the distinct impression that
> nothing much ever really was accomplished besides the elections themselves
> and deciding which districts would be hosting the upcoming assemblies.
>
> There was a period when much time and energy was expended on whether or not
> the assembly should be smoking or non-smoking. Society has made that a
> non-issue, although there was still quite a bit of discussion about how and
> how often to take smoke breaks. (You know, really important stuff.)
>
> The only thing accomplished that I would consider to be of substance was the
> establishment of a state-wide toll free telephone number for AA. Other than
> that, it was simply wheel spinning that kept sober drunks out of mischief,
> regardless of how much they got puffed up over it all. I'm sure I succumbed
> to being puffed up as well on some level, but it all got pretty old after a
> while.
>
>
I had forgotten my job till now. I was public info chair in 85, AA 50th
birthday, and we organized (among other things) demonstration meetings
for tv news. After about a zillion hours of arguing, screaming, yelling,
we agreed on a format. We put hours and hours into the planning. it was
on the news about 3 seconds. People argued about it for at least another
year as I remember. Also went to radio, tv, and newspaper reporters who
broke members' anonymity and explained our tradition. Never had a
problem. That felt pretty useful. I was glad when it was over though.
John
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| nipntuk 2005-09-30, 9:41 pm |
| On Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:43:04 -0700, Grace <gracehxxx@spiritone.com>
wrote:
>nipntuk wrote:
>That last post had a Schaxie flavor. Maybe he is a cross between Sarge
>and Dave. There's a lovely thought. A pedophile thump. Yikes!
It's all Sarge, Grace. Just a new nym.
------------------------------
Visit http://www.nacer.org for the real 'Survivor Yucatan'
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