2022 Business Meeting – October
(topics are listed below are in order of presentation)
Grateful Recovering Online Women
(topics are listed below are in order of presentation)
Hello Ladies, my name is Mary O and I have the pleasure to lead this week’s meeting. I must admit that I was all worked up about finding the right topic for our discussion this week. I asked HP for guidance and picked a number from one to four hundred and 221 was the number which guided me to the daily reflection titled A Prayer for All Seasons. When I read this reflection, I thought of the long version of the serenity prayer.
I like many of us have said serenity prayer which goes like this- God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the change to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
For years I have said this prayer which correlates to the AA Fellowships. When I would say this prayer it reminded me that God was in the lead, and that if I accept life on life’s terms I would find serenity and by working the steps I gain the wisdom to know how to cope with life through working the program and staying connected to my HP.
Recently a longer version of the serenity prayer was shared and I would like to share this version with all of you ladies. It goes as follows:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting the hardships as the many pathways to peace, taking this world as it is not as I would have it.
Trusting that all things will be right if I embrace compassion, understanding and acceptance.
Grant me patience for these changes that take time. Appreciation for all that I have. Tolerance for those with different struggles and the strength to get up and try again, one day at a time.
When I heard and read this version I was, and I am moved on an emotional level and spiritual level. I see and I am reminded of the steps of the program by saying this prayer as well as many slogans that were taught to me since coming into recovery such as First Things First, One Day At A Time, Keep it Simple, and/or Easy Does It. The first paragraph I am reminded that God guides me to serenity when I stay connected to him and the people of the program.
The second paragraph tells me to live one day at a time and sometimes one second or minute at a time, which allows me to enjoy the small events, things of each day, like seeing nature watch up from winter, or seeing how my pup loves his morning walk, and/or starting the day off by talking with my life partner Pete or face the challenging situation that I may be facing at that moment. I am also reminded that life has its up and down and through these experiences I grow, and sometime growth is through painful experiences and I am not alone on this journey of life/recovery. I must remember that things are not always the way I would like them to be and that I need to make sure that the focus is on my side of the street and not someone else.
The last two parts of the prayer reminds me to trust the plan/journey that my HP has for me and that all things in life will work out and I that I have been given the tools by the program to live life on life terms and strive to be the best person by showing compassion, understanding and acceptance. Finally, I am reminded that I will fall but my HP, the tools of the program which includes each person that I am with in a meeting helps me to get up and try again- which is progress not perfection.
Thank you for listening and I invite you to share how this prayer works in your recovery or whatever is on your heart.
Mary o
(Wisconsin)
Ps. Happy Memorial Day
We are all invited to share on Step 9. The steps are our blueprint for living sober lives.
*** Step 9 ***
“Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
This step is listed in Chapter 5, How it Works, from the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known as the Big Book) (see p. 59). There’s much more in Chapter 6 (Into Action), starting in the middle of page 76. There’s even more about it in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.
*** Where to get the books, Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions ***
You can find these books at many f2f AA meetings; you can order them online from many places. And they are available from the AA General Service office, to read online, in English, French, and Spanish. See www.aa.org
My experience with Step nine is a variety, I make living amends, to myself, and others. I ALWAYS talk to my sponsor or trusted AA friends before I make any amends. I have to be keenly aware of my motives. Amends based on reestablishing a relationship, or getting you to forgive or like me again, aren’t amends. Amends are for me, first and foremost, They give me humility and pride in my self. They actually are part of the process in giving myself, back to myself. My drinking career revolved around people pleasing and trying to fit my square peg into the round hole. I just don’t fit. But the process of amends, understanding what I did that hurt your feelings, and what you require to “fix it” is humbling and really asks me to “listen” not defend. When I am that vulnerable, and that open and the other person can receive me on that playing field magic happens. Magic didn’t happen in all my amends. Some have been flatly refused and this people refuse to have conversations with me. That hurts, and today I can let myself actually feel that hurt. It’s a whole lot better than trying to stuff it or drink at it.
This is one of the parts of growing up I missed as a kid, and thank god there’s a program out here to teach me how to do it.
The meetings yours, please share on Step 9
Trusted Servant Position | “Qualifying” sobriety | “Qualifying” GROW membership | Length of position | Workload | Busiest Times | Primary Duties | Skills Needed | Current Trusted Servant |
Common Duties for all Trusted Servants |
Participate in business meetings; inform Secretary and/or Business Chair if can’t fulfill responsibilities; reply to business and steering committee emails within 48 hours; mentor incoming Trusted Servant, ensure continuity of service by providing relevant documentation and form letters; and advice when specific issues arise |
|||||||
12th Step Listkeeper | 1 year | Not specified in Position Description | 6 months | Light | Ongoing | Read all emails, notify volunteers | Nicole W | |
Birthday Listkeeper | 6 months | Not specified in Position Description | 6 months | Light | Ongoing | Collect & announce sober anniversaries | Mary O | |
Sponsor Listkeeper | 1 year | Not specified in Position Description | 1 year | Light | Ongoing & first of month | Identify those willing to sponsor, provide to GROW | Lynn H | |
Business Meeting Chair | 5 years | At least 1 year |
2 years | Heavy 2 months per year, Light remaining months | March-April, September-October | Facilitate business meeting, prepare many summaries, work with webkeepers to document meeting | Organization, writing, timeliness | Danna M |
General Service Representative (GSR) | 2 years | Not specified in Position Description | 2 years | Light | ? | Group contact with AA’s General Service Office, keep Grow informed of activities of GSO, Conferences, and Conventions, advise Steering Committee on issues related to Traditions and Concepts of Service | Email proficiency, interest in AA Traditions and Concepts of Service | VACANT |
Grapevine Representative (GVR) | 1 year | Not specified in Position Description | 1 year | Light | Ongoing | Post a monthly meeting topic published in Grapevine; provide info on tools available in magazine; have a subscription to the Grapevine (paid by GROW) | Email proficiency | Julie Kr |
Greeter | 1 year | Not specified in Position Description | 1 year: terms overlap so that incoming Greeter can be trained by the lead greeter before the lead’s term expires |
Light to moderate | Mostly around holidays | Check e-mail daily; respond to inquiries; notify Listkeepers of new member; introduce new member to Grow; respond to new member questions; inform 12th Step Listkeeper of new members needing support | Emailing skills and know how to copy and paste | Amy N |
Karrie C | ||||||||
Listkeeper | 2 years | 1 year | 2 years – first year being trained; second year training listkeeper alternate |
Checking email 2-3 times/day. Time per day depends on number of new women but each request takes only minutes. Team of 2 listkeepers – one week on, one week off. Easy to cover for each other. 2 end-of-month tasks. | Ongoing | Forward inquiries to greeters; handle requests to subscribe, unsub, change email address; troubleshoot ‘bounced’ emails and other technical issues; suscribe Trusted Servants and others to business meeting mailing list; on “Mini Steering Committee,” works with Business Chair and Secretary to resolve issues arising between business meetings; liaison with Grow listservice; send monthly letter to Grow with info on managing their Grow account and options | email, organiza-tion, Timliness | Karen H |
Sophie R | ||||||||
OIAA Representative | 2 years | Not specified in Position Description | 1 year | Moderate | April, October and first of month. | Grow’s Representative to the Online Intergroup of AA (OIAA); participates in bi-annual elections and business of OIAA; inform Grow members of relevant OIAA decisions and actions; communicate Grow preferences to OIAA; provide report to business meeting twice a year | Rene G | |
Secretary | 2 years | 1 year | 1 year | Heavy 2 months per year, Light remaining months | March-April, September-October & first of month | Manage Trusted Servant assignments, contact point for issues, disciplinary actions; member of “Mini Steering Committee” handling issues that arise between business meetings | Organization, timeliness | Michele R |
Temporary Mentor | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | Moderate to heavy | Ongoing | Contact & correspond with members new to sobriety | email, organization, timely follow-up | Becky L |
Treasurer | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | Light | Ongoing | Maintain checking and PayPal accounts for Grow; “pass the basket” each week for member contributions; report on Treasury status at business meetings twice a year; pay group expenses, including distributions to GSO and OIAA | basic checking account balancing, online banking, Paypal. | Cheryl B |
Website Administrator | 4 years | 4 years | 1 year | Moderate to heavy | Ongoing & April, October | Assure information is posted to website as determined by Group Conscience decisions; assures Grow website is up-to-date; maintains backup of Grow website; working with Steering Committee, leads major website redesign efforts; support Webkeeper and Webkeeper backup with WordPress issues and website access; co-owner with Webkeeper of Grow website; with Treasurer, ensures that website fees are paid; mentor incoming Trusted Servant when term ends; assure quality of information | WordPress, some HTML, organization, timeliness | Cheryl D |
Webkeeper | 2 years | 2 years | 1 year | Moderate to heavy, especially during and after business meetings | Ongoing & April, October | Maintain public and members’ sections of Grow website; post information to website as determined by Group Conscience decisions, including business meeting reports and notes, list of Trusted Servants, archive of Group Conscience Decisions; work with Business Meeting Chair to ensure Grow history and archives are maintained and accessible to Grow members; post business meeting reports, minutes, and summaries are posted while business meeting is in progress; ensure that website protects member anonymity | WordPress, HTML coding, knowledge of Grow processes, organization, timeliness | VACANT |
Webkeeper Backup | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | Light | Weekends | Update website with current weekly topics | WordPress, email, timeliness | Pat S |
Weekly Leader Listkeeper | 6 months | 1 year | 1 year | Moderate to heavy | Ongoing | Identify meeting leaders, record leaders for 3-month period, remind leaders, provide form letter for meeting leads; invite shares each month on the corresponding Tradition; ask for volunteers each month for the on-call leaders list. | email, Organization, timliness | Emily M |
Below is a list of letter templates for the monthly tradition meeting.
Women who have volunteered to sponsor GROW members.
Welcome to the Grow-business@oso-aa.org mailing list!
To post to this list, send your email to:
grow-business@oso-aa.org
General information about the mailing list is at:
http://lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow-business
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg, switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
[ specific for each member ]
You can also make such adjustments via email by sending a message to:
grow-business-request@oso-aa.org
with the word ‘help’ in the subject or body (don’t include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions.
You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe. It is:
[ specific for each member ]
Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.
Welcome to the GROW@oso-aa.org mailing list! This is a one-time automated response confirming your subscription. Please read and save this letter for future reference.
Addresses
Use this address for posting messages to the group: grow@oso-aa.org
Use this address to write to list keepers: grow-owner@oso-aa.org
(details below)
Please note: When sending a message to the GROW group, send it ONLY to: grow@oso-aa.org
If you address your message to more than GROW (in To:, Cc: or even Bcc:) your message will not post to the GROW list. This is to protect our anonymity.
You Can Edit Your User Options
You will find general information about the GROW mailing list at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g., switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow
You can also ask the list keepers to make these changes by sending an email to: GROW-request@oso-aa.org with the word HELP in the subject or body. You will get back a message with instructions.
Password: To change your options (including changing your password) you must know your password. It appears near the bottom of this message.
What If You Forget Your Password?
If you forget your password, send a message to:
grow-request@oso-aa.org and type only the word password in the body of the message. Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.
Where To Find Other Helpful Information
You will find our Guiding Philosophy and Guide for E-mail participation and other helpful information on our website: http://www.g-r-o-w.com
Click on “For Members”
Password: sobertodayhow2484
What Happens Next?
A GROW member will be writing to you soon to welcome you and to provide you with more detailed information regarding the format and topic of this week’s A.A. meeting.
To post to this list, send your email to:
grow@oso-aa.org
General information about the mailing list is at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg, switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow/
You can also make such adjustments via email by sending a message to:
GROW-request@oso-aa.org
with the word `help’ in the subject or body (don’t include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions.
You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe. It is:
[ specific for member ]
Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.