Category Archives: 2026 Business Meeting – October

Item 1: Newcomers & 3rd Tradition

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Item 1: Newcomers & 3rd Tradition – Discussion and Voting  Process

October 1,2026
Today is Thursday, the first day of the meeting.
We have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to submit all discussion points.

Please do not vote in advance. During the first part of the process. We will discuss the item.
After the third day, I will call for a vote.

Discussion of the first item is now underway.

Newcomers and the Third Tradition

Purpose: Clarify how newcomers may affirm adherence to the Third Tradition.
Discussion: Determine whether expressing a desire to stop drinking or acknowledging a problem with alcohol is sufficient; consider newcomer confusion and concerns about the current request.
Submitted by: Rachel S.

1a. Current Inquiry Pattern
GROW has recently received many emails from women asking how to “get a sponsor.” These messages are inquiries about sponsorship, not requests to join the group.

Current Response
GROW currently replies with its standard initial email, which:
Provides general information about the group and
asks recipients to follow the Third Tradition, as referenced in item one.

Question for GROW: Should GROW create a separate response specifically for women who are asking about obtaining a sponsor?

Agenda Item 1: Voting

Everyone agrees that we want to provide helpful guidance to anyone who reaches out for support. The discussion centers on the phrase “adhering to.” Some members favor adding a clarifying sentence, while others prefer to keep the statement as currently written.

Part 1: Tradition Three Wording:

Please review the following options and vote for one:

  • Keep the current wording: GROW leaves the Tradition Three statement unchanged.
  • Revise the wording: GROW adds a clarifying sentence to the membership letter or replaces “adhere” with another term, such as “abide by,” “comply with,” “follow,” or “agree to.” These alternatives are suggestions only

Part 2: Sponsor Lists for Non Members

Please vote for one of the following options:

  • Yes: If a nonmember requests a sponsor list, GROW will provide it.
  • No: GROW will not provide a sponsor list to anyone who is not a member.
  • No, with a referral: GROW will not provide the sponsor list to a nonmember, but will direct the person to a GROW member on the 12-Step call list.

Voting deadline: Please submit all votes by Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. EST.

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GROW Guidelines for Email Participation

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GROW Guidelines for Email Participation

The following group guidelines are based on our experience with mail lists and our adherence to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (see Traditions in Cyberspace).

Sometimes, new members can be overwhelmed by the volume of e-mails coming through the list. If you experience this, you might find it helpful to create and use a separate email address to reduce the confusion of mixing GROW mail with your primary email address. There are many services that offer free e-mail (just search for “free e-mail accounts” on the web). Be sure to notify our Listkeeper at grow-owner@oso-aa.org if you change your address. You might also want to check out the Digest version containing the day’s posts in a single e-mail (contact our Listkeeper to get the Digest).

  • We do not engage in postings that disrupt our common welfare or distract us from our primary purpose (see Disruptions & Flaming).
  • We send personal messages such as; welcomes, hugs, thanks-you’s, pats-on-the-back, responses to prayer requests, and “enjoyed-your-share” comments privately — not to the group.
  • When responding publicly, we copy and paste only the pertinent parts of the share to which we are responding — not the entire share. This is especially important for those on digest.
  • We post both on and off topic. Please use the subject line to indicate *On*- or *Off*-topic, and if off-topic provide a subject (example — “Off-Topic: Prayer Request”).
  • We do not send attachments, chain letters, solicitations, virus alerts or announcements of non A.A. functions. We do not include links to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites. You can use URLs (e.g., http://www.aa.org/), but do not create a link that would automatically take the reader to that URL address. Some programs create links automatically, so if you need help with this, please contact a GROW Trusted Servant.
  • We direct all mail of a business nature to the business list. If you are not subscribed to the business list, please help us stay focused on our primary purpose by sending questions or concerns about how the group functions to a member of the Steering Committee.
  • We do not allow group postings of any copyrighted material for which permission to distribute has not been obtained from the copyright owner.
  • In keeping with AA’s 11th Tradition and out of respect for anonymity, we do not: 1) include more than this mail list address on anything we post to the group; or 2) forward posts outside the list without getting permission from the original sender and deleting all identifying information; or 3) contact members on social media sites without their prior permission.
  • By the same token, when we wish to forward something to the group, we include only the portions we want to share, deleting all identifying information, such as e-mail addresses, routing info, names, etc. Using copy and paste of the portion you wish to share works best.

Email courtesies:

  • All email programs are different, please set your line length to no more than 80 characters.
  • Short paragraphs with a space between are easier to read than long paragraphs with no breaks.
  • Email written in all CAPS is difficult to read and can be interpreted as shouting. To emphasize something, please use *asterisks* or _underscores_.

2026 Business Meeting – October – Common Welfare Guidelines

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Common Welfare Guidelines

These are our Common Welfare Guidelines, crafted through informed group conscience decisions.

As stated in Traditions in Cyberspace [opens new window] we do not tolerate disrespectful, aggressive or abusive posts. Our common welfare comes first. Individuals who display a pattern of disruptive behavior toward group members may be unsubscribed from the list.

By group conscience, GROW defines disruption as a pattern of posting that creates a negative impact on the group and distracts us from our primary purpose.

Out of respect for individuals, the group, and the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous, we do not engage in name calling, obscene language, verbal attacks, destructive criticism, or any rude, sarcastic, harassing posting that demeans others.

Any group member who repeatedly violates the group Guidelines for E-mail Etiquette, the Terms of Service with our list service, or who otherwise engages in a pattern of behavior that disrupts our common welfare may be unsubscribed from the list.

The Secretary, Chair and Listkeeper work together in attempting to resolve these issues, as well as being final decision makers for unsubscribing someone who persists in disruptive behavior.

Here is the procedure we follow when disruptive behavior threatens our common welfare:

  1. One of the above trusted servants sends an email privately to the member requesting that she stop the behavior.
  2. If she does not, she will receive a second request with notice that if her behavior continues she will be unsubscribed.
  3. If she chooses to continue the behavior, she will be unsubscribed as follows: 1st offense – 7 days; 2nd offense – 14 days; 3rd offense – 30 days; 4th offense – 1 year.

After the first offense and subsequent unsubscription, only one request will be sent prior to unsubscribing the member if she does not immediately discontinue the disruptive behavior.

The individual who has been unsubscribed is responsible for requesting re-subscription.

2026 Business Meeting Guidelines

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GROW Guidelines for Email Participation

The following group guidelines are based on our experience with mail lists and our adherence to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (see Traditions in Cyberspace).

Sometimes, new members can be overwhelmed by the volume of e-mails coming through the list. If you experience this, you might find it helpful to create and use a separate email address to reduce the confusion of mixing GROW mail with your primary email address. There are many services that offer free e-mail (just search for “free e-mail accounts” on the web). Be sure to notify our Listkeeper at grow-owner@oso-aa.org if you change your address. You might also want to check out the Digest version containing the day’s posts in a single e-mail (contact our Listkeeper to get the Digest).

  • We do not engage in postings that disrupt our common welfare or distract us from our primary purpose (see Disruptions & Flaming).
  • We send personal messages such as; welcomes, hugs, thanks-you’s, pats-on-the-back, responses to prayer requests, and “enjoyed-your-share” comments privately — not to the group.
  • When responding publicly, we copy and paste only the pertinent parts of the share to which we are responding — not the entire share. This is especially important for those on digest.
  • We post both on and off topic. Please use the subject line to indicate *On*- or *Off*-topic, and if off-topic provide a subject (example — “Off-Topic: Prayer Request”).
  • We do not send attachments, chain letters, solicitations, virus alerts or announcements of non A.A. functions. We do not include links to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites. You can use URLs (e.g., http://www.aa.org/), but do not create a link that would automatically take the reader to that URL address. Some programs create links automatically, so if you need help with this, please contact a GROW Trusted Servant.
  • We direct all mail of a business nature to the business list. If you are not subscribed to the business list, please help us stay focused on our primary purpose by sending questions or concerns about how the group functions to a member of the Steering Committee.
  • We do not allow group postings of any copyrighted material for which permission to distribute has not been obtained from the copyright owner.
  • In keeping with AA’s 11th Tradition and out of respect for anonymity, we do not: 1) include more than this mail list address on anything we post to the group; or 2) forward posts outside the list without getting permission from the original sender and deleting all identifying information; or 3) contact members on social media sites without their prior permission.
  • By the same token, when we wish to forward something to the group, we include only the portions we want to share, deleting all identifying information, such as e-mail addresses, routing info, names, etc. Using copy and paste of the portion you wish to share works best.

Email courtesies:

  • All email programs are different, please set your line length to no more than 80 characters.
  • Short paragraphs with a space between are easier to read than long paragraphs with no breaks.
  • Email written in all CAPS is difficult to read and can be interpreted as shouting. To emphasize something, please use *asterisks* or _underscores_.

Go to Meeting Contents