AA survival tips
I thought this could be a thread where we share AA survival tips. Please contribute as you think of them. I'll start:
1) Offer to read whenever possible. Every meeting begins with the reading of laminated cards, the longest of which is usually "How it Works." Some members read more quickly than others. If you are the one reading, you control how fast the shit gets read. Pausing for commas and periods is totally optional. Indeed, I can read "How it Works" and "The Promises" as one long run-on sentence. This tip is esspecially useful at Big Book meetings where everyone takes a turn reading. Feel free to read more than one paragraph before passing.
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Comments
alkieanon
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 14:02
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Arrive Late, Leave Early
Arrive late, leave early.
http://www.orange-papers.org/forum/comment/20055#comment-20055
Pennywise
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 14:06
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The danger is that sometimes
The danger is that sometimes the chair person will refuse to sign the attendence slips of people who come late and will hold those slips until the end of the meetings. Clara here has mentioned how she refused to sign a latecomer's slip.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 15:39
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That's me. In El Paso, they
That's me. In El Paso, they pass the basket midway through. If your slip isn't in there, it doesn't get signed.
If you are coming in the last five minutes just for a signature, stay home and sign it yourself. You've gotten nothing out of the meeting, offered nothing to it ... so why do you care?
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
JR Harris
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 15:51
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Why El Paso? Why not do that in Myrtle Beach?
Are the people in El Paso less trustworthy than Myrtle Beach?
Also what you are doing is against coven literature AA Pamphlet P-15 - Questions and Answers on Sponsorship. You aren't supposed to be forcing the program on newcomers, whatever their circumstances are, its supposed to be a program of attraction, not coercion and promotion by AA zealots.
"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.
Pennywise
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 18:24
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Why do you say I have offered
Why do you say I have offered nothing? I've put a dollar or two in the basket.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 21:50
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I mean that to the people
I mean that to the people that just run in for a signature. I shouldn't use 'you' as a generic.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sat, 06/02/2012 - 18:24
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Why do you say I have offered
Why do you say I have offered nothing? I've put a dollar or two in the basket.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Brett
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 00:14
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clara wouldn't sign
the slip? best not come to Australia, WE have a culture of helping out the underdog, of helping someone whose up against authority, not signing a slip would be considered a low, low act. besides our 6 paks 'ud kill yer & we just stick crab in our soup.
Brett
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 10:46
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But you aren't helping the
But you aren't helping the underdog if he hasn't come to the meeting but three minutes before it is over just to get the signature. We would be considered wrong for doing that.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 10:53
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Baloney. He needs his shit
Baloney. He needs his shit signed and you should sign it. It is not helping him when he drives out of his way to get to the meeting only to walk away empty handed.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:28
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He isn't going out of his way
He isn't going out of his way to do anything other than what he needs to do to please a court. If he is driving to the meeting, why not just come to the meeting? He is asking someone else to cover or lie for him and that isn't fair. he should go away empty handed.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:40
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He is going out of his way to
He is going out of his way to please the court and he showed up at the meeting, albeit late. Maybe traffic was bad, maybe he got off work late, or maybe he just wanted to skip the rambling God talk. Either way he showed up, so you should sign his slip. It doesn't cost you a thing and it takes 2 seconds.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:16
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He is going out of his way to
Penny wrote:
He is going out of his way to please the court and he showed up at the meeting, albeit late. Maybe traffic was bad, maybe he got off work late, or maybe he just wanted to skip the rambling God talk. Either way he showed up, so you should sign his slip. It doesn't cost you a thing and it takes 2 seconds.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Trisha wrote:
This criminal is going out of his or her way to come to AA. Like we should be grateful. Where do you get these ideas. Jesus are you really this self centered......lmao!!!!
This stuff is classic entitlement. I did the crime, I get to choose my punishment and how I am going to do it. All because I don't think AA works. You really have a skewed view on how life is working.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:23
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Never said you should be
Never said you should be grateful. I said you should take the few seconds to sign the slip. Nothing self centered about it since I think it applies to everyone's slips.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:53
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Sorry, Penny. We will just
Sorry, Penny. We will just have to agree to disagree. Someone that shows up 2 minutes before the meeting is over isn't caught in traffic, especially if they habitually do this. MB wasn't so large that the traffic is a real problem that putting in some effort can't remedy.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Brett
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 17:42
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Bloody low act clara
You with ya 6 beers & crab soup, bloody pontificating over some poor buggers freedom, your not a judge, your not a parole officer, sign the card, you have no responsabilility here ecept your own self rightious billshit. Not signing is the act of a scum bag.
Brett
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 20:56
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It is not, Brett. If he
It is not, Brett. If he wants a signature from a meeting I chair, get there. I cannot imagine putting the blame on someone else when the guy with the card has one responsibility. Get to a meeting. He's been given the chance to do something to remedy his situation other than jail. Instead of putting it on him to do what he's been asked to do in order to maintain his liberty, you blame someone for not letting someone continue to play to games. Eventually it gets out and these people go to meetings that will cater to them instead of those that are there with real need and purpose.
Ben, aren't you going to point out the Brett what the preview button is for?
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 15:38
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Ohhhhh...Penny, did you show up at a meeting with 5 seconds...
left with your paper and nobody would sign it. Most will not, don't like it, sign the paper yourself. But don't come on here printing your whining irresponsible, "I'll do what I want in AA", stuff. It ain't going to happen.
Thing you fail to realize Penny, you messed up and that is why you have to get a paper signed, if it wasn't AA, it would be another program.
Penny you seem to take all this personal, seems you have been through it all or maybe still going through it. I guess they could have thrown you in prison for 3 years and then you wouldn't have to cry about getting papers signed.
One other thing, all he needs to do is breath if he doesn't want to die. AA doesn't owe this criminal anything, really. This is typical pretentious self entitled bullcrap.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:43
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You don't know anything about
You don't know anything about my situation, do you? I have not been convicted of any crime and am not on court probation of any sort. No one has ever refused to sign any slips for me personally.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:10
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Penny wrote:
Penny wrote:
Clara, remember this: Yours is not to act divine, just take the slip and fucking sign.
Trisha wrote:
And you know everything about Clara to post something like this. Take your divine butt and sit down, relax.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:13
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I don't know everything about
I don't know everything about Clara. I do know that she said he does not sign latecomer's slips. She says so herself. My rhythm was a playful joke, as I think Clara understands. She should still sign the slips, though.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
becket
Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:22
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Pennywise, why don't you just
Pennywise, why don't you just sign your own slips? Then you wouldn't have to go to those meetings you hate.
“The essence of the independent mind lies not in what it thinks, but in how it thinks.”
― Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian
Pennywise
Tue, 06/05/2012 - 10:42
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Because I'm not a liar.
Because I'm not a liar.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:02
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Clara, remember this:
Clara, remember this:
Yours is not to act divine,
just take the slip and fucking sign.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:26
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LOL, Penny. But you
LOL, Penny. But you understand the gist of it. If people are just going to do what they themselves choose to do, what difference does it make what the group conscience is or an AA stance? That is another reason why "Making AA Safer" is just mental masturbation.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
byeg00d
Tue, 06/05/2012 - 08:41
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I laughed out loud
"Yours is not to act divine,
just take the slip and fucking sign."
That was gold !
JR Harris
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:03
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Per AA Interchurch "suggestions" do not coerce members
Clara, where do you get off telling a member if their Bill Wilson chanting ritual was performed correctly? The slip doesn't have a time limit on the meeting or any participation limits attached. Who are you to say what level of participation is correct? Attendance means they attended, whether or not it is for 60 minutes or 1 minute. They showed up, period. You are being a narcissist and pushing the AA faith on someone.
"Take what you want and leave the rest!"
"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:39
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Who are you to decide they are a member.
They are getting a paper signed....have them sign it themselves. They are not members.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:35
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See, that would be dishonest.
See, that would be dishonest. I would never advocate the submission of falsified documents.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Persephone In Exile
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 17:47
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Brett, I'm all for it. Save
Brett, I'm all for it. Save some Lamingtons for me, will you?
http://badrecovery.blogspot.com/
disclosure
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 08:11
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Slip Signing
If you come to a meeting I am at before I drive away at the end I will sign your slip.
If I see you at the market buying a gallon of booze I will sign your slip.
If I think you hate AA I will try to show you some alternatives including stopping on your own.
If you like AA that is fine too, we can talk about how great it is while I sign your slip.
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 10:45
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In our club, the person that
In our club, the person that signs the slips is the chairperson for the meeting. Every group does it differently.
But see? A group can have its own protocol, yet a party will do what they choose despite it. This is how we get the mixups about things such as AA's anti-meds stance. You are doing your own thing.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 10:51
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It's still fucked up whenever
It's still fucked up whenever any chairperson refuses to sign a slip. Slip signing should occur anytime during the meeting. Slips should also be returned immediately after being signed. I do find it VERY troubling when people like you (no personal offense meant) refuse to sign a slip just because someone is late to the ritual.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:31
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It's one thing to be late.
It's one thing to be late. It is another thing to just stroll in at the very end for the sole purpose of getting a slip signed. The slips I used to get had subject, time, meeting name, date,b lah, blah. blah... Why should I put out effort for him that he isn't willing to put out for himself? I would spend more time filling out his paper than he did in the meeting. Nothing doing!
We'll have to agree to disagree, Penny.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:48
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You'd have a point except it
You'd have a point except it takes less than 5 seconds for you to sign the slip and costs you nothing. Might as well help the guy out and sign it.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 11:59
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To be sure, Clara, I am not
To be sure, Clara, I am not asking you to lie for the guy. For instance, I'm not saying you should sign the slip in the parking lot after the meeting closes. I'm simply saying that you should sign it if shows up sometime before the Lord's Prayer.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:32
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Sorry. Not going to do it
Sorry. Not going to do it because someone showed up in time to for a 30 second prayer.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:31
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Perhaps for one, but that isn
Perhaps for one, but that isn't true if you have a bunch. I've seen the guy at the meeting I go to then spend the rest of the meeting signing papers while conducting the meeting.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:33
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Lol. Sounds like a lot of
Lol. Sounds like a lot of people don't want to be there if it takes a good portion of the meeting time just to get the slips signed.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:36
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No, you just have so many and
No, you just have so many and they turn them in at halftime. The point is they suit up and show up. Your scenario is different.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:38
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Well, I say help'em out and
Well, I say help'em out and sign the things if they are there before closing. No need to hold the power of the slip signing pen over them.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 15:41
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Help the guy out....hmmmmm?
Why are you putting this on AA, I don"t understand this?
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
JR Harris
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:12
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El Paso AA Attendance card from the Corrections Dept
This is what gets signed in El Paso Texas AA meetings..........
http://www.co.el-paso.tx.us/wtc/drugcourt/images/DC_AA.doc
"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:20
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Well there you go:
Well there you go:
We, the undersigned, Secretaries or Meeting Leaders, to assist the Court and Probation Department in their duties, do hereby certify that the bearer has attended a regular meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.
It says nothing about being there for the whole meeting. It simply states that the person "attended a regular meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous." So I think one could truthfully sign it provided the coercee was there for some part of the meeting.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
Clara
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:37
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I haven't read this on
I haven't read this on anything, Penny, but I maintain that 30 second of a meeting is not attendance nor is it what is intended by the mandate in the first place.
Remember Christopher Stevens when you vote.
Pennywise
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:40
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nor is it what is intended by
nor is it what is intended by the mandate in the first place.
You have a point there, I must admit. I won't tell you to lie.
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
JR Harris
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:51
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I haven't read this on anything? Clara it's the offical document
Clara it's the official documented AA Attendance Sheet from El Paso that you just said you signed?
http://www.co.el-paso.tx.us/wtc/drugcourt/images/DC_AA.doc
"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:37
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Lmao.....do you know how many are just made up by the court....
clerks. I have seen them in a written form.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
JR Harris
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 13:58
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Uhhh.... that IS the one made from the EL PASO court
Look at the link for it,it has been the same one used since it was made..... look at the form, that is the official form for over 20 years.....
"Tradition 10 - Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy." Please follow orders from the Interchurch Center if you are an AA member and don't comment.
Trisha K.
Sun, 06/03/2012 - 15:53
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I am not arguing that what your posting isn't accurate or...
truthful JR. All I am saying is the official attendance sheet from the judicial department you provided doesn't always look as such.
“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”
Shirley MacLaine
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