From SA Trustees at 40 Years

2019

SA has grown so much in the last forty years it’s hard to know where to begin. From its humble beginnings in Los Angeles, CA, SA has exploded into an International Fellowship. Today, SA is comprised of twelve regions with four within Europe and the Middle East and our newest region in Central and South America.

We will always rely on the experience of AA, and SA has developed its own experience and literature. Books and pamphlets which focus on the SA program of recovery continue to be written. We see SA having a big influx of younger members 20 – 25. We also see the way we will reach new members is by connecting with the suffering sexaholic through public information directly to the net, in the next 20 years. We are definitely in the digital age. Our growth will continue. Even now, new regions are on the brink of being born. Most of those regions will form in areas not in North America. We know that the disease of sexaholism affects every culture and language.

Some significant successes:

Continued core belief in the Steps as a solution for lust addiction, and a willingness to stand up for this solution based on our decades of experience.

Reliance on fellowship and sponsorship to convey the Steps to the newcomer.

A reasonably mature structure of service that is responsive to the membership while providing a stability of purpose and methods.

Continued recognition of the fact that our rationalizations are ingenious, and therefore holding to the original meanings of our unique sobriety definition, that is absolutely needed to counter those prevalent rationalizations.

SA has achieved a lot in 40 years with rapid growth all over the world it is now in many countries including new areas such as Africa, Asia and India. I see SA having a big influx of younger members 20 – 25, I also see the way we will reach new members is by connecting with the suffering sexaholic through public information directly to the net, in the next 20 years.

At 40 SA is moving into a new phase of its development as its base changes from a primarily US/Canadian dominated fellowship into a global one.

As we gathered in Seattle to celebrate SA at 40 the first thing apparent was the diversity of those present and their enthusiasm for sobriety. We now have an Indigenous Australian Trustee. SA’s S-Anons and S-Ateens from near and far. SA at 40 is exuberant multiracial multi denominational and welcoming.

The use of digital technologies to unite, educate and liaise across great distances has revolutionized program activities. SA now hosts an annual 24 hour online recovery conference for members. Regular online workshops are helping bring the program to isolated groups, loners and everyone in between.

Some significant challenges:

In many areas, weak support to the individual groups through gaps in the service structure and how to fill those gaps.

Lack of ownership of our basic literature, although recent relationships with KIPT have become much more cooperative and helpful. We believe that relationship will only grow closer and more cooperative.