[The following was received in response to the referenced article. Additional comments are welcome. Ed.]

Regarding the article in the December 1994 Essay on raising/creating the Essay consciousness and ideas for offsetting the cost of Essay, in our group conscience, here are thoughts and ideas which came up:

To create/raise the Essay consciousness:

• Display the current issue on the meeting table at all meetings.
• Use Essay as a resource for meeting topics.
• Compose and submit articles to Essay each quarter.
• Encourage individual articles to Essay.
• Elect an Essay representative as the December 1994 article suggested.

Ideas for funding/offsetting the cost of Essay:

• Reduce the number of pages. Eliminate Box 300 and other business-related items. Instead, send those as a separate, single mailing to groups only.
• Keep as a group subscription. Establish prices for different numbers of copies.
• Each group have a separate 7th Tradition collection solely for Essay.
• Set up a twice-a-year, SA-wide appeal for funds for Essay. Publish just what the cost of Essay is.
• Encourage subscriptions and special appeals with the theme that, as addicts, we spent a lot of money supporting our addiction; we should now afford some money toward our recovery.