Sobering Thought.
“Institutions remain cumbersome, easily seduced by their own self-interest, preoccupied with their own survival. It’s a melancholy and ubiquitous fact of life that once an ideal, any ideal, becomes institutionalized, confusion sets in between the accomplishment of the ideal and the aggrandizement of the institution.” (From Forward Day By Day, 10/6/77, submitted by G.D., Galveston.)
Our ideal is sobriety and recovery by the grace of God. Let’s not louse that up by shifting focus to the aggrandizement of either ourselves or SA.
Thanks to our German Members!
In November of last year the Central Office received a check for $100 U.S. from the combined German SA fellowship. This was collected during their second Germany convention in Koln, November 8th and 9th. There was a notation with the check which read, “Thank you for the 12th Step work of GSO.” What a surprise, and how grateful we are. Thank you, our German friends, for being there and being with us!
SA to Follow AA’s New Policy on Personal Contributions.
Last year we understand AA raised the ceiling on direct contributions to GSO from any one individual in any one year from 500 to 1000 dollars. (This does not include any meeting-basket contributions that member may also make during the year.) SA will follow suit. The cost of living has risen since that ceiling was established years ago. Remember that SA is also IRS tax-deductible as non-profit charitable, in the same category as AA.
Floating an Idea—Group Inventories.
The suggestion has been made that each group prepare a group inventory, that is, an inventory not of the individual, but of the group itself. Members would write anonymously their honest feelings about the group and turn them in. This could turn into an SA inventory if these were collected, copied, collated, and distributed to all. What do you think?
Group Nominations for Speakers.
Each host city for one of our SA conventions has the problem of being responsive to the fellowship in getting speakers and leaders for the convention. The suggestion has been made that groups take group consciences in business meetings and make recommendations for such speakers and leaders.
How to Take a Group Conscience.
The current issue (March 187) of the AA Grapevine has an excellent article on how valid group consciences may be obtained by a group, entitled “What’s a Group Conscience?” There is much confusion in this matter. See the enclosed copy.
St. Louis Convention.
It’s interesting to note that the 1983 SA Convention had seventeen attending, representing but a handful of groups. St. Louis saw some 130 attending, out of some 200+ groups.
Literature Orders.
Be advised that most literature orders are sent Fourth Class Mail to save on postage. If you want faster service, please state that in your order, and postal charges will be added.
Central Office Phone.
The phone number at the SA Central Office is 818/704-9854. Since the office is not manned a full 40-hour week, the answering machine is on a portion of the time and increasingly during the evening and weekend hours. Don’t hesitate to leave a message, but it will save the Central Office money if you can call back. (Austerity!)
S-Anon Central Office.
We are advised that S-Anon now has a Central Office. The address is:
S-Anon
Box 21075
Oklahoma City, OK 73156
Phone 405/672-8187
Translator for German SA Newsletter.
We need someone in SA who can translate the German SA newsletter into English. Please advise.
First Step Inventory Pages.
The three pages describing the First Step Inventory that were removed from the SA manual are now being provided on the Loose Literature List and are also now included in the SA Meeting Guide. A few members have been asking for them. Does your group use the 1st Step Inventory? How’s it working out?
Change in Suggested Meeting Format.
Suggested Meeting Formats now being issued with the new Meeting Guide are revised to delete the two lines concerning other members responding to those with under thirty days sobriety. Our egos seem to get in the way here, and we can easily lapse into a kind of group therapy approach, which we have found counterproductive.
Should We Bind the Pieces of Loose Literature-In-Process?
We’d like to get member response on whether to start binding the loose pieces together and making it available to the fellowship in booklet form. These have been floating around for some time for member feedback, which has been very favorable, with pieces being added from time to time. What do you think?
