Dear Reader,
Welcome everyone to the second edition of Rocking Sobriety. We are so glad that you are here to join us. In this New Year’s edition, we will discuss the vital role Bridging the Gap plays in assisting the newcomer into the AA program. Next, we have a few videos to share with you, “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous,” often shown to patients in treatment, emphasize the importance of having a temporary contact as the essential link between treatment and recovery.
The other video is the first of a four-part series titled “Precisely How We Have Recovered,” focusing on the twelve steps. In this first video, the author Michael M. of Wheaton, IL, looks at Steps One through Three.
Each month, we’ve been highlighting inspirational quotes from our “hashtag heard in a meeting” section, and yes, always we have some funnies. Finally, if you are reading this newsletter and would like to help us with some exciting content, don’t hesitate to contact the Fort Wayne Intergroup offices.
Stay safe, be well, and we’ll see you next month.
Ryan M.
Grateful Alcoholic
Making the journey from treatment to continuing participation in AA meetings can be a big step for many people. The “Bridging the Gap program” offers the opportunity for active AA members to assist the newcomer in this step. The “Speakers Program” is for seasoned AA members to speak at treatment centers, describing their own experience, AA meetings, and answering questions about Alcoholics Anonymous. Generally, these discussions entail roughly one hour and are an excellent opportunity for people to see AA at a more personal level.
The “Temporary Contact” program involves the AA member meeting one-on-one with a person from a treatment group, discussing AA, and accompanying them to a few meetings. At these meetings, they would be introduced to other members and learn how AA works. Unlike sponsorship, volunteers can do this 12 Step work by spending a short period getting the newcomer acclimated and then moving on to help another if they choose.
If you are interested in volunteering for either program, please email Greg S. at BTGFortWayne@gmail.com or call the Intergroup Office at (260) 471-6262.
The video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous,” emphasizes the importance of having a temporary contact as the essential link between treatment and recovery. It is suggested that the temporary contact take the newcomer to a variety of AA meetings; introduce him or her to other AAs; ensure that he or she has the phone numbers of several AA members, and share the experience of sponsorship and a homegroup.
Members also explain how Alcoholics Anonymous works and what to expect in meetings. Learn about sponsorship and home groups and how the Twelve Steps can help you recover from alcoholism and live without drinking.
Please watch the video “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous, it emphasizes the importance of having a temporary contact as the essential link between treatment and recovery. A temporary contact will take you to local AA meetings and introduce you to other AA members.
AA’s primary purpose is for members to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. To learn more about AA, visit www.aa.org.
Click here to view this video.
Welcome to this four-part series developed by Michael M. of Wheaton, IL. Below is a breakdown of what this series will be focusing on over the next few months.
Here is a breakdown of the first video titled “Precisely How We Have Recovered Part 1 (Steps 1, 2 & 3)”:
The Twelve Steps are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be found at the beginning of the chapter “How It Works.” of the Big Book.
Link to the Intro: https://youtu.be/ANPhJideoRo
Link to Part 1: https://youtu.be/J0JWTBMInLo
“#HeardinaMeeting” can be used on social media to make it easy to find posts that are related.
For instance, when we are sitting at this meeting, and someone says something awesome, and it is a phrase that we have never heard before or we’ve heard it 20 times and always forget it, and we want to remember it, we can tweet it or post it on Instagram with “#HeardinaMeeting.” Later we can easily search social media and find it.
In the AA Grapevine Half-Hour Variety Podcast Episode 6: Getting Comfortable with the Second Step, they debuted their particular segment, “Hashtag Heard in a Meeting,” in this episode.
The AA Grapevine Half-Hour Variety Hour. Featuring AA members Don and Sam, it premiered on October 4, 2021. Each week Don and Sam will interview a different member about their experience, strength, and hope, in a casual “meeting after the meeting” manner. Special features such as “#HeardinaMeeting,” will enhance each episode. To hear the podcasts, go to aagrapevine.org/podcast.
Here are a few examples:
At my first meeting, I said I had no money. A man gave me a Big Book for free and said,’ Here if you’re lucky, that’s the last thing you’ll get on your own terms.’
#Heardinameeting
When I’m down to nothing, God’s up to something!
#Heardinameeting
As a result of working the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, my life can be lived a lot different than it ended.
#Heardinameeting
I didn’t know that God is all I needed until God was all I had.
#Heardinameeting
My Ego is not my Amigo
#Heardinameeting
Newcomers remind us where we came from;
Old-timers show us where we’re going;
Sponsors tell us where we’re at.
#Heardinameeting
If you are depressed, you are living in the past.
If you are anxious, you are living in the future.
If you are at peace, you are living in the present.
#Heardinameeting
Who did you help today?
#Heardinameeting
Don’t leave until the miracle happens.
#Heardinameeting
Learn more about John R’s journey in November’s edition of AA Gratitude Talk. Click here to download the pdf.
Submissions: The Rocking Sobriety newsletter welcomes feature articles, supporting articles, group histories, anniversaries, jokes, cartoons, and upcoming events as long as they relate to the AA experience and reflect an awareness of AA’s singleness of purpose. Submissions are reviewed by the newsletter committee and recommended to the editor for publication.
Length of submissions: The Rocking Sobriety newsletter will publish different lengths from feature articles to one-liners.
Please send your submission to AAFortWayne@gmail.com or mail it to the Fort Wayne area intergroup at 2118 Inwood Dr. Suite 112, Fort Wayne, IN 46815.