For those new to the DCIG Website or the Internet in general, the Devon Central ECLO offers a 30 minute workshop on Zoom to help introduce you to the site – both content and function. Please email dcigeclo@gmail.com for a date and time.
AA is a world wide movement of many tens of thousands of local groups of recovering alcoholics which began 85 years ago. In the intervening years the AA program has saved millions of alcoholic lives and prevented great damage to the lives of their families and the wider community. AA has its origins in a meeting between two old friends in New York towards the end of 1934. One was Bill W and the other was Ebby T. They both lived in New York and had been friends from school days in Vermont. They were also long time drinking partners. At that time, Bill had all but given up hope of freeing himself from alcohol when Ebby came to visit with a self evident message of hope and a sober life. Bill was amazed by his friend’s recovery story and his new sober state. Within days Bill had his last drink which was nothing short of a miracle, after years of fruitless attempts to stop. Six months later, in May of 1935 Bill was in Akron where, in order to save his hard won new sober state, he was asked to meet a fellow sufferer Dr Bob S. Thus, with that same message of hope and the prospect of a sober life, in early June of 1935 AA, got under way. The first AA group was in Akron, started by both men in 1935 . Bill W returned to New York to carry on his work in that city which is where AA’s world headquarters is based.
Here in the UK our General Service Office (GSO) in York has a much fuller history of early AA and
the establishment of AA in the UK
Today aa.org is the official website for the organisation in the US and provides a rich resource for the rest of AA around the world. For more history, information and help, just click the link: aa.org.
The chit (confirmation of attendance) system is a scheme providing members with proof of attendance at a particular AA meeting, (issued by a group officer).
These can be given by the member to any agency (probation officers/offender managers, social services, health, employment, professional disciplinary bodies, courts/legal representatives or any other body) requesting proof of attendance, showing commitment to recovery.
Initially endorsed by the 1987 AA General Service Conference in co-operation with Probationary Services, the chit system was extended at the 2017 General Service Conference to include any other agency requiring confirmation of attendance. As the member voluntarily “self-reports” their attendance, group anonymity is preserved. Chits only confirm attendance and do not verify sobriety.
Share the Monthly Magazine for AA Members
Grapevine the International Magazine for AA Members
SHARE is the monthly magazine for Alcoholics Anonymous in England and Wales. It is fondly known as our “Meeting between Meetings”.
SHARE has held its issue price at £2 per copy (including postage). It is available for group or individual subscription
You can subscribe to SHARE from the AA GB General Service Office, PO Box 1. 10 Toft Green, York 7NJ (send a cheque payable to GSO), or email AAShare@gsogb.org.uk
To pay by bank transfer, contact carolinedavy@gsogb.org.uk, or buy SHARE from a group that subscribes.
Contribute
Just like membership of our wonderful Fellowship, you need not be a special type of alcoholic to write for share. No one can keep you out; you’re a member if you say you are. And if you are a member, newcomer or oldtimer, we need to hear your experience, strength and hope just like at any other meeting.
Spelling and grammar will all be amended if necessary. You can write just a few lines or more, up to about 1000 words max, but we cannot publish poetry or obituaries. Each issue of share will always feature that month’s corresponding Step and Tradition. In addition, we need your words on whatever is important in your sobriety! To help you, we have the following list of upcoming themes. But, as always, write from the heart.
Send your article at least two months before the relevant topic is due to appear. For example, Step or Tradition 10 (October) needs to be in by August 15th and so on. So put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard – help yourself and us. Send your contribution to:
The Editor,SHARE,General Service Office, PO BOX 1, 10 Toft Green, York,YO1 7NJ
You can also email articles to us at AAShare@gsogb.org.uk
If there are any members in the Devon Central Intergroup Area who require any assistance with ordering copies of SHARE Magazine, please let Share Magazine Officer (Lucy) know: share.devonc@aamail.org
The largest, most rigorous independent study on Alcoholics Anonymous to date shows that AA can help people get sober, stay sober, drink less, and suffer fewer negative consequences of drinking, all while keeping health care costs down. Watch scientists John Kelly (Harvard/MGH) and Keith Humphreys (Stanford/VA) discuss their findings (published 3/11/20 by the Cochrane Collaborative), with commentary from psychologist Gabrielle Jones.