Trusted Servant Letters and Announcements
General Information
In GROW, some letters and announcements are sent periodically to the group. Other letters are sent to women who are considering joining GROW. This page documents what announcements and letters are sent, when they are sent, and provides the standard text for many of the letters.
List of Letters and Announcements
The following is a list of the standard announcements and letters sent out by GROW trusted servants. The list includes who sends them, when they are sent, and describes some of the letters. Other letters or announcements have standard text that has been set by the group. Links in this list take you to the actual text.
- 7th Tradition Letter (aka "Passing the Basket")
Sent weekly by the Treasurer. - 12th Step Opportunity Letter
Letter asking for 12th step volunteer letter-writers; sent monthly by the 12th Step Listkeeper. - Birthday Announcement
Sent on the day of the birthday by the Birthday Listkeeper. - Birthday Request Letter
A request to know about upcoming AA birthday or other sobriety celebrations. Sent near the end of the previous month for the following month by the Birthday Listkeeper. - Birthday End-Of-Month Celebration Announcement
A reminder of all birthdays celebrated during the month, including who celebrated the birthdays and the total number of sober years or months celebrated in the month. Sent at the end of the month by the Birthday Listkeeper. - Business Meeting Announcements
Announcements sent prior to the start of the business meeting. Sent semi-annually by the Business Meeting Chair. Often sent two weeks, then one week before the meeting. - Call for Trusted Servant Volunteers
Call for trusted servant volunteers, sent prior to the start of the business meeting. Sent semi-annually by the Secretary. Usually sent two or three weeks before the meeting. - GROW Mail List Guidelines
Guidelines for group email, sent monthly by the Secretary. - FYI Letter
Useful information about trusted servants and other issues, sent monthly by the Secretary. - Grapevine Form Letter
Containing information about AA's Grapevine magazine including a topic inspired by that month's issue of the Grapevine, a featured story, and how to get information and services at AA's Grapevine website. - Greeter Letter #1
Letter to prospective member of GROW. Sent by the Greeter in answer to an inquiry about membership. - Greeter Letter #2
Welcome letter explaining useful information about the list and how to post. Sent right after subscription to new member by the Greeter. - Introduction Letter
Letter sent to GROW group, introducing a new member. Includes name and email address of new member, the member's introduction about herself, and an invitation to the group to send the new member private messages of welcome. Sent right after subscription to new member by the Greeter. - Listkeeper Letter
Information about how to subscribe, unsubscribe, and related issues. Sent monthly to the group by the Listkeepers. - Mailman Letter -- Business List
Letter sent automatically (by the list software) to each member when first subscribed to the business list. - Mailman Letter -- Regular List
Letter sent automatically (by the list software) to each member when first subscribed to the regular list. - New Trusted Servant Letter
Welcome letter to new trusted servant, send by the Secretary when position is filled. - Sponsor List Announcement
List of those in GROW who are willing to sponsor. Sent monthly by the Sponsor Listkeeper. - Sponsor List Reminder
A reminder that there is a list of sponsors, with an offer to send it to individuals if requested. Sent twice monthly by the Sponsor Listkeeper. - Sponsor Recruitment
Call for those willing to sponsor, sent monthly by the Sponsor Listkeeper. - Step & Tradition Topics
An invitation to discuss the "step of the month" and/or the "tradition of the month" (January = step and tradition 1; February = step and tradition 2...) Sent monthly by the Weekly Leader Listkeeper. - Temporary Mentor Letter #1
Welcome note to new member with information on how to use Temporary Mentor. - Temporary Mentor Letter #2
Follow-up where new member has not responded to TM Letter #1. - Weekly Meeting Format Letter
A copy of the full weekly meeting format, sent to each weekly leader volunteer at least one week before by the Weekly Leader Listkeeper. - Weekly Meeting Re-post
A reminder of the week's meeting topic, sent mid-week by the Weekly Leader Listkeeper. - Weekly Topic Leader Message
Call for volunteers to post the weekly meeting on Sunday with the suggested topic.
Letters
7th Tradition Letter (aka "Passing the Basket")
The basket is now being passed.
Tradition Seven: "Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions." We have no dues or fees, but we do have expenses. These include rent for the listserver and web page, bank fees, and contributions to OIAA and GSO. Contributions are appreciated, and can be made by check or by PayPal. To keep you informed, the Treasurer’s Report of our contributions and expenses is posted in the ‘For Members’ section on our website. See procedures below.
TO CONTRIBUTE BY CHECK:
Per group conscience, please make checks payable to [ Treasurer's Name ] with "GROW" in the memo line and mail to:
[ Treasurer's Address ]
If you want confirmation of contribution, please include your e-mail address.
TO CONTRIBUTE BY PAYPAL:
To contribute using PayPal, first read "Important Note About PayPal" below so you do this safely. Then, go to PayPal's secure website: (https://www.paypal.com/us/)
- If you don't already have an account, sign up for a PayPal account
- Click the Send Money tab
- Enter an amount and recipient's email, which is:[ PayPal email address set up by Treasurer]
- PayPal will send confirmation of your payment.
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Important Note About PayPal:
- If you choose to use PayPal, please remember that PayPal is a safe money-exchange operation if (and only if) you follow the safety recommendations posted on the PayPal website.
- To safely and securely access the PayPal website or your account, open a new web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox) and type in the PayPal URL (https://www.paypal.com/us/) to be sure you are on the real PayPal site.
- PayPal will send confirmation of payment. They will never ask for your password in an email. Always assume any email from PayPal asking for a reply is a scam and do not reply.
- To learn more about protecting yourself from fraud, visit the PayPal Security Center. Click "Security Center" on the bottom of any PayPal page.
- If you are at all uncomfortable using PayPal, consider sending your contribution by check.
12th Step Opportunity Letter
I am responsible....
When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.
Step Twelve: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
Here in Grateful Recovering Online Women, we offer you an opportunity to work the Twelfth Step through serving on our 12th step committee. This is a great way to reach out and have the hand of A.A. there for the suffering alcoholic.
If you would like to serve on this committee, just hit reply, I will sign you up. Before you know it, you will be growing by sharing your experience, strength and hope.
"The joy of living is the theme of A.A.'s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word. Here we turn outward toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards. Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety. When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price tag on it." (12 x 12, page 106)
[ 12th Step Listkeeper Name ]
Birthday Announcement
[ Name of Celebrant ] is celebrating [ Length of Sobriety ] of sobriety today!
Please send private greetings to her at: [ Celebrant's Email Address ]
Congratulations, [ Name of Celebrant ], please feel free to share with us what it was like, what happened and what it is like today.
Birthday Request Letter
Just a reminder that we celebrate 30 days, and 3, 6, 9 and 18 months of sobriety.
And, of course, we also celebrate annual birthdays.
If you have a birthday in the month of June that you would like to have acknowledged by the group, please write to me privately at: [ Birthday Listkeeper's email address ]. Please include your date of sobriety and I'll be happy to make the announcement.
We LOVE sending out birthday greetings and we don't want to miss yours!
Thanks.
[ Birthday Listkeeper's Name ]
Birthday Listkeeper
GROW Mail List Guidelines
GROW GUIDELINES FOR EMAIL PARTICIPATION
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The following group guidelines are based on our experience with mail lists and our adherence to the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (see Traditions in Cyberspace).
Sometimes, new members can be overwhelmed by the volume of e-mails coming through the list. If you experience this, you might find it helpful to create and use a separate email address to reduce the confusion of mixing GROW mail with your primary email address. There are many services that offer free e-mail (just search for "free e-mail accounts" on the web). Be sure to notify our Listkeeper at grow-owner@oso-aa.org if you change your address. You might also want to check out the Digest version containing the day's posts in a single e-mail (contact our Listkeeper to get the Digest).
- We do not engage in postings that disrupt our common welfare or distract us from our primary purpose (see Disruptions & Flaming).
- We send personal messages such as; welcomes, hugs, thanks-you's, pats-on-the-back, responses to prayer requests, and "enjoyed-your-share" comments privately -- not to the group.
- When responding publicly, we copy and paste only the pertinent parts of the share to which we are responding -- not the entire share. This is especially important for those on digest.
- We post both on and off topic. Please use the subject line to indicate *On*- or *Off*-topic, and if off-topic provide a subject (example -- "Off-Topic: Prayer Request").
- We do not send attachments, chain letters, solicitations, virus alerts or announcements of non A.A. functions. We do not include URLs to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites.
- We direct all mail of a business nature to the business list. If you are not subscribed to the business list, please help us stay focused on our primary purpose by sending questions or concerns about how the group functions to a member of the Steering Committee.
- We do not allow group postings of any copyrighted material for which permission to distribute has not been obtained from the copyright owner.
- In keeping with AA's 11th Tradition and out of respect for anonymity, we do not: 1) include more than this mail list address on anything we post to the group; or 2) forward posts outside the list without getting permission from the original sender and deleting all identifying information; or 3) contact members on social media sites without their prior permission.
- By the same token, when we wish to forward something to the group, we include only the portions we want to share, deleting all identifying information, such as e-mail addresses, routing info, names, etc. Using copy and paste of the portion you wish to share works best.
Email courtesies:
- All email programs are different, please set your line length to no more than 80 characters.
- Short paragraphs with a space between are easier to read than long paragraphs with no breaks.
- Email written in all CAPS is difficult to read and can be interpreted as shouting. To emphasize something, please use *asterisks* or _underscores_.
FYI Letter
This is a revised Information Page for GROW. Please save this for your records and discard any old FAQ's or FYI's that you might have. Thank you very much.
[ Name of Secretary ]
GROW Secretary
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Grateful Recovering Online Women [GROW]
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Contents:
GROW FYI CONTENTS:
- Declaration of Unity
- List of Trusted Servants
- Important Group Addresses
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Declaration of Unity
This we owe to AA's future: To place our common welfare first; to keep our fellowship united. For on AA unity depend our lives, and the lives of those to come.
"It takes people to get group jobs done. Most of us agree that AA ought never be "organized." However, without endangering our commitment to preserve our spiritual and democratic Fellowship, we can "create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
In AA groups, these trusted servants are called 'officers' and are usually chosen by the group for limited terms of service. As Tradition Two reminds us, Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern."
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Our Trusted Servants who serve the group:
- Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Back-Up Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Greeter (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Birthday Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Weekly Leader Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - OIAA Rep. (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Secretary (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Sponsor Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - 12 Step Volunteer Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Business Meeting Chair (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - GSR / OIAA back-up (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - *Treasurer (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - *Webkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - *Back-up Webkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ]
* Steering Committee
- Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Back-up Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Business Meeting Chair( (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - OIAA Rep. (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Secretary (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Sponsor Listkeeper (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Treasurer (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - GSR / OIAA back-up (beginning-ending month/year)
Name [ email address ] - Immediate Past Chair/Secretary
Name [ email address ] - Immediate Past GSR
Name [ email address ]
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IMPORTANT ADDRESSES
LISTKEEPER'S ADDRESS: [grow-owner@oso-aa.org] (use this address to change things about your subscription, or to unsubscribe, resubscribe or ask questions about mail problems to the list).
TO SEND SHARES TO THE LIST USE THIS ADDRESS: [grow@oso-aa.org ] (use this address for all your shares or posts to the regular list of any sort.)
NOTE: Please do not post subscription change requests to the group at large, they are too easily overlooked.
Grapevine Form Letter
We are all invited to share on the Grapevine topic of the month.
This month's topic is: [from aagrapevine.org/]. This month's feature story in print is: [from aagrapevine.org/] - summary available online. This month's online feature story is: [from aagrapevine.org/]. Note that in order to read entire article, one has to subscribe; however, there is usually one that is available to read in its entirety.
The Grapevine offers a Daily Quote which will be sent directly to your Inbox. You can sign up for it at aagrapevine.org/emails.
The Grapevine also offers you many service opportunities to share YOUR Experience, Strength and Hope either in print (story or artwork -aagrapevine.org/contribute) or audio - aagrapevine.org/audio-portal.
In addition, there are several contests to enjoy such as the photo contest (aagrapevine.org/photocontest) or caption contest (aagrapevine.org/content/submit-caption).
Please take this opportunity to enjoy AA's "meeting in print"! And to discover all the other wonderful things Grapevine (aagrapevine.org/) has to offer!
With gratitude,
GROW GVR
Greeter Letter #1
Dear [ New Member Name ],
Thank you for inquiring about Grateful Recovering Online Women. We are a closed women's group of Alcoholics Anonymous whose primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. If you have a problem with drinking, or think you have a problem with drinking, you are welcome at this meeting.
AA's Third Tradition says: "The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking." As a closed meeting, we ask that you affirm your adherence to this tradition before we add your name to the meeting list.
We will be introducing you to our group. Please send a short paragraph about yourself when you reply with your adherence to the third tradition. I will include this in the introduction to the group so we can all get to know you.
We invite you to visit our web page to learn more about us, it can be found at www.g-r-o-w.com.
Thank you again for your inquiry and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.
[ Greeter Name ]
Grateful Recovering Online Women
Greeter Letter #2
Welcome to GROW! Now that you're subscribed, this is one of two emails you will receive to help you start participating in our meeting right away. You might want to print these out for future reference.
Email Volume
We have found that sometimes the volume of mail through the GROW list can be overwhelming. If you experience this, you might find it very helpful to choose one of the following:
- create and use a separate email address to reduce the confusion of mixing GROW mail with your primary email address. Please be sure to remember to let the Listkeepers know of your new address.
- create folders for your GROW email; filters can also be set up to direct GROW mail into the GROW folder.
- request the Digest Version (a file containing the day's posts in a single email). If you would prefer to receive the Digest version, please contact our Listkeeper at grow-owner@oso-aa.org and she will make the change for you.
Topics
A new meeting topic is sent to everyone on the list each Sunday and we share throughout the week. On topic and Off topic shares are welcome. We ask that Off topic posts be appropriate for an AA meeting. Please note in your subject line if your share is Off topic (we usually type Off Topic: ... )
Sharing
To share with the group, just address your email to grow@oso-aa.org and your post will be forwarded to all members. To ensure GROW emails do not get placed in your SPAM folder, please add this address to your Address Book.
Reply
Please do not use the "Reply to All' option when you respond privately to another member's post to GROW, as your personal message will also be directed to the GROW list and it will bounce to the Listkeepers.
For those using phones and tablets, be aware that the default reply option is often "Reply to All", and double-check that you are not using "Reply to All".
Please do not type in all CAPS, as this is considered to be yelling.
The secretary posts information about the Trusted Servants and guidelines for our email participation once a month. The Listkeeper (the person who makes sure the technical side of our email list works smoothly) also posts information monthly.
Web Site and Password
You'll find lots more information on our GROW web site. The URL for GROW is: http://www.g-r-o-w.com. Some of the information is for members only, so you'll need the following:
user name: sobertoday
password: how2484
Other
If you have questions not answered by our website information, please write to me and I'll be sure to answer them or send your questions to someone who can.
I hope Grateful Recovering Online Women is helpful to you in your journey and growth in sobriety.
Again, welcome
[ Greeter Name ]
Grateful Recovering Online Women
Introduction to Group
[ Message Subject Line: ] NEW MEMBER [ NAME ]
Hi Ladies,
Please welcome [ name ] to the group. Personal greetings can be sent to [ New member's e-mail address ]. As an introduction, [ New Member Name ] wrote:
[ New member's introductory statement ]
Your Greeter,
[ Greeter Name ]
Listkeeper Letter
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES
LISTKEEPER'S ADDRESS: grow-owner@oso-aa.org
(Use this address to change your subscription, or to unsubscribe, resubscribe or ask questions about GROW-related email problems).
SEND SHARES TO THE LIST USE THIS ADDRESS: grow@oso-aa.org
(Use this address for all your shares or posts of any sort to the regular list.)
NOTE: Please do not post subscription change requests to GROW because they are too easily overlooked.
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GROW WEBSITE:
To access the member's section, you'll need the following username and password:
Username: sobertoday
Password: how2484
The GROW Website provides members with all of the information listed in this email, plus business meeting updates, and an archive section. Check the Website for what is happening in GROW.
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PERSONAL WEBPAGES
Each member has a password protected personal webpage where she can make changes to her account, such as:
-vacation (disable mail delivery)
-unsubscribe
-change her account from regular mail to digest or visa versa
http://lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow
If you lose your password, you can retrieve it here:
http://lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow
Scroll down the page to the lower part, under the blue bar titled "Password Retrieval." Click on "remind" and your password will immediately be sent to the email address you use for GROW.
If you do not feel comfortable making your own changes, please address all such requests to the listkeeper's email box, which is: grow-owner@oso-aa.org
Mailman Letter -- Business List
Welcome to the Grow-business@oso-aa.org mailing list!
To post to this list, send your email to:
grow-business@oso-aa.org
General information about the mailing list is at:
http://lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow-business
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg, switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
[ specific for each member ]
You can also make such adjustments via email by sending a message to:
grow-business-request@oso-aa.org
with the word 'help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions.
You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe. It is:
[ specific for each member ]
Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.
Mailman Letter -- Regular List
Welcome to the GROW@oso-aa.org mailing list! This is a one-time automated response confirming your subscription. Please read and save this letter for future reference.
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ADDRESSES
Use this address for posting messages to the group: grow@oso-aa.org
Use this address to write to list keepers: grow-owner@oso-aa.org
(details below)
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PLEASE NOTE:
When sending a message to the GROW group, send it ONLY to:
grow@oso-aa.org
If you address your message to more than GROW (in To:, Cc: or even Bcc:) your message will not post to the GROW list. This is to protect our anonymity.
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YOU CAN EDIT YOUR USER OPTIONS
You will find general information about the GROW mailing list at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (e.g., switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow
You can also ask the list keepers to make these changes by sending an email to: GROW-request@oso-aa.org with the word HELP in the subject or body. You will get back a message with instructions.
PASSWORD: To change your options (including changing your password) you must know your password. It appears near the bottom of this message.
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WHAT IF YOU FORGET YOUR PASSWORD?
If you forget your password, send a message to:
grow-request@oso-aa.org and type only the word password in the body of the message. Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.
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WHERE TO FIND OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
You will find our Guiding Philosophy and Guide for E-mail participation and other helpful information on our website:
http://www.g-r-o-w.com
Click on "For Members"
Username: sobertoday
Password: how2484
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
A GROW member will be writing to you soon to welcome you and to provide you with more detailed information regarding the format and topic of this week's A.A. meeting.
To post to this list, send your email to:
grow@oso-aa.org
General information about the mailing list is at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/listinfo/grow
If you ever want to unsubscribe or change your options (eg, switch to or from digest mode, change your password, etc.), visit your subscription page at:
lists.oso-aa.org/mailman/options/grow/
You can also make such adjustments via email by sending a message to:
GROW-request@oso-aa.org
with the word `help' in the subject or body (don't include the quotes), and you will get back a message with instructions.
You must know your password to change your options (including changing the password, itself) or to unsubscribe. It is:
[ specific for member ]
Normally, Mailman will remind you of your oso-aa.org mailing list passwords once every month, although you can disable this if you prefer. This reminder will also include instructions on how to unsubscribe or change your account options. There is also a button on your options page that will email your current password to you.
New Trusted Servant Letter
Dear [ Name of New Trusted Servant ],
Thank you for volunteering for the position of [ Trusted Servant Position ].
You are replacing [name of past trusted servant] in this position. She will send you any up-to-date lists and/or letter templates you will need to fulfill your duties. She will also mentor you as you transition into your new job. Her email address is [email address of past trusted servant]. If you have not heard from her, we encourage you to contact her now.
Please review your job description immediately. Each job description has been established by group conscience. If your job requires making periodic announcements to the group, please do so as outlined in your job description. Letters/announcements are also a matter of group conscience, developed to ensure a consistent message to all GROW members. Other than including your own name and contact information where appropriate, please do not change the text of the message.
If you have not yet received information from the outgoing [ Trusted Servant Position ], you can access your job description and any letter templates needed for your job on the GROW website.
For job descriptions go to:
http://www.g-r-o-w.com/members/ts/tsdesc.htm
For letter templates go to:
http://www.g-r-o-w.com/members/ts/tsform.htm
user name: sobertoday
password: how2484
Sometimes a job can feel a little scary. If you have *any* questions, please ask. Along with your mentor, the Steering Committee is here to answer questions and support you in your service to GROW. As GROW Secretary, I am the primary contact for trusted servants. You are also welcome to email any one of the Steering Committee members listed at the end of this email.
If you find yourself unable to fulfill your obligations, temporarily or otherwise, please let me or another Steering Committee member know immediately. We will ensure that your tasks are carried out in your absence.
Again, thank you for your service to GROW. Service work is important to individual recovery, and it is essential to the well-being of our group. We hope you find serving GROW to be a rewarding experience.
Temporary Mentor Letter #1
Hi [ New Member Name ],
I am [ Mentor Name ], Temporary Mentor for GROW. I see that you joined GROW recently and I'd like to welcome you! In the past, some members have found our information overwhelming at first, so we created this position (Temporary Mentor) as a helpful resource should you have questions and/or concerns about how our group and/or AA works.
If you are looking for an online sponsor, please see our Sponsor List on our website at: www.g-r-o-w.com - username: sobertoday; password: how2484. Go into the "For Members' section at the top of the page. On the right-hand side of the page, you will see "Available Online Sponsors" and click on it. Please feel free to contact any one of these ladies for assistance with the Steps and your program.
Just a reminder that you can learn more about AA by visiting one of these links:
- The Alcoholics Anonymous general services office and information such as "The AA Big Book and 12 & 12, along with many pamphlets as well as links to local resources for AA.
- AA's Online Intergroup (OIAA) where you can find meeting lists as week as real-time phone and other Internet types of meetings.
- AA's Grapevine magazine with stories and audio stories and Grapevine subscription options.
It would be my pleasure to correspond with you by email (or phone) so if you'd like some help, just let me know. Thanks.
[ Temporary Mentor Name ]
GROW Temporary Mentor
Temporary Mentor Letter #2
Hi [ New Member Name ],
I haven't heard from you, so I assume that you have settled in nicely in our group. If you have any questions, the offer of help still stands. Please feel free to contact me.
[ Temporary Mentor Name ]
GROW Temporary Mentor
Sponsor List Announcement
Dear Growing Women,
Grateful Recovering Online Women supports sponsorship. We offer this list to you of women who are willing to sponsor on-line. Many of us have found there is nothing like a live voice at the end of the phone, or a warm hug in a f2f contact when we are overwhelmed with a problem in our lives. On-line sponsorship can add another dimension to your recovery as on-line meetings.
List of Available Sponsors
[ Insert a list of Sponsor Names, Geographic Location, DOS, and Email Address ]
Phone numbers of many on the above list are available upon request.
Please send corrections & or changes in the above sponsor information to
[ Email address of Sponsor Listkeeper ]
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If anyone would like to enhance their sobriety by way of this particular service to suffering alcoholics or to share what has been given to them with others; please feel free to send me the following information:
- name
- geographic location
- sobriety date
- telephone number (if you wish)
- current e-mail address
You will then be added to the Sponsor List which is sent to the group & sent to those asking about sponsorship.
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A Summary About Sponsorship
Most present members of Alcoholics Anonymous owe their sobriety to the fact that someone else took a special interest in them and as willing to share a great gift with them.
Sponsorship is merely another way of describing the continuing special interest of a seasoned member that can mean so much to a newcomer turning to A.A. for help.
Individuals and groups cannot afford to lose sight of the importance of sponsorship, the importance of taking a special interest in a confused alcoholic who wants to stop drinking. Experience shows clearly that the members getting the most out of the A.A. program, and the groups doing the best job of carrying the A.A. message to still-suffering alcoholics, are those for whom sponsorship is too important to be left to chance.
By these members and groups, sponsorship responsibilities are welcomed and accepted as opportunities to enrich personal A.A. experience and to deepen the satisfactions that come from working with others.
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How should a sponsor be chosen?
The process of matching newcomer and sponsor is as informal as everything else in A.A. Often, the new person simply approaches a more experienced member who seems compatible and asks that member to be a sponsor. Most A.A.s are happy and grateful to receive such a request.
An old A.A. saying suggests "Stick with the winners." It's only reasonable to seek a sharing of experience with a member who seems to be using the A.A. program successfully in everyday life. There are no specific rules, but a good sponsor probably should be a year or more away from the last drink - and should seem to be enjoying sobriety.
- From the pamphlet, Questions and Answers on Sponsorship." 1983, p. 11.
Weekly Meeting Format Letter
Welcome to the Sunday meeting of Grateful Recovering Online Women.
My name is [ Topic Leader Name ] and I am an alcoholic.
Let's start the meeting with a moment of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer, for the alcoholic who still suffers both in and out of these rooms.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Our preamble is as follows:
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership: we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution: does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Who you see here, what you read here, when you leave here, let it stay here. (Anonymity refers to personal information and personal issues - not the message of recovery.)
"How It Works" from Chapter Five of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:
Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates. They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.
Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it -- then you are ready to take certain steps.
At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.
Remember that we deal with alcohol--cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power--that One is God. May you find Him now!
Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.
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Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:
- We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable.
- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
- Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
- Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.
We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.
Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:
(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.
(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.
(c) That God could and would if He were sought.
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And our 12 Traditions:
- Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A. A. unity.
- For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
- The only requirement for A. A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.
- Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A. A. as a whole.
- Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
- An A. A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A. A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
- Every A. A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- A. A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
- Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.
- Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
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Topic for the week:
[ Introduce the Topic of the Week - Remember that we do not include URLs to sites outside GROW except links to the AA, Grapevine, and GROW websites. ]
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An excerpt from the Big Book on pages 83-84.
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises? WE THINK NOT. They are being fulfilled among us, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
Anonymity Statement: Please remember that "Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities." What you hear here and who you "see" here, let it stay here.
Thanks for attending this meeting.
"The Preamble is Reprinted with permission of the A.A Grapevine, Inc."
"The Steps and Traditions are Reprinted with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc."
Weekly Topic Leader Message
My name is [ Weekly Topic Leader Listkeeper Name ]. I am an alcoholic, and I'm also your Weekly Leader Listkeeper. I am taking volunteers for the [ time period ].
Here is the calendar of our upcoming leaders scheduled to chair. A big GROW thank you to all who are committed to growing in service.
Month: [ Month ]
[ Date, Name ]
[ Date, Name ]
[ Date, Name ]
[ Date, Name ]
Here is your opportunity to volunteer to lead a weekly meeting, choosing a topic that relates to your individual experience, strength and hope or a topic you would like to hear about, that relates to alcoholism recovery. The requirements necessary to lead a meeting are 90 days of continuous sobriety and a member of GROW for more than 30 days.
If you would like to volunteer, just hit reply and let me know which available date you would be willing to lead. Here are the available dates:
[ Month, Day ]
[ Month, Day ]
[ Month, Day ]
[ Month, Day ]
[ Month, Day ]
We try to give thoughtful attention to those who would like to lead a meeting around their A. A. anniversary. If the date requested is already filled, you will be offered another available date. Around Wednesday or Thursday of the week before you're set to chair, I'll contact you and pass on the meeting format. If, for some reason you cannot do the meeting on your selected Sunday, please let me know as soon as possible so I can find a replacement leader.
I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. The topic meeting is a great way of saying "hi" and letting us all get to know you better. Thank you for your participation and thank you for letting me be of service.
[ Name ]
Weekly Leader Listkeeper
P.S. As our membership is *growing*, we are getting duplicate names. When you respond please include your name and the first initial of your last name.