February 2015 Vol. 13 District 43 PO Box 143 Naperville, IL 60566 Please help us distribute this newsletter. The Groupvine is intended for A.A. District 43 which includes Bolingbrook, Naperville, Woodridge and Lisle. Please take copies to your home group. There are extra copies at the West Suburban Fellowship Club (WSFC), 710 E. Ogden, Suite 430 Naperville.Thanks. District 43 Groupvine SERVICE THROUGH SPONSORSHIP Early in my sobriety I thanked my sponsor for what he was doing for me. He replied, “Oh, but it is I who should be thanking YOU”! I didn’t understand that statement then…but I sure do now. In a continuing theme of SERVICE, it is an important topic for this month to highlight SPONSORSHIP. A very well documented and helpful pamphlet on the subject can be obtained at the club in the literature rack. You can also go to our World Service website, aa.org and search for it. My research on the subject makes it clear that we often get more than we actually give when we sponsor. Perhaps a discussion of sponsorship can take place during our meetings this month. We share our experience of strength and hope all the time. Perhaps sharing our experience of working one on one with each other would be helpful as well. The article below is taken from an old Box 459 Newsletter. It is what one group did to promote discussion about Sponsorship . (Editor—Groupvine) Sponsorship Workshops Give a District New Vigor We hear a lot about the decline of sponsorship in AA today. But in our program, where there is a problem, someone usually comes up with a solution. One such solution is a series of sponsorship workshops. Here are some suggestions that have worked in other districts. “A format that was extremely successful, with participants and panelists alike, included two important points. 1. It is an exchange of information, with just as much input from the floor as from the panelists-and 2. Bigger does not mean better. Workshops with a total of 15 to 20 attending have worked well, one with nearly 30 was almost self defeating. A format can take place in a two hour meeting, with either three or four panelists, including the chairperson, each speaking on a given topic for 10 to 15 minutes. And then we move onto the next speaker with no break. (The coffee machines are right there, and people are encouraged to come and go as they please). “ Open discussion does not mean going around by turn—This is a workshop, not a discussion group. Open means open. Problems are brought up; questions are asked; answers and suggestions are given freely, with a lot of back-and-forth. “Drunkalogs and experiences not related to the topic at hand are discouraged. Attendance can be kept realistic in several ways, such as announcing that it is a two hour workshop and announcing panelists and their topics. “Carefully matching up the topic with the panelist, either by asking the panelist to choose or by assigning a topic, has worked extremely well. We lay out ground rules for questions and discussion upfront—If we don't, we soon start hearing drunkalogs. A good way to get the ball rolling in open discussion is for the chairperson to ask some pertinent question of the panelists, then call for questions from the floor. If someone asks a question or raises the point that will be covered by a later panelist, he or she is informed of that and encouraged to ask again later (this also keeps panelists on their toes). “Feedback from those who attended is sought about three days to a week later. What did they like? Did they have the chance to participate fully? What was missed? What was covered too fully? “Their workshops have indeed been exciting – but more important, they work. Sponsorship is way up in the district; people are talking about it in meetings; and group membership is increasing in virtually all groups”. And, people are even asking to get involved in service. The sponsorship workshops described above, are from the Phoenix, Arizona area. They have shared with us what works for them and what doesn't work. If you have a story to tell, or have participated in a sponsorship workshop and would like to offer suggestions, please feel free to respond. February “Group” Anniversaries 2-14-75 Pathways Group, 2-10-82 Woodridge First Nighters Group, 2-25-02 Beyond Any Length Group, 2-01-02 Bushwood Men’s Group, 2-19-93 Sunday Night Big Book Study Group, 2-17-04 MidMorning Serenity Group, 2-25-88 Stepping Through the Big Book Group, 2-08-94 Wanders #216 Group Dist. 43. November meeting highlights. Anniversaries. Karen 24 years. Donna 2 years. Congratulations!!!! New GSR’s. Jim, Mid Morning Serenity Group Guest. Ryan, Joan, Karen, Mike, Judyta. —It is with sadness we announce the passing of one of our own, Randy York. Rest in Peace. 2nd Month: February. 2nd Step: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 2nd Tradition: 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. 2nd Concept: The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole society in its world affairs. 2nd Promise: We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. Important Phone numbers Answering Services (all 630) —Dist. 43 Lisle, Naperville & Bolingbrook 355-2622 —Dist. 42 Downers Grove & Westmont 887-8671 —Dist. 40 Glen Ellyn & Wheaton 653-6556 —Dist. 64 Aurora 859-2444 We could use your help! District 43 is offering your home group an opportunity to work the fifth tradition in it’s purest form… As a group, you can commit to take all 12 step calls for a predetermined period of time. Talk to your GSR or stop by a district meeting for more information. SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE. It not only helps others, it really helps YOU !!!!!!!!!! Upcoming Events Our Website is a wealth of information for those of you on line. Please check it out at, www.dist43.aa-nia.org —02-21 4th Annual DuPage County Open. Tell your Groups. Parkview Community Church, 764 St Charles Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL Doors at 6:00 Open Speaker Meeting from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Event is sponsored by Dist. 40,41,42, & 43. As in the past 3 years, Dist. 43 Archives has participated in the event. Archives Committee could use some help. If you would like to help please contact an Archives Committee person. —Polish AA meeting (contact Judyta at 630-815-1940) —Meetings in need of help Linden Oaks Saturday mornings 8:15 in need of female support. Also Sat. & Sun. 4:00 p.m. meetings. Service Opportunities—Bridging the Gap “AA’s Welcome Wagon” A 12th Step Opportunity. (30 to 40) volunteers wanted to ease the transition of recovering alcoholics being released from treatment facilities and other places of confinement into the A.A. Community. Involves taking newcomers to an A.A. meeting after their release, and introducing them to members of the group. Contact: Richard lifeisgreat4me@att.net —Just—of DuPage is still in need of women volunteers to bring the AA meetings into the jail. This is a one year commitment for those with at least one year of sobriety. Please check out the website for more info on this service work. justofdupage.org Joan P. is replacing Sarah as committee chairperson. Thanks for your service Sarah!!!! Welcome Joan. Things we hear at meetings —Never have an argument with someone that is not in the same room with you. —If you want to give God a good laugh, tell Him about all YOUR plans for sobriety. —God either IS or he ISN’T Grapevine quote of the day in regards to sponsorship —“Every sponsor is necessarily a leader. The stakes are huge. A human life, and usually the happiness of a whole family, hangs in the balance. What the sponsor does and says, how well he estimates the reactions of his prospects, how well he times and makes his presentation, how well he handles criticism and how well he leads his prospect on, by personal spiritual example - well, these attributes of leadership can make all the difference, often the difference between life and death. " A.A. members in District 43 of Northern Illinois publish this newsletter. It’s mission is to keep members informed of local events and service activities, to share experience, strength and hope in recovery from alcoholism and it’s impact on our families. Opinions expressed in Groupvine are those of their authors only and not necessarily those of A.A. Send articles, ideas or questions to: d43groupvine@hotmail.com Your comments are most welcome and encouraged. Yours in SERVICE…—Editor