Monday, May 28, 2012

5 Guiding Articles on Conducting Old School A.A. Study Meetings


Content for May 28, 2012 FYI Newsletter, send ASAP

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The Five Brief Articles That Tell You How to Start, Lead, and Conduct Old School A.A “Stick with the Winners” Studies, Classes, Meetings, Groups, Conferences, Individual Viewings, and other Presentations



By Dick B.

Copyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved.



Hundreds have written, emailed, phoned, and posted requests asking how they can successfully organize, format, name, list, and lead an Old School A.A. History Study Today. And my son Ken and I have now held many conferences and meetings over the last three years on this subject. We learned as much from what we heard as from what we wrote about the hunger, need, issues, and desires of AAs, NAs, Christian 12 Steppers, Christian Recovery Groups, and others, that all had to offer. This newsletter contains 5 different resulting articles which should tell you what to do, where to look, what to acquire, how to avoid blockades and pitfalls, and how to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ, as well as how specifically to help the alcoholic, addict, and suffering soul overcome his or her malady by seeking God’s help—just as the early A.A. Christians and their Christian Fellowship did when AA was founded in Akron, Ohio, in June, 1935.



“I want to start an A.A. History and Old School A.A. Bible Roots Group!”



Here Are the Five Articles Suggesting Exactly How to Proceed





Article One



Where do I begin?



Keep It Simple!



Five short articles will give you some practical suggestions as well as some hints for avoiding intimidation, controversy and blockades.



Become a Student First, and then Become the Leader



If you think about it, almost every good group, every good meeting, and every A.A. conference you have attended, and also every good A.A. speaker, good sponsor, and individual A.A. student studied first to learn the facts. So.



First, become the leader of the proposed A.A. History and Old School Bible Roots Group. Do it by learning A.A.’s own conference-approved materials. And, in order to become a leader, master the following A.A. General Services Conference-approved literature – Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed, 2001; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 1980; and The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (A.A.’s Pamphlet  P-53).



Gather a Group of Your A.A. Friends. Pray together. Decide together. Conduct a Written informed Group Conscience together. Vote together on What You desire to and will do. Record Detailed Minutes of the Proceedings in Writing



Unfortunately, many good potential A.A. leaders and A.A. groups start at the wrong place. They go to some person in a Central or Intergroup Office; ask what they can do and how to go about it; and then are told by this self-appointed governor that they are not permitted to organize such a meeting, list it, study anything but “Conference-approved” literature, or even mention the Bible, Jesus Christ, Christian literature, or the growing body of our A.A. history.



So don’t start that way.



Choose a name for the group that will be inviting to AAs. Possibilities include:“A.A. Study Group.” “A.A. History Group.” “A.A. Roots Group.” Or “The Meeting!”



Gather a group of friends. Ask God to guide your group in its decisions. Propose the  name, a location, a time, and a Secretary. Propose a format and the literature your will use and be permitted to use and discuss at your meeting. Agree on how to conduct the meeting. Hold an informed Group Conscience covering each of  these points. Vote. Record in detailed writing the subjects of your meeting, the vote on each subject, and the informed group conscience decision. Have your Secretary certify and sign the written decisions. And keep that group conscience available at every meeting. And freely show it to any interested person who asks questions pertaining to the group decisions. Do so after the meeting is concluded.



Now you have done all you need to do: 1) Petition our loving God to express Himself in your informed group conscience proceedings. 2) Write, record, and retain your written, dated, signed informed group conscience. And 3) Decide to “go!”—to carry out the decisions in your meetings.



You are an A.A. group. You have an A.A. meeting. And you are autonomous, informed, and agreed, supported by A.A.’s Twelve Traditions, implementing your group decisions, and guided by Almighty God.






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Article Two



The Resources We Recommend for Each Group





The  Previous Article One Suggested Precisely How to Establish Your Group



This Article Two Explains the Resources the Group and Its Leader Should Obtain, Study, and Use





First, make sure you have the following A.A. General Services Conference-approved Literature items. And these should be placed on the Secretary’s table, apart from other agreed literature:



Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed, 2001;



DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 1980;



The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (A.A.’s Pamphlet  P-53).





Second the following literature should be acquired, placed on a separate table, and used a) by leaders to learn; b) by speakers to teach; and c) by those attending the meetings to absorb the meeting materials:



Holy Bible;



Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original 1939 First Edition, with introduction by Dick B.




Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010:




Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! How to Conduct More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-Approved Literature: A Dick B. Guide for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena (2012)

Center Column of Front Page of www.dickb.com,

with instructions to download for $9.95.



Dick B. and Ken B, The “Stick with the Winners” Video Series of 27 Video Classes that complement the foregoing four non-conference-approved resource books:

www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com, with instructions for obtaining for $29.95.





Third, we suggest that a complete reference set of 29 Dick B. titles be acquired at the substantially discounted price of $249.00, kept in the group library, and used as needed.

We are offering the entire, 29-volume, "Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set" for:

Ongoing Special!

Only $249.00—Shipping included!* Order it on the front page of www.dickb.com

* Please note: The “Shipping included” offered as part of this “Ongoing Special” opportunity for the "Dick B. Reference Set" only applies within the continental United States. For Shipping & Handling for areas outside the continental U.S., please contact Ken B. via email at kcb00799@gmail.com for details.*

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Top of Form


Article Three



How Should We Conduct Such a Meeting





The Previous Article Two Explains the Resources the Group and Its Leader Should Study and Use



This Article Three Gives You Two Sample Examples of How You Can Lead the Meeting



There certainly can be no “one size fits all.” What you do in a meeting, what the topic should be, and how you should conduct a meeting depends on all these vital factors: (1) Asking God what He would like to see you do, and exactly how to do it. (2) Following His directions (3) Making your own choice, depending upon the topic, the type of meeting, and what the Group has decided in its informed group conscience (4) Aiming at serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ and (5) Carrying a message to those who still suffer that God can and will help them if they want that help and have renounced drinking and drugging for good.



Example one: “This meeting will study two articles about A.A. Cofounder Dr. Bob, and they consist of the interview of Dr. Bob in 1939 [often mis-named “his Faith Article], and the Tidings article about the talks of both Bob and Bill on the same platform at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1948.”



(a) Announce the topic.



(b) Read all or at least the relevant parts of both articles.



(c) When you’ve completed reading the Interview article, ask members: “What do you think is the central message that Dr. Bob gave his interviewer.” “Did Dr. Bob talk about prayer and what did he say about it.” “What did Dr. Bob say about being ‘cured of drunkenness by prayer’” “What did Dr. Bob say about the difference between promising to go straight and sticking to it” “What did Dr. Bob say about“hitting bottom.” “What did Dr. Bob say about the visits of the pioneers to a newcomer in the hospital.” “What did Dr. Bob say about reading the Bible with the hospitalized newcomer.” “What did Dr. Bob say about ‘Christ’ on the two occasions he mentioned Jesus Christ.” “What did Dr. Bob say about using the Good Book—the Bible”

[And if time permits, ask questions concerning other points listeners may not have known]



(d) When you have completed reading the Tidings article, ask members: “What did Dr. Bob say in a few short words in his talk—about religious literature.”  “About church attendance,”  “About prayer.” “About the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.” “About reading the Bible.” [And if time permits, ask questions concerning other points listeners may not have known]



(e) If time permits, invite members to make comments on both articles, in an orderly and

brief fashion







Example two: “This meeting will be about how to approach a newcomer.”



Read the pages on that subject that we have written in the “Stick with the Winners” Guide.



Ask questions about each suggested approach. Ask what the Big Book says on the topic in “Working with Others” and elsewhere.



And so on.









Article Four



Suggested Topics for Your “Old-School” Meetings





Article Three provided two samples of how you can lead your meetings.





This Article Four provides dozens of suggested topics to use at an “old-school” meeting. There certainly can be no “one size fits all.” What you do in a meeting, what the topic should be, and how you should conduct a meeting depends on all of the following vital factors:



Asking God in the name of Jesus Christ what He would like to see you do, and exactly how to do it.





Following His directions.





Making your own choice, depending upon the topic, the type of meeting, and what the Group has decided in its “informed group conscience” meeting.





 Aiming at serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ.





Carrying an accurate, effective message to those who still suffer that God can and will help them if they want that help and have renounced drinking and drugging for good.





The first suggested groups of topics are provided in our new book:



Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! How to Conduct More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-Approved Literature: A Dick B. Guide for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2010).



You can download this title for only $9.95 by scrolling down in the center column of the front page of the following Web site until you come to the discussion of the book:



www.DickB.com





The second suggested groups of topics are presented in our new, 27-video class:



Dick B. and Ken B., “Stick with the Winners!” A 27-video class (2012).



This class complements the material in the Stick with the Winners! book mentioned above. And you can get access to all 27 videos for a one-time donation of $29.95 at:



www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com







The third suggested groups of topics are provided in our guide:

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide: Historical Perspectives and Effective Modern Application, 3rd ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2010)



You can read more about this important resource here:



http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml



You may purchase this book by using the “Donate” button provided under “Major Christian Recovery Resource #3” in the center column of this Web site:



www.DickB.com



The fourth suggested group of topics may be gleaned, title by title, subject by subject, in each of the 29 volumes of “The Dick B.  A.A. History and Christian Recovery Reference Set.” We have made this entire set available at the substantially discounted price of $249.00 (includes shipping within the United States. Please contact us about shipping outside the U.S.). We have recommended that every group obtain this Reference Set. Each of the books, with a picture page, is described on our website:



            www.dickb.com/titles.shtml



And the entire, 29-volume “Dick B. A.A. History and Christian Recovery Reference Set” may be acquired by clicking here:



http://www.dickb.com/index.html#Major_Christian_Recovery_Resource_2





If you have any godly questions concerning the topics and resources discussed above, please phone Dick B. at 1-808-874-4876 or Ken B. at 1-808-276-4945. Or send me (Dick B.) an email message at DickB@DickB.com.







Article Five



Topics for Your Convenience in our “Stick with the Winners” Guidebook and 27 video classes



Our Previous Article Four Provides Dozens of Suggested Topics to Use at An Old School Meeting



This Article Five Suggests the Following Two Guides to Topics to Use at An Old School Meeting






Dick B. and Ken B.’s Newest Title:



Stick with the Winners!

How to Conduct

More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings

Using Conference-Approved Literature:

A Dick B. Guide

for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena

(Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2012)



Contents

Introduction: “Old-School” Christian Recovery

Ch. 1:   Resources for “Old-School” 12 Step Recovery Meetings

Ch. 2:   Conference-Approved Literature Foundations

Ch. 3:   The Real Akron A.A. Program

Ch. 4:   16 Key Practices of the Real Akron A.A. Program

Ch. 5:   “Old-School” A.A. and First Century Christianity

Ch. 6:   “Old-School” Elements That Can Be Used Today

Ch. 7:   How to Conduct “Old-School” Recovery Meetings

            Conclusion



Available on www.DickB.com for only $9.95 NOW!

(Just scroll down the center column of the www.DickB.com front page.)







Announcing!

Dick B. and Ken B.’s New 27-Video Class:

Stick with the Winners!

Video                    Title



00                           Introductory Video for the “Stick with the Winners!” Class

01                           Where to Begin with a Newcomer

02                           Show the Newcomer That the Cure of Alcoholism Was Not Something New from A.A.

03                           The Vermont Youth of Dr. Bob and Bill W. Set the Stage for Early A.A.’s Emphasis on

God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Bible, Prayer, Conversion, and Witness

04                           How Bill W. Got Sober by Turning to God

05                           How Dr. Bob Got Sober by Turning to God

06                           How A.A. Number Three, Bill D., Got Sober by Turning to God

07                           A Summary of How the Original “Old-School” A.A. Program Was Developed

08                           Frank Amos’ Seven-Point Summary of the Original Akron A.A. Program

09                           Part One: Practices One through Eight of the 16 Practices of “Old-School” A.A. in Akron

10                           Part Two: Practices Nine through 16 of the 16 Practices of “Old-School” A.A. in Akron

11a                         The 75% and 93% Success Rates of Early A.A. (Part 1/Video 1—got interrupted)


12                           Part One: Groups One through Seven of the Resources about the “Old-School” A.A.

Program Available Today

13                           Part Two: Groups Eight through 14 of the Resources about the “Old-School” A.A.

Program Available Today

14                           The Starting Point: Mastering and Relying on Key Sections of Conference-Approved

Literature

15                           Supportive Statements in Alcoholics Anonymous (“the Big Book”)

16                           Supportive Statements in The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (# P-53)

17                           Supportive Statements in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

18                           Organizing and Conducting a “Conference-Approved Literature” Group

19                           Resources for Your Group and Its Meetings

20                           Topics for Your Group and Its Meetings

21                           A Sample Meeting Format

22                           Using the Sample Meeting Format with Other Topics

23                           Putting It All Together: Some Suggested Basic Approaches

24                           The Helpful Personal Stories of Four Early AAs . . .

25                           Conclusion: Here’s What Makes the International Christian Recovery Coalition and

These Suggested Meetings Different



(Available on www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com for only $29.95 NOW!)



Please phone Dick B. at 808 874 4876 or Ken B. at 808 276 4945 with any questions.






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