Home Group Activities

[Larrylive]

Our home group puts on 2 dances a year, St. Patricks Day and Halloween. Holidays that traditional are spent in bars, drinking. We supply soft-drinks and coffee, some munchies (pizza, chips, etc) and get a local DJ usually for a discounted price. The attendance is generally made up of new-comers (1yr or less), most of whom live in half-way houses. We believe we are helping to introduce socializing-while-sober skills.

These activities seem to bother some, stating that is "un-traditional". Any input would be appretiated.

Be well,
Larry

[LookingOut]

I say, why not? We are not a glum lot! Providing a place for people to have some alcohol free fun seems like a great idea. If it is "mostly" newcomers, then there should also be as many "older" timers as possible to be good examples and keep an eye on things.

I don't know what a lot of AAers mean by "traditional" anyway. Most of what is done in AA meetings today did not come out of the Big Book anyway. A lot of it came out of the way things were done in rehab facilities.

If it helps people get and stay sober and helps them learn how to have fun while sober and be with safe and sober folks, then go for it!

[yukonm]

Hi Larry,
I agree with Lookingout. There are several different clubhouses in this area that have activities on holidays for those in recovery. Never heard anyone complaining about not being 'traditional'. Also each group is autonomous so as long as it has been approved by group conscious...should be no problem.

[Larrylive]

FYI, We still do the dances, and tomorrow will be our third "2nd Thanksgiving". We invite the church (where we hold our meetings) and cook for them as an act of gratitude. This year will include 2 other AA groups who use the building, an HA group,and the refugee community center (they use the churches gymnasium). This is going to be fun.
Last year we did a "Sober Super Bowl" party. That'll happen again. We also put teams in the American Heart Associations "Heart Run", the Cancer Societies "Relay-for-Life" and the "Aids Hike for Life" We give back and have fun doing it.

Be well,
Larry

[MajestyJo]

How awesome is that. We learn to live life on life's terms, we don't stop living, we start being productive members of society. It may take some of us a while, but we do need to give back to others, what a wonderful way to do it.

It is acgood to have newcomers, especially if long timers, come out to support them. Many need to remember where they come from and remember that we have a dis-ease that can take them back in a flash if they are not spiritually fit. Going to church doesn't cut it. It is like going to AA, occupying a chair and not working steps and applying the program to our life.

We do this program one day at a time. I used because I had chronic pain. I still have chronic pain. I need the program just as much in today as I did 27 years ago. I can't allow my pain to dictate my life. I am being sent to a pain clinic. I don't think they can teach me something I don't already know, but I am willing to try. The difference between me and them, I have a 12 Step program.

Sometimes it is hard to think through the pain. Sometimes it is hard to do because of the pain, but all I am asked to do is try. They played music when they did some exercises. At the end of my stay, I was putting on music, classic country with Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, Connie Smith, etc. I realized that I was listening to a lot of crying in your beer songs. So glad I don't have to go there in today. I do like the music. They all have distinctive guitar sounds.