Find a need and fill it…
There's a need—everywhere. What I'm really looking for is a place where there is a need and a desire. Use the same principle as someone who is in need of help, but is not asking for help, be sure there are people in the area that are planning on supporting and utilizing the meeting. When people announce that a meeting is in need of support, perhaps the meeting has lost its usefulness—or God has another plan. If there is really a need, the group will be supported. The 7th tradition is the best means of measuring this. Bill Wilson, when approached with the possibility of financial donations from outside sources, stated that when AAs can no longer support themselves, then AA has outlived its purpose.
Primary Purpose? To Carry Its Message
What is your group's message? If your group has a message and its primary purpose is to carry its message, then all other group conscience decisions should be no-brainers because all you need to do is ask yourself one question: Does this enhance or distract us from our primary purpose?
Decide what the primary purpose of your meeting is… by tradition it is typically "to carry its message". If this is the case for your group, then decide what the message that your group intends on carrying. It can be a short statement or it can be a long statement...it doesn't matter. It should, however, be identified.
Harbor City Speakers Group and South College Speakers Group: Their message is "Hope is Available Here".
Parkton Step Group. Their message is that if you have a new person, you can pretty much ensure that if you bring them to this meeting, they will hear a message of the steps, utilizing the Big Book primarily, in a God-Dependant, Service-to-Others fashion that is carried only by experienced AAs. A powerful message, carried lightly, for free and for fun.
My belief is that a group should be two or more people who have a similar message to carry, or a similar approach to carrying a message… I realize that is not the case in most groups today, but it sure makes life easier when all group members come from the same type of recovery approach.
Group Conscience determines the message your group will carry. My suggestion:
Sounds weird, but it works really well. Typically those who did not get their way are okay, because they know that fair lengths were taken for their voice to be heard.
Group Conscience decisions should never be written in stone. You should be able to change your decisions tomorrow in a simple fashion if the needs of the group change. Having "By-laws" or something similar, in my opinion, is not trusting God and not trusting spiritual principles… it is fear-driven, which is the underlying cause and condition of all of our problems.
If your group is not experienced in a particular area, invite someone to come talk to the group who is experienced. Uninformed group consciences can be seriously delusional, yet still in agreement with each other.
Avoid complicated people at all cost. They will burn up all your energy and squash out the willingness of others. Surround yourself with ONLY people who are willing to take action consistently and keep this thing simple.
Respect other groups and individuals but don't concern yourself with what they think. Whenever you or your group is criticized, ask yourself one question… do these people who are criticizing us have what we want?… are they getting the kind of results in recovery that we want to get? If the answer is yes, then consider their advice… if the answer is no, then respectfully thank them for their input.
Raffles, chips, fluffy readings should be avoided. They divert us from our primary purpose. The spiritual solution is attractive enough on its own, you don't need to promote your group in any other way.
Whoever puts up the money for start-up expenses needs to be paid back by the group's 7th tradition contributions. Even if it is only a few dollars and even if the person putting up the money is a multi-millionaire… on principle alone, the group needs to be self-supporting.
There is a pamphlet that AA publishes that recommends how to distribute the 7th Tradition contributions, above and beyond your group's expenses and prudent reserve.
Whenever creating flyers for your group, keep them short and on one page/side of paper, so it can be copied and distributed easily.
Business meetings for your group should not be necessary if you have followed all the previous directions and are keeping this real simple and are staying focused on your primary purpose.
Elect a Secretary, Speaker-Getter, Treasurer and a couple coffee makers. All others should be set-up people and greeters. Do not give people service positions because you think it will help them get willingness. Willingness only comes from desperation and pain or joy. You cannot transmit willingness… only hope.
The secretary and the main speaker should wear a shirt and tie or women's equivalent.
The Speaker-Getter is probably the most important position in the group, if your group really wants to stay focused on its primary purpose. The speaker that leads the meeting sets the tone for the speakers that follow, if any, but also sets the tone for the whole meeting, even if he/she is the only speaker. You will notice that when a meeting stays focused on "God Dependence" and "Service to Others", there is an air in the room that cannot be explained, but cannot be denied. Most people will stay after the meeting talking, laughing and helping to clean up, without being asked. If you don't have a meeting like that, most people will scatter like roaches when the lights are turned on, as soon as the "Lord's Prayer" is complete. When the air is in the room, the energy is high, the people are staying after with enthusiasm… this is the best time to talk with the new person who is still suffering. The speaker-getter position, in my opinion, would be greatly enhanced if all core group members supply the speaker scheduler with speaker ideas, rather than relying solely on one person.
people that join a group—but do not have the same message as the group—should be asked to abstain from speaking at their own anniversary. This is not always popular, but you need to ask yourself whether it is more important to be popular or more important for your group to maintain its primary purpose: to carry its message.