Unity First

Welcome to your Group Inventory E-Page, where we look  toward our Traditions to lead and direct us when it comes to being a healthy and sober AA Group.  Within our group we believe we have experienced members of AA who offer a good anchor and sail for the journey ahead in working our Three Legacies of AA (Unity, Service & Recovery).

In the Group Conscience, we look toward our AA Handbook, the Big Book and our Traditions to uphold the health of your group in the Spirit  of our Three  Legacies.

As a Big Book Study Group, we often reflect on the page 63 and 64 from the Big Book when it writes:

"Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action, the first step of which was a personal housecleaning, which many of us never attempted. Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of the things in ourselves that had been blocking us"

We take a similar approach when doing a Group Inventory as suggested in the pamphlet "The AA Group", particulary in full spirit of Tradition Four where we can learn to develop our Fifth Tradition as defined by AA as a whole without affecting other AA groups in our area.  Our group inventory is the keystone for all that we say and do within our AA group, ever reminding ourselves that we have been blessed with the gift our program and our traditions to help Carry AA's Message as best as we can.

Questions we want to ask ourselves here are:

1.   What is the basic purpose of this group?

2.   What more can the group do to Carry The Message?

3.   Is the group attracting alcoholics from different backgrounds? Are we seeing a

      a good cross-section of our community?

4.   Do new members stick with us or does the turnover appear high? If so, why?

      What could the group do to improve on this?

5.   Do we emphasise the importance of Sponsorship?  How effective is it in the

      group?  Can we do more and better?

6.   Are we absolutely careful to preserve the anonymity of our group members and

      other AA members outside the meeting rooms and elsewhere?  Do we keep

      personal confidences when sharing at our meeting?

7.   Mindful that holding office in the Homegroup is not viewed as a popularity

      contest or blunt instrument for oldtimers or strong personalities to control

      the group direction and purpose - are we choosing our officers with care and

      on a wise basis?

8.    Are we doing all WE can to make the meeting place attractive and safe for

       all our visitors?

9.    How is the group fufilling its Seventh Tradition?

10.  Are we focussing on the Message or the Messenger?  Do we place

       Personalities before Principles?  

11.  Is each individual group member being Honest and Open with their motives

       while being in attendance and of service at the Homegroup?  Is there certain

       group tasks or activities some of us will do gladly and some sadly because the

       job or task is beneath the individual?

12.  Are we interested in the visitor, the newcomer and our fellow group members?

13.  Are we competent in  representing AA as a defined in our Fifth & Twelfth

       Traditions?   If not, why not?

14.  Are we Disability Friendly as an AA Group?  Is our premises wheelchair

       accessible?  Do we have the right format and layout to support those with

       a sensory or learning impairment or other disability? 

At this group, we are wiling to take stock at group level every three months and we often times seek Prayerful Reflecton in carrying out the Group Conscience as best we can regardless of the personal preferences of individuals.  This Group puts UNITY FIRST in order that we make the neccessary self-sacrifices to serve AA locally on the day.

A AA Homegrpup Meditation for Every Day

Two things can wreck group UNITY-Gossip and Criticism!

To rid ourselves of these destructive and divisive behaviors, we could remind ourselves that we are ALL in the SAME BOAT (chronic alcoholics saved from a Living Death)

We are like a bunch of people in a Lifeboat after the Ocean Liner has sunk. If we are going to survive and thrive we must be willing to pull together. For some of us, it is more than a matter of Life and Death for us. It is more important than that!

Gossip (did you hear about him or her?) and Criticism (Who does s/he think s/he is?) are sure fire ways to destroy any AA Group. Most of us are in AA (the Fellowship) to keep sober ourselves and to HELP each other to keep sober!And neither Gossip and Criticism help real alcoholics stay sober

Perhaps each of us, as group members, could ask ourselves:

Am I guilty of Gossip or Criticism or both? 

There is unity in the meaning commUNITY!

We recover by the steps we take, not solely by the meetings we make