In Al Anon, someone who is also in AA can't be group representative.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Wow! That sounds like a terrific visit!

We hear so much about Bill Wilson - and the Wilson House - in my area, but not nearly so much about Dr. Bob. That really does sound fascinating, meeting someone who actually knew him and had stories! I'll have to ask the woman I celebrated with who knew Bill W if she ever met Dr. Bob, but she probably would have mentioned it, especially since she talked about meeting up with Lois Wilson as well. You really were fortunate to have an experience that very few of us AAs have!

And since I'm GSR for the beginners' group(s), I do meet a lot of those who are mandated. Since the meetings are at a halfway house - and within walking distance of "supportive living" - they are the ones who mostly come to those meetings. I'm always appreciative when any long-timers make it a point to attend and we do get them, but they aren't the majority. And I've also noticed that we get more who are further along than those who actually live there - which puzzles me since we bring the meetings to them. However, our meetings there aren't actually associated with the House, it's just our venue and we pay "rent," so it's up to them if they decide to show up. But I have to say that once they get into the habit of coming and get to know people, they do tend to "keep coming back..."

In my district, "service" has been a constant problem. We have over 80 meetings in the district, but I can often count the number of GSRs who show up at the district meetings on one hand. It's about half GSRs and the different "chairs," DCM, secretary, treasurer, etc. For awhile we were considered a "dark" district since we had no DCM. The one we had timed out and the alternate moved away, so we had no one until the treasurer stepped up - but then we needed to find another treasurer.

We're planning a "Joy of Service Day" which I really hope works out. Our current Alternate DCM - a woman who recently moved to the district and is very proactive - is heading it up and she is doing a great job. It was supposed to take place earlier this month but there was a rumor that the media might show up, people panicked and dropped out and so it was canceled. I'm really hoping it works out because we're always short of volunteers for everything. My beginner groups are pretty changeable since we have so much turnover. At the moment we don't necessarily have regular coffeemakers. However, a few years back we had such a cohesive group that we hosted an AA picnic that had a great turnout - we just never know.

We also have a hotline, but that's been around for ages. We're still looking for more volunteers to bring meetings to the hospital and to the local jails. I've actually brought meetings to both and was supposed to join my friend at a hospital meeting recently, but she said it had been canceled since not enough volunteers were showing up. And I did accompany my sponsor to bring a women's meeting to the county jail - but they have since made things much tougher, background checks, fingerprinting - the time I went with my sponsor, all I had to do was hand them my car keys. And those in my beginners' groups wouldn't be eligible anyway. It's not unusual to get those who got out of rehab the day before. That's one reason I think it's important to represent those groups at district - since we do have some unique needs.

Sorry for going on - but I have gotten involved - and of course it likely helps me more than it helps them. And of course you can PM me. I "keep coming back" to DU, as well. I found DU in 2003 during the buildup to the Iraq war and it's been my online home ever since...