Mountain Multi-Cultural Multi-Faith Group

Good afternoon,
The Native American A.A. meeting on Tuesday nights at the Alpine Mall in Crestline needs your support.
We are still fairly small but the results and positive feedback drives us forward in our recovery.
Come and join us for a spiritual approach to recovery!
Walk in balance and in beauty,
Medicine Bear

im not sure if you realize or not that you are breaking tradition 11 with advertising AA on the internet

11.Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion: we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press radio or film......

since tv and internet were not invented at the time the traditions were written is a given that we do not advertise on tv or internet, if the traditions were rewritten it would include tv and internet.. it is fine to say you are an alcoholic and share your story and talk about the meeting when asked where do you go.. if you call world services they will tell you the same thing.. the traditions were instilled to protect us members and AA as a whole.. now if this is not a true sanctioned meeting of AA then advertise away but please leave the AA name out of it

I believe that in this format anonimity is safe because we are not using our names...
at least that is what central office told me.

world services runs AA not central office.. its the anonimoty of AA as a whole.. thats why we dont advertise on tv or in print or movies or internet.. come to my meeting: this is promotion not attraction.. i tell peeps in my conversations all the time that im in AA, because AA is a big part of my life, and i talk about my life and i live the way i talk.. then peeps ask me more.. that is attraction.. if you want to break tradition go ahead.. why dont you rewrite the big book while you're at it.. im done with this subject and wont go to any meetings that promote themselves, that is not soberiety to me.. we ask for support for meetings at other meetings.. go on with your willy nilly meetings

from http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_media_resources.cf...

Anonymity Letter to Media
General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous

March 17, 2008

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
A NOTE OF THANKS - A REQUEST FOR COOPERATION

From time to time we write our public media friends to thank them for helping us observe our long-standing tradition of anonymity for members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

First, let us express our deep gratitude to you. From the beginning of A.A. in 1935, its members have recognized that word-of-mouth is not sufficient by itself to carry the program's message of hope and recovery to the many people still suffering from alcoholism. The public media has been a vital part of this effort, and today we estimate that there are more than 2 million successfully recovering members of Alcoholics Anonymous in more than 180 countries.

Second, we respectfully request that you continue to cooperate with us in maintaining the anonymity of A.A. members. The principle of anonymity is a basic tenet of our fellowship. Those who are reluctant to seek our help may overcome their fear if they are confident that their anonymity will be respected. In addition, and perhaps less understood, our tradition of anonymity acts as a restraint on A.A. members, reminding us that we are a program of principles, not personalities, and that no individual A.A. member may presume to act as a spokesman or leader of our fellowship. If an A.A member is identified in the media, we ask that you please use first names only (e.g. Bob S. or Alice F.) and that you not use photographs or electronic images in which members’ faces may be recognized.

Again, we thank you for your continued cooperation. Those who wish to know more about our fellowship please visit the section “Media Resources” on www.aa.org. Although our fellowship does not comment on matters of public controversy, we are happy to provide information about A.A. to anyone who seeks it.
If you are a professional and wish to e-mail us your postal address so that we may mail you additional information on A.A., please Click Here.

Sincerely,

Public Information Committee
of Alcoholics Anonymous

~emphasis was placed by me

I would assume that the internet falls under "public media".

also from http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_services_for_membe...

Anonymity at the media level

After its first few years of success, the Fellowship attracted much favorable attention in the press. Articles praising A.A. appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country. And, with each new article, the ranks of A.A. grew. In those days, everyone still feared the consequences of public disclosure; and so the first press coverage guarded members’ anonymity for safety’s sake. The arrival of new media technologies such as the Internet has offered new vehicles to carry the A.A. message to the public. A.A. members continue to preserve their anonymity in these new public media.

As public awareness concerning alcoholism increased, the stigma decreased, and soon some A.A. members began to publicly acknowledge their affiliation in the media. One of the first to do so was a famous ballplayer whose comeback was so spectacular that newspapers lavished attention on his successful struggle against alcohol. Believing that he could help A.A. by revealing his membership, he discussed it openly. Even the founders of A.A. approved his actions simply because they had not yet experienced the costs of such publicity.

Then other members decided to break their anonymity in the media — some motivated by good will, others by personal gain. Some members devised schemes to tie in their A.A. affiliation with all sorts of business enterprises, insurance, sales, drying-out farms, even a temperance magazine, to name a few.

It did not take long for those at A.A. headquarters to realize that overzealous and self-serving anonymity breakers could quickly jeopardize the Fellowship’s hard-won reputation. And they saw that if one person was made an exception, other exceptions would inevitably follow. To assure the unity, effectiveness, and welfare of A.A., anonymity had to be universal. It was the guardian of all that A.A. stood for.

In stressing the equality of all A.A. members — and unity in the common bond of their recovery from alcoholism — anonymity serves as the spiritual foundation of the Fellowship. Back in 1946, Bill W., our co-founder, wrote: “The word ‘anonymous’ has for us an immense spiritual significance. Subtly but powerfully, it reminds us that we are always to place principles before personalities; that we have renounced personal glorification in public; that our movement not only preaches but actually practices a true humility.”

...stresses the anonymity, no personal success stories, but letting people know when and where falls safely in their guidelines, IMHO.

i just got off the phone with a buddy of mine that works at world services, i wanted to make sure i wasnt talking out of my ass, which does happen from time to time.. she said it could be pormotion at the level of internet but she wasnt sure.. she is forwarding the thread off to peeps she works with to see what they think.. but what she did say was it opens AA up to scrutney and public controversy and when that happens we are diverted from our primary purpose (staying sober for those that forgot).. not that anyone seems to care what the traditions mean anymore.. she also did mention that there used to be tons of traditions meetings all over but they have dwindled down to almost nothing then someone breaks tradition and doesnt know it.. and when they are informed it turns into a fight..

Good grief! I had no intention of self promoting or openning a pandora's box by posting the need of the meeting. Members were talking the other day and suggested the posting to help get the word out.
This meeting is about sobriety,community,healing. Nothing eles!!
Why do we always have to go to the place of controversy, this is why we suffer from wars, poverty, sickness,hunger and all the rest, because the human race is out of balance and has forgotten the place they are supposed to stand in as the caretakers of Mother Earth.
Personally I choose peace, I choose healing, I choose growth,compassion,love. Remember this as the bickering continues, we are all strands in the web of life and what one does put out effects all other strands within the web, and thus comes back to us. It is for these reasons that those in Recovery such as I remove meetings, remove themselves from within the fold of social retardedness. As a Veteran in recovery it makes me wonder as to the sacrifice of our men and woman fighting to preserve a way of life that is being taken for granted and goes unappreciated.

In other words this was a simple mistake on here with this posting by Me! Meant to promote healing,hope,and sobriety!! I am responsible for my actions and regret the rift caused by this posting.

Sgt. John Medicine Bear Whitebow
Proud Veteran and Member of A.A.

Remember this as the bickering continues, we are all strands in the web of life and what one does put out effects all other strands within the web, and thus comes back to us.

SO well said, Bear as usuual! Big hugs to you and Aiyanna.

As a sidenote Native American Meetings are sanctioned and recognized by both Central/World Service. We have guidelines and structure like regular meetings with addition of Native Spiritual Practices provided at such meetings.
Some of these include but are not limited to the following:
Use of an Eagle Feather
Drums, Rattles, Prayer Songs, Sacred Pipe etc.
All of which have been sanctioned. The requirement for use is to be a recognized caretaker of the above mentioned items for use in Ceremony.
There is much to be said for this as it causes by it's very nature..........controversy due to ego,pride,tribe, and the gifts given by Creator to the People.
That being said it does well for one to remember that there are many tribes, many traditions and ceremonies given to each. When we look at the similarities and sacredness of these we see no difference, only the healing power of each given by the Creator to pray and heal becoming beater Two-Leggeds, Human Beings.

The Native community up here in the Mountain community will not engage in bickering,ego,pointing fingers, we deal with matters of the heart and healing so that we can go forward and heal our Mother, and all that dwell upon her. Recovery for Mother Earth begins from within, this is our only task.
MBW

This is a reminder to Bear to attend the Business meeting this coming Friday at 6 PM
If you want support for your meeting please support our group.

Katie,
I wont be able to make it this month or next month I leave to go out of town on Tuesday and will not be back for a month. Meeting will be covered by an apprentice who is well versed.
You have my ok to vote for me on my behalf, I trust you.
I will have my cell if something comes up, but will be in Illinois helping a family.
Bear

Stalking Horse will be covering Tuesday for next few weeks, reminder to him about meeting Friday night.