Carry Our Message Through Service
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17TH 2013 CARRY OUR MESSAGE THROUGH SERVICE CONTENTS Statement of Purpose 3 Summary 4 Agenda Digest 6 ESM Chairman: Welcome & Opening Address 8 Keynote Address: GSO New York 11 Report from the 22nd World Service Meeting 14 Country Reports 17 Committee Reports 1. Agenda/Policy/Admissions/Finance 92 2. Literature/Publishing & Media Communications 95 3. Working with Other Countries 97 Workshop Reports 1. Working with Young People 100 2. How to Attract & retain Young People in AA 103 3. Utilising the Service Structure, 104 a way to carry the message within AA Sharing Session Presentations 108 Closing Addresses 113 2 European Service Meeting STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The primary purpose of the European Service Meeting is the same as that of all AA activity – to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers, whoever he may be, whatever the language he speaks. The European Service meeting seeks ways and means of accomplishing this goal by serving as a forum for sharing the experience, strength and hope of delegates who come together from all parts of Europe. It can also represent an expression of the Group Conscience throughout Europe. Experience teaches us that developing a sound structure enables us to deliver our services more effectively. The European Service Meeting encourages the planning of the sound structures suited to the needs and capabilities of the various countries and the exploration of expanding AA Services to reach the alcoholic through internal communication, community relations and institutions work. 3 Summary From the 18th to 20th October 2013, delegates gathered from the following countries to attend the Seventeenth ESM. Austria Lithuania Belarus Malta Belgium (Flemish Speaking) Netherlands Czech Republic Norway Denmark Poland Finland Russia France Slovakia Germany Slovenia Great Britain Spain Iceland Sweden Ireland Switzerland (French Speaking) Italy Switzerland (German Speaking) Latvia Ukraine Also present were Phyllis H, General Manager at GSO New York and Rick W, observer from the International Desk, GSO New York. Registration and reception were held during the afternoon, at this time old friendships were rekindled, and new friendships were made. Informal discussions took place in a relaxing and upbeat atmosphere over coffee. The 17th European Service Meeting was opened by the Chairman – Kristin L who gave a warm welcome to all, and the Keynote Address was presented by Phyllis H from GSO New York. On Saturday the work began in earnest with the Committees and Workshops taking place throughout the day. During the evening the atmosphere took on a more relaxing pace with the Sharing Meeting which saw presentations from Martin S (Switzerland) and Jarmila K (Slovakia) on the theme: ―Service in Action – My Responsibility‖. During the Sunday morning session, three 2nd Term delegates: Ad S (Netherlands), Marc B (France) and Helle V (Denmark) plus Rick W from New York, were invited to speak about their thoughts and experiences during the events of the weekend. Penny A (Great Britain) was elected Chairman of the Eighteenth European Service Meeting. Lotte R (Austria) was selected to prepare a report on the Seventeenth European Service Meeting for presentation at the 23rd World Service Meeting in 2014, and report back on that World Service Meeting to the Eighteenth European Service Meeting in 2015. A vote was taken and it was agreed by a substantial majority that the Eighteenth ESM will be held in York, England. 4 An Agenda Committee for the Eighteenth European Service Meeting was formed and will consist of the following: Penny A Chairman – Eighteenth ESM Colin T Chairman – Agenda, Policy, Admissions, Finance Patsy O‘K Chairman – Literature, Publishing, Media Communications Geoff H Chairman – Working with Other Countries Roger B Secretary – EIC The Agenda Committee will meet on from 27th to 29th June 2014 to submit and discuss all questions forwarded to them between now and July. The Agenda will be set for the Eighteenth European Service Meeting. Finally, Kristin L our Chairman, closed the Seventeenth European Service Meeting with a highly inspirational address, and invited all those assembled to join in the Serenity Prayer. 5 Agenda Digest of the 17th European Service Meeting 2013 Friday 18th October Registration and Reception Welcome and Opening Address Twelve Traditions World Service Meeting Report Keynote Address Country Reports Saturday 19th October Committee Meetings Questions and Answers Session Workshops Presentation & discussion following Committee Reports AA Sharing Meeting on the theme: ‗Service in Action, My Responsibility‘ Sunday 20th October Presentation & Discussion Workshop Reports Eighteenth European Service Meeting Time and Place Election of Chairman Election of ESM Delegate to prepare ESM Report for WSM 2014 and report back to the 18th ESM in 2015 Formation of the Agenda Committee Closing Addresses Close of Seventeenth European Service Meeting 2013 6 OPENING PRESENTATIONS 7 WELCOME ADDRESS – CARRYING OUR MESSAGE THROUGH SERVICE CHAIRMAN – KRISTIN L, NORWAY Hello everybody and welcome to this 17th European Service meeting here in Frankfurt! My name is Kristin L and I am an alcoholic from Norway. In 2011 I attended my second European Service Meeting, and in addition to attending two World Service Meetings, I thought it was my last trip to do World Service. It was therefore a big surprise for me to get this chance to Chair this meeting and meet so many old friends again. It is a great honour and pleasure for me to be at Service this weekend. So far this has been a pleasant experience, and I will thank our wonderful staff for being at service with their experience, knowledge and service minded attitude! I will also thank you all for making the effort to come here, and a special welcome to those of you who is here for the first time. We will do our very best to help you feel comfortable & safe this weekend and I look forward to learn to know you better. I hope you will feel the great inspiration it is to meet and share experience and hope across Country borders. The theme for this European Service Meeting is ‗Carry Our Message Through Service‘. Service – our third legacy, is often discussed on a national and international level. Also at group level, where the main challenge can be how to inspire people to engage in service. It‘s a thousand ways into these discussions – I would like to reflect upon some of Bills words about this topic (from the Third Legacy of Service): Why do we need to do service? ―Our Twelfth Step—carrying the message—is the basic service that the A.A. Fellowship gives; this is our principal aim and the main reason for our existence. Therefore, A.A. is more than a set of principles; it is a society of alcoholics in action. We must carry the message, else we ourselves can wither and those who haven‘t been given the truth may die.‖ What is service? ―Hence, an A.A. service is anything whatever that helps us to reach a fellow sufferer— ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.‘s General Service Office for national and international action. The sum total of all these services is our Third Legacy of Service.‖ Where – How - Who? ―Services include meeting places, hospital cooperation, and intergroup offices; they mean pamphlets, books, and good publicity of almost every description. 8 They call for committees, delegates, trustees, and conferences. And, not to be forgotten, they need voluntary money contributions from within the Fellowship. These services, whether performed by individuals, groups, areas, or A.A. as a whole, are utterly vital to our existence and growth. Nor can we make A.A. more simple by abolishing such services. We would only be asking for complication and confusion. Concerning any given service, we therefore pose but one question: ―Is this service really needed?‖ If it is, then maintain it we must, or fail in our mission to those who need and seek A.A.‖ Is this relevant today? In my opinion – more than ever. We are here today on behalf of our country, and we will be discussing a lot of themes – one of them will be about our new media, Internet, and we can ask the question ―Is this service really needed?‖ If the answer is yes, how do we deal with this? This is one situation where the European cooperation is such a great tool! We are all here to assist in bringing the message, and at the same time, we serve our sobriety. The ear-rings I wear have our logo written on it, the triangle in the middle of the circle – and my reflection is: ―A triangle is only a triangle when all three sides are present‖ Without the Steps – there is no ego detected – and no need for ego-reduction. No need to engage in unity – since everything still evolves around me. If everything evolves around me – why should I engage in service to others? When I came to A.A., I was lucky to join a group that emphasized service as an essential part of sobriety. I was immediately encouraged to participate in Service, and that made me feel included in the group, I had a right to be there. At last I was part of something, and through the years I have had the great pleasure of spending time & work with wonderful people - both non-alcoholics and alcoholics. And over the years it is more & more clear for me what a miracle all our three legacies are. It all begins with me – getting sober – being given a solution to my drinking problem. Learning that to keep this solution I must give it to someone else. And the better my life gets, the more eager I am to bring this to others who is still suffering.