Western Mass
Intergroup
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Is This Your First Time To AA? If this is you first time coming to an AA meeting, or if you have been asked to attend by your family, school, job, or by the judicial system, you may have many questions about what AA is and us not. Take time to read the short Q&A below, it may help with your introduction to AA. Please let us know if you have any questions. PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR A SHORT Q&A ON AA.
Also take a moment to read the information and informative pamphlets provided to you below... They can help answer many questions you may have about Alcoholics Anonymous and the disease of alcoholism. |
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FOR THE UNOFFICIAL GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNER SUITABLE FOR DOWNLOAD
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Letter to Anyone New to A.A.
Dear AA Friend
Thank you for your interest in Alcoholics Anonymous. Below are A.A. pamphlets that explain our recovery program and give a general idea of how A.A. works. You will see that the first and most important step in our program is admission by the alcoholic that he or she is powerless over alcohol, and that life has become unmanageable. It is often helpful for the alcoholic to talk with an A.A. member, because it may make it easier to understand the nature of the illness, and to accept A.A. help. Alcoholics Anonymous is a program of a new way of life without alcohol, a program that is working successfully for millions of men and women throughout the world, and in all walks of life. The experience of A.A. members is that alcoholism is a progressive illness that cannot be cured, but which, like some other illnesses, can be arrested—by staying away from the first drink, one day at a time. We would encourage you to get in touch with the nearest A.A. Central Office or Intergroup to get further information on Alcoholics Anonymous, speak to an A.A. member or find local A.A. meetings. Many of these offices have web sites and email.
You can find an AA meeting list for Western Mass by Clicking Here.
A.A. members, as volunteers, are happy to offer help by sharing their experience, strength and hope in staying sober. One of the ways members stay sober is by helping other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Best wishes, The General Service Office
the program of Alcoholics Anonymous.
You can click on any of them to read the information offered.
The pamphlets below can also be obtained at most AA meeting locations.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SPONSORSHIP
Answers to many questions on how to find a sponsor in AA
that can help guide a newcomer into the designed program
2 Informative Pamphlets about Young People in AA
YOUNG PEOPLE AND AA
TOO YOUNG?
Think you're too young?
Think again.
AA FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
Stories of identification for the African American
and the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous
AA FOR THE OLDER ALCOHOLIC
Stories of identification for the older alcoholic
finding their way into AA for the first time
AA AND THE ARMED SERVICES
Stories of AA members and their service
to their country and AA Fellowship
THE 12 STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
An illustrated overview of the 12 Steps of Recovery
as designed from the Big Book of AA
The A.A. Preamble: Background Information
Service Material from the General Service Office
THE PREAMBLE was introduced in the June 1947 issue of the AA Grapevine magazine. It was written by the then-editor, who borrowed much of the phrasing from the Foreword to the original edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
In those early years, the Grapevine had just begun to circulate among nonalcoholics, and the Preamble was intended primarily to describe for them what AA is and is not. It is still often used for public information purposes. As time passed, it began appearing in all Conference-approved publications, and many AA groups now use it to open meetings.
The original version differed in two ways from the familiar form we all know: 1) It stated that “the only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop drinking,” and 2) it contained only the very brief statement “AA has no dues or fees.”
People often ask why the word “honest” was deleted. At the 1958 General Service Conference, a delegate asked about the words “honest desire to stop drinking,” suggesting that since “honest” does not appear in the Third Tradition, it might be deleted from the Preamble. In discussion, most Conference members felt that as AA had matured, it had become almost impossible to determine what constitutes an honest desire to stop drinking, and also that some who might be interested in the program could be confused by the phrase. Thus, as part of the evolution of AA, the phrase had been dropped from common usage. The midsummer 1958 meeting of the General Service Board of Trustees ratified the deletion, and since then the Preamble has read simply “a desire to stop drinking.”
At the same time, the phrase “AA has no dues or fees” was clarified to read as it presently does: “There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.” The current version of the Preamble appears on page one of every issue of the Grapevine. When reprinted, the Preamble should carry the following credit line: Copyright © by The AA Grapevine, Inc.
AA PREAMBLE©
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Copyright © by The AA Grapevine, Inc. Rev.8/19/02
If you believe that you may have a problem with alcohol, please take time to attend one of the many AA meetings that are held each week. On this Web Site you will find a “When and Where” page that will help you locate a meeting near you. If you still have any questions to where, when, and what type you should attend please call us at the numbers below, or E-mail us with your questions, and we will help to suggest a meeting that fits you and your length of sobriety.
Remember no question is a dumb one, this may be the first day to a new way of life for you.
Let us help you find your way into the program of Alcoholics Anonymous call 413-532-2111 or e-mail us with any questions you may have at intergro4@aol.co