Traditions and Concepts Workshops

These workshops are aimed at those who wish to pay back into the Fellowship, step up and Grow into Service.

At these meetings we welcome our own Home Group members who have become part of the Trusted Service Assembly or thinking about it. Also, fellows from other home groups wanting to brush up on their knowledge to help their own groups grow and develop. 

As newcomers, we saw people giving time, energy and love in the service of the Fellowship, and it is suggested that we too should become involved.

Those of us who have done this will tell you of the enormous benefits we have received by willingly stepping into service. A great paradox of A.A. is that rewards come when we begin to forget ourselves, when we begin to 'give it away'. 

Simple service tasks have helped to develop confidence, a belief in one’s own value and opinions, self-respect and self-worth. We have all found that participating in service activities has helped our recovery. These workshops are aimed at building on the knowledge behind the practice of trusted service in the Fellowship. 

Service in AA is guided by the 12 Traditions and the 12 Concepts. These workshops are designed to give a group-based study on each of each of the 12, each week. So, we can all expand our knowledge of the Three Legacies our founders handed onto us: 

• Recovery - the 12 Steps guide our individual recovery. We now look into;
• Unity - the 12 Traditions guide our unity and how we operate as AA Home Groups.
• Service - the 12 Concepts guide the way we live out the 12th Step Message as a local and world-wide Fellowship. 

Everyone in A.A. has some contribution to make. 

There are so many ways of practicing our Twelfth Step. Some are talented in hospital or prison work, others can write to loners or answer telephones and some have abilities which lie in committee activities or sponsorship. 

But service is not just for a small number of experienced people or a clique of the sober elite. Each one of us has been surprised at the abilities which have emerged with a willingness to grow in service. These workshops should help you to open up the possibilities of service you can offer back to the Fellowship. 

At the West Essex Group, we are able to develop any service position around what you feel you can offer the Home Group. Then, if you wish to take service in AA further, you will become a confident Trusted Service Assembly member and Group Steering Committee officer. Beyond our group you can grow into being a Group Service Representative, Regional Rep, General Service Conference Delegate, Trustee Board Member and World Service Conference delegate. 

Many of us have found that growing into service has had a profound positive impact in our lives and the world around us. We have become a useful member of our families and friendship groups, a leader in our clubs, societies, worshipping communities and interests, and improved our professional development and job prospects. 

These workshops will help you, and us together, to gain the knowledge to grow in confidence to 'Carry the 12th Step Message' and Grow in Service. It will build our Home Group here.