I recently switched home groups and picked up a chair position on Friday nights. It's been a couple of months and usually 6 or 7 people show up which is fine whatever, but its always the same people whom I love dearly ok you guys get it so anyway today I sent out text messages to all the NA people in my phone asking to come support my meeting. Four people that I texted showed up and about 20 others! Word of mouth or just God saying "Here ya go, happy now?" How freaking awesome! I was excited but then I wondered...Am I breaking the third tradition? I only sent messages to other addicts obviously...
Our 3rd tradition as you know states " The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using."
Im assuming (dangerous) that some of the people that showed up were not or did not identify themselves as addicts.
Was it an open or closed meeting ? Open meetings are just that , open to all. While closed meetings are generally closed to the public and open only to those who are addicts seeking recovery.
The choice of membership rests with the individual. ANY addict with a desire to stop using.
Im not seeing this as a problem, Matter fact I think its pretty awesome you took the bull by the horns and drummed up some support for your home group.
As the chair the responsibility lies on you however to nudge sharing in a good orderly direction. Those that are not members or who do not identify themselves as addicts are asked in our homegroup to refrain from sharing until after the meeting. When one on one discussions can be had.
Thanks for your service.
-- Edited by AnthonyG at 09:38, 2009-01-03
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The fundamental delusion of humanity , is to suppose that I am here and you are out there .
Our home group has been seen some very long term members drop out for other groups. We have a purpose.... to carry the message to the addicts who still suffer. Even if only 2 people show up, your participation may help save their lives. Keep it up, I don't think you did anything wrong.
As for those who do come, I look at it this way. ANYONE who comes into the rooms, whether striaght or high, is there because deep down inside they KNOW there might be a better way to live their lives. Who's to say what's God's will for them? The seeds you plant by sharing you experience, strenght, and hope may save someone tonight, tomorrow, or years from now!!
Thank you for sharing:) Yea, there's always a message regardless of how many people show up. I love meetings with two or fifty addicts. Either way the miracle is happening. It's usually the same 5 or 6 of us and we're family so I love it it was just crazy to see that many people show up! Your right about the message. Now that I have a little recovery I can hear in more people and places than ever before.
