July - August 2012 - the Passaic County Area of NA

GSU 3.txt
GSU 3: "Passaic Valley GSU"
Hosted by: Ultimate Surrender
Friday July 28, 2012
LCM: CT
:Serenity Prayer at 3pm
: read the 12 Traditions
read the 12 concepts
: ATTENDANCE-- members
#1.Monday 7:30pm Wayne-Crossroads to Recovery: Elizabeth M. "GSR"
#2. Thursday 8pm Wayne-Out of the Valley: Ryan D. "GSR"
#3. Wednesday 7:30pm Fair Lawn- Against All Odds: Zack P. "trusted servant
(T.S.)
#4. Friday 9pm Hawthorne- Friday NightFreedom: Emily "GSR", Dan P. "Home Group
Member (HGM)
#5. Saturday 1pm Little Falls- Ultimate Surrender: Jackie "G.S.R.", John P.
"G.S.R.A."
OTHERS in Attendance: Brian A., John O.
:GROUP REPORTS (Numbers correspond to numbers above)
#1: Crossroads To Recovery
: open-Gsra, Greeters
: policy meeting Monday July 28th/ discussed group policy of no GSR Report
#2: Out of the Valley
: open-GSRA, coffee maker, elections on 8/9 for secretary and chairperson
: had policy meeting-changed words in scripts/ waved clean time for GSRA/
attendance healthy/ still low business attendance/ still struggling to fill
commitments
#3: Against All Odds
: open-GSR, GSRA
: attendance is still growing/ booking speakers with last minute notice/ still
lacking in seating capacity/ smoking situation being positively addressed/ group
discussed possibly changing time and date/ group feels comfortable/ business
meetings getting better
#4: Friday Night Freedom
: open-Gsra, elections on 8/10 for secretary and chairperson
: situation with coffee maker/ obsessive clapping still lessening/ attendance is
great/ "loaned" out a basic text and step working guide and are yet to get
reimbursed
#5: Ultimate Surrender
: open-booker, election for chairperson on 8/4
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GSU 3.txt
: attendance is growing/ tension amongst group members is lessening
Open Forum/Discussion
: "Old School vs New School" (tough love vs "it's ok")
-one attendee expressed he felt "old school" approach would have pushed him
out/ feels he needs to learn and attract by example/ tries to be more compassionate
and understanding
-one attendee expressed he felt "old school" was proper approach when
dealing with irresponsible members and fulfilling Commitments
-one attendee expressed members with cell phones or take cigarette breaks
during the meeting really infuriates him
-one attendee says he feels sometimes texting or taking a smoke
Break is necessary or beneficial to him
-one attendee feels setting examples only goes so far
-one attendee feels old school is more effective
-one attendee stated he was told "if you want what we have then do what we
do"
-one attendee asked how do we best share the message to newcomers or members
we feel "aren't listening"
-one attendee asked so which one is more effective... This question was the
whole point of this discussion. It's not about which technique works better, or is
better, it's about how do we combine them to get more positive results.., both
techniques work great in different situations... Two ideas were brought Up to be
kept in mind
1. "honesty without compassion is cruelty"
2. what are our motives for our actions
-With these two thoughts in mind, we try to carry the na message to addicts
and practice these principles in all our affairs, and remember people, both inside
and outside the fellowship are always watching, and we are a part of a program that
uses attraction over promotion. Whether we use tough love or an overly empathetic
and compassionate approach, we are all just trying to stay clean, better ourselves,
and help others better themselves in the spirit of love and unity!!
Next GSU will be held on Thursday, August 30 after the Out of the Valley
group. All are encouraged to attend!
Thanks for letting me serve,
C.T.
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