Step 2 Men’s Gazette

For Want of a Playmaker

My longtime friends in the Step Two Men’s Group will recognize this allegory. My new friends in Step Two Men’s Group will take heed.

You see, my relationship with Step 6 is a lot like my relationship with the Sacramento Kings Basketball Team. I am more than ready for them to be NBA League Champions, or even Playoff contenders, but each year is like Samuel Beckett’s play, Waiting for Godot.

No, I know nothing about that play other than Godot never shows up.

Some of my character defects are like players with expensive contracts, that I have held onto too long and have no trade value and are too expensive emotionally to buy out. So there they are, still with me.

Fear is for me is like that player.

It’s not always a fear like you have when you are a kid and there is some jerk who torments you and half the class. It can be a fear of trying to accomplish something and failing. Or the fear, that while you are actually trying, you miss out on something else.

And then there is always the fear of running into someone from back in the day. I dread those conversations and the inevitable cringe-worthy, “Remember the time you………… “

Those days are behind me but I am always afraid of screwing up.

Especially if someone else is going to find out about it. Has the possibility of finding out about it.

Then I have to explain what I was thinking. Like, why do I want that?

I hate getting grief. I know that hinders my motivation to do some of the things that would make me a better person. I know that makes sense to me, do you get it?

And there is a bunch of other things that I am afraid to do because I am afraid of the environment it might put me in.

I call that the good fear, because I have a constant and overriding fear of REALLY screwing up and REALLY raising havoc for me and everyone on the Planet if I were to go out again and drink or use.

Maybe this is like acceptance. Like the Kings I am a player away. I am missing some piece to the puzzle but think what the hell, I am seeing a pretty good game anyway. And I will take the Step Two Men’s Group as some kind of fan guidance.

By John M.

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THURSDAY ‘Book & Step Study’ 

Bob R. takes us through the Twelve Steps and Big Book portions to start the meeting every    Thursday. Each missive is packed with fine prose, fascinating insights and challenging reading. Following the read (about 20 minutes)…the floor is open to everyone’s thoughts on how they may have been influenced or impacted by that writing. It’s really fun to be a part of and members are enjoying it. 

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Notes and Quotes

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In-Person Meetings

After some very in-depth, scientific polling it was decided on May 26 that we move our Wednesday meeting to the park along with our weekend meetings.

Then we saw triple digit temperatures on May 31.

In light of this, we’ve decided to go ahead with the park meeting on Wednesday in addition to the online meeting. Either Brad W or Mark C will be acting as Online Secretary to make sure we have both options covered that day. Weekend meetings will remain as-is for the time being.

This is a temporary solution which we will revisit after June 15 and whatever changes that brings. We expect to hear something about returning to the church around that time also. More will be revealed.

Big thanks to Tom W for for handling things with St. Francis for us. Also a big thanks to all our Secretaries for keeping things going and to all of you for showing up and making this the great group that it is.

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First Wednesday… June 2nd

John M. reviews Step 6 on June 2nd (First Wednesday). “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.”

John reviews the step corresponding to the number of that month on each first Wednesday. It’s a rewarding meeting with John outlining the step of the month, how he was challenged by it and how we tackle it ourselves, with and without success! Look for his monthly contribution in this edition!

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Pass the Basket… please?

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Our General Secretary Tom W. has advised us to hold off of Seventh tradition donations until we have returned to in person meetings. A special thanks, however, to our new Treasurer, Mark W. !

The GSR Says!

Below is a summary of actions taken at this year’s General Service Conference that were Literature related. I have highlighted items that I had the most inquires about from our group members.

1. The committee recommended that a Fifth Edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, be developed, including an update of stories to better reflect current membership, keeping in mind the 1995 Advisory Action that: “The first 164 pages of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, the Preface, the Forewords, ‘The Doctor’s Opinion,’ ‘Dr. Bob’s Nightmare,’ and the Appendices remain as is,” and that a progress report be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature. PASSED
2. The committee recommended that, pending its development, the draft Fifth Edition of the Big Book would include a new foreword, an updated preface and updates to expand on existing ideas in Appendices III and V. PASSED
3. D.The committee recommended a revision to page 117 in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, replacing the phrase “opposite sex” with the word “partner” as follows, and that a footnote be added to provide context to the change as it relates to inclusivity:

Be revised to read:

“Nearly every sound human being experiences, at some time in life, a compelling desire to find a partner with whom the fullest possible union can be made – spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. This mighty urge is the root of great human accomplishments, a creative energy that deeply influences our lives. God fashioned us that way. …” PASSED

5. The committee recommended that the sentence which includes the phrase “lustful enough to rape” in paragraph one on page 66 in the chapter “Step Six” of the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, be revised to refer to the Seven Deadly Sins without specific mention of examples that are severe in nature as follows, and that a footnote be added to provide context as to the basis for the change. PASSED
6. The committee recommended that the pamphlet, “The A.A. Group… Where it All Begins,” be revised to omit the line on page 13, “Non alcoholics may attend open meetings as observers,” FAILED
7. The committee recommended that the pamphlet “A.A. for the Black and African-American Alcoholic” be updated to include fresh stories and a new title that is respectful and inclusive and that a progress report or draft pamphlet be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature. PASSED
8. The committee recommended that the draft update of the pamphlet, “The Twelve Traditions Illustrated,” be approved with the title, “Experience Has Taught Us: Our Twelve Traditions Illustrated.” PASSED
9. The committee recommended not to retire the existing version of the pamphlet “The Twelve Traditions Illustrated.” PASSED

10. The committee recommended that the Long Form of each Tradition be included at the end of each essay for that Tradition in the book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and that the complete set of Traditions at the back of the book be retained as is. PASSED
11. The committee recommended that a Fourth

Edition of the book, Alcohólicos Anónimos, be developed, including an update of stories to better reflect current membership, and that a progress report be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature. PASSED

L. The committee recommended that the pamphlet, “Frequently Asked Questions About A.A.” be revised on by omitting the text on page 17 “…including coffee, sandwiches, cakes or whatever else may be served,” as follows: The line on page 17 currently reads:

“…to defray the cost of renting a meeting place and other meeting expenses, including coffee, sandwiches, cakes or whatever else may be served.” Be revised to read:

“…to defray the cost of renting a meeting place and

other meeting expenses.” PASSED
M.The committee recommended that the paragraph

containing the suggestion that sponsor and newcomer be of the same sex on page 12 in the pamphlet “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship” be revised as follows: The paragraph on page 12 currently reads: In most instances, A.A. custom does suggest one limitation, already noted on page 10: If the group is large enough to allow a choice, sponsor and newcomer be of the same sex. The reasons are the same from both viewpoints; we A.A. members, no matter how long we have been sober, remain thoroughly human, subject to emotions that might divert us from “our primary purpose.” Be revised to read: PASSED

A.A. custom does suggest one limitation: sponsorship should be avoided whenever a romantic entanglement might arise between sponsor and sponsee. We A.A. members, no matter how long we have been sober, remain thoroughly human, subject to emotions that might divert us from “our primary purpose.” PASSED

N. The committee recommended that the draft pamphlet for Spanish-speaking women in A.A. be approved. PASSED
O. The committee recommended that a draft version of the book, Alcoholics Anonymous (Fourth Edition), be translated into plain and simple language and be developed in a way that is accessible and relatable to as wide of an audience as possible and that a progress report or draft be brought back to the 2022 Conference Committee on Literature. PASSED

Thank you for allowing me to be of service.

George T.

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