Examples of State Sponsored Workshop Topics

Group Related Topics

Unity within the AA Group.  What works for and against unity within a group?  How can problems be addressed?   A review of the Traditions as they apply within the Group.

The AA Group and how it Functions.    About the variety of ways AA Groups  work.   Just what is an AA Group anyway? What's a Meeting?  Who is a member and what are the responsibilities of a member? What trusted servants might a group have, and what is their purpose.  What about meeting procedures, group consciences, business meetings, inventories etc?  What about self support?

The AA Group in Relation to its Community.    How might we better reach out the alcoholic who still suffers just down the street from our meeting house?  Do people in my  town know that AA is there, and how to find it should they, or someone they know need it?  Do the Doctors, Social Workers, Judges etc in my town know what AA is  (and isn't) and how to refer their clients to AA?  Is my group reaching out to the alcoholic who still suffers in my town's jails, hospitals and treatment facilities? 

The AA Group in Relation to Neighboring Groups and the rest of AA.   How can AA groups cooperate with each other and learn from each others successes and mistakes? How can my group do its part in carrying the message across the nation and around the world?  (In other words, how the AA Group fits into the General Service Structure.)

How the Group can reach out to the Alcoholic who still suffers.      It isn't enough just to open the doors and wait for alcoholics to find us.  Tradition 5 suggests carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.  How might we better reach out to the alcoholic, using attraction rather than promotion?

Working with an Influx of Court Ordered People.     How can we genuinely welcome the court ordered newcomer into our group without compromising our group's order and singleness of purpose?  How can cooperating with judges, parole officers, etc help?

Questions & Answers on Sponsorship.     A review of the Sponsorship Pamphlet and sharing of experience.

Conducting Beginner's Meetings.     Why some groups choose to provide Beginner's Meetings. What types of formats they use, and how to start one.  A review of the GSO Packet on the subject, and sharing of experience.

Unity Oriented Topics.

Understanding Anonymity.     Our Traditions 11 and 12 discuss Anonymity at the public level, the personal level, and as a spiritual concept.  How can we better understand and practice that principle?

Singleness of Purpose: Balancing our Welcome and our Limitations.     Tradition 3 states our purpose and welcomes all who want it.  Tradition 5 states our limitations..  Do we sometimes lose sight of one when we focus too much on the other?  How can we best maintain our single purpose while continuing to extend our welcome?  This would be a study of traditions 3 and 5.

AA's Relationship with the Outside World.     How can AA members and Groups best relate to the world we live in?   A review of the traditions as they apply to our relationship to the outside world. About anonymity, non-affiliation, self support, opinions on outside issues, and professionalism.

Anonymity as a Spiritual Principle and Principles before Personalities.     A review of Tradition 12.

Service Oriented Topics.

The Role of the District in AA.     What is a District?  What is their purpose?  What does a GSR bring to the District Meting, and what might he take home?  What does a DCM bring to the meeting, and what does he take away.  How about the Service Committee Chairs   As a GSR, DCM etc, am I doing contributing my part?

The Roles of the DCM .   What is a DCM?  What is their purpose? What is their responsibility to the Area?  What is their  responsibility to  the District?  How do they relate to the Delegate, the Groups, and the GSRs?  What makes for a good DCM Report?

The Roles of the GSR.    What is a GSR?  What is their purpose?  What is their responsibility to their Group?  What is their responsibility to  the District?  What is their responsibility to the Area? How do they relate to their group's officers and to the DCMs?  What makes for  a good GSR Report?

The Roles of the Service Committee in the District.    What are the Service Committees?  Why do we have them?    How do they help carry the message?  What is the responsibility of a Committee Chair?  Who are the committee Members, and what is their role?  What makes for a good Service Committee Report?

Leadership in AA.    What makes a good Leader in AA?  How can we improve our leadership skills?  How can we be both leader and trusted servant?  A review of Concept 9.

Service Committee Workshops.    Presentations on individual Service Committees.  (CPC, PI, Corrections, Treatment, Bridge the Gap, Gratitude, Grapevine, Policies and Procedures, Archives, Media Services)  Presentation designed to help understand what the committee is about and how you, your group, or your district might help.

Speaking to Non-AA Meetings and Groups.    Experience on how best to talk to groups (or individual) students, teachers, professionals and other non-AA audiences. 

Our Rights in AA Service.    The right of decision, the right of participation and the right of appeal.  How do they apply at the various levels of service?  Concepts 3, 4, and 5

Responsibility and Authority for AA's General Services.    What are AA's General Services? Who is responsible for them, and who has the authority to conduct them? Concepts 1 and 2.

AA General Service Entities and how they operate together.      The Conference, the Trustees, AAWS, and the Grapevine.  What are their roles and how do they relate to each other?  Concepts 6, 7, 8.

Our Warranties.    About avoiding wealth and power in AA Service entities.  Concept 12.

Your AA General Service Office.    What is it and what services does it provide to the Fellowship?

Other Topics.

Oklahoma AA History.    The story of how AA came to Oklahoma in 1941, and how it spread across the state.

The Role of Central and Intergroup Offices in AA.    Understanding the unique role these offices play in AA, and what services  they provide,  These offices are at once part of AA, yet separate from the AA Service Structure.  How are similar services provided in less urban areas?