Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene

yanksfan51 · ~*Service Worker*~

Jan 13 Hope for Today

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Good Morning Mary Only one group that I have attended did take a "group Inventory" and I found it extremely helpful. The Group Inventory identified a few destructive principles that the group operated under and once we identified them and established a plan of action we were on our way

This Group inventory acted in the same manner as my individual inventory and did help my recovery blossom. Early in recovery . I found that participation in the group meetings is essential for my growth so that I learned how to share and actively listen as I kept coming back. focusing on the topic for the meeting was the key.
Thanks for your service

Iamhere · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you Mary for your service and the daily. Thank you both for the shares and ESH. We did a group inventory, and used a question/answer format found on the internet. Ours also uncovered some things that could be improved, and the group conscious discussed, voted, and acted according to the wants/needs of the group as a whole.

I believe it's easy for a group to become stagnant if they aren't doing inventory, having regular business meetings, etc. I've seen it happen a few times, and it reaffirmed for me the value of the principles and traditions in our recovery program(s).

I also do what I can to actively participate in my group(s). Listening for me is harder than speaking - so that's one I practice, practice, practice - always trying to find the common ground. My mind still can wonder off, so there is 'that'!

Happy Sunday to all - make it a great day!

PosiesandPuppies · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you Mary for your service today. I hope your Sunday is filled with bright sunshine!

I have yet to be at a meeting that has done a group inventory. But I can imagine that like Iamhere said, it would keep the meeting from becoming stagnant, or developing potentially harmful principles from developing.
I know that my inventory was important... much more important than I originally gave it credit! LOL!

We are getting a break from the rain today... I am going to try and spend some time outside with nature!

El · ~*Service Worker*~

My home group has not taken its own inventory and I think it might be a good idea. I love our group and I also think we have strayed a bit from the guidelines. I believe I might raise the idea and see what happens!

Ellen

tiredtonite · Veteran Member

Thanks for sharing today's reading about group inventory ((Mary)) I have particpated in a number of these at various meetings. They seem to be pretty popular at the Alanon meetings where I now live. Back home, I never attended a meeting that did a group inventory. I think it's helpful that the practice is structured with questions from the WSO concerning healthy meetings. I found one to be rather helpful because it opened up communication about a particular issue in our meeting. Since there was a question that implied a change might result in a healthier weekly meeting and it came as from guidance from the WSO, it seemed easier to have open dialogue and make a change for the better. I think when a meeting is really straying away from Alanon's primary purpose "to help friends and families of alcoholics," one of these structured inventory can help. It allows for each person to voice their feelings aloud or on paper or even electronically for each of the World Service Organization's guided questions and feel they have participated in the process of helping their meeting to be one that is guided by Alanon principles. I've found that my f2f meetings are much smaller here than back home. Although the intimacy of small meetings can't be underestimated, I think it can sometimes cause an issue of personalities over principles. This is where the formal group inventory can help resolve issues and promote unity.

Back home, our meetings were very large for the most part. Some even passed a microphone to attendees and you stood up to share. Meeting were very structured and Alanon principles practiced. Meetings still were somehow unique in flavor. Just as we share similarties but are inviduals such was the case with Alanon meetings. I don't recall ever participating in a group inventory then but business meetings were always on the calendar and many issues were covered and voted upon by those in attendance.

I think it's an interesting topic and hope to read others experiences since we come from all over the world. ((hugs)) TT

DavidG · ~*Service Worker*~

Good topic Mary...

A group inventory, or a conscience meeting is a good thing.

Early on we had a meeting to change our venue. The reason was that some members wanted to smoke at a meeting. The interests of the non-smokers were not considered.

That would not happen today, of course! Some group inventories I regarded as "kangaroo courts" or "lynch mobs". But in the early days I could not really tell the difference between a good thing and a bad thing.

In this group I am a humble member, which I like. My idea of an ideal family is one where members will talk about stuff regularly, Where people had "catch-ups". Where stuff was talked through. In Alanon a lot of us have not had that experience- or not much, anyway. So we flounder a bit, initially.

I think is does take time for the ethos to develop.... If I have an issue or concern I prefer to go to the person concerned- the stakeholder- and work out, from there.

smile ... smile ... smile ...

hotrod · ~*Service Worker*~

Hi again I must note that alanon has conference approved literature that details a process that can be followed to hold a group inventory Here is the link:

www.alanon-maryland.org/pdf/guidelines/G8-groupinventory.pdf.

My group followed this and we were very productive.

tiredtonite · Veteran Member

Thanks for posting the Alanon Group Inventory betty. It's a helpful reminder for me as a member to review this even when there is no group inventory planned. Reading the questions allowed me to consider changes I might want to make in myself to better contribute to the health and well-being of my Alanon groups. ((hugs)) TT

El · ~*Service Worker*~

Thank you for the link, hotrod! Makes it much easier to have a ready resource!

El

DavidG · ~*Service Worker*~

www.alanon-maryland.org/pdf/guidelines/G8-groupinventory.pdf.

I prefer not to quote members here. It was good to read through this link. Thanks Hotrod! smile

I know this MIP group is not directly allied to Alanon GSO. But personally I try to stick to the guidelines- as I know them. And to be willing to learn...

No time limit to sharing here- which has goods and bads. [Mostly goods.]

Because we can walk in here and share 24/7 there are no boundaries between greeting time, sharing time and coffee time. So I tend to practise no cross-talk when I feel we are in sharing time. Then again- that depends how well I know the speaker- and I know some people here very well.

I have been to different meetings in the USA- Alanon, AA Open, and ACA, and was impressed with the AA clubhouses I saw in every state.

Here the Alanon group is by far the largest group!

I loved it last year how people pitched in and formed the MIP combined Business Board. Service roles here are a little different from F2F groups. Extreme gratitude to those who step up and serve here, and help create the space. smile smile smile smile smile ...

Thanks.

mamalioness · ~*Service Worker*~

Great topic, Mary, thank you

I sorta do my inventory, because I have no meeting to go to, I do it on my MIP groups...I read others shares and give my ESH which is sorta me doing my inventory check re: what they are sharing, what does this share teach me??? make me think??? what emotions is a particular share bringing up???? and I addres it and share about it......I have grown and changed quite a bit, just hanging out at MIP , sharing and caring with my fellow travelers....we all teach...we all learn from each other....

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.

Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene