Recovered
So Let’s Party!
Canton Candlelght 4th year anniversary party!
Date: Thursday 27 SEP 12
Time: 8:00 pm Party Starts
10:00 pm Open Talk
Place: PC Alano Club
5936 Sheldon Road
Canton, MI 48187
Open Talk Speaker: Chad M.
Bring a dish to pass
Mark, Joe, and Russ discuss Anonymity. What anonymity meant to them when they were new and what it means to their program now. They discussed what it means on a personal level as well as a group level, along with press, radio, TV, and now the digital age. They also discussed how it is important to not break others anonymity by saying someone is in AA
The audio clips cover celebrities in recovery and about recovery. Russ points out that none of the celebs reveal they are in any particular 12 step program and thereby do not break anonymity. Remember, you can always join us live during our podcast by visiting the Chat Room of this website on Tuesdays at about 7:00 pm EST. I usually tart the show early with music, so join us and send us comments while we podcast!
We have 3 interviews on the subject as well. Thanks Chad, Mike, and Spencer!
On today’s episode, Mark, Joe, and Russ discus a Recovery Environment. What things attract us to certain meetings? Russ shares that being greeted at a new meeting when he enters a new meeting creates a welcoming environment which makes him feels comfortable.
Joe shares that as a new guy two people greeted him immediately as he entered the club. Joe thinks it’s important to address anyone who he does not recognize just in case the guy is new. Russ shared that a 90 in 90 was recommended at some of his first meetings. 90 in 90 is making 90 meetings in 90 days. This allowed Russ to find the kind of meetings he felt comfortable.
Now Russ looks for meetings that have easy parking. Joe shares that today, he looks for meetings that are “step” focused. All of us tend to like meetings toward the end of the day.
The Recovery Topic tonight is Isolation. Mark, Joe, and Spencer discuss Isolation before and after coming into the fellowship. Joe shared that before the program, he could isolate even when in a crowd because he was disconnected with his piers. Spencer, who is a member of Al-anon, shared that because of shame he isolated into himself so he didn’t have to face other people.
Joe shared that since he entered the fellowship, it’s important to stay connected to other recovery people so that they can call him out on his behavior. Spencer shared that when he shares a problem at a meeting, he feels better as opposed to when he avoids sharing a problem and the problem tends to consume him.
My sponsor, Russ, and a friend of Andrew, Joe, take the time to discuss memories, triumphs, and struggles we experienced with Andrew. Russ met Andrew in 2003 when he was 16 and Joe spent alot of time 6 years later when Joe was new. Chess, service work and humor are the things that Andrew shared with everyone he encountered.
Andrew helped me start this podcast in the fall of 2007. I used to email demo episodes to him for his critique. Andrew also helped me start Canton Candlelight, my home group in the fall of 2008.
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| Andrew S. June 9, 1986 – July 2, 2012 |
On July 2,2012, my first born son, Andrew S., died suddenly. He was only 26 years old. Andrew took me to my first AA meeting and taught me so many things.
Tonight’s Recovery Topic is the Future of the Podcast
Mark is solo tonight and he discusses his plans for the future of the show. Mark talk’s about improving the equipment in the studio and the software. He also discusses his desire to start an interview segment during the show. Whether using Skype or his iPhone, Mark would like to interview leaders in the recovery world.
Tonight’s Recovery Topic is Meeting Etiquette.
This episode, Mark, Aaron, and Spencer discuss some of the behaviors they have seen at meetings which make sense and some behaviors which they would rather not see anymore. They discuss:
Tonight’s Recovery Topic is the Fourth Step Analyzer
Mark is solo tonight and he explains the use of the Fourth Step Analyzer; the excel worksheet he developed using the Joe and Charlie Worksheets for a Fourth Step. Mark uses the 4th step example presented on page 65 of the Big Book. This spreadsheet helps us to develop our 9th step amends list, what areas of security causes fear and what are our character defects.
Tonight’s Recovery Topic in Recovery 2.0 – The Fellowship Goes Online
With technology, the message of Alcoholics Anonymous can go places it has never gone before; into the privacy of the new guys home at his convenience, not when we might be available. We have listeners that are afraid to go to their first meting, but they listen to this podcast and are trying to get sober. There is so much potential for recovery on the internet.
Aaron, Spencer, and Mark all shared the technology they use in their recovery. Aaron shared that he used 12steps.org early in recovery which helped him overcome his problem with a higher power. Spencer doesn’t use online resources for recovery but uses current technology as a means to communicate with others in the fellowship. Spencer uses online resources to locate meetings.
Mark shared that it has been an AA tradition to be open to technology. When the fellowship started in 1935, face to face communication was the norm, but the fellowship adopted the new technology of land line telephones as a tool in recovery. In the same tradition, Mark is optimistic about using current technology as a tool in recovery. Texting may now be the norm for communication.
Twitter, Facebook, etc. have great potential to support recovery. Follow us at and at facebook.com/recoveredcast. Aaron shared that he uses the 12 step AA Companion App.
See our website for more links.