Keep the Sizzle in Service

The ingredients of Survival

We all understand that the price of both personal and group survival is willingness and sacrifice, vigilance and work.

What is so true for each member and for each group must also be true for AA as a whole. Yet many of us have never given this self-evident proposition the thought it deserves. We are apt to take for granted that AA as a whole will go on forever – no special attention or contribution being required of us.’ (Language of the Heart pg.166)

The 2025 Eastern Region Service Forum is a chance for us to bring the ‘willingness and sacrifice, vigilance and work’ we bring to our personal recovery and our home groups to AA as a whole in the Eastern Region of Australia. We all understand that our future depends on newcomers constantly walking through our doors and we know that the service structure, the 3rd legacy of AA is what makes that possible, that is why it is such important work.

Focus: Inspiration and Engagement

This year the program of the Eastern Region Service Forum focusses on inspiration and engagement. What is really on offer by getting involved in service, the gift that keeps on giving, the incredible ‘return on investment’ in our spiritual lives.

The day’s program will present the full picture of the service structure from how we can develop our own recovery, fleshing out the role of GSR, how service sponsorship works in recovery, what we can bring to our Areas to carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic (and bring new life blood to our meetings), how the Board works to support our fellowship and how the traditions inform and support us in service. The incredible growth that is on offer in service we take not just to our recovery and our home groups but to our families, work place and the wider community. This is the incredible healing power of AA that has made it one of the great spiritual movements of our time and a miracle cure for the deadly disease of alcoholism.

We so hope you can join us on August 23 at the Crows Nest Centre. For just $25 you will get to listen to people who work quietly behind the scenes so that AA in Australia ‘will go on forever’ and find out what you can do to join them, you will get to meet other alcoholics engaged in service, enjoy delicious food all day and finish with a meeting where we all share the amazing gifts service has brought to our recovery.

In the words of Bill Wilson ‘The future belongs to you. Embrace these (new) responsibilities eagerly, fear naught and the Grace of God will surely be yours.’ This is the tremendous gift of service, the Grace of God which will be with us on August 23, we hope you can join us too.

Eastern Region Service Forum Program

“KEEP THE SIZZLE IN SERVICE”

9:00 AM – MC Welcome
9:05 AM – Gary: Welcome
9:20 AM – Mark: The Importance of Service
9:50 AM – Bruce: Sponsorship into Service
10:05 AM – Cheryn: The Role of the GSR
10:20 AM – Paul B: Sizzle in Area Assembly
10:50 AM – Q&A Panel: Mark, Bruce, Cheryn, Paul B
11:15 AM – Morning Tea

11:35 AM – Service Areas Overview:

• Michael / Cherrie – Public Information & Professional Awareness (PIPA)
• Wayne – Corrections
• Simon/Nathan – Treatment & Facilities
• Cliff – Remote Communities

Workshop Series Facilitated by Andrew, Grant, Cat, and Kate:

• Public Information & Professional Awareness
• Carrying the Message in Correctional Facilities
• Carrying the Message in Treatment Facilities
• Carrying the Message in Remote Communities

1:00 PM – Lunch

2:00 PM – Gabrielle: 7th Tradition – Where Does the Money Go?
2:30 PM – Mark W: Working with the Traditions in Service
3:00 PM – Andrew T: The Role of the Board: How It Works with Conference and How We’re Making It More Accessible and Accountable
to members

3.30 Afternoon Tea

3:50 PM – Tiani (GSO): The Role of the GSO
4.00 PM CSO managers: Carrying the Message: CSO Services in Action
4.30 PM Greg C: Update on the “Chat Now” Function on the AA website
4.45 PM Eastern Region Delegates Share Inspiring Initiatives from Their Area

5:45 PM – Dinner

6:45 PM – Evening Meeting: “What Does Service Mean to Me—and How Has It Helped My Recovery?” Chair: Wendy (Curl Curl)

7:45 PM – Closing Speaker & Serenity Prayer