First step towards giving back
Those that find a regular meeting they call home, may give back to their Home Meeting through group service. Meeting groups may have the following rotating positions to help support sustainable and healthy meetings:
- Meeting Participation | Participate during a CoDA meeting to read meeting materials aloud, share group or CoDAUK announcements, and/or share for three to five minutes if/when the meeting is open for sharing. We all serve in CoDA when we attend meetings, give as we are able, and witness and/or share our experience, strength and hope.
- Meeting Leader | The meeting leader rotates weekly and simply reads a provided script to support the meeting’s safety and structure. Sign up at your local meeting. You’re never too new to lead a meeting.
- Meeting Greeters | The meeting greeter rotates weekly and volunteers to come early to set up, welcome newcomers and answer questions are crucial to the program. We remember what it was like when we first walked in to a meeting and we extend the hand of CoDA to those coming in after us.
- Group Service Representative (GSR) | A CoDA group typically has a GSR in place to support communication between the CoDA UK and the meeting. GSRs are voting members that carry their group conscience to the CoDA Voting Entity; and then report to their group on the outcomes. They also notify their group of any CoDA UK or CoDA World updates: sharing announcements, community events and any education topics covered at CoDA UK meetings. The volunteer term is two years.
- Group Secretary | The group’s business representative and liaison to the meeting facility. They plan and conduct “business meetings” regularly (agenda items may include: elections, meeting format, procedures, etc.) and keeps records of Group Conscience decisions and Group Inventory work. They may also maintain the group’s phone list / whatsapp forum (some groups have a separate phone list service position.)
- Group Treasurer | This service includes keeping accurate group financial records of and giving regular reports at meetings on income, expenses, and prudent reserve. They pay rent to the meeting facility for use of the meeting room and disburse Seventh Tradition funds in accordance with Group Conscience. Often this trusted servant works with a group’s Literature Rep to purchase and sell CoDA approved literature at meetings.
- Group Literature Representative | This person takes the lead to put CoDA Endorsed literature (electronic or print) out at the meeting, works with the treasurer to keep track of group literature supplies to re-order as needed and refers newcomers and CoDA members to available CoDA literature. It is helpful to highlight a specific item each week or month when giving the literature announcement during the meeting.
- Group Contact | Meetings may have one or two group contacts. They agree to be listed along with a phone and/or email on the CoDA.org meeting listing. Newcomers or members may reach out for info or with questions about the meeting. This is an easy way to carry the message to newcomers and give service! Group contacts also keep their CoDA.org meeting listing current. To update your meeting’s listing on the Meeting List on CoDA UK head over to “Register, Update, or Remove Meetings” link under the map.
- Become a Sponsor | Both the lack of people willing to become sponsors and a lack of sponsors who are working the 12 Steps is an ongoing concern in our fellowship. CoDA’s booklet “Sponsorship: What’s in It for Me?” addresses the common roadblocks and questions many of us have had about sponsoring in CoDA. Becoming a sponsor is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves in recovery and a critical part of CoDA’s spiritual practice.
- Sponsors (or those considering sponsoring) can find ongoing support by emailing the CoDA UK Sponsorship Subcommittee
When we take ownership and give back in these ways, meetings grow in health and number.
Feature image with thanks to Ian Schneider
