Being of Service
In addition to finding a spiritual way of life, recovery
is about changing negative aspects of our personalities into
positive ones.
We came into the program with
big egos but little or no self-esteem. We thought we were better
than other people yet, at the same time, felt "less than." We
were people who took from others and abused friendships all of
our lives. We had no concept of doing anything for anyone
without the thought of some kind of reward. By the sheer grace
of our Higher Powers, we have found several ways of unlearning
such behavior in the program. One way is to be of service to the
fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous. We discovered that the best way
to serve God was to serve our fellow humans, and we found
humility in the process. Our self-centered behavior was
gradually replaced with the "attitude of service." We learned
that service is about gratitude and learning how to contribute
to our lives and the lives of others.
Why Be of Service?
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To give back what was so freely given to us
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To take on a commitment as a symbolic way of making amends
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To meet other recovering addicts
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To learn how to be part of a team
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To learn humility by doing something selfless for someone else
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To learn skills or teach others what we know
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To learn responsibility
Ways To Be of Service
Service
Opportunities at the Meeting and Area Level
Meeting Setup
- Arrive early to set up chairs, make coffee, and greet
newcomers.
Hotline - Did
you find CA through a hotline? Answer the phones for your area's
hotline and be on the "frontline" of helping others find CA and
recovery.
Treasurer -
Pass the 7th Tradition basket and keep track of funds for a
meeting - it's a great way to learn responsibility.
GSR/DSR
(Group/District Service Representative) - Get involved
in the business aspects of CA by representing one of your
meetings or districts at your District/Area business meeting.
Secretary -
Ensure that a meeting will always be there for those who need it
by choosing speakers, paying the rent, and keeping it running
smoothly and consistently. You might even consider helping the
fellowship grow by starting a new meeting.
Committees at the Area and/or World Service Level
Convention -
Help plan big sober parties and carry the message of recovery at
the same time.
Literature -
If you have writing skills or ideas that could reach out in
print to people who are still suffering, express those ideas on
this World Service committee.
Finance - Put
your accounting, business, or money management skills to good
use in CA's financial matters.
Public Information
- Reach out through the media to those who have never heard of
CA.
Hospitals &
Institutions - Help develop new ways to reach out to
people who are unable to reach out for themselves.
Unity -
Enhance communication and outreach among the diverse elements
within our fellowship.
Structure & Bylaws
- Formulate bylaws, guidelines, and structures by which CA can
operate.
Conference -
Help organize the World Service Conference each year, where
delegates from all over the world meet to conduct CA business.
Area & World Service
Office Boards of Directors - Serve as a Chairperson,
Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, or Director at Large.
Conduct the day-to-day business operations of CA to ensure that
it is there for newcomers the way it was there for you.
Ask
your GSR who you can contact for more information about how to
be of service.
Suggestions
Share a commitment,
such as a hotline slot, if your schedule doesn't allow you to
have one of your own. Find a place where you can be of service
and then give 100%.
Volunteer at a meeting
when help is asked for or better yet, before it is asked for.
Encourage the people
you sponsor to take on commitments and then help them
to keep those commitments.
Ask your sponsor
what type of service commitment you could take on that would
best serve the fellowship.
Adopt the attitude
of service without reward.
Remember...Time spent working on a commitment
is time not spent getting loaded.