SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - The Step-Aside Conference Centre in George is, once again, hosting the 30th Anniversary of the “George Forum” of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) from Friday to Sunday, 9 to 11 August.
Since 1989 the Western Cape and Eastern Cape leadership of this service organisation got together to celebrate their recovery from alcoholism and to plan spreading the message about the AA solution to the killer disease, alcoholism.
AA members have but one primary purpose - to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.
AA doesn’t have clinics, doctors, counsellors or psychologists. All members are themselves recovering from alcoholism. It is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
AA works through members sharing their stories of what members used to be like, what happened and what they are like now.
Members share their experience with anyone seeking help with their drinking problem and the “Twelve Step” programme and principles provide a framework for self-examination and a road to recovery, and a happy, satisfying, life free of alcohol.
Today AA is the most successful non-profit organisation in the world, with more than two million recovering alcoholics in over 180 countries. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership, AA groups are self-supporting through their own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution, does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorse nor opposes any causes.
In South Africa, there are more than two million people who abuse alcohol. One quarter of all emergency hospital admissions, one third of all suicides, more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related.
Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: Heart Disease, Cancer and Strokes. Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related.
In 1946 Reader’s Digest published an article, entitled “My Return From The Half-world Of Alcoholism”. This story was responsible for the beginnings of AA in South African. Solomon M was a black translator at the Johannesburg Law Courts, living in Alexandra township. His last bender had brought him and his family to the brink of starvation. Hungover and wandering the streets, he passed an overflowing rubbish bin in which lay the copy of The Reader’s Digest. Having nothing better to do, he picked it up and found an article on an organisation called “Alcoholics Anonymous”. He hurried back to his one-roomed shack and wrote to the address given in the article. He soon had a reply, including a pamphlet containing extracts from the AA Big Book, which enabled him to get and stay sober.
Today AA South Africa has several thousand members. In the Garden Route area there are AA meetings in George, Mossel Bay, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
While the Forum is open only to alcoholics seeking recovery, anyone is free to contact AA for more information. Call 0861 435 722.
In George, contact Mike (044 870 7075), Keith (082 936 6253) or Fran (083 725 0842). In Mossel Bay, Gillian (074 998 6017), John (072 904 9328) or Albert (076 933 4708).
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