Latest Issue Ways and Means

The question of what constitutes debting, and how that relates to DA’s recovery program and singleness of purpose, is the focus of the latest issue of Ways & Means, now available for viewing or download on the DA World Service web site www.debtorsanonymous.org

The impetus for the issue came from members of the World Service Conference Literature Committee, who contributed a package of five individual articles on how DA defines debting. Other members of the Fellowship weighed in on that and closely related topics, such as singleness of purpose and how well our literature reflects those concepts. An historical article tracing DA’s traditional attitudes toward these questions ties the issue together.

Ways & Means is the quarterly recovery newsletter of the DA Fellowship, and is open to all DA members for sharing on topics related to the disease of compulsive debting and the DA recovery program. Groups and members are welcome to download as many copies of each issue as they wish at no charge. Many groups use articles from the newsletter as the focus for discussion at meetings.

The themed issue “What Is Debting?” is dated Second Quarter 2010. Numerous back issues are also available for reading or download from links on the home page of the web site.

Ways & Means is also currently soliciting articles for an international issue on the growth of DA around the world. See the current issue for instructions on how to submit articles.

Request for Proposals:
Debtors Anonymous Daily Meditation Book

The General Service Board’s Literature Services and Literature Publications Committees of Debtors Anonymous are requesting proposals for an editor/writer to review and compile existing meditations. The author must be

• A active recovering, non-debting member of D.A. who has not incurred any new unsecured debt for at least three years and has had at least  two Pressure Relief Meetings
• Actively working the Twelve Steps of Debtors Anonymous
• An experienced, published writer with demonstrated ability to deliver  substantial book-length manuscript
• Willing to complete this project as a work for hire, to assign all rights in the work to Debtors Anonymous and to maintain anonymity with regard to authorship.

Primary Audience:  Members of Debtors Anonymous

Approach: Practical, accessible, concrete

Tone/style: Clear, straightforward, inspirational, and friendly

Length: Meditations for 366 days.

Suggested Format for Debtors Anonymous Daily Meditation Book

There should be one page for each date including February 29^th.

Each meditation should include a quote pertaining to the meditation and end with a thought for the day. We want this book to be of assistance to members of the fellowship who want to start each day with meditations specific to Debtors Anonymous.

The writer will be provided with previously-created materials to be incorporated into the final text of the book. Some of the meditations have quotes from non-conference approved literature. If the writer decides to use the quote format these will have to be changed to quotes from conference approved literature (DA /AA).

Timeline and Deliverables

A sample of work in progress (a minimum of 1 month): 60 days from signing

First draft of January to June: 240 days from signing (8 months)

First draft of July to December: 420 days from signing (14 months)
Second draft of book: 90-120 days after receipt of final comments (3-4 months)

(Comments will be sent back to author on an on-going basis.)

The aim is to submit the second draft of the book to the Literature Committee at the August 2012 World Service Conference.

Proposal

Please submit the following, electronically if possible:

1. Your résumé

2. A personal essay of no more than 1000 words, written in the style you would bring to the Debtors Anonymous Daily Meditation Book, which includes:

§ your vision for the book

§ your experience in Debtors Anonymous

§ the length of time since your last unsecured debt and your understanding of unsecured debt

§ highlights of your Debtors Anonymous recovery

§ your experience of working the Steps

§ your experience of using the Traditions

1. A Debtors Anonymous meditation sample
2. A bid for your work and your terms and conditions
3. Two references, including at least one professional reference (your anonymity will be protected) and one from a Debtors Anonymous member who knows your writing

This Request for Proposals will be used as a guide when evaluating all proposals.  Literature Services will not provide feedback on individual proposals.  Materials cannot be returned and become the property of Debtors Anonymous General Service Board.

All materials should be e-mailed (preferred) or postmarked no later than

October 31, 2010

Please send proposals to:

office@debtorsanonymous.org

Attn: Literature Services

Debtors Anonymous General Service Office

PO Box 920888

Needham, MA 02492-0009

If you have any questions, please contact: office@debtorsanonymous.org

NEW PHONE STEP STUDIES STARTING in AUGUST…

Sign up by July 29! Please read carefully.
Please forward to all who would benefit!

SUNDAYS-LATE NITE

Facilitator:  Malia K.

Phone number:  407-952-0007

E-mail:  maliaokeefe@gmail.com to sign up

Format:  Step Study will be Stepping Together materials for a BDA group (emphasis on debtor/business owners)

Day of Week:  Sunday

Time:  8:00 PM PST

Length of Study:  14 weeks

Commitments:  Use existing commitment letter

List of literature:  Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, 12 by 12 steps and traditions, Currency of Hope, DA pamphlets on awareness, spirituality, 12 steps, service and sponsorship, BDA tools information (Not conference approved)

Auditing guidelines:  Anyone who is a DA member can audit the call.  You will not be able to share or ask any questions during the phone call.  You can contact the facilitator if you would like after the call.

FIRST SESSION: SUNDAY August 1, 2010

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: by July 29, 2010

*you will be given a tele-conference call-in number and password by the facilitator when you complete the commitment letter and sign up.

MONDAYS

Facilitator:  Dianna B.

Phone number:  312-735-0544

E-mail:  dianabanana2000@hotmail.com to sign up

Format:  Step Study will be the Stepping Together materials for a BDA group (emphasis on debtor/business owners)

Day of week:  Monday

Time:  5:45 PM PST

Length of Study:  14 weeks

Commitments:  Use existing commitment letter

List of literature:  Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, 12 by 12 steps and traditions, Currency of Hope, DA pamphlets on awareness, spirituality, 12 steps, service and sponsorship,  BDA tools information (Not conference approved)

Auditing guidelines:  Anyone who is a DA member can audit the call.  You will not be able to share or ask any questions during the phone call.  You can contact the facilitator if you would like after the call.

FIRST SESSION: MONDAY August 2, 2010

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: by July 29, 2010

SUNDAYS-EARLY EVENING

Facilitators’ Name:   Chris M from Nashville

Facilitator’s Phone number:  615-739-7236

Facilitator’s e mail address to sign up for this group:  zodiaccafe1@yahoo.com

STEP STUDY INFO

day of week/time of day:  Sundays at 4 PM PST/6 PM CST

length of study 10 weeks

list of commitments (get Commitment letter at the end of this flier)

list of literature to obtain (Big Book, basic text from AA,  Plus all DA basic tools Pamphlets and downloadable Beginners’ literature from DA website

format of step study: (note that there are no DA conference approved step guides)  - Greenback book- Recollections of the founder’s workshop-this format is more “original old school;” steps taken rapidly and simply. (format compiled by jill p)

auditing guidelines: Anyone who is a DA member can audit the call.  You will not be able to share or ask any questions during the phone call.  You can contact the facilitator if you would like after the call.

Deadline to sign up: Monday August 9

Date of first meeting: Begin August 15th at 4 PM PST, 6 PM CST

*you will be given a tele-conference call-in number and password by the facilitator when you complete the commitment letter and sign up.

THURSDAYS

Facilitator:  Willie W.

Phone number:  206-437-5884

e-mail:  cankuluta4@aol.com to sign up

Step Study will be the Stepping Together materials for a BDA group (emphasis on the debtor/business owner)

Day of week:  Thursday

Time:  5:00 PST

Length of Study:  14 weeks

Commitments:  Use existing commitment letter

List of literature:  Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book, 12 by 12 Steps and Traditions, Currency of Hope, DA pamphlets on awareness, spirituality, 12 steps, service and sponsorship, BDA tools information (Not conference approved)

Auditing guidelines:  Anyone who is a DA member can audit the call.  You will not be able to share or ask any questions during the phone call.  You can contact the facilitator if you would like after the call.

FIRST SESSION: Thursday August 19, 2010

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: by Aug 10, 2010

*you will be given a tele-conference call-in number and password by the facilitator when you complete the commitment letter and sign up.

—————————————————————————————–

COMMITMENTS-Please review with a witness & reply to your step facilitator that you agree to these commitments:

COMMITMENT FOR Debtors Anonymous Step Study Series

I, _________________________________, will work the steps to the best of my ability starting  (date)______________.

I will be rigorously honest during this process.

I commit to abstaining from incurring any new unsecured debt.

I will do the assigned readings for each step.

I commit to one DA phone call per day, 6 days/week, regarding step work made either to my sponsor or step study partner.

(4 calls a week will need to be 20-40 min in duration)

If I have any problems I will ask for help from my sponsor/study partner or others in the group.

I will be present on time for the weekly step study meeting and will stay until it is concluded.

I agree to complete my ninth step amends (with the exception of full debt retirement*) within 30 days

after the step 9 study session.

Upon completing the ninth step I will make myself available for sponsorship and

I will find other ways to be of service to my DA home group and to Debtors Anonymous**.

After I have completed this step study series, I commit to the personal daily living of steps

10, 11 and 12 on an ongoing basis.

I will repeat (Audit) the step series after completing it and act as a step study partner step facilitator or sponsor to a newer person.

Signed by

__________________     date____________________

Verified by

__________________     date _____________________

*Debt retirement amends to be made in accordance with the suggestions in the pertinent conference

approved DA pamphlets.

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7th tradition:

We are self supporting by our own voluntary contributions. While there are no dues or fees for DA or Step Study membership we do have certain expenses associated with a NEW paid online news group which will give us better versatility and anonymity. Also certain facilitators use these workshops as fundraisers for GSR travel expenses. Please donate if you can; if you cannot, keep coming back, no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Please send voluntary donations in the form of well wrapped cash to StepSponsor DA, 9258 San Fernando Way, Dallas TX 75218. Let us know of which study group you are a member, if you care to.

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NEW-join our online step sponsor meeting by sending an e mail to

StepSponsorDA-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Download Commitment Document Here to fill out and email to facilitator.

Commitment Document

Debtors Anonymous
General Service Office
P.O. Box 920888
Needham, MA 02492-0009
Toll Free: 800-421-2383 - US Only
781-453-2743; FAX: 781-453-2745

World Service Conference Registration
DA Groups and Intergroups across the U.S. and around the world are busy preparing to send delegates to this year’s World Service Conference August 11-15 in Denver, Colorado.

The Conference, DA’s 24th annual business meeting, is expected to attract more than 100 General Service Representatives (GSRs), Intergroup Service Representatives (ISRs), and General Service Board Trustees, all of whom will work for five intensive days to forge the Fellowship’s group conscience and do its annual work. The theme for 2010 is “Recovery & Change Through Service.”

The WSC registration packet is available for download on the home page of the world service website www.debtorsanonymous.org. In addition to the registration form, it includes extensive information about the Conference for delegates, a John H. scholarship application form, a suggested spending plan for the event, a tentative Conference schedule, and an “issues and concerns” form all groups can use to submit items for consideration by the Conference.

Two important deadlines should be noted by those planning to attend: the June 12 cutoff for John H. Scholarship applications, and the early registration deadline of July 13. Registrations postmarked after that date will cost $100 more.

This year’s registration form was posted on the website only, and was not sent in hard-copy form to groups, both for financial and environmental reasons. Any group without Internet access can have a paper copy sent to them by postal mail if they request it from the General Service Office.

Also available for download from the website are the minutes of the 23rd annual Conference held in Dallas, Texas.

Three new pieces of service literature aimed at helping Debtors Anonymous groups and Intergroups adhere to the 12 Traditions while carrying on their work in an effective manner are now available.

The DA Treasurer’s Manual: The Seventh Tradition In Action is an 11-page compilation of experience by group treasurers that covers an extensive number of topics related to the way groups handle money, including how to elect a treasurer, development of a group spending plan, techniques for opening a group checking account, and financial problem solving. It includes extensive discussion of the application of the 12 Traditions and other DA principles to group finances. It is available for $2.00 from the General Service Office, or as a free download from the service literature page of the DA website.

A Guide To Special Events discusses ways of conducting fundraisers, share-a-days, workshops and other types of group and Intergroup events that are both successful and in compliance with DA’s Traditions. The 4-page guide can be purchased for 25 cents from the GSO or downloaded from free from the service literature page.

Also available as a free download from the service literature page is the 2-page Public Information Representative Guidelines. Many DA groups and Intergroups are adding the position of Public Information Representative, and this publication discusses the qualifications for the job and effective ways of utilizing it to carry the DA message in the media.

The Treasurer’s Manual and Guide To Special Events have been added to the 2010 DA literature order form, which can also be downloaded from the World Service website www.debtorsanonymous.org

DA Clear Away! is a new Debtors Anonymous telephone meeting emphasizing de-cluttering as a part of recovery from compulsive debting and terminal vagueness. Join the group Friday nights 7 pm Pacific/10 p.m. Eastern, beginning this Friday November 13th. Call 1-218-548-1538 and enter access code “CLUTTER (2588837) #” on your touch-tone telephone pad. The meeting focuses on recovery from the compulsive debting symptom of cluttering– whether literal, spiritual or metaphorical- - all are welcome!

For more information contact: Spencer C. 310-405-3107 Pacific or Mary Rose A. 515-232-2278 Central

Please pass along!