Recovery in Kingston
7 Days a Week
The A.A. Preamble
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
History
Kingston A.A. History
What is now the Kingston Group of Alcoholics Anonymous held their first meeting on September 29, 1977. It was originally called the Kingston Thursday Group for the one 8:00 PM meeting held per week. The first hall was an annex of the old Kola Kole School in downtown Kingston. It was located directly behind the school and at various times served as a school cafeteria, Kingston’s first library, and was shared by A.A. and N.A. for nearly 30 years. Due to the failing condition of the structure, Kitsap County (the owners) asked us vacate. After a short transition, we moved to the Bradley Center at the corner of Hwy. 104 and Lindvog Rd. Our original lease on this location is dated January 1, 2006. We are still just blocks from the ferry terminal in downtown Kingston. If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction, we welcome you to join us.
A Quick History of A.A.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship that originally started with one person talking with another about their struggles with alcoholism. It all began when Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith met in Akron, Ohio in 1935 and related to each other’s stories. Today that simple process of one alcoholic talking to another has helped millions of people recover and stay sober. In 1939, a group of the original members of Alcoholics Anonymous contributed to and wrote what is known as the Big Book of A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered From Alcoholism). This book has become the basis of what nearly all Twelve-Step recovery groups follow today to recover from addiction.
To learn more about the history of Alcoholics Anonymous you can visit aa.org’s History & Archives section here.
Wikipedia also has a nice overview of the origins and history of A.A. here.
And for those who are really interested in A.A.’s rich history there is a published book called:
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age: A Brief History of A.A. by Bill Wilson
What you can expect at a meeting
Fellowship
The fellowship is one of the most powerful gifts of Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s as basic as one alcoholic talking with another and as big as tens of thousands of A.A. members gathering at an International Conference every five years. It spans the globe and resides in each meeting or anywhere two alcoholics meet to share their experience, strength, and hope. It’s the difference between isolation with our addiction and the community that bands us together to face our common affliction. The fellowship is truly a treasured part of this journey, and it’s available for all to feel a part of.
Sponsorship
What is sponsorship? An A.A. pamphlet on sponsorship describes the process like this: “an alcoholic who has made some progress in the recovery program shares that experience on a continuous, individual basis with another alcoholic who is attempting to attain or maintain sobriety through A.A.” It is a unique partnership of individuals (generally of the same gender) that connect to explore the A.A. program in-depth and the many opportunities for service. Connecting with a sponsor is highly encouraged for all members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Trusted Servants of the Kingston Group
Group Conscience Chair - Terry C.
General Service Representative - Kathy C.
Alt. General Service Representative - Amber E.
Group Conscience Secretary - OPEN
Treasurer - Jeff C
Alt. Treasurer - OPEN
Archivist - Jeff C.
Technical Committee - Chair - Josh R. & Tom F.
Chairperson Coordinator - Chris S.
Maintenance Committee Chair - OPEN
Supplies Committee Chair - Tom F.
Literature Committee Chair - JoAnne W.
Coin Committee Chair - Jim M.
Treatment Committee Chair - Bea Z.