Thinking of those in the devastated coastal cities of Japan as well as the city of Tokyo facing rolling mass blackouts. Not easy to get to an AA meeting in unlit streets or damaged buildings, so online contact may be an alternative for some.
I’m posting this message sent out from JanBB, the chairperson of Online Intergroup Alcoholics Anonymous (OIAA) earlier today. If any of you are able to send it to friends in recovery in Japan please do so.
Hello AA Japan,
The Online Intergroup sends its support and concern for your safety and
continued wellbeing. We hope all of you have come through this recent
catastrophic earthquake as well as subsequent aftershocks, with lives and
sobriety intact.
It may diffcult for many of you to travel to meetings or your buildings may not
be habitable for meetings. OIAA can help. We have a directory of online AA
meetings available for your use, that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our meetings do not close. We urge all of you to please make use of our AA
meetings online directory, as you are all so welcome to join us:
http://www.aa-intergroup.org/directory.php
We also have a Japanese language member group:
http://www.aa-intergroup.org/languages/index_jp.html
Please come join us, as we want to hear your experience, strength, and hope and
share with you how we have recovered through Alcoholics Anonymous as well as
offering our friendship and support. We are always here for you and desire to be
of service in any way we can.
Please pass it on.
Jan and yourself are doing important work in carrying the message of recovery to those in dire straits. You have my utmost respect.
L, this is wonderful. I have received looks of disdain when I have mentioned online recovery within my AA circles here. I wish I could get through to people how helpful it is and truly necessary for those who are simply left with no other choice for fellowship and recovery.
Thank you for posting this information. I cannot imagine the strife that is going on in Japan now. Having any kind of meeting is sure to alleviate stress.
I am so touched by this reminder of how important AA is, anytime, anywhere. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this…it is more precious and fragile and meaningful…
thank you!
Have passed this on to a member who used to live in Japan and knows Japanese members – thank you both for this invaluable information
Wonderful Wendy..that is who we have been trying to ge this out to.
Kristin, online meetings have evolved a great deal in just the last five years, as more and more AA members realize how important the www is to their sobriety. If people have left in the past disillusioned, it is now well worth a second try.
My personal reasoning is that social networking has raised netiquette IQ’s and I infrequently read rash, flaming and acting out (in the past, it was more common), plus, online groups have come to instill stronger conduct guidelines to keep meetings on the AA beam (within the 12 Traditions).
The letter posted above did go out to GSO Japan, AATokyo and AAOkinawa and of course, OIAA reached out to our Online Intergroup rep who is japanese (he is ok).
Let’s keep at it,
Jan BB
Thanks for the update Jan. And many thanks to all of you responding to this.
((JanBB)) Also emailed the info to Area C admin asking them to pass it on to our Australian National Office – let me know if there is anything else I can do this end and thank you for your service.
A stepdaughter in AA is living in South Korea for an extended time. She will receive this message also…she may have friends in Japan by now.
Thank you BB, and thank you Louisey, for SO many good works.
PEACE!
Shhhh…whispering: Happy Anniversary, Mary.
Maybe I’m a day early? I remember yours because mine is the 18th.