Written By, Maryanne M.

I entered the rooms of MA during the height of the pandemic. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would ever be fully sober after decades of heavy use. I had not planned on sobriety, in fact, my plan was to do the exact opposite. When I chose sobriety, I had no idea how my life was about to change.

I was attending meetings in another fellowship that focused on the effects of my growing up in a dysfunctional family, and doing service there. In the MA rooms, I first heard the phrase “sobriety requirement” coupled with “service.” At an MA meeting I was regularly attending, there was an open service position with a 90-day sobriety requirement. I believe it was to read the meeting script. I raised my hand and expressed my interest in the role. A long-timer suggested I get trained ahead of time so that I would be ready to take on the role at 90 days. I think I was about 65-70 days in. I emphatically refused because I wanted to wait until I reached 90 days of sobriety to train for the role. That sobriety goal and my desire to do service helped me get through those difficult first months. I have been in service ever since then, and my sobriety counter reminds me I’ve been at this for three and a half years.

At the Meeting level, I frequently share, keep my video on, and put my phone number into the chat. I have been the speaker, kept time, worked on scripts, chaired and co-chaired (tech hosted), and found speakers – all forms of service. At the District level, I served as a Group Service Representative (GSR) for six months. One of my favorite times in service very early on was working on a meeting script with another MA member; me being on the East Coast, and she on the West Coast. We were not using Google docs then, so we worked on it for several hours one weekend day. That may not sound like fun to some, but editing is a passion of mine, so I enjoyed our collaboration. We are dear friends now.

Some months into my sobriety, another long-timer noticed me eagerly focusing on the use of punctuation. It was probably about a semicolon: my favorite! She suggested I attend an MA World Services Policies and Procedures committee. I followed her advice and joined a P&P meeting soon after that. I remember they were discussing an issue that I was not familiar with, so I just listened. Some folks that I really respect were in that meeting, and I felt privileged to be there with them.

Over time, I became more and more comfortable entering various World Services committee meetings. I do not have to attend every occurrence of a meeting, and my presence is appreciated when I do show up. Something I learned very quickly is that doing service at the World Services-level can be started at any time during the recovery process. New voices add another layer of knowledge and interpretation to the process.

After about four months of sobriety, I attended my first MA Convention in October 2021 – ‘Virtual Serenity’, hosted by District 8 (I love NYC!). I was online with them the entire weekend and cried when it was over. Even after it ended, I stayed in fellowship to chat with folks. I was amazed by all the recovery, service and talent I had witnessed. I immediately joined the 2022 Convention planning committee for ‘Serenity by the Sea’ hosted by District 20 in San Diego. Next, I joined the 2023 planning committee for ‘Pillars of the Program’ hosted by District 4 in Seattle, and then served on the committee for this year’s Convention ‘Gratitude by the Golden Gate’ hosted by District 2 in San Francisco.

At the Seattle Convention, I was approached by two fellow MA members about serving as Secretary of A New Leaf Publications (MA’s publishing department). Tragically, right after that, I lost someone very dear to me in MA. He had been doing a ton of service when he passed on. I made the decision, in his honor, to join the ANLP team, and I am honored to carry on his legacy of service.

I have attended every MA World Service Business Conference since I joined MA – all as a “Participating Observer.” At the 2024 Conference, I removed my name from the Third Legacy list (members in attendance with 2+ years of full sobriety and willing to serve on the Board of Trustees). I thought my ongoing role as ANLP Secretary would disqualify me for a position on the Board. I learned that this was not true, and I had to decide whether or not to put my name back onto the list. I recalled another trusted member who often shares his regret about taking his name off the Third Legacy list. A loved one told me I only had to decide if I wanted to be a Trustee, suggesting I trust my instincts. I already knew I wanted to do it so I put my name back onto the list. I was elected to be on the Board and was chosen to serve as Correspondence Secretary Trustee. And that brings me to the present day.

A fellow MA member stepped up to serve as ANLP Secretary a few months after the Conference, so I let go of that commitment. I learned so much in the role and gained more self-confidence. I believe that this was my intended path to my new role as a Trustee. I continue to hold the words of encouragement from the friend I lost close to my heart as I serve.

I have forged friendships in MA deeper than any I have ever experienced. My strongest relationships are with the people I serve with. I feel at home when I am being of service in committees, sharing in my regular meetings, emailing or talking with a newcomer or a loved one of someone struggling, and working with my sponsee and my sponsor – carrying the message of recovery. In grateful service, I am so thankful for my new life, a life with hope.