November is Gratitude Month — a time to express our collective gratitude for our individual sobriety. Many A.A. members observe Gratitude Month by holding Traditions meetings and taking up special contributions to the General Service Office and other A.A. Service entities.

“The idea is in the air that A.A. might adopt Thanksgiving week as a time for meetings and meditation on the Traditions,” A.A. co-founder Bill W. wrote in the November 1949 issue of the Grapevine. In fact, the idea had already taken hold earlier in the decade when, each fall, the General Service Board began giving small gratitude dinners. These were precursors to the much larger Gratitude Luncheons that were orchestrated during the 1960s as a Public Information effort of G.S.O.

“The first official recognition of an A.A. Gratitude Week, specifically designed to coincide with Thanksgiving week in the U.S. (Canada celebrates in October), occurred in 1956, when the Sixth General Service Conference approved the motion, stipulating that “this action be noted in the annual pre-Thanksgiving appeals to the groups for funds to help support A.A.’s worldwide services.” Three years later, Bill urged in a letter, “Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward … if you carry the message to still others, you will be making the best possible repayment for the help given to you.” — reprinted with permission from Box 459© Vol. 46 No.5/ October – November 2000.

Southern Delaware Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous (SDIAA) encourages local alcoholics to focus on gratitude this month. And as we do that, we also reflect on the many volunteers who keep us running: responding to 12-step phone calls, providing us with current information to find meetings, bringing meetings to treatment centers, distributing A.A. literature, keeping us updated with local and regional A.A. events, and providing the service structure that helps us all to stay sober.

Gratitude in action can be as simple as volunteering a little bit of your time to be part of one of our service committees — they’re always looking for help with their activities.

In honor of Gratitude Month, we ask you to give a little more — whether it’s an extra donation to help keep meetings going, or being of service to others. Remember the gift of sobriety and what it means to you and those who love you.

Your financial contributions to SDIAA will also help ensure the hand of A.A. is always available. You can contribute online through PayPal (credit or debit cards may be used without a PayPal account). You can also send your contributions by check through the mail. Make checks payable to Southern Delaware Intergroup and send to:

Southern Delaware Intergroup
P.O. Box 1080
Millsboro, DE 19966

Southern Delaware Intergroup is exceedingly grateful for any and all contributions, no matter how small. Your contribution will help to carry the message of A.A.

For more information, please see our Seventh Tradition Contributions page.

Happy Gratitude Month Everyone!