| Its 32 pages are a source of sober views and ideas on the world-wide Fellowship and its programme of recovery from alcoholism. It serves as a meeting between meetings for newcomers to AA, helping them to both identify with others and learn more about the Fellowship. SHARE also aims to assist experienced members in maintaining and improving the quality of their lives in sobriety.
All content is written by AA members and is divided into articles reflecting general experience, strength and hope; those that trace the roots, early days and fundamental principles of AA; and those submitted in response to the advertised monthly theme, e.g. The Telephone Lifeline or My Best Day Sober.
A 300-word editorial usually dwells on the theme and there are regular features like Letters Pages, Diary of a Recovering Alcoholic and SHAREisms... a collection of homilies and insights that reflect the hard-edged wisdom available around 'The Rooms' (meetings).
No poetry or obituaries are published.
SHARE is put together by an Editor and Production Editor taking their turn at Fellowship service. The production disk is laid out and illustrated professionally. Both report to a London monthly meeting of the Editorial Team who advise, support and monitor guidelines. The final decision on published material rests with the Editor, who is appointed on a four-year term by the General Service Board of AA.
The 4-page glossy centrefold -- the cover too has access to full colour -- serves as a pull-out information guide on AA groups and events. It is assembled by AA's paid staff at the York General Service Office, which also logs and despatches contributions to the Editor and three advisory Readers; types up the selected content and distributes the magazine to groups and individual readers.
GSO organises subscriptions, which are paid in advance. SHARE costs £1 and circulation is around 4,800. |
