November 2021

In ‘The Twelve Traditions Illustrated’ Bill W describes the Traditions as “...they are to group survival what AA’s Twelve Steps are to each member’s sobriety and peace of mind.... Most individuals cannot recover unless there is a group. The group must survive or the individual will not.” I’ll always be grateful for the group being there that winter’s night when I walked into AA for the first time. This is still just as true today and as I shared last night at my home group - I am thankful to the group for being there to help make the meeting possible and to help me stay sober.

Our November issue includes literature extracts and members’ stories in relation to ‘the group conscience’. Decisions are reached by the group, its members can choose to serve their group in a variety of roles: “But they must always remember that they serve for the good of all, without authority over any.” (Twelve Traditions Illustrated.) I have the same feeling about the group conscience as I did when I accepted my Higher Power – it takes the pressure off and things are no longer my sole responsibility – let’s face it, it never worked in the past when I thought everything was my responsibility and I was in charge!

This month we hear from several members who went into meetings with a fixed idea in their head, determined to ‘win’ but the power of the group conscience ensured that group unity and personal sobriety was maintained.

As always, a request for articles please. If you would like to submit under a specific heading, page 21 details our themes for 2022 – but we also welcome your personal recovery stories.

This year we celebrated our 70th anniversary; for those who might be interested in helping to shape Roundabout for the future, we shall be holding a meeting on Saturday 27 November in Glasgow for RLOs and those with an interest in the magazine. Please email us on the address below for further details.

Editor, roundabout@aamail.org

Contents

2 Sub-Committee Notice Board – Vacancies
3 Editorial
4 Extracts From AA Literature
6 Restraint
7 Roundabout 2021 Yearbook
8 How Do I Know What I Think Until...
10 What Do I Do When Confronted With...
12 Making Amends To Me
i Conventions and Gatherings
ii AA Conference Approved Books
13 The Roundabout Interview
16 AA GB 75th Anniversary Convention
17 2022 Fellowship Diaries and Calendars
18 Extract From Grapevine
20 I Wasn’t Expecting That
21 2022 Issue Themes
22 That Was The Week That Was
23 Subscribe to Roundabout
24 The Twelve Concepts of World Service