Double Dozen Group

Double Dozen Group
Wednesday's 7:30 pm
Clark Methodist Church
Pleasant & Forest Avenue
Portland
Closed/Step/Tradition/Handicapped Accessible/Child Care

The group was founded on January 4, 1981 and named the Hart to Heart Group in memory of AA member Jackie H. who had passed away a few days earlier. The group has some historical significance because it was, and still is, the only Step/Tradition meeting in the Greater Portland area. It was also the first non-smoking meeting (other than in a hospital) in Portland.

The group met on Wednesday night from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the nursery at the Clark Memorial United Methodist Church, 15 Pleasant Street, Portland, Maine. One of the founders said, "Sitting on those little chairs helped make us feel right sized."

Some of the early members included: Janice L., Gladys P., Ricky L., Dawn M., JoJo, Paul B., Bob M., Karen S., Maureen H., and Alec H., (who are still group members today) and Deidre W. There was a group record keeping blackout until January 1984, but sometime between 1981 and 1984 the group moved out of the nursery and into the adjoining hall and the meeting time was changed to 7:30-8:30 pm.

The attendance was small during those early years. When the group renamed itself the Deering Dozen in February 1984, it referred not only to the twelve steps and twelve traditions, but also to the fact that there were usually about a dozen people attending the meeting.

Attendance began to mushroom in the mid 80's and the group has consistently attracted 35-50 people to its meetings over the years. Some of the members of that era were: Alfred D., Sylvia S., Andrea D., Lee S., Margo K., Sarah S., Sarah C., Steve M., Bob P., as well as current group members, Jack C., Lynn D., Carl L., John G., Tom K., Lincoln P., and Steve J.

We formally registered as the Double Dozen with the General Service Office of AA in October 1986, and John G. became our first GSR. (Rule 62 came in a close second in the voting for a group name.)

There has always been 10-20 active members participating in the business meetings. The group's discussions, while often spirited, have always been cordial, civil and accepting. We rotate service positions every six months and there are always jobs available for the newcomer.

Since 1986 the group has taken a meeting to the pre-release center, first at the Windham Correctional Center and then to Cumberland County Jail. For the past 15 years (since December, 1988) we have held a pot luck supper to celebrate the fellowship of AA and to express our gratitude for sobriety. We have conducted a group inventory every 3-5 years to ensure that the group sticks to its primary purpose and that we practice patience, tolerance and love in carrying the message.

One of the original members, Janice L., said that a founding principle of the meeting had been to, "Stay sober through the steps and traditions." Twenty-Two years later, that principle still guides us as we trudge the road of happy destiny.

Submitted March 2003 by Tom K.