Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the requirements to belong to this group?
This is an All Addictions Big Book Step Study workshop, so anyone
from any twelve step fellowship is welcome. There is no attendance
or sobriety/abstinence requirement. I will be asking all participants
to attend at least one Big Book step study meeting a week and do a
fifteen minute quiet time each day. I will give a weekly writing
assignment that will deepen their understanding of the pages I went
over in that weeks workshop. I will also give participants words from
that nights reading to look up in a dictionary. These assignment are
completely voluntary. I suggest that you read them to your fellowship
sponsor or get someone from the workshop with whom you can share them.

2. What constitutes a Big Book step study meeting?
There is an All Addictions Big Book step study meeting every Sunday
night at 8 p.m. EST, and every first Monday of the month at 2:30 p.m.
EST, on the phone bridge. The number is the same as our Thursday
workshop, refer to the sidebar on the website for the correct phone number and pin. You can go on
http://www.bigbookstepstudy.com and find a meeting that’s in your area.

2. What constitutes a quiet time?
I suggest starting with a prayer of your choice. Then read a piece of
recovery or spiritual literature. Write on what you’ve read, and then
meditate for at least five minutes on a word, phrase, or concept that
came from the reading.

3. What do I need in way of supplies?
You need a Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (any edition for the
first 164 pages are all the same), a three ring binder (notebook),
loose leaf paper, pen, and WILLINGNESS.

4. Are we an official twelve step group?

No, we are not affiliated with any twelve step fellowship. This is an independent act of service on my part (Stephanie-see bio). We are a group of twelve step people, who come together to study the steps as they are laid out in the Big Book of AA, and to develop and/or deepen our relationship with our Higher Power. This group has one facilitator for the entire twelve step process, which goes against how official twelve step groups work. To be an official twelve step group, there must be a singleness of purpose, not all addictions together, and there must be a rotation of service positions. This is why I ask you not to mention this group or our website at your specific fellowship meetings, IT BREAKS TRADITIONS, and puts us into controversy. Please use word of mouth, or after the meeting is over ask for permission to announce this workshop. I call it a workshop so no one will in anyway get us confused with a official twelve step meeting.

5. How long will this workshop last?
It takes about eight to nine months to go through steps one, two, and
three. We then take approximately 24 weeks to write our fourth step.
Then the next eight steps will take ten months. I would estimate it
will take two years to complete all twelve steps. This is an unusual
workshop because I go line by line, paragraph by paragraph. I dissect
each line, and then give my experience, strength and hope on the
principal or concept they are talking about. This workshop has depth
and weight, and is not for everyone who wants to skim over the
material and start writing their fourth step. I understand that
want/need and encourage you to find a Big Book step study sponsor and
read through steps 1, 2, 3 in a few hours and start writing. Many
people have successfully done the steps that way, and I see value to
it being done that way. I have chosen to do a workshop on the way I
was taken through the steps. My sponsor went over each page in detail
and answered my many questions, so I am going to give you a similar
experience that I had.

6. What if I miss a lot of the workshops for various reasons?
You now have the option of listening to the workshops on the website;
https://stephaniesbigbookstepstudy.wordpress.com. I do advise you to
listen to as many as you can before you come back. I don’t go over
material again on the workshops. I do give a make up on a Sunday
afternoon right before the group starts the fourth step. It will be
a three to four hour make up, but it is not as extensive as each week
on the workshop. That make up will be taped and will be offered on
the website and can be purchased as a CD.

7. What is the Set Aside Prayer?

“God please set aside everything I think I know about myself, the twelve steps, this book, the meetings, my disease. But most especially God, help me to set aside everything I think I know about YOU, so that I may have an open mind and a new experience with all these things, please let me see the truth.”

This prayer is to help us who have been in the halls of recovery for
some time, who have done the steps in other way, stay humble, and
teachable. This prayer is to help us realize that we need to be
always working on our relationship with our Higher Power through
working the twelve steps as they are laid out in the Big Book.

8. How do I listen to the conference call on my iPod?

1. In Stephanie’s blog where it says (for example): “MP3 file to download: » Week one-foreward to first edition,” RIGHT click on the link.
2. Choose “Save Target As”.
3. Save this into your “Music Transfer” Folder on your computer
4. Open iTunes
5. In iTunes click, on the top left, click “File” and then “Add File to Library”
6. You’ll see it’s now in iTunes (easiest way to see it is to click “Recently Added” section on the left hand side of iTunes and you’ll see it on top. You can move this to your iPod from there.

9. I can’t find the recording for this week, what do I do and how do I get a phone list?

If the recording is not up on the website there may be a technical delay. Please be patient with those that are doing this service. If you miss the call and would like to know what was discussed then call your step study fellows, this is always recommended even when the recording is posted. The phone list will be coming out soon. If you would like to be added or receive the list then email thrsbbss@gmail.com with your First name, Last Initial, time zone, phone number, and email address. If you would like to include your cell carrier, such as Sprint or Verizon, that is fine.

10. When I leave a comment on this website, what does it mean, “waiting on moderation?” And do we need to log in?

Your comment will be entered into a que so that the content can be reviewed before it shows on the website. This will ensure that all comments posted will be relevant to the topic of the All Addictions Big Book Step Study. Sharing comments of your experience, strength, and hope with others on this website is encouraged and appreciated.

11. Who do I share my writing assignment with?

Your writing assignment is to be shared with your specific fellowship sponsor. Additionally, when it is time for your fifth step you will share it with your specific fellowship sponsor. Stephanie is your step study sponsor (unless you have someone else you are working with) however you will work on your writing assignments with your fellowship sponsor.

12. Can I announce the conference call at my fellowship meetings?

NO. This is an All Addictions Big Book Step Study workshop. The sole purpose of this workshop is to study and experience the steps as they are laid out in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. We are not affiliated with any Twelve step fellowship. This workshop is facilitated by one person, who had completed the steps as they are laid out in the Big Book and wants to share her experience, strength and hope with others. Please do not announce this workshop at any specific fellowship meetings. IT BREAKS TRADITIONS.