Our Mission
Highland Park Alcoholics Anonymous "is a
fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope
with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others
to recover from alcoholism" (Copyright ©
by the AA Grapevine, Inc.) We hope to provide information that will assist
you in finding a meeting in the Birmingham AL area.
History
"Coffee and a resentment are what starts every group," said original
group member Ralph...and then came Highland. The Highland Park group of
Alcoholics Anonymous began meeting in the early part of 1989 on the third floor
of the Independent Presbyterian Church located at 3100 Highland Avenue. The
group formed, as said by founding member John H. "to fill the gaps of the
Five Points Group". The room was bright yellow with pictures of flowers,
well lit and said to have been very clean, offering a sense of privacy. Having
obtained long term sobriety, members at this time included John H., Tammy P.,
Daryll B., Jeanette P., Patsy, Squire, Tim B., Berry, and good ol' Jack who
attended faithfully. Meetings were, on Sunday and Thursday nights at 8:00
p.m., followed immediately afterward by a meal at Silvertron. Highland Group
made it through the first year. In August of 1990 they held their first
anniversary in which the speaker was Brian. Highland Park Group was where long
term sobriety and transient sobriety were brought together, long term
sobriety was present from day one and it was their second year that more
midranged sobriety became present. The following year the church turned
non-smoking. Highland searched and found their new home two blocks away.
Highland Park
Group christened their two block move to the clubhouse of the Highland Park
Racquet Club, located at 330 Highland Avenue by having it's Anniversary in
Rushton Park. BBQ was served and the speaker was Daryll B. The Highland Park
Group grew and so did its need to follow traditions. Until that time the
only service position that was held was by founding member, John H. He was
secretary. But elections were held and Daryll B. was the secretary for
1993. Other officers included Mary C.- Intergroup Representative and
Steve P. Treasurer. Meanwhile, on the other side of town at Saint Stephen's
Episcopal Church in Cahaba Heights, The Birmingham Young Peoples meeting was
also growing. The Young People's Meeting was formed at the 1990 ALCYPAA in
Montgomery by Leslie R., Tony H., Tina, and John. They wanted to form a meeting
for young people to attend on Friday nights that would lend itself to group
social activities. They set the meetings for 8:30 p.m.
The Highland Park
group experienced varied attendance records over time. The time came though,
when the rent was too high and the attendance was too low. In the spring of 1994
Highland Park group agreed to participate in fund raising for the Birmingham
Young Peoples meeting that was hosting SERCYPAA (Southeastem Regional Conference
of Young People in AA). The Young Peoples meeting held a picnic in Rushton Park
on Sunday aftenoon that was followed by a Speaker Meeting at 7:00 p.m. The
Speaker was Lori from Rochester New York. In June of that year the young peoples
conference was held at the Raddison Inn on the comer of 20th Street and
University Boulevard. Later that summer, as the finances got tighter, The
Young Peoples Group once again approached Highland Park Group. This time it was
about a merger. The Young Peoples Meeting was meeting in Cahaba Heights. The
young people were not an official group and did not seek to become one. Young
People's wanted to become a part of Highland Park Group, bringing the meeting
closer to the city. It was discussed at several business meetings. In the
meantime, Highland Park was searching for a new meeting place. If they found a
non-smoking facility, The Young Peoples Meeting would become a part of The
Highland Park Group. And they did. And they were. The Highland Park Group
along with their new Young Peoples meeting moved, in September, to First
Lutheran Church, located at 2507 Highland Avenue. In November (1994) we celebrated our
move by having a pot luck supper and speaker meeting. The speaker was Dean from
Bessemer. We continue to celebrate our Anniversary sometime in the second or
third quarter of each year. Recently (2000),
we have started having a Christmas Party instead of an Anniversary Meeting.
In November of 1998, this web site was first published in response to the need
for an internet site where AA's planning to visit the Birmingham area could find
a meeting. It's purpose and limitations were discussed and the input of other
area AA groups was solicited. In May of 2000 we obtained our own domain name. In
the past six years over 15,000 people have used the site.
After
much debate and careful consideration, a resolution to discontinue the
Saturday Young Peoples Meeting effective November 1999 was passed at the
October business meeting. Interest had been waning for quite some time; and
while there were members who opposed discontinuing the meeting, there were not
enough to support the needs of the meeting.
In
June of 2000, Garland B. led the initiation of a Step Study Meeting on Friday
evenings at 8:00. Support was spotty for several months. With the steady support
of a few devoted members, the meeting has become self supporting.
The
Highland Park Group has experienced many changes throughout its existence.
People have gotten sober in this group. Some stayed, and some went back out to
try it "one more time". Children have been born to members and
members have died. People have ventured to live in other places. New people have
moved into our fellowship. Most of all, the message is carried and sobriety
lives in our group...one day at a time...And so we are The Highland Park Group
of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Contact Information
Highland Park Alcoholics Anonymous
P.O.
Box 55745 Birmingham AL 35255
General
Information: questions@highlandaa.org
Webmaster: webmaster@highlandaa.org
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