Third Be there early and expect to leave a little late. When you come to the Bridge you are the face of AA - being on time, ready and committed to go speak directly to authenticity. For a lot of people, myself included, new attendees are looking for loopholes in the message. If you show up and do what you say you are going to do the audience actually listens. Go for listening.
Fourth - Treatments centers and other institutions tend to have a lot of props suggesting that in spite of arguments to the contrary there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest alcohol and drugs might actually be getting in the way. Not at the Bridge. The guests here tend to be urban survivalists. If this doesn't work out, they have other options. Many have been homeless for years, even decades- they know how to survive out there. If your message - our message - does not make sense or is somehow inauthentic it will fall on deaf ears. (Then again, that is a kind of universal). Worth mentioning in advance .
Fifth - We have the privilege to come on the Bridge campus: treat it with respect. Do not attempt to walk through any door without a safety officer or staff member acknowledging and, in most cases, opening the door for you. Tends to trip off alarms.
Sixth - If you are planning on sponsoring then talk to one of the Chair people first. Opening a conversation at arms length is recommended across the board. We would like you to have your one on one meetings on the campus of the Bridge at scheduled times. Let us know so that we are aware of any possible contact so everyone has realistic expectations. We are in this together - let us share our experience so we can learn from yours.
Seventh - When we started at the Bridge it appeared that we were going to be challenged what we thought was going to be a lot of beginning material or "the bunny slope" as I like to say. We have been proven wrong.
Fourth - Treatments centers and other institutions tend to have a lot of props suggesting that in spite of arguments to the contrary there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest alcohol and drugs might actually be getting in the way. Not at the Bridge. The guests here tend to be urban survivalists. If this doesn't work out, they have other options. Many have been homeless for years, even decades- they know how to survive out there. If your message - our message - does not make sense or is somehow inauthentic it will fall on deaf ears. (Then again, that is a kind of universal). Worth mentioning in advance .
Fifth - We have the privilege to come on the Bridge campus: treat it with respect. Do not attempt to walk through any door without a safety officer or staff member acknowledging and, in most cases, opening the door for you. Tends to trip off alarms.
Sixth - If you are planning on sponsoring then talk to one of the Chair people first. Opening a conversation at arms length is recommended across the board. We would like you to have your one on one meetings on the campus of the Bridge at scheduled times. Let us know so that we are aware of any possible contact so everyone has realistic expectations. We are in this together - let us share our experience so we can learn from yours.
Seventh - When we started at the Bridge it appeared that we were going to be challenged what we thought was going to be a lot of beginning material or "the bunny slope" as I like to say. We have been proven wrong.
