District 42 Group Histories

District 42 has begun a project to compile the histories of the groups it serves.  We will post each group history as it becomes available.  The group histories available so far are presented in the following paragraphs: 

Upon Awakening

The Upon Awakening group was started on September 18, 1999.  The meeting was started because of the need for a meeting on Saturday morning in the Crofton area.  The Saturday morning meeting that used to meet in Crofton had moved to a church in Bowie, MD.  A few years later someone asked, “Whatever happened to that meeting that used to be in Crofton?”  The question was put out whether folks would want a meeting on Saturday morning in Crofton and the response was positive.  Calvin I.  of Maryland General Service (MGS) was consulted and his suggestion was, "If there is a need, get a coffee pot and register with New York." 

The format -- decided at the first meeting -- was a Big Book/Step meeting alternating each Saturday.  A traditions meeting has since been added, now making it a Big Book/Step/Traditions meeting.  The meeting opens with a reading from the literature, followed by a discussion on what was read.  The group has a chairperson, treasurer, coffeemaker, Intergroup representative, general service representative (GSR), and secretary.  It is an open meeting and is wheelchair accessible.   

Crofton Open Group

[Excerpted from the District 42 & You newsletter, 2nd Quarter 2008] How the Crofton Open Group got started is a story in itself. Ginny B’s husband had a drinking problem and she became dedicated to Al-Anon. She personally delivered Al-Anon literature to churches in the Crofton community. One minister - Rev. Fred Wood of the Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church - wanted to get meetings going at his church. Ginny rounded up interested AA and Al-Anon members. Ginny B. & Bob M met with Rev. Wood and began the discussion on starting meetings there. The Crofton Open Group was started in July 1974. Back then, the AAs met in the kitchen and Al-Anons met in the big meeting room. On the first Friday of every month, there was a speaker meeting in the large room. The average size of the meeting was around 20 people.

The Crofton Open Group still meets at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church at Ardsley Place and Crofton Parkway every Friday night at 8:00 pm. The meetings consist of Al-Anon, an AA open discussion meeting and an AA step meeting. The main focus of the group continues to be to carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic while Al-Anon continues to carry their message to the suffering family members and friends. One of the main advantages of the meeting has been having both fellowships in one place so that families can recover together. Each September the group celebrates its anniversary with a joint AA/Al-Anon speakers meeting and a covered dish buffet before the meeting.