annual chips

[badgolferman]

Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober people
showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years. Around here the
custom is for someone to present you the chip as they say lots of nice
things about you. Then the celebrant gets up there and tells us "how
they did it". As you may imagine, all this can take quite some time.
The actual meeting portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then
you do the same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.

These particular people who picked up last night only show up to
meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by the fact
that they admit it themselves and/or others comment on how they wish to
see them more often. It's no big deal if someone doesn't go to
meetings anymore and doesn't feel the need to help others get sober;
that's their prerogative. Yet it seems a bit tacky for a person who's
abandoned the fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and
bask in adulation.

I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely if ever
go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get your chip? If
so, what is your mindset behind that?

[Ken P]

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober people
showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years. Around here the
custom is for someone to present you the chip as they say lots of nice
things about you. Then the celebrant gets up there and tells us "how
they did it". As you may imagine, all this can take quite some time.
The actual meeting portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then
you do the same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up to
meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by the fact
that they admit it themselves and/or others comment on how they wish to
see them more often. It's no big deal if someone doesn't go to
meetings anymore and doesn't feel the need to help others get sober;
that's their prerogative. Yet it seems a bit tacky for a person who's
abandoned the fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and
bask in adulation.
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely if ever
go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get your chip? If
so, what is your mindset behind that?

I carry a 25 year chip even though I have 34 years. Got the chip from
the internet and wouldn't think of getting one from a meeting unless I
was a regular attendee.

[Ted H]

On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 09:25:09 -0600,

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober
people showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years.
Around here the custom is for someone to present you the chip
as they say lots of nice things about you. Then the celebrant
gets up there and tells us "how they did it". As you may
imagine, all this can take quite some time. The actual meeting
portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then you do the
same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up
to meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by
the fact that they admit it themselves and/or others comment
on how they wish to see them more often. It's no big deal if
someone doesn't go to meetings anymore and doesn't feel the
need to help others get sober; that's their prerogative. Yet
it seems a bit tacky for a person who's abandoned the
fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and bask in
adulation.

Sounds like a resentment.

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely
if ever go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get
your chip? If so, what is your mindset behind that?

I carry a 25 year chip even though I have 34 years. Got the
chip from the internet and wouldn't think of getting one from a
meeting unless I was a regular attendee.

Couldn't recall the last time I had a chip, so I had to go to my
nightstand to check the little box. Turns out the last one I took
was for VII. That would have been before moving away from
Nebraska in 1997.

Both in Nebraska and in Indiana the custom I've seen is similar to
what Mike described, but they only take it once. AA really does
suck where Mike is. Heh.

As far as showing up *only* to get a chip, I don't see a problem
with it. Nice that they maintain some form of connection.

[Sharx335]

Post by Ted H
On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 09:25:09 -0600,

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober
people showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years.
Around here the custom is for someone to present you the chip
as they say lots of nice things about you. Then the celebrant
gets up there and tells us "how they did it". As you may
imagine, all this can take quite some time. The actual meeting
portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then you do the
same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up
to meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by
the fact that they admit it themselves and/or others comment
on how they wish to see them more often. It's no big deal if
someone doesn't go to meetings anymore and doesn't feel the
need to help others get sober; that's their prerogative. Yet
it seems a bit tacky for a person who's abandoned the
fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and bask in
adulation.

Sounds like a resentment.

To me, it sounds like an OPINION. Horrors, we can have opinions without
being resentful? I think we can. When I was an active member of a F2F
group, I took a cake, or a chip, when applicable. However, my regular
attendance and membership of a F2F meeting ended at my 40th, so that's
the last chip/cake I took. Since then I've been attending Zoom meetings
on a daily basis plus one F2F meeting a week. So, I did not receive, nor
expect to receive, any accolades for my 41, 42, 43, or, recently, my 44
sober birthday. I do speak up, though, WHEN I have something to say.
Otherwise, unlike here at times, I STFU.

Post by Ted H

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely
if ever go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get
your chip? If so, what is your mindset behind that?

I carry a 25 year chip even though I have 34 years. Got the
chip from the internet and wouldn't think of getting one from a
meeting unless I was a regular attendee.

Couldn't recall the last time I had a chip, so I had to go to my
nightstand to check the little box. Turns out the last one I took
was for VII. That would have been before moving away from
Nebraska in 1997.
Both in Nebraska and in Indiana the custom I've seen is similar to
what Mike described, but they only take it once. AA really does
suck where Mike is. Heh.
As far as showing up *only* to get a chip, I don't see a problem
with it. Nice that they maintain some form of connection.

[badgolferman]

Post by Ted H
AA really does
suck where Mike is.

I've told you about the annual Bodacious Birthday Bash before. It's
the same thing as I described here, except it's for *anyone* who's
picked up a chip that year. This event goes on until everyone in the
room has gotten a chip and all the speeches have been made. I went to
it one year and my head was about to explode from all the self
adulation being displayed by those present. I didn't even bother going
up there to get a chip since I was sure to say something snide. At
least this is a known event and you can't get caught unaware. It's one
group's thing which makes them stand out from the rest.

Glad you finally understand. Maybe you will take my other stories more
seriously from now on.

[Sharx335]

Post by badgolferman

Post by Ted H
AA really does
suck where Mike is.

I've told you about the annual Bodacious Birthday Bash before. It's
the same thing as I described here, except it's for *anyone* who's
picked up a chip that year. This event goes on until everyone in the
room has gotten a chip and all the speeches have been made. I went to
it one year and my head was about to explode from all the self
adulation being displayed by those present. I didn't even bother going
up there to get a chip since I was sure to say something snide. At
least this is a known event and you can't get caught unaware. It's one
group's thing which makes them stand out from the rest.
Glad you finally understand. Maybe you will take my other stories more
seriously from now on.

I SAF would not attend such an event--if I was caught at one, I'd leave
after ONE HOUR.

[Bob]

Post by Ted H
On Mon, 9 Sep 2024 09:25:09 -0600,

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober
people showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years.
Around here the custom is for someone to present you the chip
as they say lots of nice things about you. Then the celebrant
gets up there and tells us "how they did it". As you may
imagine, all this can take quite some time. The actual meeting
portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then you do the
same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up
to meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by
the fact that they admit it themselves and/or others comment
on how they wish to see them more often. It's no big deal if
someone doesn't go to meetings anymore and doesn't feel the
need to help others get sober; that's their prerogative. Yet
it seems a bit tacky for a person who's abandoned the
fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and bask in
adulation.

Sounds like a resentment.

Post by Ken P

Post by badgolferman
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely
if ever go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get
your chip? If so, what is your mindset behind that?

I carry a 25 year chip even though I have 34 years. Got the
chip from the internet and wouldn't think of getting one from a
meeting unless I was a regular attendee.

Couldn't recall the last time I had a chip, so I had to go to my
nightstand to check the little box. Turns out the last one I took
was for VII. That would have been before moving away from
Nebraska in 1997.
Both in Nebraska and in Indiana the custom I've seen is similar to
what Mike described, but they only take it once. AA really does
suck where Mike is. Heh.
As far as showing up *only* to get a chip, I don't see a problem
with it. Nice that they maintain some form of connection.
--
Ted H.

Best as I recall, if anyone here wanted a chip they could buy one from the
AA office.
Did wear a necklace with the triangle for a while, they too available at the
office.
If a hard line group here ever bothered with chip "presentation" I must have
missed it.

Were I ever to return to AA it would likely be on an anniversary, simply in
recognition of the people who are part of the reason I could be there at
all. Tradition was we would be asked to speak on each anniversary, but it's
unlikely anyone would know.

[Charlie M. 1958]

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober people
showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years. Around here the
custom is for someone to present you the chip as they say lots of nice
things about you. Then the celebrant gets up there and tells us "how
they did it". As you may imagine, all this can take quite some time.
The actual meeting portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then
you do the same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up to
meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by the fact
that they admit it themselves and/or others comment on how they wish to
see them more often. It's no big deal if someone doesn't go to
meetings anymore and doesn't feel the need to help others get sober;
that's their prerogative. Yet it seems a bit tacky for a person who's
abandoned the fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and
bask in adulation.
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely if ever
go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get your chip? If
so, what is your mindset behind that?

I’ve known people who only come once a year to pick up their chip. Around
here, though, there are no speeches involved. They get their chip, a round
of applause, and if they are asked to say anything it will be during the
regular course of the meeting.

[Sharx335]

Post by Charlie M. 1958

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober people
showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years. Around here the
custom is for someone to present you the chip as they say lots of nice
things about you. Then the celebrant gets up there and tells us "how
they did it". As you may imagine, all this can take quite some time.
The actual meeting portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then
you do the same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up to
meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by the fact
that they admit it themselves and/or others comment on how they wish to
see them more often. It's no big deal if someone doesn't go to
meetings anymore and doesn't feel the need to help others get sober;
that's their prerogative. Yet it seems a bit tacky for a person who's
abandoned the fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and
bask in adulation.
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely if ever
go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get your chip? If
so, what is your mindset behind that?

I’ve known people who only come once a year to pick up their chip. Around
here, though, there are no speeches involved. They get their chip, a round
of applause, and if they are asked to say anything it will be during the
regular course of the meeting.

Sounds good. In one of my past home groups, a large one, birthday
meetings, all too often, went overtime, often due to chairpeople who
were afraid to goad garrulous speakers. Often the introducer of the
birthday person would go on and on about THEIR story. Not a resentment
on my part, just an observation. So, I decided that I would leave at the
usual end of the meeting, i.e. after ONE hour. Strangely, after that
decision, the meetings stopped going overtime. WHo knew?

[Sharx335]

Post by Charlie M. 1958

Post by badgolferman
Last night at the "Ice Cream Meeting", two long time sober people
showed up to pick up their chips, 34 and 37 years. Around here the
custom is for someone to present you the chip as they say lots of nice
things about you. Then the celebrant gets up there and tells us "how
they did it". As you may imagine, all this can take quite some time.
The actual meeting portion didn't start until 20 minutes after. Then
you do the same thing for an entire week at every meeting you go to.
These particular people who picked up last night only show up to
meetings when it's time for their chip. This is evident by the fact
that they admit it themselves and/or others comment on how they wish to
see them more often. It's no big deal if someone doesn't go to
meetings anymore and doesn't feel the need to help others get sober;
that's their prerogative. Yet it seems a bit tacky for a person who's
abandoned the fellowship to show up for recognition, take a chip and
bask in adulation.
I know there are many here with long time sobriety who barely if ever
go to meetings anymore. Do you go once a year to get your chip? If
so, what is your mindset behind that?

I’ve known people who only come once a year to pick up their chip. Around
here, though, there are no speeches involved. They get their chip, a round
of applause, and if they are asked to say anything it will be during the
regular course of the meeting.

Also, I do realize that sometimes, especially as WE age, there are
health issues involved....that the person may have evolved into online
AA because of health and/or transportation matters.