IFF Meeting Experience by LS (NYC member)
Hosted by SLAA, the 3rd annual meeting of the Inter-
Fellowship Forum (IFF) was held on November 7 & 8,
1998 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Waltham,
Massachusetts. Five Fellowships participated: SA, SAA,
SCA, SLAA, and for the first time - SRA, represented by
myself and another SRA member. Representatives
traveled from Michigan, Texas, Chicago, New York,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maine. SCA had one
member present; SA, SLAA and SAA each had two. The
IFF was chaired by an SLAA representative, and each
Fellowship was granted one vote in the business
meetings.
The basic idea behind the IFF, as I understand it, is to
foster a spirit of cooperation and communication
between the "S" fellowships - as they share the
common goal of helping the still-suffering addict; while
at the same time being mindful of the Traditions. To
that end, establishing greater continuity within the IFF
itself was discussed. So was strengthening national
cooperation by sharing meeting lists, information
about each Fellowship, etc. Other ideas included
various joint ventures, such as generic "S" on-line
meetings, and sending IFF packets to healing
professionals (with materials from all participating "S"
fellowships). The possibility of sharing literature was
also discussed. It’s important to note that motions
passed there were not directive. The IFF has no
authority over the individual fellowships.
No date or location has yet been decided for next year’
s IFF, although it was determined that it will be hosted
by SA (SRA is scheduled to host in 2001).
On a personal note, I want to say that I am very
grateful to have had the opportunity to do this service.
I felt deeply honored representing SRA in our first
appearance at the IFF. Indeed, I believe it was the
first time that delegates from SA, SAA, SCA, SLAA and
SRA assembled together in the same room. I
remember thinking "this puts SRA on the map!" I
wondered if the excitement and anticipation I felt as I
sat down to meet was anything like what members of
the Continental Congress felt. (Yes.......that’s it! This
was like a Continental Congress of Sex Addicts!) I
experienced attending the IFF as being part of
something new. I glimpsed the future - the potential of
the strength that can be unleashed by the joint efforts
of all those afflicted by sexual addiction - regardless of
their particular Fellowship affiliation. Above all, I
witnessed people with some fundamentally different
beliefs working together toward a common goal,
guided by a loving Higher Power. And this gave me
hope.
LS (NYC)
