Toronto Special Meeting Group of Cocaine Anonymous Presents: “Mucker/Booker” Don F. from Edmonton, AB on Friday, April 24th, 2009 – 8:00 pm
Don F., one the originators of the “booking” process and the founder of “The Muckers” addresses:
The History of “Booking”
His Experience of “Booking” newcomers
Questions and Answers
Don-F-4-24-09-Toronto-96bit.mp3
Don F. tells his story at the Saturday Night Live Group of CA, April 25, 2009
More About “Who are “The Muckers?”
The Muckers or “Bookers” are a group of men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of addiction/alcoholism, using the 12 step program as outlined in the book “Alcoholics Anonymous”. Central to the Muckers/Booking methodology is the action of a recovered addict or alcoholic, guiding another addict or alcoholic through the Big Book. We have discovered through experience that this one-on-one approach, as described in Chapter 7 of the Big Book, is a powerful method of working the 12 step program of recovery.
What is “Getting Booked?”
“Bookers” use the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous as their basic recovery text. The emphasis is on the first 103 pages of the Book, which have not been altered since originally published in 1939. The process of one addict/alcoholic guiding another through the Book takes between 24 and 30 hours, usually done in 2 – 3 hour sessions, typically over a period of 2 – 3 weeks. In the process, “bookers” write comments and notes, circle words and highlight passages in the Book. (They are called Muckers, because they muck up the Book!) During this period of “being booked”, the individual actually performs the first 11 steps of the program.
The purpose of this brief, intense process is to jump-start the program for the individual. The goal is to facilitate the “vital spiritual experience” as described throughout the Book, and to give the individual the tools to maintain and grow that experience. Once the individual has had this experience, “bookers” find that the obsession to use is removed. Subsequently, much of the maintenance and growth of the spiritual experience is achieved by working Step 12. This means working directly with other alcoholics/addicts. Once recovered, the individual is encourage to pass the process on to someone else – to give it away. While other forms of service are not discouraged, (including helping out a meetings – making coffee, etc.), this is not considered to be Step 12.
About the Toronto Special Meeting Group
The primary purpose of the Special Meeting Group of Cocaine Anonymous is to carry our message of recovery through the teaching and practice of the 12 Steps, as outlined in the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous. We achieve this purpose by hosting recovered cocaine addict speakers, from any part of the world, in an extended meeting format at Toronto, Ontario. Typically this meeting content will be sharing and interactive Q&A during one day. The frequency of these meetings is currently once per year, although this may be expanded if the fellowship desires.