I have just returned from the Blue Bonnets gathering in Dumfries. I was there for one day - the Saturday. I enjoyed all that I experienced. The premises were excellent, as were the team that organised everything. I would like to thank the committee. The speakers were excellent at carrying the message by the sharing of their lives. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the people who kept AA alive through its service structure. Without these people I would not have been able to get the help I needed so, thank you for my life. I have been involved in the service structure for about 20 years and I must say it has had a real input in my being able to stay sober. I have not been asked anything other than to try and leave AA in as good a way as when I found it. Not much to ask for the new life I have been given. Just to be mindful that the suffering alcoholic will still need help in the future. I was particularly drawn to the service meeting in Dumfries as I place great importance on how best we can carry our message to the still-suffering alcoholic. I must say it was the best I have attended to date. The meeting was chaired in an excellent manner with a powerful message of hope. Through service, AA can and will get the message across through the tireless efforts of members. The sad thing is we have far too few serving at group, intergroup and region. To this end I made an attempt to count how many attended the service meeting as, from experience, I know these meetings always draw very few people. I was pleasantly surprised. I counted 195. Hopefully, some may have been to their first service meeting and decided to get involved. The message from the speakers was of encouragement to join them. From personal experience I can say that you have a lot to gain. I know some may say the attendance was high due to the bad weather. I tend to believe our Higher Power directed us there so we could learn how much more we can do to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic. I was glad to see the Roundabout stand on display and having a serving officer in attendance to assist with any enquiries. I place great stock in our magazine. I have had a copy every month for over 20 years. It fulfils a very important function in AA. It carries the same message as any AA meeting. Every article is someone sharing their experience, strength and hope in a new life but it only works if we work at it by submitting articles and taking up subscriptions. What a marvellous tool to give a newcomer to help fill the time to their next meeting. Pat L, Blantyre Monday Night Group