Legacy Group History
Legacy Group was born out of necessity. The population explosion in Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney increased the number of AAs looking for a convenient meeting place. If one was a smoker, meetings were readily available in the vicinity. If one was okay with weekly meetings in a church or similar facility, their needs were also met. But, non-smokers who desired to be part of a group holding daily meetings had to join the “AA frequent flyers program” and head for distant groups like Cornerstone, Clean Air North or Georgetown.
Looking for answers..
Otto M. inquired at the Dallas Intergroup Office, “How does one start a group”? The office staff referred Otto to several AAs who had experience with starting groups. In talking with them, it became obvious that a resentment and a coffeepot are inadequate assets with which to start a new group. It also takes MONEY. The recurring suggestion for starting a group was to get a handful of AAs to make a commitment to fund the group during its infancy, whether they were to be active in it or not.
The Excitement Builds
Otto M. presented this idea to member number two: Griff G., who immediately jumped on board and began soliciting benefactors. Member number three was Wade R., number four, Ed M., numbers five and six JoAnn and Harry M.. This core group began meeting in Otto’s home in June of 2001. They began to discuss what type of group they’d like to have and how to make it happen, all the while collecting funds from any willing AAs. Interest grew at a frantic pace and soon Jason T., PJ H., Tony C., Jim J., Brandon C. (1st Group Chairperson), Chris D., Jennifer E. and Russell McK. were regular attendees. These members, the founders of the Legacy Group, weren’t having AA meetings, just business meetings. A budget was created and a Search Committee began the process of finding our current location.
A Foundation..
These founders desired to create an AA Group built upon AAs three legacies of Unity (The Twelve Traditions), Service (The Twelve Concepts, and Recovery (The Twelve Steps), they chose to name the group the Legacy Group. They made application with the General Service Office asking to be recognized as a new AA Group and began to formulate the Group Guidelines.
Brainstorming..
Formats that would make Legacy the unique group it is today were decisions to have all literature-based or speaker meetings. “Tag” Meetings, “Popcorn” Meetings or unprepared topic/discussion meetings would be discouraged. To get newcomers to the middle of the “Wagon”, where it’s hard to fall off, Legacy established six months sobriety as the requirement to chair meetings. The Group opted for weekly birthday celebrations without introductions rather than the Dallas tradition of monthly birthdays. The founders also decided to attempt to build an attractive as well as functional facility. “Build it and they will come” was the thinking.
At first..dead ends.. but, it only takes one..
While searching for a place to start the new group, the Search Committee (Otto & Griff) had found only disappointment before they inquired at the current location. The space had previously been leased to a company with numerous small offices. They feared it needed more renovation than they could perform or afford. Then, Griff noticed a copy of the Serenity Prayer tacked to a column (where the coke machine is now). That discovery suppressed all doubt. Griff and Otto knelt at the front door, held hands and prayed, that if it was His will, for Him to give them the tools to make the space into an AA meeting place. Then they went about their business to make the Legacy Group a reality. The Group decided to hold meetings in the entryway and slowly expand and improve the facility as they could. To their surprise and relief, AAs came in droves to help. Contractors, electricians, heat & air guys, cabinet makers, generous donors, and lots of paint slingers; all of whom became our earliest members: Jim B., Shelley J., Mark A., Billy B., Bruce A., Hugh R., Bruce R., Todd K., Sheryl R., Freda W. and others.
Let’s GO!!
In three weeks, all the old walls were down and new walls were up. In eight weeks there was new carpet, drapes and a coffee bar in place. Within three months the Legacy Group had hosted over 200 AA meetings and Al-Anon meetings were being regularly scheduled.
Our first meeting was held on November 1, 2001 at 7:30 PM.. Harry M. was Chairperson. Approximately seventy supporters from various groups showed up to help Legacy get started. Within three months the Legacy Group had hosted over 200 AA meetings and Al-Anon meetings were being regularly scheduled. Today, we have over 300 members calling Legacy their Home Group. An extraordinarily large number of these members are new to AA and have found their sobriety within meetings and the Legacy Group fellowship. Since then the original schedule of fifteen meetings a week has grown to twenty.
To keep the Group autonomous from the Club, The Spring Creek Club was formed to manage and maintain the facilities. Not having to take care of maintenance and repair, insurance, legalities, the acquisition of furnishings, etc. The groups could focus all their attention on their Primary Purpose.
Evolution..
The SCC was a great help to the group and provided Legacy group a meeting space, furnishings, insurance and needs for 17 years. In October of 2018 the club and group separated and the Legacy Group remained in the original space of the founders.
Due to the Pandemic Legacy Group stopped having in person meetings in March 2020 and at the end of March Zoom meetings were set up. On May 26th the Group Conscious voted to reopen the group for in person meetings following COVID safety guidelines and precautions as determined by state mandates. At that time Legacy had both in person and Zoom meetings. The Legacy Group continues to be the home to many alcoholics and follows our primary purpose to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Zoom meetings were discontinued in June of 2021.
Legacy now has 15 in person meetings weekly.
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