A.A. GROUPS AND A.A. MEETINGS Quoted material is copyrighted by AA World Services, Inc., and reprinted with permission. THE A.A. GROUP From the pamphlet "Alcoholics Anonymous in Your Community": "The basic unit in A.A. is the ... group, which is autonomous except in matters affecting other A.A. groups or the Fellowship as a whole. No group has power over its members." From the pamphlet "The AA Group ... Where It All Begins": "Each group is as unique as a thumbprint, and approaches to carrying the message of sobriety vary not just from group to group but from region to region. Acting autonomously, each group charts its own course. The better informed the members, the stronger and more cohesive the group -- and the greater the assurance that when a newcomer reaches out for help, the hand of A.A. always will be there. " ... Most of us cannot recover unless there is a group. As Bill said, 'Realization dawns on each member that he is but a small part of a great whole. ... He learns that the clamor of desires and ambitions within him must be silenced whenever these could damage the group. It becomes plain that the group must survive or the individual will not.' " ... 'The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking' (Tradition Three). Thus, group membership requires no formal application. Just as we are members of A.A. if we say we are, so are we members of a group if we say we are -- and we keep coming back." THE A.A. HOME GROUP "'Traditionally, most A.A. members through the years have found it important to belong to one group which they call "Home Group." This is the group where they accept responsibilities and try to sustain friendships. And although all A.A. members are usually welcome at all groups and feel at home at any of these meetings, the concept of the "Home Group" has still remained the strongest bond between the A.A. member and the Fellowship.' (from The A.A. Service Manual). " ... Over the years, the very essence of A.A. strength has remained with the home group, which, for many members, becomes their extended family. Once isolated by their drinking, they find in the home group a solid, continuing support system, friends and, very often, a sponsor. They also learn firsthand, through the group's workings, how to place 'principles before personalities' in the interest of carrying the A.A. message." A.A. MEETINGS "The purpose of all A.A. group meetings, as the Preamble states, is for A.A. members to 'share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.' Toward this end, A.A. groups have both open and closed meetings. "Closed meetings are for A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and 'have a desire to stop drinking.' "Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous' program of recovery from alcoholism. "At both types of meetings, the A.A. chairperson may request that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism. "Whether open or closed, A.A. group meetings are conducted by A.A. members, who determine the format of their meetings." KINDS AND FORMATS OF A.A. MEETINGS "'Every A.A. group is autonomous,' our Fourth Tradition says, 'except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.' So, predictably, the meetings held by our thousands of groups each have their own imprint. "The most common kinds of A.A. meetings are: "1. Discussion. Whether closed or open, an A.A. member serving as 'leader' or 'chair' opens the meeting in the usual way and selects a topic for discussion. "Background for many topic meetings derives from our Big Book, 'Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions,' 'As Bill Sees It' and the A.A. Grapevine. A few specific topic suggestions would include: acceptance versus admission, freedom through sobriety, principles versus personalities, fear (or the nameless fears), surrender, gratitude, anger, willingness, honesty, attitude, resentments, making amends, humility and tolerance. "2. Speaker. One or more members selected beforehand 'share,' as described in the Big Book, telling what they were like, what happened and what they are like now. "Depending upon the group conscience for general guidelines, some groups prefer that members who speak have a minimum period of continuous sobriety. Speaker meetings often are “open” meetings. "3. Beginners. Usually led by a group member who has been sober a while, these are often question-and-answer sessions to help newcomers. "4. Step, Tradition or Big Book. Because the Twelve Steps are the basis of personal recovery in A.A., many groups devote one or more meetings a week to the study of each Step in rotation; some discuss two or three Steps at a time. These same formats may be applied to group meetings on the Big Book or the Twelve Traditions. Many groups make it a practice to read aloud pertinent material from the Big Book or the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions at the onset of the meeting. "In addition to the meetings described above, groups also hold the following kinds of meetings: "Business. Some groups schedule special sessions throughout the year, apart from regular meetings, for reports from group officers to discuss group affairs and obtain group guidance. Group officers usually are elected at such meetings. ... "Group Inventory. These are meetings at which members work toward understanding how well the group is fulfilling its primary purpose. ... "Service. These are general information meetings about service; they may also serve as a forum for delegate reports or other communications. "Grapevine. These are meetings where A.A. topics from the Grapevine may be discussed." ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS What happens at an A.A. meeting? "An A.A. meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives and personalities, what actions they took to help themselves, and how they are living their lives today." (from the pamphlet "A Newcomer Asks") Why do A.A.s keep going to meetings after they are cured? "We in A.A. believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health. This we can achieve by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics." (from the pamphlet "A Newcomer Asks") Isn't there a lot of talk about God? "The majority of A.A. members believe that we have found the solution to our drinking problem not through individual willpower, but through a power greater than ourselves. However, everyone defines this power as he or she wishes. Many people call it God, others think it is the A.A. group, still others don't believe in it at all. There is room in A.A. for people of all shades of belief and nonbelief." (from the pamphlet "A Newcomer Asks") Can I bring friends or family members to an A.A. meeting? "In most places, anyone interested in A.A., whether a member or not, is welcome at open meetings of A.A. groups. Newcomers, in particular, are invited to bring wives, husbands, or friends to these meetings, since their understanding of the recovery program may be an important factor in helping the alcoholic to achieve and maintain sobriety. ... "It will be recalled that 'closed' meetings are traditionally limited to alcoholics." (from the pamphlet "44 Questions") Can I join A.A. outside my own community? "This question is sometimes raised by person who seem to have perfectly valid reasons for not wanting to risk identification as alcoholics by any of their neighbors. They may, for example, have employers who are totally unfamiliar with the A.A. program and potentially hostile to anyone who admits the existence of a drinking problem. They may wish desperately to be associated with A.A. as a means of gaining and maintaining sobriety. But they may hesitate to turn to a group in their own community. "The answer to the question is that a person is free to join an A.A. group anywhere he or she may choose. Obviously, it is more convenient to join the nearest group. It may also be the most straightforward approach to the individual's problem. The person who turns to A.A. for help is usually, but not always, pretty well identified as a drunk. Inevitably, the good news of this person's sobriety is bound to spread, too. Few employers or neighbors are likely to resent the source of their worker's or friend's continued sobriety, whether it centers in a local A.A. group or one located fifty miles away. "Few people these days are fired from their jobs or ostracized socially because they are sober. If the experience of many thousands of A.A.s is a reliable guide, the best approach for the newcomer is to seek help in the nearest group before beginning to worry about the reactions of others." (from the pamphlet "44 Questions") If I come into A.A., won't I miss a lot of friends and a lot of fun? "The best answer to this is the experience of the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have already come into A.A. In general, their attitude is that they did not enjoy real friendships or real fun until they joined A.A. Their point of view on both has changed. "Many alcoholics discover that their best friends are delighted to see them face up to the fact that they cannot handle alcohol. No one wants to see a friend continue to hurt. Naturally, it is important to distinguish between friendships and casual barroom acquaintanceships. The alcoholic is likely to have many acquaintances whose conviviality may be missed for a while. But their place will be taken by the hundreds of A.A.s the newcomer will meet -- men and women who offer understanding acceptance, and help in sustaining sobriety at all times. "Few members of A.A. would trade the fun that comes with sobriety for what seemed to be fun while they were drinking." (from the pamphlet "44 Questions") How will I be able to find the time for A.A. meetings, work with other alcoholics, and other A.A. activities? "During our drinking days, most of us somehow managed to minimize the importance of time when there was alcohol to be consumed. Yet the newcomer to A.A. is occasionally dismayed to learn that sobriety will make some demands on time, too. If the beginner is a typical alcoholic, there will be an urge to make up 'lost time' in a hurry — to work diligently at a job, to indulge in the pleasures of a homelife too long neglected, to devote time to church or civic affairs. What else is sobriety for, the new member may ask, but to lead a full, normal life, great chunks of it at a time? "A.A., however, is not something that can be taken like a pill. The experience of those who have been successful in the recovery program is worth considering. Almost without exception, the men and women who find their sobriety most satisfying are those who attend meetings regularly, never hesitate to work with other alcoholics seeking help, and take more than a casual interest in the other activities of their groups. They are men and women who recall realistically and honestly the aimless hours spent in bars, the days lost from work, the decreased efficiency, and the remorse that accompanied hangovers on the morning after. "Balanced against such memories as these, the few hours spent in underwriting and strengthening their sobriety add up to a small price indeed." (from the pamphlet "44 Questions") QUESTIONS? At any time, including right now, feel free to ask questions -- on anything related to A.A. To "talk" during the meeting, simply address your email to aaintro@e-aa.org. Everyone in the meeting (on the mailing list) will receive it. Note that when you send an email to the list, your email address will be available to everyone on the list. If, for any reason, you are uncomfortable with that, you may still participate anonymously. Send your questions or comments directly to me at [leader's email address] and I will remove your identifying information and forward them to the meeting list. Any personal information shared here should remain confidential and should not be disclosed outside of this meeting.