Many experienced leaders of beginners meetings say that their opening remarks generally cover these points:

1. Welcome to newcomers. (Newcomers are essential to A.A.’s health and growth. In the first few weeks, they will discover that their fresh experiences make them vital links in reaching other suffering alcoholics.)
2. Assurance that newcomers’ anonymity will be respected.
3. Explanation that everything the leader or any other member says is only the individual’s opinion, that no one can speak on behalf of the entire worldwide Fellowship (or, indeed, of any group).
4. Brief statement of the Fellowship’s size and scope.
5. Brief sharing of the leader’s own experience, including in condensed form the usual elements of an A.A. talk: identification as an alcoholic (not necessarily events while drinking, but feelings); how the leader came to A.A.; recovery in the program; knowledge gained from A.A.
6. Comments on any particular topic that, in the leader’s opinion, newcomers need or want to know about. (There are suggestions on the following pages.)
7. Information about other local meetings.
8. Recommendation of the A.A. message in print – so that newcomers may take it with them after the meeting in for form of A.A. books, pamphlets, or the Grapevine.