MORE ABOUT OUR CURRENT PROGRAMS
TYPES OF MEETINGS:
“Open Meetings” speakers tell how they drank, how they discovered A.A., and how its program has helped them. Members may bring relatives or friends, and usually anyone interested in A.A. is also welcome to attend “open meetings.”
“Closed Meetings” are for alcoholics only. These are group discussions, and any members who want to may speak up, to ask questions and to share their thoughts with fellow members. At “closed meetings,” A.A.s can get help with personal problems in staying sober and in everyday living. Some other A.A.s can explain how they have already handled the same problems — often by using one or more of the Twelve Steps.
IF I GO TO AN A.A. MEETING, DOES THAT COMMIT ME TO ANYTHING?
No. A.A. does not keep membership files, or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.
HOW MUCH DOES A.A MEMBERSHIP COST?
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. An A.A. group will usually have a collection during the meeting to cover expenses, such as rent, coffee, etc., and to this all members are free to contribute as much or as little as they wish. Individuals can also perform acts of service such as helping keep the meeting space clean and tidy.
CAN I BRING MY FAMILY TO AN A.A MEETINGS?
Family members or close friends are welcome at “Open” A.A. meetings. Discuss this with your local contact.
WHAT KINDS OF MEETINGS DO A.A GROUPS HOLD?
“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:
“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.
“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.
“Beginners” Usually led by a group member who has been sober awhile, these are often question- and-answer sessions to help newcomers. (A Guide for Leading Beginners Meetings is available from G.S.O.)
“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.
HOW DO YOU BECOME AN A.A. GROUP MEMBER?
“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.
WHAT IS ACA?
ACA are for those who are Adult Children of Alcoholics. ACA is a spiritual program, not a religious program. The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional family. ACA has no membership fees. Please note that ACA is not a replacement for addicts working an abstinence program in other Twelve Step fellowships. Adult Children of Alcoholics works best for people that have obtained a level of sobriety in their other program(s).
WHAT IS NA?
NA is Narcotics Anonymous, which stems from the original A.A. Membership is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used. One of the keys to NA’s success is the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free, productive lives through the application of the principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. There are no social, religious, economic, racial, ethnic, national, gender, or class-status membership restrictions. There are no dues or fees for membership; most members regularly contribute in meetings to help cover the expenses incurred for the rent of facility space.
Sources:
About A.A: https://www.nnjaa.org/faq.html#footnote_2
About ACA: https://adultchildren.org/newcomer/
About NA: https://www.na.org/admin/include/spaw2/uploads/pdf/pr/Info_about_NA_2016.pdf
”A Newcomer Asks”
”A.A. Fact Sheet”
”The AA Group - where it all begins”
”A Brief Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous”
