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The Barflies Meeting Format
Responsibilities
- The moderator must be a group member having attended at least 1 homegroup meeting.
- Ask guests to read.
- Keep the subject on experience, strength and hope as related to alcoholism.
- No calling on people to share. No signing Court Cards. No Chips or Birthdays.
- Allow a 30-second moment of silence at beginning of meeting where described below.
- Allow three (3) minutes for problem to be introduced.
- Invite alcoholic vagrants in and gently ask them to please just sit and listen. (We're trying to avoid a runaway meeting especially with "tight" vagrants - discuss concerns with elder members.)
Opening
- Good evening and welcome to the Barflies meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. We’re glad you all came. My name is --- and I’m an alcoholic. At this time I must remind everyone that this is a CLOSED meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. We are here tonight to talk about alcoholism and as a group, share our experience, strength and hope. We apologize to anyone who has come here by mistake, but our group conscience requires that we ask anyone who is not an alcoholic to please excuse themselves. If you aren’t sure, but are concerned that you may be an alcoholic, you are welcome to stay. (pause)
In the interest of preserving the unity and single purpose of our meeting in accordance with the 1st and 5th traditions, we also request at this time that you do not identify yourself with regard to your problems other than alcoholism. Please, for example, do not say, “I am an alcoholic and an addict.” (short pause)
- To begin, please join me as we invite the Higher Power into our meeting with a moment of silence for the still suffering alcoholic. (30 seconds)
- For anyone new to AA we would like to welcome you. It is our greatest hope that when we open the meeting for discussion in a few moments that you’ll be comfortable enough to share with us any problem or question you have related to alcoholism, even if you aren’t sure it’s related to alcoholism.
- I’ve asked --- to read the Preamble (THANK YOU - )
- I’ve asked --- to read a passage from the Big Book (THANK YOU - )
- We are self supporting in accordance with the 7th Tradition so we will now pass the hat. AA has no dues or fees and you are NOT REQUIRED to put money in the hat.
- The meeting is now open for discussion. Again, we would especially like to hear a from a newcomer, but anyone with a problem or question about alcoholism is welcome to bring it here ...and please adjust your cellphones to be silent, thank you.
(3 minutes of silence if necessary. Should no topic or an aimless topic be presented, all members are responsible to focus it on experience, strength and hope. We suggest one of these topics: 1. inability to control drinking, 2. living with defects in sobriety, and 3. walking through fear.)
Closing
- I’m - and I’m an alcoholic. Our time is almost up. We would like to thank everyone for sharing and invite you to stay and talk while we clean up. Are there any AA-related announcements?
- (To be read only at moderator’s discretion in the event that conscience is violated)
"In tonight’s meeting references were made to drug usage which were not relevant to the topic or alcoholism in general. We remind our guests that such comments have no place in an AA meeting. If you have any questions please stay after the meeting and talk with us."
- I’ve asked --- to read a closing passage from the Big Book (THANK YOU - )
- Thanks again for coming, we wish you all great pain and we are now closed.
Download PDF - Meeting Format
Passages Selected for Readings
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