Generic Zoom Meeting Format
Chairperson: your instructions are in italics; read all other material out loud.
1. Good (morning, afternoon, or evening) everybody. Welcome to the Zoom (name of meeting) All Addictions Step Study Group. Let's open the meeting with a minute of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer.
2. My name is (your name) and I am a_(name(s) of addictions)__________ Please remain muted during the meeting until called upon.
3. Group Conscience statement (group preamble)
"Sobriety – freedom from our addiction – through the teaching and practice of the twelve steps is the sole purpose of this group."
It was voted by group conscience that the purpose of this meeting is to help addicts achieve recovery by the studying, discussing, and practicing of the twelve steps as they are laid out in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous.
We share our experience strength and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others recover.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using substances and engaging in addictive behaviors; all members of any 12 Step program are welcomed.
We are self supporting through our own contributions and are not affiliated with any other 12 step program or group. We are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; do not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorse nor oppose any causes. Our primary purpose is to recover and help others achieve recovery.
It has been our hard-learned experience that other methods did not work with us. Some of us have tried other ways and the results were disastrous until we looked at the basic and simple approach that the book, Alcoholics Anonymous offers.
It has become apparent to us that when we stopped blaming people, places, and things for our problems; decided to take an honest and fearless look at ourselves as the root cause of our addiction, and applied these twelve steps to our lives, that we got better.We reserve the right of the chairperson to limit discussion to the Step being studied this afternoon. If discussion strays from this step, the chairperson will remind you of the purpose of this meeting. It is not the group's intention to be intimidating or insulting to anyone. We only know that if you are talking about the problem, you cannot possibly be talking about the solution.
If you have done these steps as they are laid out in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous with the help of a qualified Step Study sponsor, who has done the steps this way, please share your experience with us. If you haven't, we ask that you be open minded enough to listen. If you have a question pertaining to this step, please feel free to ask someone after the meeting. Group conscience has voted a five-minute limit on individual comments. All of our members are more than willing to talk to you about other things. If you have a situation, feel free to discuss it with someone after the meeting.
4. Ask for any reports (secretary, treasurer)
5. (Refer to the chart "Meeting Rotation.") This afternoon we are on step ____ there reading for this step is on page(s) _(refer to rotation document) of the book. Please read the step itself (also from the rotation document). I will call on you to read a full page. We ask that you do not introduce yourself during the reading, but wait until the discussion portion of the meeting to do so.
6. When the reading is finished, our speaker, (name of speaker), will share on the step. After the speaker has finished, those who have completed the process and are therefore qualified to share, can indicate their willingness to share by raising their hand and unmuting themselves. They will share for 5 minutes or less. This is a 90-minute meeting.
7. When reading is finished, announce: I have asked (or he/she has volunteered) __(name of speaker) to speak on this step.
(speaker shares for 20 minutes)
(read this once the speaker has finished sharing)
8. If you are new to this meeting please listen carefully. This type of meeting is highly structured. In order to speak at this meeting you must have completed a Fourth Step as it is laid out in the book Alcoholics Anonymous with the help of a qualified Step Study sponsor and currently be practicing steps 9, 10, 11, and 12. If you haven't done the steps this way or are not sure, please pass and check with the chairperson after the meeting.If you have done these steps as they are laid out in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, please share your experience with us. If you haven't, we ask that you be open minded enough to listen. If you have a question pertaining to this step, please feel free to ask someone after the meeting. Group conscience has voted a five-minute limit on individual comments.
9. Chairperson calls on members who are willing to share. Stop discussion at 10 minutes before the end of the meeting so that those who haven't shared introduce themselves.
10. We will not be taking a seventh tradition collection while we are meeting virtually, so please be generous when we return to face-to-face meetings.
11. Ask “Are there are any Announcements”.
12. Would those who have completed the process as it is laid out in the book, Alcoholics Anonymous with the help of a qualified Step Study sponsor and who are willing to sponsor others through the Twelve Steps please raise your hands. Those willing to sponsor, please use the chat button to share your contact information.13. I need a volunteer (or select someone) to read “A Vision for You”.
14. For those who wish, please unmute yourself and join me in closing with The Lord's Prayer.
Close the meeting with Trust God, Clean House, and Help others.
A Vision For You
A Vision For You
(From pages 162-163, and 164)
Thus we grow. And so can you, though you be but one man with this book in your hand. We believe and hope it contains all you will need to begin.
We know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself: “I’m jittery and alone. I couldn’t do that.” But you can. You forget that you have just now tapped a source of power much greater than yourself. To duplicate, with such backing, what you have accomplished is only a matter of willingness, patience and labor.
Still you may say: “But I will not have the benefit of contact with you who write this book.” We cannot be sure. God will determine that, so you must remember that your real reliance is always upon Him. He will show you how to create the fellowship you crave.
Our book is meant to be suggestive only. We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order. But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the great fact for us.
Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.
May God bless you and keep you—until then. (group recites in unison)