Tom,about your original post.Yes I have some experience with those meetings.
I have also attended a one day workshop with Wally P hosting and did the steps in one day.Then a friend,Bill and myself returned home and did about 24 of those workshops.They was very good.We had some very inspiring times,especially during the 11th step prayer and meditation time.All total,I have been thru the steps about 25 times that way.I believe the recovery rate at a Minn. group was 93% according to the AA Grapevine.
I have heard some interesting facts about those early beginners meetings,here are a few
higher than usual recovery rate
went thru the steps in one month usually-4 one hour meetings per week
many times they would go back the beginners meetings,as many times as 36 months in a row.
The Little Red Book has a few facts about these meetings,and the book itself was taken from notes from them
Dr Bob approved of them
many groups would not let you into their group untill you had gone thru them,and received a "card" hence you would then be a "card carrying member"