Pagekeeper

Looking for ideas for different meeting formats with the exception of big book study, 12 x 12 study, and As Bill Sees It meeting because my homegroup already has those meetings and I'm trying to find a new format to replace an open discussion.

Any ideas? And if possible, can you go into detail?

Thanks in advance.

pinetree

I like a topic discussion. It keeps the meeting focused. Good luck on your new meeting. That is exciting.:rotfxko

CarolD

Sorry.....I don't know

My home group has 19 weekly meetings
17 are open discussion ..topics from 5
resources agreed on years ago by GC.

Good Luck....hope others will be more helful ..

Taking5

I've heard of, but never been to, a Grapevine meeting.

tomvlll

My HG meets every day but Sunday,
M-f ,the meetings are literature baseed. We read sequentially through the literature< except Wed's> , leader then shares e,s&h..usually 5 minutes . Then metting is open for sharing.
Mon.- Steps meeting using the 12&12. First Monday- Traditions and concepts.
Tuesday- Big Book
Wed.- Leaders choice-has to be AA material, almost always the Grapevine.
Thurs.-Came to Believe.
Fri.- Living Sober


Sat. is open speaker. We bring speakers from a group in and then take an outgoing committment at that group.

Pagekeeper

Thanks everyone!

Tom, what is a Came to Believe meeting like? I'm assuming Living Sober uses the LS book?

Ceres

A women's meeting? :-)

Ceres

But then you'd need a mens only meeting too. To be fair and all

Or, a beginners meeting that goes step 1-3 (step one one week, two the next, three the third - Loop)

Taking5

I'm pretty sure a Came to Believe meeting uses the AAWS authorized book "Came to Believe".

Pagekeeper

Thanks for the ideas!

keithj

Sounds like you got some good ideas, PK. I've found two things that make or break a good meeting. One is the format, and the other is how well the chair keeps the meeting focused.

Two meetings I go to regularly use a paragraph or page selected randomly or by the chair in the BB as the topic. It's not a study, per se, just shared experience about the read concept or idea. These meetings work beautifully if the chair keeps the sharing focused on that. The problem with this format is, someone with no experience out of the book has nothing to share. They get uncomfortable because everyone is talking about the solution, and they have nothing to offer. So they gravitate somewhere else.

I recently went to a couple meetings I rarely visit. They were both discussion format (one topic, one open) with no direction from the chairperson. While an AA meeting in name, neither contained any AA. What they really were, was one chronic relapser after another sharing about how wonderful their life is now, and how this time is different, and how grateful they are. These shares were interspersed with miserable old-timers who complained about their lives and said 'but thank god I didn't have to drink over it.' I thought of the newcomer who leaves that meeting week after week without ever hearing the message of AA.

The most sordid places. Part of the problem is the format. That format invites everyone to share about whatever they want. And part of the problem is the chairperson not directing the meeting on topic by having selected people share who know the solution to alcoholism.

Pagekeeper

Hey Keith, thanks! Funny you mention it because I've been thinking about a meeting like the one you just described: the chair picks a sentence or paragraph from the BB, shares their experience, and opens it up for discussion. I like that idea a lot, although I agree the chair will need to keep it focused.

KenL

The Alano Club I've been going to has the following meeting formats; Step, 12x12, Women, Big Book, Principle, As Bill Sees It, Feelings, Speaker and Topic. I've just attended step meetings and speaker meetings so far.

CStyle

Old timers meetings are always fun - basically you have an old timer (30+ years in my area) that is the speaker.

Just a general speaker meeting, our local speaker meeting has these minimum requirements - more than 8 years sober, must have a home group and a sponsor.

Candlelight meeting

Ask it basket meeting - have everyone in the room write down a question on a slip of paper, put it in a basket and then the chair person draws the slips and people share their e/s/h about the topic.

people have also listed many other good ideas.

tomvlll

We read a passage from " Came to Believe".
Leader shares, based on the reading.
Meeting is then open for sharing.

tomvlll

Yeah . Or thinking the program of AA is coming to a meeting and honestly telling everybody what your problems are. ( because it's a program of rigorous honesty, right?).

AKA , Group therapy.

Taking5

I don't consider women's, men's or gay/lesbian to be a "meeting format". It just describes who is welcome or not welcome. Even worse are AA meetings that only Doctors, Lawyers, Cops or other "professionals" go to (I have heard these exist).

These meetings kinda missed the whole 3rd tradition thing somewhere.

Tommyh

my home group has 2 speaker meetings a week plus a 12x12 and a big book study

barb dwyer

I like Grapevine Meetings.