Got asked to be discussion leader (first time!)
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,635
Got asked to be discussion leader (first time!)
It is not until May 13, but wow, I am honored and scared at the same time.
I am such a dork that I have a book called 100 meeting starters and I already have had a topic picked out: Self Honesty.
What was your first discussion topic, were you nervous, how did it go, and do you have any pointers?
Thanks!!!
Oh, it is a newcomers meeting if that makes a difference. Is self honesty a bad topic for newcomers?
I am such a dork that I have a book called 100 meeting starters and I already have had a topic picked out: Self Honesty.
What was your first discussion topic, were you nervous, how did it go, and do you have any pointers?
Thanks!!!
Oh, it is a newcomers meeting if that makes a difference. Is self honesty a bad topic for newcomers?
~sb
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: MD
Posts: 15,974
It's hard not to think about that day now, but if you attempt to live in the moment and realize that the 13th isn't here yet......
relax
I ask my higher power to give me the words (and topic) that someone needs to hear before I talk
I often start with 3 seconds of silence and ask everyone to ask their higher power to join us
3 seconds is all we have when we are agitated or in doubt and that is how long it takes to ask our higher power for help in any situation
How's your today going, Elisabeth?
relax
I ask my higher power to give me the words (and topic) that someone needs to hear before I talk
I often start with 3 seconds of silence and ask everyone to ask their higher power to join us
3 seconds is all we have when we are agitated or in doubt and that is how long it takes to ask our higher power for help in any situation
How's your today going, Elisabeth?
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
my first time leading a meeting..now THAT was funny!!
was asked a few days ahead iffen i could do it. only about 2 months sober and they want me to chair a meeting? i said "sure" right off. then that fear crept in."will i screw up? what will i say? how do i chair? whats gonna be the topic???"got all worked up about it. kept the courage." how bad can it be?"
the night came. went to meeting location and set up for the meeting.
that table was loooooooooong fromt he end!!!
the meeting usually had 20-30 poeple.
2 showed up.
was asked a few days ahead iffen i could do it. only about 2 months sober and they want me to chair a meeting? i said "sure" right off. then that fear crept in."will i screw up? what will i say? how do i chair? whats gonna be the topic???"got all worked up about it. kept the courage." how bad can it be?"
the night came. went to meeting location and set up for the meeting.
that table was loooooooooong fromt he end!!!
the meeting usually had 20-30 poeple.
2 showed up.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: northern michigan. not the U.P.
Posts: 15,281
Originally Posted by LonerMan 
My first topic was the "Benefits of the 13th Step".
They didn't ask me to lead again until I hit a year.
They didn't ask me to lead again until I hit a year.
Guest
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,452
I remember leading a meeting and there was an upset newcomer that had shared...
At the Lord's prayer, we all held hands, and I told the newcomer that I was glad he was there and that I loved him.
My sponsor told me it's probably not the best idea to tell a strange man that I loved him.
LOL
~
100 Meeting Starters...is that Mel B's book?
He is a wonderful man. I found him and called him after reading his biography on Ebby.
I love his Walk In Dry Places book also.
Mel is in Ohio, over 60 years sober in AA!!!
How is that for a testimony that it works!
Send him an email at his site, and ask him...I bet he would love to hear you are using his meeting starter book, and he might even have a suggestion or two!
Link to Mel:
Article Index
At the Lord's prayer, we all held hands, and I told the newcomer that I was glad he was there and that I loved him.
My sponsor told me it's probably not the best idea to tell a strange man that I loved him.
LOL
~
100 Meeting Starters...is that Mel B's book?
He is a wonderful man. I found him and called him after reading his biography on Ebby.
I love his Walk In Dry Places book also.
Mel is in Ohio, over 60 years sober in AA!!!
How is that for a testimony that it works!
Send him an email at his site, and ask him...I bet he would love to hear you are using his meeting starter book, and he might even have a suggestion or two!
Link to Mel:
Article Index
Fellow Traveler and Seeker
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 2,408
Great to hear Elizabeth! you'll be fine. Don't over prepare - let the Spirit guide you - you'll have the words.
We have about 550 meetings a week here, but the type where someone leads for 15-20 min with a topic, and then everyone shares on it...maybe 3-4 of those out of the 550. We have either speaker meetings or closed discussion which is always out of the literature. So it's not a common thing here. I have spoken several times, and it's always a blast. Nervous, yup, but once you get speaking, it just comes to you.
Great to hear and thanks for sharing that
Paul
We have about 550 meetings a week here, but the type where someone leads for 15-20 min with a topic, and then everyone shares on it...maybe 3-4 of those out of the 550. We have either speaker meetings or closed discussion which is always out of the literature. So it's not a common thing here. I have spoken several times, and it's always a blast. Nervous, yup, but once you get speaking, it just comes to you.
Great to hear and thanks for sharing that
Paul
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