A Suggested AA Meeting Format

1. Good Evening ladies and gentlemen. This is the regular meeting of the                      group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is                       and I am an alcoholic.

2. Let us open the meeting with a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer:

   God grant me the serenity

   to accept the things I cannot change;

   courage to change the things I can;

   and wisdom to know the difference.

3. The A. A. Preamble©

   Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

   The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self¬supporting through our own contributions.

   A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes.

   Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

4. Read The Blue Card-F17 (Open/Closed Meeting)

5.                        will now read “How it Works” from Chapter 5 of the A.A. Big Book

   (note: Some groups ask other members to read the Steps and/or Traditions)

6. If it is the custom of the group:

   • Ask any new members to introduce themselves by their first name only–a new member is anyone who has a desire to stop drinking and is within their first thirty days in

   • Ask any visitors to introduce themselves and say where they are from.
     

7. Introduce the Chairperson or Speaker for the evening. If yours is a discussion type meeting, the Secretary conducts the discussion.

8. Thank the Speaker or Chairperson as well as any others who read.

9. Make an announcement about group business, events, availability of literature. Ask for announcements from the floor.

10. Pass the basket(s). The secretary can Read the Self Support Card (Green Card) or say something like:

    We have no dues or fees in A.A. We are entirely self- supporting, declining outside contributions. This self-support includes our rent for this room, the coffee and refreshments, and contributions to our Central Office, the General Service Office and to General Service. The pink can is for loose change to buy literature for Institutions to carry the message to those unable to get to outside meetings.

11. Close the meeting with the Lord’s Prayer, Responsibility Statement or however deemed appropriate through group conscience.

(NOTE: Make every effort to open and close the meeting on time. This format is suggested only)