MEETING TYPES
There are many types of meetings, including those specifically geared toward beginners and those featuring speakers, where one sober member shares their experience, strength and hope. Generally, however, our experience indicates that the best meeting to attend is the first one you can get to.
- Open meetings: An open meeting is one that anyone, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, may attend. The only obligation is that they not disclose the names or identities of A.A. members outside the meeting.
- Closed meetings: A closed meeting is for people who themselves have a desire to stop drinking. Closed meetings give members an opportunity to discuss particular phases of their alcoholic problem that can be understood best only by other alcoholics.
- Gender specific meetings: Some meetings may be designated Women Only or Men Only. We ask that all group members respect that people may feel more comfortable in meetings where they are only with members of their gender. Where a meeting is listed as Women Only or Men Only, it is at the Chair's discretion to only allow people they feel meet the gender requirements.
A.A. meetings vary widely by format and intention. We suggest that newcomers attend a variety of meetings to learn more about A.A. and decide if Foothills Group is for them.
- Beginner meetings are intended for people in the first year or so of sobriety, and generally focus on Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the recovery program.
- At discussion meetings, one member shares their experience, strength and hope briefly before opening the meeting for others to share.
- At speaker meetings, one or two people share their story in greater detail, for a longer period of time. Speaker meetings at the Foothills Group are not discussion meetings. Attendees will not be called on to share.
- At birthday meetings, the Foothills Group celebrates all members who had a sobriety anniversary in the past month. Cake and other desserts are served. The meeting chair hands out sobriety coins to the members who are celebrating and they are invited to share a bit of their story.
- Fellowship is not a meeting per-se, but rather an opportunity for members to talk and get to know one another in the time between designated meetings.
Literature meetings are devoted to the study and discussion of the Big Book or other A.A.-approved literature. Literature is available for purchase at the Foothills Group.
- At a Big Book meeting, members will read and discuss a section from the book Alcoholics Anonymous. This publication is commonly referred to as the "Big Book."
- At a 12 & 12 meeting, members will discuss one specific step and/or one specific tradition from the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions book.
- At a Back To Basics meeting, members will discuss one or more of the steps from the book Back To Basics - The Alcoholics Anonymous Beginners' Meetings.
