FROM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - CHAPTER 5

Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path.  Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.  There are such unfortunates.  They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way.  They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty.  Their chances are less than average.  There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now.  If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it – then you are ready to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked.  We thought we could find an easier, softer way.  But we could not.  With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start.  Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Remember that we deal with alcohol – cunning, baffling, powerful!  Without help it is too much for us.  But there is One who has all power – that One is God.  May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing.  We stood at the turning point.  We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

1. 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.

1. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

1. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

1. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

1. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

1. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

1. 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

1. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

1. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

1. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

1. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

1. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Many of us exclaimed, “What an order!  I can’t go through with it.”  Do not be discouraged.  No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles.  We are not saints.  The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.  The principles we have set down are guides to progress.  We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

(a) That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives.

(b) That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism.

(c) That God could and would if He were sought.

Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, pp. 58-60, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

(SHORT FORM)

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Copyright  1952, 1953, 1981 by A.A. Grapevine, Inc. and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing
(now known as Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)
All rights reserved.

FROM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - CHAPTER 3

Most of us have been unwilling to admit we were real alcoholics.  No person likes to think he is bodily and mentally different from his fellows.  Therefore, it is not surprising that our drinking careers have been characterized by countless vain attempts to prove we could drink like other people.  The idea that somehow, someday, he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker.  The persistence of this illusion is astonishing.  Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.

We learned that we had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholics.  This is the first step in recovery.  The delusion that we are like other people, or presently may be, has to be smashed.

We alcoholics are men and women who have lost the ability to control our drinking.  We know that no real alcoholic ever recovers control.  All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals – usually brief – were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.  We are convinced to a man that alcoholics of our type are in the grip of a progressive illness.  Over any considerable period we get worse, never better.

We are like men who have lost their legs; they never grow new ones.  Neither does there appear to be any kind of treatment which will make alcoholics of our kind like other men.  We have tried every imaginable remedy.  In some instances there has been brief recovery, followed always by a still worse relapse.  Physicians who are familiar with alcoholism agree there is no such thing as making a normal drinker out of an alcoholic.  Science may one day accomplish this, but it hasn’t done so yet.

Despite all we can say, many who are real alcoholics are not going to believe they are in that class.  By every form of self-deception and experimentation, they will try to prove themselves exceptions to the rule, therefore nonalcoholic.  If any one who is showing inability to control his drinking can do the right-about-face and drink like a gentleman, our hats are off to him.  Heaven knows, we have tried hard enough and long enough to drink like other people!

Here are some of the methods we have tried:  Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums – we could increase the list ad infinitum.

Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, pp. 30-31, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

FROM ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - CHAPTER 6

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through. 

• We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. 

• We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. 

• We will comprehend the word serenity, and we will know peace. 

• No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. 

• That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. 

• We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. 

• Self-seeking will slip away. 

• Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. 

• Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us. 

• We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us. 

• We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves. 

Are these extravagant promises?

We think not.

They are being fulfilled among us – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.

They will always materialize if we work for them.

Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition, pp. 83-84, with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Keep us, O God, from pettiness;

let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. 

Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking. 

May we put away all pretense and meet each other face to face, without self pity and without prejudice. 

May we never be hasty in judgment, and always generous. 

Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene and gentle. 

Teach us to put into action our better impulses, straightforward and unafraid. 

Grant that we may realize it is the little things that create differences, that in the big things of life, we are as one.

And, O Lord God, let us not forget to be kind!

"A Club Collect for Women", Mary Stewart, April 1904

Mary Stewart was the principal of Longmont High School in Colorado and an active member of a women's club. She wrote this prayer as an opening prayer for her women's club meetings. In 1920, the General Federation of Women's Clubs for the U.S. and Canada published it. From 1949, it was used as a closing prayer for sessions of the United States Senate. Many organizations including Alcoholics Anonymous groups have adopted the prayer over the years. North Hall recites this prayer before Group Conscience and other meetings.

BEFORE MEETING BEGINS:  

1. Locate “In Meeting Announcements” at the bottom of this page.  You can assign a member to read the In Meeting Announcements if you like.

2. Ask participants to assist with the appropriate readings for your meeting.  While chatting before the meeting begins, state: “I need volunteers to read the following items during the meeting" and request readers for the ones that are appropriate for your meeting. The readings can be found at the top of this web page or in the Big Book.

Who would like to read “How It Works", a portion of chapter 5, starting on page 58 of the Big Book, going thru the 3 concepts on page 60?  

Who would like to read the 12 Traditions on page 562 of the Big Book?

Who would like to read “More About Alcoholism”, a portion of chapter 3 on pages 30 and 31 of the Big Book?
(This is read only if we have newcomers.)

In some meetings: Who would like to read the Promises, starting on the bottom of page 83 of the Big Book?)

(optional) Who would like to read the In Meeting Announcements?

BEGIN MEETING:

Good morning/afternoon/evening.  Welcome to the ____________________ online meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Please mute your microphone unless you are speaking, to ensure that the audio quality is good for everyone.

If a meeting is disrupted, it is easier for the host to identify the problem people if everyone else mutes and stays quiet while it is sorted out.  

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please stay online after the meeting.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Five, “How It Works”, from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions.

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT:  

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, “More About Alcoholism”.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

The 7th Tradition states, “Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”  Our Host will now put info into the chat about contributing to North Hall by CashApp or by sending a check.  

Please note that there is a public and private chat built into your zoom account. If you would like to welcome newcomers and other attendees there, we encourage you to do so.

If you are in need of a temporary sponsor, links to access AA literature or a phone list please send your request to the newcomers email address in the chat and we will respond directly to you.

A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AAs 12 steps and 12 traditions. If you are willing to be a sponsor or temporary sponsor please raise your hand. If you are in need of a sponsor we encourage you to reach out in private chat to an available person and ask for sponsorship.

(Secretary or assigned person reads In Meeting Announcements from the bottom of this page.)

We will reserve the last 5 minutes of the meeting for newcomers to share on the topic or anything they want to share about.

I have asked ______________ to Chair our meeting today.

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE END OF MEETING: 

We are nearing the close of our meeting.  After the meeting, newcomers should feel free to hang around for a little while to ask questions and chat with folks.  Let's use these last five minutes for our newcomers to share on our topic.   Would any of our newcomers that haven't shared in our meeting like to share?

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

Good evening (afternoon).  Welcome to the ______________ meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

AT OPEN MEETINGS: This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, especially newcomers, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS: Welcome. We are glad you are here. If you would like more information, please see me after the meeting. 

READ AT ALL MEETINGS: Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of ________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

READ AT ALL MEETINGS: Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ___________ to read portion of Chapter Five, "How It Works", from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I have asked  ____________  to read our Twelve Traditions.

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT: I have asked ____________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, "More About Alcoholism".

Our Junior Secretary will now conduct our 7th Tradition with a basket on a stick.

JUNIOR SECRETARY READS THE FOLLOWING: In keeping with AA’s 7th Tradition, please take a moment to consider the impact North Hall has had on your life and make a generous contribution as I pass the net. Your contributions directly help keep our doors open for all those suffering from the disease of alcoholism. All money collected goes to paying rent, utilities and other expenses. A donation of $2 or more can help North Hall meet expenses and fulfill our shared responsibility to help carry the message of AA inside and outside this room.  You can also contribute  to North Hall with an electronic donation via CashApp, our handle is “North Hall”.  

(The Secretary will read announcements at the bottom of this page while the 7th is collected.) 

Are there any A.A. related announcements from the floor? 

I have asked    ____________________    to Chair our meeting today.

SECRETARY READS CALL FOR AVAILABLE SPONSORS AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING: A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AA’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, who provides guidance to another alcoholic through the sharing of their experience, strength and hope. If you are available to sponsor, please raise your hand.

If you will all join hands around the room, we will now close in the usual fashion with the Serenity Prayer. 

BEFORE MEETING BEGINS:  

1. Locate “In Meeting Announcements” at the bottom of this page.  You can assign a member to read the In Meeting Announcements if you like.

2. Ask participants to assist with the appropriate readings for your meeting.  While chatting before the meeting begins, state: “I need volunteers to read the following items during the meeting" and request readers for the ones that are appropriate for your meeting. The readings can be found at the top of this web page or in the Big Book.

Who would like to read “How It Works", a portion of chapter 5, starting on page 58 of the Big Book, going thru the 3 concepts on page 60?  

Who would like to read the 12 Traditions on page 562 of the Big Book?

Who would like to read “More About Alcoholism”, a portion of chapter 3 on pages 30 and 31 of the Big Book?
(This is read only if we have newcomers.)

(optional) Who would like to read the In Meeting Announcements?

BEGIN MEETING:

Good evening (afternoon/morning).  Welcome to the ____________________ online meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Please mute your microphone unless you are speaking, to ensure that the audio quality is good for everyone.

If a meeting is disrupted, it is easier for the host to identify the problem people if everyone else mutes and stays quiet while it is sorted out.  

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please stay online after the meeting.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Five, “How It Works”, from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions.

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT:  

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, “More About Alcoholism”.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

The 7th Tradition states, “Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”  Our Host will now put info into the chat about contributing to North Hall by CashApp or by sending a check.  

Please note that there is a public and private chat built into your zoom account. If you would like to welcome newcomers and other attendees there, we encourage you to do so.

If you are in need of a temporary sponsor, links to access AA literature or a phone list please send your request to the newcomers email address in the chat and we will respond directly to you.

A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AAs 12 steps and 12 traditions. If you are willing to be a sponsor or temporary sponsor please raise your hand. If you are in need of a sponsor we encourage you to reach out in private chat to an available person and ask for sponsorship.

(Secretary or assigned person reads In Meeting Announcements from the bottom of this page.)

We will reserve the last 5 minutes of the meeting for newcomers to share on the topic or anything they want to share about.

We ask our chairperson to read the current chapter in the book Living Sober.  When we finish the reading, our chairperson will share their experience, strength and hope concerning the current chapter.  We will allow a few minutes at the end of the meeting for the Promises.  At this time, I would like to introduce ___________________ as our chairperson. 

(Chairperson must have at least one year of sobriety.)

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE END OF MEETING: 

We are nearing the close of our meeting.  After the meeting, newcomers should feel free to hang around for a little while to ask questions and chat with folks.  Let's use these last five minutes for our newcomers to share on our topic.   Would any of our newcomers that haven't shared in our meeting like to share?

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

BEGIN MEETING:

Good evening (afternoon/morning).  Welcome to the ____________________ online meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please see me after the meeting.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Five, “How It Works”, from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions.

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT:  

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, “More About Alcoholism”.

AT ALL MEETINGS: Our Junior Secretary will now conduct our 7th Tradition with a basket on a stick.

JUNIOR SECRETARY READS THE FOLLOWING: In keeping with AA’s 7th Tradition, please take a moment to consider the impact North Hall has had on your life and make a generous contribution as I pass the net. Your contributions directly help keep our doors open for all those suffering from the disease of alcoholism. All money collected goes to paying rent, utilities and other expenses. A donation of $2 or more can help North Hall meet expenses and fulfill our shared responsibility to help carry the message of AA inside and outside this room.  You can also contribute  to North Hall with an electronic donation via CashApp, our handle is “North Hall”. 

We will reserve the last 5 minutes of the meeting for newcomers to share on the topic or anything they want to share about.

We ask our chairperson to read the current chapter in the book Living Sober.  When we finish the reading, our chairperson will share their experience, strength and hope concerning the current chapter.  We will allow a few minutes at the end of the meeting for the Promises.  At this time, I would like to introduce ___________________ as our chairperson. 

(Chairperson must have at least one year of sobriety.)

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE END OF MEETING: 

We are nearing the close of our meeting.  After the meeting, newcomers should feel free to hang around for a little while to ask questions and chat with folks.  Let's use these last five minutes for our newcomers to share on our topic.   Would any of our newcomers that haven't shared in our meeting like to share?

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

BEGIN MEETING:

Good evening (afternoon/morning).  Welcome to the ____________________  meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please see me after the meeting.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Steps.

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

The Jr Secretary will now conduct the 7th tradition

JUNIOR SECRETARY READS THE FOLLOWING: In keeping with AA’s 7th Tradition, please take a moment to consider the impact North Hall has had on your life and make a generous contribution as I pass the net. Your contributions directly help keep our doors open for all those suffering from the disease of alcoholism. All money collected goes to paying rent, utilities and other expenses. A donation of $2 or more can help North Hall meet expenses and fulfill our shared responsibility to help carry the message of AA inside and outside this room.  You can also contribute  to North Hall with an electronic donation via CashApp, our handle is “North Hall”. .  

Read Meeting announcements (located in meeting binder)

We will reserve the last 5 minutes of the meeting for newcomers to share on the topic or anything they want to share about.

(The Chair will lead the Group in the reading of the Steps or Traditions. It is recommended that one be done each meeting.  When discussing the Traditions, it is permissible to do two per meeting, particularly for the short Traditions.  Each person will be asked to read approximately one paragraph.  If someone does not have a book from which to read, they should just say “pass”.  After the full reading(s), the Chair will then share his/her experience in relation to the topic(s) and lead discussion from the Group.)

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE END OF MEETING: 

We are nearing the close of our meeting.  After the meeting, newcomers should feel free to hang around for a little while to ask questions and chat with folks.  Let's use these last five minutes for our newcomers to share on our topic.   Would any of our newcomers that haven't shared in our meeting like to share?

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

(First portion of the meeting is conducted by the regularly elected meeting secretary.) 

Good evening (afternoon/morning).  Welcome to the ____________________ online meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please see me after the meeting

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Five, “How It Works”, from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. (Person selected will read from the podium) 

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions. (Person selected will read from the podium) 

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT:  

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, “More About Alcoholism”. (Person selected will read from the podium) 

AT ALL MEETINGS:

The Jr Secretary will now conduct the 7th tradition

JUNIOR SECRETARY READS THE FOLLOWING: In keeping with AA’s 7th Tradition, please take a moment to consider the impact North Hall has had on your life and make a generous contribution as I pass the net. Your contributions directly help keep our doors open for all those suffering from the disease of alcoholism. All money collected goes to paying rent, utilities and other expenses. A donation of $2 or more can help North Hall meet expenses and fulfill our shared responsibility to help carry the message of AA inside and outside this room.  You can also contribute  to North Hall with an electronic donation via CashApp, our handle is “North Hall”. .  

Read Meeting announcements (located in meeting binder)

The format for this speaker meeting will be one twenty-minute speaker and one forty-minute speaker with a ten-minute break between speakers.  After the break, we ask that you reconvene as quickly and quietly as possible so as to afford the second speaker our complete attention.  We will start the second half of the meeting with the Serenity Prayer.

At this time, I would like to introduce our first speaker for this evening, ______________________

AFTER THE FIRST SPEAKER SPEAKS, THERE IS A TEN-MINUTE BREAK.  THE CHAIR WILL THEN RECONVENE THE MEETING WITH THE SERENITY PRAYER:

God, grant me 

the serenity to accept 

the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can, 

and the wisdom to know the difference.

I would like to introduce our second speaker for this evening, ______________________

SECRETARY READS CALL FOR AVAILABLE SPONSORS AT THE CLOSE OF THE MEETING: A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AA’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, who provides guidance to another alcoholic through the sharing of their experience, strength and hope. If you are available to sponsor, please raise your hand.

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

BEFORE MEETING BEGINS:  

1. Locate “In Meeting Announcements” at the bottom of this page.  You can assign a member to read the In Meeting Announcements if you like.

2. Ask participants to assist with the appropriate readings for your meeting.  While chatting before the meeting begins, state: “I need volunteers to read the following items during the meeting" and request readers for the ones that are appropriate for your meeting. The readings can be found at the top of this web page or in the Big Book.

Who would like to read “How It Works", a portion of chapter 5, starting on page 58 of the Big Book, going thru the 3 concepts on page 60?  

Who would like to read the 12 Traditions on page 562 of the Big Book?

Who would like to read “More About Alcoholism”, a portion of chapter 3 on pages 30 and 31 of the Big Book?
(This is read only if we have newcomers.)

(optional) Who would like to read the In Meeting Announcements?

BEGIN MEETING:

Good evening (afternoon/morning).  Welcome to the ____________________ online meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Please mute your microphone unless you are speaking, to ensure that the audio quality is good for everyone.

If a meeting is disrupted, it is easier for the host to identify the problem people if everyone else mutes and stays quiet while it is sorted out.  

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our fellowship acknowledges that A.A.’s material reflects the values at the time of its writing. As a group we do not alter the material as it was written. We do recognize and respect our diverse, individual understandings of a Power greater than ourselves and our individual gender identities. We celebrate our diversity. All are welcome here, and all are respected here.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our third tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol.  Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.  

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS:

Welcome.  We are glad you are here.  If you would like to become a member of North Hall or get a list of our meetings – including Book Studies – please stay online after the meeting.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

Are there any members who have completed their first 30, 60, 90 days; six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of _________?

Are there any members here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Five, “How It Works”, from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

I have asked ______________ to read our Twelve Traditions.

READ ONLY IF THERE ARE MEMBERS WITH LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS PRESENT:  

I have asked ______________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, “More About Alcoholism”.

AT ALL MEETINGS:

The 7th Tradition states, “Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”  Our Host will now put info into the chat about contributing to North Hall by CashApp or by sending a check.  

Please note that there is a public and private chat built into your zoom account. If you would like to welcome newcomers and other attendees there, we encourage you to do so.

If you are in need of a temporary sponsor, links to access AA literature or a phone list please send your request to the newcomers email address in the chat and we will respond directly to you.

A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AAs 12 steps and 12 traditions. If you are willing to be a sponsor or temporary sponsor please raise your hand. If you are in need of a sponsor we encourage you to reach out in private chat to an available person and ask for sponsorship.

(Secretary or assigned person reads In Meeting Announcements from the bottom of this page.)

We will reserve the last 5 minutes of the meeting for newcomers to share on the topic or anything they want to share about.

This is a Big Book Study Meeting using the basic Text of Alcoholics Anonymous.  I will start the reading and then I will call on people to each read a paragraph.  If you do not have a book from which to read, simply say “pass”  We will stop for discussion at the end of the paragraph or after a page and a half has been read (at the discretion of the Secretary).  Each person who wants to may share once about what was just read and they may do so during each stop for discussion.  With tact, I will try to limit sharing times to five minutes, so everyone has the opportunity to share.  (The readings and discussion will cover the entire Big Book from the prefaces through the appendices.)

FIVE MINUTES BEFORE END OF MEETING: 

We are nearing the close of our meeting.  After the meeting, newcomers should feel free to hang around for a little while to ask questions and chat with folks.  Let's use these last five minutes for our newcomers to share on our topic.   Would any of our newcomers that haven't shared in our meeting like to share?

END MEETING:

We will now close with the Serenity Prayer.

BEGIN MEETING:

Good evening. Welcome to the Beginners meeting of North Hall Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. My name is _________________, and I am an Alcoholic.

May we have a moment of silence, to do with as you wish, 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 the wisdom to know the difference.

Please silence your mobile phones & electronic devices and refrain from using them for the duration of the meeting

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others 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 to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, we are glad you are here, and in keeping with our Third Tradition, which states that the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking, we ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their problem with alcohol. Non-members are welcome to attend, but we ask that you do not share.

North Hall is a fellowship founded by LGBTQIA+ members of Alcoholics Anonymous. All are welcome here, and all are respected here. We have several meetings every day. See me after the meeting if you would like a list of meetings.

Newcomers & Beginners are essential to A.A.’s health and growth. This is a meeting designed to help you understand many of the things that are done and said in our regular meetings, so that you can feel more comfortable in those meetings. Some of the things we do in this meeting, such as answering specific questions and defining terms, are not done in our regular meetings. Everything any speaker or other member says is their own experience.

In the spirit of Confidentiality, which we call Anonymity, we share only the spirit of the messages we hear in Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings, not the specifics or person we heard it from. It is important for our sobriety that we respect the anonymity of all who are present and we ask that you remember: “Whom you see here, What you hear here, When you leave here, Let it stay here”.

Are there any newcomers, in their first thirty (30) days of sobriety, who would care to introduce themselves by their first names only, in order that we might get to know you better?

Welcome. We are glad you are here. If you would a list of meetings here please see me after the meeting

Is there anyone who has completed their first 30, 60, 90 days: six months or nine months within the last week?

Is there anyone here celebrating an annual birthday for the month of ________?

Is there anyone here from groups outside the Sacramento area who would care to introduce themselves?

Are there any non-A.A. guests?

I have asked ___________ to read a portion of Chapter Three, "More About Alcoholism" from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

That was our dilemma and what brought us to A.A. I will now begin to read the solution to our problem as proposed in Chapter Five, “How it Works.” and we will pass this reading around

I will now begin to read the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous and pass it around

The Jr Secretary will now conduct the 7th tradition

In keeping with AA’s 7th Tradition, please take a moment to consider the impact North Hall has had on your life and make a generous contribution as I pass the net. Your contributions directly help keep our doors open for all those suffering from the disease of alcoholism. All money collected goes to paying rent, utilities and other expenses. A donation of $2 or more can help North Hall meet expenses and fulfill our shared responsibility to help carry the message of AA inside and outside this room.  You can also contribute  to North Hall with an electronic donation via CashApp, our handle is “North Hall”.   

Read Meeting announcements (located in meeting binder)

After our speaker, and the discussion portion of the meeting, we allow a few minutes at the end of the meeting for the Promises & Sponsorship resources. At this time, I would like to introduce ______________ as our chairperson.

I have asked ________ to our Ninth Step Promises

END MEETING:

A sponsor is a person with working knowledge of AA’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, who provides guidance to another alcoholic through the sharing of their experience, strength, and hope. If you are available to sponsor, please raise your hand.

End with Serenity Prayer