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Tuesday Night Meeting Format
Tuesday Night ACOA/DF Meeting
Format
To the chairperson: The meeting runs from
7:30 to 9:00pm. At about 8:50 ask for
burning desires and start wrapping it up.
"Hi everybody. My
name is ___ and I am a recovering ___ (adult
child, codependent, etc.). This is an Adult
Children of Alcoholics and other Dysfunctional
Families meeting. Let's open the meeting with a
moment of silence followed by the Serenity
Prayer.
"Adult Children of Alcoholics and other
Dysfunctional Families is a fellowship of men
and women with the common bond of having been
raised in a dysfunctional environment, usually
where addiction was present. We meet to share
our experience of growing up in a dysfunctional
home — the way it affected us then, the coping
strategies we developed to survive living in it
and the ways in which these learned patterns,
called codependency, affect our lives today.
"By practicing the Twelve Steps and coming to
meetings on a regular basis, we find freedom
from the bondage of old scripts. In ACoA/DF
meetings we find the safety and love to
experience what we never allowed ourselves to
feel or express before. We trust the people in
the meetings to respect our feelings and treat
what we say as confidential. The only
requirement for membership is that one
identifies with
'The Problem.' ACoA/DF is not allied with
any sect, denomination, political entity or
institution; does not engage in any controversy;
neither endorses nor opposes any cause.
"In this meeting we want to feel safe to
share what is in our minds and hearts, so in our
discussion groups we ask that you do not
crosstalk — which means that we do not interrupt
or make comments about other people's
statements. We do this for two reasons; FIRST:
When we were growing up no one listened to us;
they told us our feelings were wrong. SECOND: As
adult children we are accustomed to taking care
of other people and not taking responsibility
for our own lives. In this meeting we speak
about our own experience and feelings. We accept
without comment what others say because it is
true for them. We work toward taking
responsibility for our own lives, rather than
giving advice to others.
Ask someone to give a definition of
anonymity.
FOR NEWCOMERS (IF PRESENT)
"I'd like to welcome any newcomers and visitors
and ask you to tell us your first names again.
(Lead applause for each.) Once you have made it
through these doors you do not have to feel as
if you are the only one who has had the
experiences, feelings, pain, depression, fear,
and other problems. We welcome you and invite
you to keep coming back. Any newcomer who can
handle what comes up at six meetings without
retreating into denial has begun an irreversible
process of recovery. Everything in that person's
life can become a part of the recovery process
despite how chaotic it may look or feel.
"We encourage you to express these feelings
as you go through the recovery process.
Sometimes we find these meetings disturbing as
we get in touch with emotions we have denied
ourselves until now. We may feel fear, or anger,
or unexpressed love or any other human emotion.
Sometimes we feel we belong, and at other times
we feel alone and afraid. When we cry even tears
from unknown sources are fully accepted here.
Sometimes we laugh when we hear stories that
parallel our own lives, knowing at last that we
are not alone.
Have someone read the
Twelve Steps.
Have someone read
"Co-dependency - A Definition"
"Do we have any announcements?"
"A business meeting for this group is held on
the first Tuesday of the month at 7:15 p.m.
Anyone who considers this their home ACoA/DF
group is urged to participate."
"We have a large selection of books for sale,
free literature and an audio tape lending
library."
"Let's go around the room and introduce
ourselves by first names only."
"Would somebody like to read from tonight's
meditation?" (from The Language of Letting
Go, by Melody Beattie)
Ask someone to read
The Laundry List. (Optional. Sometimes too
much reading hurts the flow of a meeting.)
SHARING & DISCUSSION. . . (until
about 8:50pm)
"No topics are off limits. The only guideline is
that each speaker keep the focus on
him/herself."
7TH TRADITION
"Our
Seventh Tradition states that every ACA
Family Group ought to be fully self-supporting,
declining outside contributions. We have no dues
or fees but we do have expenses such as rent. We
are passing a hat. It is customary for newcomers
not to contribute if this is their first
meeting.
THE CLOSING
"In closing, I would like to say that the
opinions expressed here were strictly those of
the people who gave them. Take what you like and
leave the rest. Anonymity is the cornerstone of
our groups. The things you heard were spoken in
confidence and must be treated as confidential.
Keep them within the walls of this room and the
confines of your mind.
"I put my hands in yours and together we can
do what I could never do alone. I no longer feel
a sense of hopelessness. I no longer depend upon
my unsteady willpower. I reach out my hands for
power and strength greater than my own, and as
we join hands, I find love and understanding
beyond my wildest dreams. Welcome home and keep
coming back.
"We close our meetings with the Lord's Prayer
followed by the singing of
The Greatest Love of All". |
