Does anyone know where I can find a meeting format / preamble for giving out sobriety chips prior to a meeting? I've looked and looked but still haven't found it. I've been asked to do the chips and want to just read it off a sheet.
I do not believe there is anything really written about it--most meetings I have been to, either do it at the beginning or end--group understanding.
At announce time time it is asked if anyone is having a sobriety birthday and would they like to get a token/chip--if so it is passed around and blessed, then giving to the person.
At certain meetings/clubs they only do it on special days/nights--open speaker meetings, dinners, coffee club time etc, etc.
CyNAZ, I think that you're worried about nothing. Everybody does it a little differently so there' no getting it wrong. After introducing yourself, It usually goes "This meeting gives out chips for various lengths of continuous sobriety. If you're celebrating this week, month, year, please come up and get a chip when called. Does anyone have 30 days, 60, 90....," (how ever many months that system has). Then ask "Is there anyone celebrating a year today, this month, anyone with Multiple years, please raise your hand and tell us. Then the most important chip is our white chip, also known as the surrender chip for our newly sober or those coming back, anyone for a white chip? Please see the me after the meeting if I missed you." Don't forget to ask the names of the people that you hand out chips to and announce their name.
Actually the chips are not part of "official" AA, though most groups I have known do provide them. Ask a group member how they have done it in the past. People are very forgiving about things like this.
In our area it's pretty much like Dean mentioned. It's kind of like. "Hi, my name is Tessa. Here at the ____ group we have a wonderful/nice way of celebrating ones recovery by offering chips for sobriety time. The first chip we offer is the white chip. This is the 24 hr chip for anyone who has a simple desire to stop drinking...just for today. OR we announce it as the surrender chip for anyone who'd like to give up the high cost of low living. (I don't really like that one because it seems insulting to me) Then we go to the 30 days, 60, days. 90 days, 6 months. 9 months, 1 year or any # of years OR multiples. The only chip we offer twice is the 24 hr chip for anyone who has a simple desire to stop drinking one day at a time." As we give out the chips we hug the member whether it be male or female. Dousn't matter.
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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. Rheinhold Niebuhr
Also, it usually seems to end with "if you are sober today, give yourself and your higher power a hand." The secretary takes names of those who got chips and congatulates them in the secretary report. There are a million funny different ways I have seen people do the chips. Examples: "This green chip is for 90 days...it is green because that is about how long it takes for the green grass to grow back on the trail from your house to the liquor store." "Blue chip: No more flashing lights" "Pinkchip (my favorite of course) The color is coming back into your skin." You know...but doing it like Tessa said is really the format. Levity is just an option some like and some don't.
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"if you are sober today, give yourself and your higher power a hand."
Oops, I did forget that part!! lol We usually say "If you have today, give yourself & your higher power a hand" We also say "If a slip occurs, a new beginning should be started" after the 2nd offer of the white 24 hr chip. thx
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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. Rheinhold Niebuhr
