Came across this today on the way to looking up something else.

Seems like a pretty good description.

June 13, 2011

By: Kris Best

Ever wonder what goes on at your local AA meeting? Yes, thats Alcoholics Anonymous which has been in effect since the 1930s. Actually, it was Bill W.s wife which really had the break thru in the realization that only drunks could understand other drunks. You see, Bill W. was hell bent on helping other alcoholics cure their alcoholism. He relentlessly pursued the alcoholic and attempted to help them. His offer was spurned again and again and when he complained to his wife, this is what she said. Youre wrong; you have helped one alcoholic to stay sober, yourself. Therein, lies the brainchild of AA. The alcoholic when helping other alcoholics manages to stay sober.

Heres the breakdown on what goes on at an AA meeting. All meetings last one hour. In just about every city in the U.S.A. there are AA groups waiting for your attendance. In Lafayette, Louisiana there are meetings held every day of the week just like in other states. In California, there are AA meetings in the middle of the night. On any given day, there are AA meetings several times a day, every day of the week, in many different settings. Some meetings are held in personal residences. Some are held in Churchs, all denominations. Some meetings are held at not for profit homes, or houses designated half-way houses for the alcoholic. Nobody cares about 'status' in AA meetings as they are all the same, with the same problem of Alcoholism. Its first name basis all the way.

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The meetings can be open or closed. Open means that anyone can attend. Closed means that only the alcoholic can attend. The meetings are varied. Some meetings are strictly Big Book Studies. The members painstakingly go thru each chapter, word for word, and share whenever they feel the urge. Some meetings are "Tradition meetings". This is where they share the thoughts, visions and history of AA. Usually, business is discussed at a Tradition meeting.

If a member dies, do we send a $30 gift basket or a $50 gift basket? Is this fair? What if one member contributed more than another member? What if one member was more popular than another member? How will this impact AA in the grand scheme of things?

These are the kind of things discussed in a Tradition meeting. If you need to know whether your member group is following the Traditions set out by AA, attend a Tradition meeting to find out. Some meetings are 12 Step meetings, where each step is went over painstakingly in the room. Each AA member is encouraged to get a Sponsor and work this 12 Step Program one on one. This 12 Step Program is the meat and potatoes behind AA If the AA member is faithful to the AA program and really works his 12 Steps, a transformation will take place. This allows, helps, assists and encourages the member to stay clean and sober.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, coffee is served. In fact, there is a coffee chairperson who keeps the pot brewing at all times. More times than not, food is served. Perhaps there are donuts, or boudin (in Louisiana) or even pork chops and rice. Generosity is encouraged as usually the alcoholic is working on his character defect of selfishness. Everything is free, though a basket is passed around at every meeting. AA is strictly volunteer and accepts only those contributions by the Alcoholic. One dollar is usually placed in the basket.

At the beginning of the meeting a preamble is read, a topic is chosen from the chairperson and for the next forty-five minutes, sharing goes on. Usually a person shares on the topic, but they dont have to. To begin sharing, you state your name and, most importantly, that you are an alcoholic. The alcoholics are encouraged to be rigorously honest with themselves and others. By admitting in meetings that they are indeed an alcoholic gives them an opportunity to remind themselves daily and to be vigorous in warding off the disease of alcoholism.

The meetings are strict but then they are not. The meetings begin promptly, but anyone can arrive late. Usually, the late person is very quiet. In fact, amazingly, everyone is respectful and quiet at an AA meeting. However, at any time, a person is allowed to get up and refill his coffee cup or use the restroom. These little disturbances take place, but they take place quietly. Only one person is allowed to talk at any given moment. No cross-talking is allowed. No one is allowed to interrupt, comment upon or in any way disturb the person who is talking. In fact, sharing is and should be about oneself. The members are asked to limit sharing to three to five minutes; however if someone goes over, usually they let them finish. However, dont be surprised if at the end of the meeting, someone will come up to you and ask that you stick to the guidelines of 3-5 minutes. That is how AA works, by the members keeping each other in line. If you decide to share twice, don't be surprised if at the end of the meeting, a member will approach you and ask you not to "double-dip."

At the end of the meeting, the chairperson will ask, It is time; does anyone have a burning desire to share? If no one volunteers, the meeting ends, usually exactly on time. If someone has a burning desire to share, one more sharing takes place and usually the meeting ends 5 minutes later. In a room of 40 people, usually 10 share and usually the same people talk. The same people talk because sharing makes them feel better. Other people describe that they get the same good feeling when other people share and tell their stories because, I was able to relate to them. Other people say that once they start to feel better and work the program with a sponsor, all of this sharing at meetings lessens. One thing that all members agree upon is this, I feel better after every meeting, so I go. Its about fellowship and recovery, one day at a time, and if you cant do that, one minute at a time. AA works.

http://www.examiner.com/article/aa-meeting-secrets