HAPPINESS GROUP SCRIPT FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS

LAST EDITED 11/24/2020 (Greg K)

BEGIN READING HERE

• Welcome to the Happiness Group, an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous at the 8111 Club. My name is __________________ and I am an alcoholic.

• We ask that you place your cell phone on silent and no texting if it makes noise. We also request you avoid cross talk and any disruptive behavior to be respectful of the meeting and the person speaking.

• Please join us in a moment of silent meditation followed by the Serenity Prayer.

• Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so 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 AA Membership, we are self-supporting through our own contributions, AA 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.

• “Sobriety – Freedom from alcohol – through the teaching and practice of the Twelve Steps is the sole purpose of an AA group.

• I have asked ________________to read “How It Works” (bottom of page 58 Big Book 4th Edition)

• Thank you and I have also asked ____________ to read the "Twelve Traditions". (page 562 Big Book 4th Edition)

• Is there anyone here attending their first AA meeting ever? If so, would you give us your first name only so we could Welcome You.

• Are there any visitors from other groups or from out of town that would like to be recognized?

• Our seventh tradition states that every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. For safety we gratefully accept Venmo app contributions as well as cash before or after the meetings in the baskets up front. We ask you to contribute a dollar or any amount you can. We take coins too as they do mount up. Thank you for your contributions.

• A few announcements:

  • On the 2^nd Sunday of each month we have our Group Conscience Meeting following the conclusion of the Happiness group meeting. We discuss improvements and other administrative issues. We encourage your participation.

  • On the last Saturday of each month we have a member of our group speaking on their life before and after joining AA. This is also a “Birthday” meeting and we will serve cupcakes after the meeting.

  • Wednesdays we hold a weekly book discussion on Zoom and at the Clubhouse. We hope you'll join us. Please visit the 8111 Happiness Group Website for more info!

  • Are there any other AA related announcements?

• Please confine your sharing to your own experience, strength and hope. So that everyone who wants to share has a chance to do so, we ask that you limit your sharing to 3 to 4 minutes and that you share only once. We recognize we have members with addictions other than alcohol. We would remind you of AA’s singleness of purpose and confine all discussion to problems and solutions related to ALCOHOLISM.

• NOW IT IS TIME TO INTRODUCE THE DISCUSSION LEADER FOR TODAY

• (pass the baskets again toward the end of the discussion)

• Does anybody have a Burning Desire?

• Thanks for a Good Meeting!

• It is now time to offer chips to those celebrating milestones in their sobriety. I’ve asked _______________ to do that.

• Thank you. This group believes that Sponsorship is essential. Would all those willing to sponsor others please raise your hand. If you are looking for a sponsor or would like to learn more about sponsorship please see one of these folks or myself after the meeting.

• The literature in the rack is free and the literature in the cabinet in the lobby is for sale. Please raise your hand if you have a key to the literature cabinet in the lobby.

• Would all the members of this home group please raise your hand. If any of you would like to be a member of this home group, please see one of these people after the meeting.

• Finally, I’ve asked ________________ to read the 9^th Step Promises.

• Thank you. Our 12^th Tradition reminds us that anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principals before personalities. In part that means that I have the right to say I am an alcoholic and I was here, but does not give me the right to say you are an alcoholic and I saw you here. Please respect personal anonymity. All those who will, please join us in closing with the Lord’s Prayer.

• ________________ will you take us out? (Optional)