CHECK-IN MEETINGS SCRIPT – HOST instructions for AA Newcomers Group: It Works If You Work It!
[UPDATED: August 3, 2025 ~ Susan S]
We thank you for being of service. Please arrive at least 10-15 minutes early.
SECURITY:
1. In Security, uncheck options: Shared Screen, Whiteboards, and Unmute Themselves
2. In Participants, check option ‘Mute Upon Entering’
3. Within the chat, (more or “…”), select the option for participants to chat with “Hosts and Co-hosts only.”
Assign Daily Service Positions:
_____________ POA / Proof of Attendance CoHost: receives attendance verification chat messages and, after the meeting, sends them to https://sites.google.com/view/aa-newcomers-group/poa
______________ Chat CoHost: to run the comments/ answer any questions in the chat section, as well as paste meeting information
_____________ Admit/Safety CoHost: Someone screening the participants in the waiting room for any bombers before admitting them into the Main room. This is the ONLY person who admits people into the meeting.
______________ The Closer/Prayer Person: someone who will read the prayers, eliminating duplicate names, and lead the group out in the “we” version of the Serenity Prayer.
Host and CoHosts: are also responsible to watch for, and remove/report visual, audio and Chat bombers.
_____________ (Optional) Co-Chair: Someone to help the host call on people during the sharing portion of the meeting. The co-chair will also be responsible for reading the verbiage in the chat box regarding the safety procedures, which the chat host will post.
______________ (Optional) Security (Video & Audio): to watch for visual and audio bombers.
______________ (Optional) Security (Chat Box): to watch for chat section bombers
Ask for Volunteer Readers:
_______________ How It Works Page 58 - 60 (***THIS GOES TO ONE READER NOW *** (Effective 4-23-24 GC)
_______________ Promises Page 83 - 84
If the volunteer reader is a newcomer, guide them to our literature page for reading: https://sites.google.com/view/aa-newcomers-group/literature
The chair/host will mute all participants. Read the script in black below:
Welcome to the Newcomer’s Zoom meeting. My name is ______, and I am your chair for today. This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. 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 to 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 help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Newcomers, you are the most important people here. Your courage and willingness to achieve sobriety is a powerful reminder to those of us who have been here a little longer that regardless of our yesterdays and tomorrows, each one of us only has today. This meeting is specifically for newcomers as a safe place to discuss what it’s like to be starting in AA.
This is a place to feel calm and not overwhelmed. We were all beginners once also and want you to know that you are no longer alone. Both help and Hope are found here; take it with you when you leave, and please keep coming back.
WE LIKE TO START THE MEETING BY WELCOMING NEWCOMERS AND RECOGNIZING THEIR SOBRIETY.
Is anyone new to AA or in their first 30 days of sobriety who would like to introduce themselves? We do this to get to know you and welcome you. Please raise your virtual hand, and you will be asked to unmute and tell us your first name and length of sobriety if you wish.
PAUSE Anyone 30 to 60 days we could welcome?
PAUSE Anyone 60 to 90 days we could welcome?
PAUSE Anyone 90 days to one year we could welcome?
PAUSE Anyone celebrating a yearly anniversary we could welcome?
To contribute to support this meeting and AA as a whole, please see the chat section where you will find information about AA’s 7th Tradition. Our Venmo account is @aazoomnewcomers
For proof of attendance, please follow this 2-step process. First, you’ll need to message the Proof of Attendance / POA Co-Host directly, _____, once you have logged into the meeting, and second, you’ll need to submit your request to our website by filling out the POA request form. https://sites.google.com/view/aa-newcomers-group/poa
If you feel uncomfortable, or unsafe for any reason during the meeting, please contact one of the Co-Hosts via private chat for assistance. Our Co-Hosts today are _____.
Will _______ read How It Works, please?
On Newcomer Check-in Day, we invite those just starting their sobriety journey to share what it’s like starting in AA, what you are doing to maintain your sobriety, or any obstacles/problems you are experiencing in your recovery. This is YOUR opportunity to share YOUR feelings. AS NEWCOMERS SHARE, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SHARE HOW THE PROGRAM OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS HAS HELPED THEM SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THE EXPERIENCES SHARED BY NEWCOMERS.
If you wish to share in this meeting, you will be asked to turn your video on. This is NOT to embarrass you; it's meant to keep the room safe. If during your share your video is turned off, it is because we are having problems hearing you, and your audio may improve with the video turned off.
Please limit your message to 2 minutes so that everyone has a chance to share. If you have had a drink today, please stay and listen, you are welcome to share in the parking lot after the meeting. As a reminder, we share our experience, strength, and hope. We do share our compassion, identification and support. We do not crosstalk, we define crosstalk as giving advice or critically judging any persons message. We do not name names or call people out in our shares. Use the “raise hand” feature located in the Reactions icon. I [or my co-host, _____,] will call on people in the order that hands are raised. You will be sent a request to unmute yourself and begin sharing. Please re-mute when you are done speaking. Who wants to get us started?
The chat is now open. Please adhere to the guidelines posted in the chat section. If you would like prayers shared at the end of the meeting, please type them in the chat in ALL CAPS. In AA, a sponsor is a more experienced member who guides a newcomer through the 12-Step recovery program, sharing their experience, strength, and hope to help maintain sobriety and promote personal growth. If you are available to sponsor, please indicate your willingness in the chat section. If you are looking for a sponsor, you can connect with these people privately or stay after the meeting.
NEWCOMERS MAY CONTINUE TO SHARE AT ANY TIME.
Please stop sharing 5 minutes before the end of the meeting.
Under security settings, check "unmute themselves."
We have come to the end of our meeting today. Please join us again tomorrow at the same time.
The Newcomers Business meeting is held every month on the fourth Tuesday at 4 pm PST, 7 pm EST. If you are interested in learning about volunteering for service - please come join us!
If you have six months of sobriety and are willing to be a speaker or know anyone, please let the host or any of our co-hosts know so we can schedule you.
Is there anyone doing a lead that we can support? PAUSE
Are there any other AA-related announcements? PAUSE
At this time, will _____ please read the Promises?
If you have time to chat, please stay for an informal conversation in the Parking Lot after the closing prayer. Please be aware of newcomers, be considerate, avoid gossip, and avoid discussing absent people.
IF NOBODY HAS TOLD THEY LOVE YOU TODAY, WE LOVE YOU!
PLEASE KEEP COMING BACK!
_____ (The Closer) will now close the meeting by reading the prayer requests, followed by a moment of silence and the “we” version of the Serenity Prayer.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO STAY, RE-ASSIGN THE HOST ROLE TO ANOTHER CO-HOST TO PREVENT SHUTTING DOWN THE MEETING PREMATURE
[PARKING LOT ANNOUNCEMENT] Welcome to the Parking Lot, the meeting after the meeting. We like to reserve the beginning of this time to anyone new that would like to share and / or ask questions. We do not raise hands, we share the time and allow everyone to participate.
TO BE USED IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES ONLY
********** “We are not licensed crisis intervention specialists and are not qualified in this area. We offer the message of Alcoholics Anonymous.” **********