1. OPENING
Hello, my name is __________________ and I am a compulsive debtor.
Welcome to the Sunday Fresno Meeting of Debtors Anonymous.
2. SERENITY PRAYER
Will you please join me in a moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer?
“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.”
**Please mute your line by pressing *6.
I will ask the dashboard moderator to mute the meeting now.
3. PREAMBLE READ BY SECRETARY OR CHAIRPERSON.
“Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from compulsive debting.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. There are no dues or fees for D.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
D.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 stop incurring unsecured debt.”
4. INTRODUCTIONS & ACTIONS TAKEN
Please introduce yourself by your first name, and if you wish, please state one action that you have taken this week to support your recovery as well as your date for not incurring new unsecured debt.
5. READINGS
Would someone please read:
Compulsive debting is a disease.
We have found that it is a disease that never gets better, only worse, as time goes on. It is a disease, progressive in its nature, which can never be cured but can be arrested.
Before coming to DA, many compulsive debtors thought of themselves as irresponsible, morally weak, or – at time- just plain “no good.” The D.A. concept is that the compulsive debtor is really a very sick person who can recover if he or she will follow, to the best of his or her ability, a simple program that has proved successful for other men and women with a similar problem.
As compulsive debtors, we have fallen into patterns of spending that do not satisfy our real needs. Some of us have chronically held back on paying our bills and debts, even when we had the money to pay them. Or we have faithfully kept up our payments to one or two creditors and neglected the others. Some of us have simply ignored our debts for some time, hoping against hope that somehow they would miraculously get paid.
Some of us have been compulsive spenders, showering ourselves with things we neither needed nor wanted. When we felt needy or lacking, we splurged on something we could not afford. We spent impulsively, incurred debt, felt guilty, promised never to do it again, and only repeated the same cycle the next time the feeling of “not enough” came up. Having overspent, we often had nothing to show for it and wondered where all that money went. Some compulsive spenders are not actually in debt, but they are still welcome in DA. The only requirement for membership is a desire to avoid incurring unsecured debt.
Some of us have been compulsive paupers, leaving ourselves broke time and again, struggling from one financial crisis to the next. Then, there are those of us who find it almost impossible to spend money on ourselves. The TV breaks and stays broken; that pair of shoes, ready for retirement, is made to work yet another year; and even medical and dental problems go unattended.
This disease affected our vision of ourselves and of the world around us. It led us to believe that we were “not enough” -- at home, at work, in social situations, in love relationships. It also led us to believe that there is not enough out there in the world for us. The disease manufactured a sense of impoverishment in all that we did and saw.
In reaction to this, we withdrew into a dream world, fretted over money, and avoided responsibilities.
1. Being unclear about your financial situation. Not knowing account balances, monthly expenses, loan interest rates, fees, fines, or contractual obligations.
2. Frequently "borrowing" items such as books, pens, or small amounts of money from friends and others, and failing to return them.
3. Poor saving habits. Not planning for taxes, retirement or other not-recurring but predictable items, and then feeling surprised when they come due; a "live for today, don't worry about tomorrow" attitude.
4. Compulsive shopping: Being unable to pass up a "good deal"; making impulsive purchases; leaving price tags on clothes so they can be returned; not using items you've purchased.
5. Difficulty in meeting basic financial or personal obligations, and/or an inordinate sense of accomplishment when such obligations are met.
6. A different feeling when buying things on credit than when paying cash, a feeling of being in the club, of being accepted, of being grown up.
7. Living in chaos and drama around money: Using one credit card to pay another; bouncing checks; always having a financial crisis to contend with.
8. A tendency to live on the edge: Living paycheck to paycheck; taking risks with health and car insurance coverage; writing checks hoping money will appear to cover them.
9. Unwarranted inhibition and embarrassment in what should be a normal discussion of money.
10. Overworking or underearning: Working extra hours to earn money to pay creditors; using time inefficiently; taking jobs below your skill and education level.
11. An unwillingness to care for and value yourself: Living in self-imposed deprivation; denying your basic needs in order to pay your creditors.
12. A feeling or hope that someone will take care of you if necessary, so that you won't really get into serious financial trouble, that there will always be someone you can turn to.
Would someone please read:
1. Meetings
We attend meetings at which we can share our experiences, strength and hope with one another. Unless we give to newcomers what we have received from DA, we cannot keep it ourselves.
2. Record Maintenance
We maintain records of our daily income and expenses, of savings and of the retirement of any portions of our outstanding debts.
3. Sponsorship
We have found it essential to our recovery to have a sponsor and to be a sponsor. A sponsor is a recovering debtor who guides us through the Twelve Steps and shares his or her own experience, strength, and recovery.
4. Pressure Relief Groups and Pressure Relief Meetings
After we have gained some familiarity with the DA program, we organize Pressure Relief Groups consisting of ourselves and two other persons from the group who have not incurred new unsecured debt for at least 90 days and who usually have more experience in the program. The group meets in a series of Pressure Relief Meetings to review our financial situation. These meetings typically result in a spending plan and an action plan.
5. Spending Plan
The Pressure Relief Meeting usually results in the formulation of a spending plan (which puts our needs first). The Spending plan gives us clarity and balance in our spending. It includes categories for income, spending, debt payment and savings to help us build cash reserves. The income plan helps us focus on increasing our income. The debt payment category guides us in making realistic payment arrangements without depriving ourselves. Savings can include prudent reserve, retirement and special purchases.
6. Action Plan
With the help of our Pressure Relief Group, we develop a list of specific actions for resolving our debts, improving our financial situation, and achieving our goals without incurring unsecured debt.
7. The Telephone and the Internet
We maintain frequent contact with other DA members by using the telephone, e mail and other forms of communication. We make a point of talking to other DA members before and after taking difficult steps in our recovery.
8. A.A. and DA Literature
We study the literature of Debtors Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous to strengthen our understanding of compulsive disease, and of recovery from compulsive debting. In AA Literature we can identify with many of the situations described therein by substituting the words “compulsive debt” for “alcohol.”
9. Awareness
We maintain awareness of the danger of compulsive debt by taking note of bank, loan company, and credit card advertising and by reading news accounts of its effects. We also remain aware of our personal finances in order to avoid vagueness, which can lead to compulsive debting or spending.
10. Attend Business Meetings
We attend business meetings that are held monthly. Many of us have long harbored feelings that “business” was not a part of our lives, but for “others” more qualified. Yet participation in running our own program teaches us how our organization operates, and also helps us to become responsible for our own recovery.
11. Service
We perform service at every level: personal, meeting, Intergroup and World Service. Service is vital to our recovery. Only through service can we give to others what we have so gratefully received.
12. Anonymity
We practice anonymity, which allows us freedom of expression by assuring us that what we say at meetings or to other DA members at any time will not be repeated.
1. We admitted we were powerless over debt—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive debtors, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon D.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority--a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for D.A. membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or D.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose--to carry its message to the debtor who still suffers.
6. A D.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the D.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every D.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Debtors Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. D.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Debtors Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the D.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
6. NEWCOMER INTRODUCTIONS
At this point, we ask newcomers and out of town members to introduce themselves again by first name only so that they can be specially welcomed.
Please press *6 to unmute
7. A WORD TO NEWCOMERS READ BY SECRETARY OR CHAIRPERSON
“If you are having problems with money and debt and think you may be a compulsive debtor, you have come to the right place and we can help you.
It is suggested that at first you attend at least six meetings over a period of two weeks to have time to identify with the speakers and absorb the D.A. concepts.
If you then think D.A. is for you, you can arrange to have your first pressure relief meeting.”
8. LITERATURE READING [ APPROX 15-20 MINUTES INTO MEETING]
This is a DA literature meeting. We read from DA conference approved literature. We read a paragraph or section and then open the meeting for comment on the reading.
[Check the sign-in sheet on where we last left off on reading]
Please press *6 to unmute
9. INVITATION TO BEGIN SHARING:
To best facilitate sharing, we need a spiritual timekeeper. Who would be willing to do that service? [8+ people = 3 minute shares].
The floor is now open for comment on the reading or anything related to your recovery from debting.
Please press *6 to unmute
10. 7TH TRADITION & ANNOUNCEMENTS [@ 50 MINUTES]
Our 7th Tradition states, “D.A. has no dues or fees. We are self-supporting through our own contributions, so we pass the basket. Please give as generously as you can. However, if you cannot, please keep coming back.”
Announcements
Are there any D.A. related announcements?
Please press *6 to unmute
11. ACTIONS TO TAKE [@ 55 MINUTES]
At this time, let’s go around the room and please state one action you intend to take this week to support your recovery.
Please press *6 to unmute
12. PROMISES READING
In the program of Debtors Anonymous, we come together to share our journey in recovering from compulsive debting. There is hope. In working D.A.’s Twelve Steps, we have developed new ways of living. When we work D.A.’s Twelve Steps and use D.A.’s Tools, we begin to receive these gifts of the
program:
1. Where once we felt despair, we will experience a newfound hope.
2. Clarity will replace vagueness. Confidence and intuition will replace confusion and chaos. We will live engaged lives, make decisions that best meet our needs, and become the people we were meant to be.
3. We will live within our means, yet our means will not define us.
4. We will begin to live a prosperous life, unencumbered by fear, worry, resentment or debt.
5. We will realize that we are enough; we will value ourselves and our contributions.
6. Isolation will give way to fellowship; faith will replace fear.
7. We will recognize that there is enough; our resources will be generous and we will share them with others and with DA.
8. We will cease to compare ourselves to others; jealousy and envy will fade.
9. Acceptance and Gratitude will replace regret, self pity and longing.
10. We will no longer fear the truth; we will move from hiding in denial to living in reality.
11. Honesty will guide our actions towards a rich life filled with meaning and purpose.
12. We will recognize a Power Greater than ourselves as the source of our abundance. We will ask for help and guidance and have faith that they will come.
All this and more is possible. When we work this program with integrity and to the best of our ability, one day at a time, a life of prosperity and serenity will be ours.
13. CLOSING STATEMENT
“The opinions expressed here today are strictly those of the individuals who gave them. The things you have heard here are spoken in confidence and should be treated as confidential.
We do not take outside the meeting what we hear and who we see at the meeting.
If you’ll try to absorb what you have heard, you are bound to gain a better understanding of the way to handle your problems.
Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else; let there be no gossip or criticism of one another, but only Love, Understanding, and Companionship.”
14. CLOSING PRAYER / READING
[See Secretary for sign-in sheet for where we left off]