What we do at our Meetings!

Open Meetings

An open meeting of A.A. is a group meeting that any member of the community, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, may attend. Nonalcoholics may attend as observers. The only obligation is that attendees not disclose the names of A.A. members outside the meeting. A typical open meeting will usually have a “leader” and other speakers. The leader opens the meeting, introduces each speaker, then closes the meeting. The speakers at an open meeting are A.A. members. Each, in turn, may review some individual drinking experiences that led to joining A.A. Speakers may also give their interpretation of the recovery program and suggest what sobriety has meant to them personally. All views expressed are that of the speaker and not of A.A., since members of A.A. speak only for themselves.

Closed Meetings

A closed meeting is for A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking. Closed meetings give members an opportunity to discuss particular phases of their alcoholic problem that may be best understood by other alcoholics. These meetings are usually conducted with maximum informality, and all members are encouraged to participate in the discussion. Closed meetings are of particular value to the newcomer, since they provide an opportunity for beginners to ask questions and to benefit from the experience of members who have been sober for significant periods of time.