Selecting A Meeting Topic

The New Member Picks a Meeting Topic
Will you pick a topic for our meeting?

Although good sponsorship can be a tremendous aid to a strong and successful sobriety, it must include everything possible with respect to being a "good AA citizen," too. As we grow in recovery, our ability to add to an AA group's activities must also grow. One facet of that "good citizenship" centers on the personal development of a sober AA to be an effective part of his group's functions -- in this case, making sure that meetings are accessible and effective.

Redux has mentioned before -- with respect to AA's newest members -- that our meetings are the "tip of the spear." Frightened, confused alcoholics who are attending one of their first AA meetings may be unable to actually use much of what is shared, but those of us who are more experienced know that even a few understandable, important bits of information and hope about AA and sobriety can mean everything at this stage.

This short section of Redux is actually a "pass out" sheet which was adopted by a local group at one of their group conscience meetings. The idea was a response to a realization that the group's normal routine for setting a meeting topic seemed to either intimidate or otherwise exclude some of the newer members from participating in the open discussion.

The standard process for this meeting had been to ask some member to read a few paragraphs from our basic text to set the meeting topic. The difficulty arose with the large number of members who had not attended many meetings or actually read the Big Book yet. They seemed reluctant to participate because they were unfamiliar with the casual protocol of our open discussion meetings or inexperienced with some aspect of the topic which had been chosen.

The change was simple enough. The reading would continue as before, but after the reading, a specific one or two word topic would be presented which recapped the message selected from our written text. Further, the member selecting the topic was encouraged to speak directly to the effect or result the topic might have had on his own sobriety.

The "hand out" topic selection material is included below.

Setting the Topic for Our Meeting 
3 Easy Parts

Thank you for volunteering to select a meeting topic. The general format for this process is in three parts. 

Select a quotation from any approved AA literature. This short reading (usually one or two paragraphs) presents some formal AA subject matter you wish to share with the meeting. 

Summarize your topic with a one or two word recap of the topic you have selected. Some examples of topic recaps are available on the list below. You are encouraged to select a reading and a topic along the same theme or idea, but this is not required. If your topic does not appear on the list, feel free to select any program theme you think will be helpful. Note that each of our Twelve Steps is included in the list -- all great meeting topics, even for our newest members! 

Recount your personal experience with this part of the AA program. Please remember that our meeting is listed as a beginner’s group and direct your comments to ways which can assist newer members to better understand our AA program. 

AA Traditions 

Alcoholic Illusion 

Alcoholic Insanity 

Alcoholic Isolation 

Alcoholic Loneliness 

Alcoholic Thinking 

Alcoholic: Anonymity 

Alcoholic: As the Actor 

Alcoholic: In the Family 

Big Book Prayers 

Big Book Stories 

Carrying the Message - AA Hope 

Daily Inventory 

Disease of Alcoholism 

Dishonest Motives 

Don’t Take It Too Seriously 

Easy Does It 

Effective Spiritual Structure 

Example Inventory 

Fear 

Fear Inventory 

Fellowship 

First Drink - No Mental Defense 

First Things First 

Fit Spiritual Condition 

Fourth Dimension 

Fourth Step Prayer 

God Consciousness 

Good or Dishonest Motives 

Higher Power 

Honesty 

Hopelessness and Hope 

How It Works 

Humility and Humiliation 

Hurt or Threatened 

Life on a Spiritual Basis 

Live and Let Live 

Lying 

Meditation in Sobriety 

No Middle of the Road Solution 

Perfection 

Practicing AA Principles 

Prayer 

Real or Imaginary 

Recovery From Alcoholism 

Relapse - Drinking Again 

Resentment 

Secrets and Openness 

Self-Centeredness 

Self-Delusion 

Self-Pity 

Self-Reliance 

Self-Seeking 

Self-Seeking 

Self-Will 

Selfishness 

Serenity 

Serenity in Calamity 

Sex Inventory 

Sex, Security and Society 

Sixth - Seventh Step Prayer 

Sober Living 

Sobriety and Recovery 

Spiritual Awakening 

Spiritual Experience 

Spiritual Malady 

Spiritual Principles 

Spiritual Progress 

Sponsorship 

Staying Sober 

Step 1 

Step 2 

Step 3 

Step 4 

Step 5 

Step 6 

Step 7 

Step 8 

Step 9 

Step 10 

Step 11 

Step 12 

Stop Fighting 

The AA Meeting 

The Grouch and the Brainstorm 

Third Step Prayer 

What He Would Have us be 

Work After Recovery 

Working With Others 

Oh. Can't find it here? Don't worry -- YOUR topic will probably be just fine if it's somewhere in our AA Book!