Open the Topic Wheel here and share your screen so members can see it. You should have the Daily Reflection for the day ready too in case the Wheel lands there.
Hello, everyone. I’m _________________, and I’m an alcoholic.
Welcome to A Real Chance, a virtual meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous held at this same Zoom link every Wednesday at 10pm Eastern Time. This is an open meeting, meaning anyone, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, may attend. We ask that all who participate confine their discussion to their understanding of alcoholism. We’re glad you are all here, especially newcomers.
A Real Chance is safe for everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, lack of religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or age.
Our preamble states, 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 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 help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
If anyone is new to our meeting or to Alcoholics Anonymous and would like to identify themselves, please raise your virtual hand.
Recognize these people, one by one, and allow them to make an introduction.
We are glad you are all here.
A Real Chance recognizes sobriety milestones. Would anyone like to share a day count or anniversary tonight? If so, please raise your virtual hand.
Recognize these people, one by one, and allow them to share their milestone.
Congratulations to all who shared.
Do I have a volunteer to keep time? Thank you, _______________.
This is a speaker-discussion meeting with a twist. Our speaker’s topic will be chosen at random. I’ll now spin the Topic Wheel.
Do so, then end screen share unless Daily Reflection is needed for the speaker.
Our speaker will share on _______________ for 15-20 minutes. Our timekeeper will interrupt the speaker at the 15-minute mark to let them know they have 5 minutes remaining if they need it. When the speaker has finished, we’ll pause for AA announcements and the 7th Tradition, then begin the discussion portion of the meeting. Anyone can participate by raising their virtual hand. If you would like to only listen tonight, that’s just fine as well.
We will now observe a full 60 seconds of silence. Please use it as you wish.
Do so.
It’s my pleasure to introduce tonight’s speaker, _____________. The meeting is yours for 15-20 minutes, _____________.
Speaker shares. End screen share after they read Daily Reflection if necessary. Timekeeper breaks in at 15-minute mark for time check. Timekeeper breaks in if speaker blows past 20 minutes.
Thank you, ____________. We appreciate your service.
The 7th Tradition tells us our meeting should be self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Your generous support is spirituality in action and helps us cover the cost of Zoom, our simple website, and literature.
We accept 7th Tradition donations through PayPal and Cash App. I’m posting our information in the chat now.
Copy and paste the following into the Zoom chat:
7th Tradition: PayPal @arealchance. Cash App $arealchancegroup. More information and donation QR codes on our website: https://arealchance.org/7th-tradition/.
If you need a Big Book or other AA literature, email us at arealchance@mail.com. Don’t forget to include your shipping address.
We provide proof of attendance upon request. Send an email to the same address if you need proof.
If you are a newcomer or having financial difficulty and need any AA literature, we will happily ship to you at no cost. Please request via email. Our email address is arealchance@mail.com.
We will gladly provide proof of attendance for anyone who is present for the entire meeting. You can request proof at the same email address.
Please raise your virtual hand if you have an AA-related announcement.
Pause to call on those with announcements if needed.
We’ll now begin our discussion. If you’d like to participate, raise your virtual hand and I’ll recognize you when it’s your turn. To get to as many people as possible, we limit shares to 4 minutes. Our timekeeper will interrupt with a time check at the 3 minute mark, and then again when your time ends. We believe good meetings start and end on time, so we won’t begin a new share if it’s 10:55 or later. If you start your share before 10:55, you’ll have your entire 4 minutes.
The meeting is now open.
Host/chairperson recognizes raised hands. Timekeeper does time checks. If shares are light and the meeting is quiet, “double-dipping” at the host/chairperson’s discretion.
At/around 10:55:
That’s all the time we have for this week. Thank you to everyone who shared tonight. We hope to see you again at A Real Chance. We’re at this Zoom link every Wednesday at 10 PM US east coast time.
Copy and paste the following into the chat:
Requests for literature or proof of attendance? arealchance@mail.com.
7th Tradition: PayPal @arealchance. Cash App $arealchancegroup. More information and donation QR codes on our website: https://arealchance.org/7th-tradition/.
Like most people, we have found that we can take our big lumps as they come. But also like others, we often discover a greater challenge in the lesser and more continuous problems of life. Our answer is in still more spiritual development. Only by this means can we improve our chances for really happy and useful living. And as we grow spiritually, we find that our old attitudes toward our instincts need to undergo drastic revisions. Our desires for emotional security and wealth, for personal prestige and power, for romance, and for family satisfactions—all these have to be tempered and redirected. We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end and aim of our lives. If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment. But when we are willing to place spiritual growth first—then and only then do we have a real chance.—p 114, 12 & 12
From page 114 of Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: Like most people, we have found that we can take our big lumps as they come. But also like others, we often discover a greater challenge in the lesser and more continuous problems of life. Our answer is in still more spiritual development. Only by this means can we improve our chances for really happy and useful living. And as we grow spiritually, we find that our old attitudes toward our instincts need to undergo drastic revisions. Our desires for emotional security and wealth, for personal prestige and power, for romance, and for family satisfactions—all these have to be tempered and redirected. We have learned that the satisfaction of instincts cannot be the sole end and aim of our lives. If we place instincts first, we have got the cart before the horse; we shall be pulled backward into disillusionment. But when we are willing to place spiritual growth first—then and only then do we have a real chance.
I’d like to recognize ________________ again for leading our meeting this week. We appreciate your service.
We’ll now close our meeting with AA’s Responsibility Statement for those who care to join: I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.
A Real Chance 