How to Share in a Meeting

I’d like to outline a simple and principled method of sharing a message of experience, strength and hope at meeting level. Following these suggested guidelines has enabled me to speak in a way that few people in meetings know how to. It is simple. It is effective. I try to follow these suggestions and I find that the more closely I adhere to them the more God can work through me.

1. Part of sharing is sharing time. Give others a chance to share. Three minutes is all it should take to carry the message at meeting level. (Humility and Service - Steps 7 & 12)
2. If you share a problem, also share the solution. (Hope, Faith, Integrity and Service - Steps 2, 3, 5 and 12)
3. Sharing IS carrying the message and that means sharing about a spiritual principle or step. (Hope, Faith and Service - Steps 2, 3 & 12 and Traditions 1, 5 and 11)
4. If God wants you to share someone will call on you. (Faith, Integrity and Humility - Steps 3, 5 and 7)
5. When you have very little to say, then say very little. Do not start by saying, “I really don’t have much to say”, and then ramble for the next 15 minutes. It is selfish and it blocks others from sharing the real message by taking up valuable meeting time. Brevity is the hallmark of efficacy. (Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility and Service - Steps 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12)
6. A 12 Step meeting is not group therapy, counseling, church or a garbage dump. This is the place to carry the message of recovery, not spread your disease. You are there to carry God’s message, not your own. We are, at best, vessels for the message of a loving Higher Power. (Hope, Faith, Humility, Brotherly Love, Spirituality and Service - Steps 2, 3, 7, 8, 11 and 12 and Traditions 5 and 11)
7. After you share do not get up and walk right out. Set an example for the newcomers. (Willingness, Humility, Brotherly Love and Service - Steps 6, 7, 8 and 12)
8. If you can’t get to the meeting on time you have surrendered your right to share. (Willingness, Humility and Service - Steps 6, 7 and 12 and Tradition 11)
9. A step or topic meeting is about that step or topic. It is not about you. If you know little or nothing about the step or topic then do not share.(Honesty, Integrity, Humility - Steps 1, 5 and 7)
10. If you share you should also contribute to the 7th Tradition. (Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Brotherly Love, Spirituality and Service - Steps 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 and Traditions 1 and 7)
11. Do not call on yourself. This is rude. This is not recovery. If you feel powerfully moved to share then politely attract the attention of the chairperson and wait to be recognized. (Honesty, Faith, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Brotherly Love, Spirituality and Service - Steps 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 and Traditions 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and 12)

This is by no means a comprehensive list of guidelines. “God will constantly disclose more to you and to us.” Furthermore, I have not been able to maintain anything like ‘perfect adherence’ to these principles. I have been able to share the message more effectively when I have been able to stay close to these guidelines and when I ask God to work through me to help the next sick and suffering alcoholic/addict.