Brown Baggers’ Meeting Format


  1. READ--Welcome to the regular noon meeting of the Brown Baggers’ Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. This is an open meeting, and all are welcome, especially newcomers. My name is __________, and I am an alcoholic and your Group Secretary. Please silence cell phones at this time.


  1. READ--Let us open this meeting with a moment of silence to do with as you please, 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 Wisdom to know the difference.”


  1. READ--The following is the definition of Alcoholics Anonymous: “Alcoholics 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 recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. We are self supporting through our own contributions. A.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 stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”


  1. __________ will now read “How it Works” from Chapter 5 of the Big Book.


  1. __________ will now read “The Twelve Traditions”.


  1. READ-- It is a tradition of this meeting to ask if there are any new members, or anyone present in their first 30 days of sobriety. If so, please introduce yourself by first name only, this is not to embarrass you, but so that we can get to know you better.


  1. ASK-- It has been suggested that every A.A. member have a Home Group. If you would like to make this meeting your Home Group, please see me after the meeting.


  1. Read--This meeting celebrates its member's AA birthdays on the last Thursday of each month with good fellowship and cake. Has anyone celebrated a 30-day birthday in the month of ________? 60 days? 90 days? 6 months? 9 months? A year or more?


  1. ASK--Are there any visitors here from outside the greater Elk Grove/Sacramento area?


  1. ASK--Are there any A.A. announcements? We clean the hall every Saturday at 8:30am. All are invited to help. This week’s assigned cleanup group is ___________.


  1. READ--The Elk Grove Fellowship phone list will be updated in January and June. If there is anyone wishing to join the EGF, and members wishing to change any information, please see me after the meeting.


  1. READ--There is A.A. literature free for the taking. There are also A.A. books available at our cost. Big Books will be provided for those who cannot afford them. If this is the case, please see me after the meeting. Current issues of The Grapevine are $2.50; past issues are $1.25.


  1. READ—Please remember there is no smoking inside of the building. Smoking is permitted on either side of the building 25 feet from the entrance. Please use cans provided to dispose of cigarette butts.


  1. READ--We have no dues or fees in A.A., but are self-supporting through our own contributions. This support includes rent for this room, coffee and literature, and contributions to Sacramento Central Office and New York General Services. This group recognizes the financial realities that A.A. faces today and affirms the “break the buck barrier” whenever possible. The basket will be passed half way through the meeting. Please place attendance cards in the basket.


  1. Read-- This is a one-hour meeting and as such, we ask the chairperson to limit their chair to 10 minutes. In support of A.A.’s singleness of purpose, we ask that when discussing our problems, we confine ourselves to problems as they relate to alcoholism, and to limit our share time to 5 minutes or less in order to give more members an opportunity to speak.


  1. READ--At this time I would like to introduce the Chairperson for today’s meeting. ______________


  1. After the meeting, thank the chairperson and everyone who read.


  1. Ask-- Would anyone with a working knowledge of the twelve steps and is willing to be a sponsor, please raise your hand?


  1. Ask someone to close the meeting with the prayer of his or her choice.