Alcoholics anonymous aa meetings davis, woodland, west. If youre new to aa or unsure if its right for you, click here for more information. Your first aa meeting meetings are devoted to the study of the big book of alcoholics anonymous or to the twelve steps and twelve traditions12 and 12 written by bill wilson, a cofounder of aa. If you want to learn more about aa, living sober is a kind of primer on. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic means that we will never gain the ability. When the book was published in 1939 the aa fellowship was small and struggling.
I lost my old one with bigger print and ill make due with this one. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions alcoholics anonymous. Is alcoholics anonymous the greatest business failure of all time. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous acceptance page. With no financial resources, big hopes were placed on sales of the big book. An even number of participants, perhaps from 2 to 16, allows members of the group to work in pairs as buddies.
Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. New or returning to 12step recovery, like alcoholics anonymous or narcotics. Big book, location temporarily closed, open, wheelchair access. World services, inc graphic reprinted with permission.
In these pages youll find information about alcoholics anonymous in south devon, including details of all our meetings theres at least two every day. Tidewater intergroup council of alcoholics anonymous 4968 euclid road, suite f virginia beach, va 23462. Theres an invaluable lesson for entrepreneurs hidden in a. Conference approved literature aa the original way group. They were originally written by bill wilson after the founding of the first twelvestep group, alcoholics anonymous. When aa isnt enough because the success of aa depends on the participants willingness to initiate change is his or her own life, the program cant really help those who arent yet ready to own up to their problem and take corrective action. One of the ways to do so would be to honestly look at how nonbelievers atheist, agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, secularists, etc. Questions of finance, public relations, donations, and purpose are addressed in the traditions. At a big book meeting, they readdiscuss and hopefully study the big book. When the focus is on a specific text, usually the group supplies. Alcoholics anonymous big book pocket edition paperback 1993. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymousread more. Difference between 12step meetings and big book meetings.
For those who want to remain sober and use the tools of alcoholics anonymous but are put off by what they perceive as the overt religiosity of the big book and many a. This aa big book pocket edition is small enough to fit in your pocket, this is the softcover version of the regular big book, minus the stories that follow the first 164 pages. Most aa meetings display a set of small posters with messages like. The reason is, the bb is the basic textbook for recovery in aa. People and places in the big book revising the big book seeking professional help serenity prayer in aa literature set aside prayer shortest sentence in the big book spiritual awakening vs. Aa faq alcoholics anonymous books, software, phone. Groups often organize in order to read and discuss the book, hoping to give the newcomer an understanding of what the alcoholics problem is and what solution is being presented. The big book of alcoholics anonymous, also referred to as alcoholics anonymous. She recommended a young peoples meeting to me that is pretty good, but im not sure of the age cut off at these kinds of meetings. Big book the book alcoholic anonymous the big book is the text for these meetings. These are often big aa meetings 100300 people, and are usually open aa meetings, meaning that one does not have to identify as an alcoholic in order to attend. We then open the meeting to group discussion on the weekly topic. See below for instructions for accessing meetings using zoom. The story of how many thousands of men and women have.
We do not sign court slips or offer proof of attendance. Williamsfield andoverwilliamsfield within 10 miles. In the final analysis, the program and the information outlined in the big book as well as the program followed in aa meetings is not for everyone. The aa pioneers proved that action, not knowledge, produced the spiritual awakening that resulted in recovery from alcoholism. Speaker meetings are generally structured with little to no time for sharing. Many books with wisdom can be read endlessly, and you find something new each time. According to the national institute on drug abuse, there is no onesizefitsall approach to recovery from any type of substance use disorder. Alcoholics anonymous meetings and coronavirus isolation. Is alcoholics anonymous the greatest business failure of. When the focus is on a specific text, usually the group supplies copies of the book for attendees.
We need never deal with our adversities alone as long as we can. This is tradition 12, anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities. Alcoholic selftest using the big book of aa step 12. We hope that we can work together to provide a safe meeting place for all attendees.
Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. The big book of alcoholics anonymous published by a. The book was meant to carry their message far and wide. Big book meeting reads a chapter from the book alcoholics anonymous the big book and discusses it after. This is by no means an exhaustive list of meeting types, but it does give a. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. The big book says, here are the steps we took not here are the steps we read and talked about. The twelve traditions of twelvestep programs provide guidelines for relationships between the twelvestep groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large.
It is a jokey reference that goes back to aas humble beginnings. Commitment in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and. Since the first edition appeared, in 1939, it has helped millions of men and women recover from alcoholism. Open od or closed cd, discussion meetings mean someone will. The story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism, is a collection of texts used by members of the alcoholics anonymous fellowship. Now i have no excuse not to read the book, or forget to bring it to meetings. Online local meetings tidewater intergroup council. These meetings seek to reach the suffering alcoholic through a third party. Some people think that means the only books acceptable to read and sell at a meeting are conference approved literature.
Our steps by the big book group sessions are not official aa meetings because we limit enrollment to a specific number of participants. Im 27f and looking into upping my meetings from 2 to 5 meetings week as a request from my sponsor. The longer term members of alcoholics anonymous will usually give little minilectures about how alcoholics anonymous members are expected to interpret the text. Just like, not all people that eat too much fat in their diets have heart disease or have an eating disorcer not all people who drink too much, or get in trouble while drinking are alcoholic. This stands for big book which is story of alcoholics anonymous and how it works. Aa meetings open, closed, big book, 12x12, speaker. This is accordance with the first tradition, which states that each member of alcoholics anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. Westminster presbyterian church 990 old springfield pike. Really it just means aa can publish it and profit from it. Living sober the little big book that you may not know about. Consider locking meetings after the meeting starts have a cohost who can muteunmute participants and if necessary, turn off a participants videoremove a. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. Like the big book study, but using the book twelve steps and twelve. There you will find release from care, boredom and worry.
For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authoritya loving god as he may express himself in our group conscience. This website domain is registered by the alcoholics anonymous groups in the san diego central office area and is autonomous from a. These are meetings where the focus is on studying the big book. Ontario, canada, to commemorate the first prison meeting of alcoholics anonymous. Aa meeting topics from the big book whether youre looking for a topic for your next a. We abide by the 12 traditions and ask attendees to not take screenshots or recording of any kind. Its saying the content is ok for the aa publishing company to print.
Meeting types and descriptions alcoholics anonymous in rhode. The story of how thousands of wellintentioned men and women have totally screwed up the original message f, clay on. Meeting types and descriptions alcoholics anonymous in. On page 88, the authors of the big book wrote, it worksit really does. The margins are so small that you could prolly trim off an inch on each side and carry it around in a doll pocket.
The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. One of many good places to begin is in alcoholics anonymous aka the big book, specifically chapter 4, we agnostics. What the big book really says by jay westbrook on december 29, 2014 in living in recovery, living with addiction alcoholics anonymous, and the myriad of other 12step programs, can be invaluable to the recovering alcoholic or addict. A hallmark of 12step recovery programs is the offer of anonymity to participants, but the principle goes much deeper than just not revealing last names. Bs big book step study the focus is on some aspect of the 12 steps from the big book. I am always amused how often alcoholics, frequently sober for many years, are unaware of the actual title of the book they are living their life in accordance with.
A small group is still meeting in the picnic grove at the regular meeting times. This does not mean that such resources are deficient. Spiritual experience sponsorship in the big book the belladonna treatment the principles behind the steps to thine ownself be true triggers what is the. If you or your loved one is new to twelvestep recovery, knowing even a little about what. The story of how thousands of wellintentioned men and women have totally screwed up the original message. It does not mean aa discourages other books or material. Todays aa meetings aa boulder county central office. Participants commonly bring their own copy of the appropriate book, but there are usually extra copies available at the meeting for those who did not bring a copy. Alcoholics anonymous the big book has served as a lifeline to millions worldwide. Each member of alcoholics anonymous is but a small part of a great whole. Recovery shop is the home to the aa big book index bookmark. This is the fourth edition of the big book, the basic text for alcoholics anonymous read more.
For alcoholics anonymous aa meeting information in this district, information on upcoming events, or other aa resources, click the links in the blue navigation bar above on desktop, or click the menu in the top right on mobile. We read small sections of the book alcoholics anonymous big book and have a lead share on the reading. If you would like to make notations in the text, obtaining a personal copy is useful. It only means that they should not be taken as representing the views of the organization. Also, for online contributions, click the contribute menu item.