Meetings are one of the keys to success in recovery, and the day will come when it’s up to you to run one — no secretary, no printed materials, no one else stepping up. This app gives you everything you need to open, run, and close a meeting like an old-timer.
There are as many ways to run a meeting as there are alcoholics in recovery. What follows is one solid format, with enough variations and suggestions to suit most groups and most occasions. Use it as written, adapt it with highlights and notes, or just keep it close for when you need it.
Another dose of recovery, delivered for another day’s sobriety.
Long-press any paragraph to highlight or add a note.
Page numbers are from print editions, not e-book editions.
There are ten times more topics for meetings than there are people at the meeting, but it becomes hard to think of one on the spot. This list is meant to spark your thought process rather than limit your imagination.
One important suggestion: very private subjects (i.e., sex details and politics) are better suited for private discussion one on one with a sponsor or other close recovery buddy. Any actual criminal activity should not be discussed outside of legal and clerical settings. There is no privileged information outside of clergy or lawyers — most especially not at any kind of recovery meeting.
A.A. has a language all its own — most learned in context during meetings. Here are some thoughts on the meanings of things you may hear. Not all-encompassing, just a start.
AAWS does not link directly to meetings, but you can reach A.A. Intergroups in your area from the list below.
The substance has not changed; a few new materials were added during the app’s beta testing thanks to the great suggestions of our beta testers (you know, friends and friends of friends, mostly in recovery ;-). Some material that appeared to be pandemic-specific was removed, some clerical errors were corrected, and Alcoholics Anonymous Fourth Edition updates were incorporated with permission from AAWS.
There are multiple formats available: print, Kindle, and this small Web Application.
To the thousands of men and women who have gone before me, my sincere and heartfelt gratitude. To the group that seemed to grow up around me, thank you for carrying me through those days that I could not carry myself. To my family, near and far, who are the joys of my life, especially my brother Mark who is such a gift. Last, my bride, who has made the life we lead possible by allowing me to keep my program in the forefront of our life.
This app comes from Ray’s own writing during his sobriety. It includes word-smithing things heard in meetings and formats he has used. Most importantly it has been greatly improved with the generous help of his friends in sobriety and their friends who not only pointed out mistakes but also made valuable additions to the content.
The quoted text is almost entirely from the book Alcoholics Anonymous, copyright text attributed to the author with the required disclaimer.
Alcoholics Anonymous, both the book and the movement, is the story of how many millions of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. Many owe their lives to A.A., as do I.
Ray has been sober for over three decades practicing the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. He has traveled the world both in the U.S. Navy and as a civilian for work and pleasure. Since retiring, he and his bride have traveled the United States seeing the National Parks and Forests and each of the lower forty-eight states. For the immediate future, they reside in Italy. In all of his travels he has attended AA meetings — they are remarkably similar: the steps, sponsorship and service creating a path to recovery. He considers this life a gift of remaining sober and practicing the principles taught to him in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Cover art by Akemi Rogers.
How it works: Export saves a .json file to your device. Store it somewhere safe — iCloud, Google Drive, or email it to yourself. If you ever clear browser history or reinstall, use Import to restore everything.
This app gives you everything you need to open, run, and close an AA meeting from your phone or tablet. Here is a tour of each section.
The Home screen is your main menu. It lists all readings, the meeting format, reference materials, and links. Tap any item to open it.
All readings are on the Home screen. Long-press any paragraph to highlight or add a note — it will appear in your Saved tab.
Page references organized by topic. Page numbers are from print editions.
Can be used as a starting point for a meeting or as a backup when a topic isn’t coming to mind.
A.A. terms explained in plain language — from 7th Tradition to substantial unanimity, plus Rule 62. Long-press any definition to highlight or annotate it.
All your highlights and notes appear here on a single line each. Tap a row to jump to the paragraph, topic, term, or index entry where it appears. Tap ✕ to remove an item. The Clear All buttons at the bottom remove highlights or notes in bulk.
At the bottom of the Saved tab, two buttons appear once you have highlights: Clear All Highlights removes every highlight and note; Clear All Notes removes only the note text while keeping highlight colors. Both ask for confirmation before acting.
Your data lives on this device only — there is no cloud sync. Use Export (Record ⋮ menu) to save a .json backup file. Store it in iCloud, Google Drive, or email it to yourself. Use Import to restore everything after clearing browser data or switching devices.
Add e-Pocket Meeting to your home screen for offline access and a full-screen experience. Follow the steps for your device below.