We quote:
(from a website)
“I. The
Big Book Step Study Meeting Instructions©1981:
A. The
Chairperson: Qualifications, Responsibilities, and Attitudes
1. Is
sober, has done the steps as laid out in the Big Book, and can
demonstrate this fact by their own words and example.
2. Is
willing to conduct the meeting according to the format. Is the "point
person" of the BBSS group; is obligated to uphold the group
conscience from the chair; and be willing to explain the group's
function and goals to newcomers and visitors before, during, and
after the meeting. Must be willing to interrupt an individual who is
off the step and remind them of the purpose of the meeting, or may
have to "question" them on various parts of the steps to
see if they have, in fact, done the work as described in the text.
Keeps the time, and lets people know when their time is up. The most
important-as well as difficult-trusted servant position in the group.
The chairman leads for a month at a time, and chooses the speaker for
each meeting.
B.
Chairperson's Instructions.
As the
basic format for the group meeting, the instructions consist of
several parts, the first 3 parts being:
1. AA
Preamble (from the AA Grapevine, June 1947):
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 to 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.
2. Group
Preamble, or the Group Conscience Statement:
It defines
our group conscience, our mission, the way we carry our message to
the alcoholic who still suffers. It lays out the guidelines of the
meeting. It makes clear that sharing at a BBSS meeting depends upon
whether a person has direct experience with the 12 steps as they are
laid out in the basic text.
3. The
Readings for the 12 Steps in the Big Book:
Also known
as the cycle, or step rotation, this is a rotation of readings. The
chairperson announces the step, and pages in the Big Book that will
be used as a topic for the meeting that night. The chairperson starts
the reading by asking people to read, a paragraph at a time, going
around the tables or the room. (The readers do not identify
themselves at this point in the meeting )
C. The
Speaker.
This is
also a person who is qualified to share by having experienced the 12
steps as they are laid out with the help of another person who has
done it this way. They have done the 3rd step with their sponsor, or
another person. They have done the 4th step exactly as the Big Book
lays it out, are easily able to describe all three parts, and are
willing to speak on examples from their own inventory. They have done
steps 6 and 7 after they finished their 5th step. They have made some
significant 9th step amends, and are practicing steps 10, 11, and 12
on a daily basis. The entire talk generally lasts around 20 minutes.
D. The
Meeting Itself
Usually
lasts an hour and a half with no break. It's divided into three basic
parts: the reading, the speaker, and discussion of the step being
studied.
1. Who Can
Share.
Only
people who have completed their 4th step and are on 9-12 may share
during the meeting. Most people who have been through the process
qualify by introducing themselves, and saying that they have done the
12 steps as they are laid out in the Big Book with a BBSS sponsor,
and have done the steps this way, or something to that effect. This
differentiates them from those AA's who are not familiar with the
BBSS process. Each person shares their experience with the step for
up to 5 minutes. The chair keeps track of time and usually holds up a
hand when time is up.
2. What to
Do When Unqualified People Try to Share:
It is the
responsibility of the chairperson to determine whether a person is
qualified. The chairperson must listen carefully to what the person
is saying about the step and try to determine whether the person's
experience is consistent with the directions in the text. Some
warning signs are that someone is at a BBSS meeting for the first
time; mentions other methods, other 12 step literature, talks around
the step and won't get to the point; is unfamiliar to the group and
is not familiar with BBSS meetings; is visiting from another group;
is a popular and well respected oldtimer, but speaks very little of
their own step experience, or how exactly they did the steps.
As
described earlier, the chair must interrupt a person and ask them if
they have "done this step the way it is laid out on these
specific pages in the book Alcoholics Anonymous?" There are many
approaches to this. Most successful approaches are direct, but always
courteous and polite, and start with "Excuse me..." If the
person says they have done it this way, or if there is still some
doubt, the next step is to ask them if they would mind answering a
few questions to satisfy the group. If they have done the steps,
especially the 4th step the way it is laid out, they shouldn't mind
too much if they are asked some questions related directly to the
basic instructions for the 4th step, such as, "Can you please
tell me what the main parts of the 4th step are?" and "What
are the 4 main defects in the 1st part of the inventory? " or
"How did you do your turnarounds?" and "How did you do
your sex inventory?" These are not meant to embarrass the
person, but to see if they are qualified to share. It is not fair to
ask other people to pass and listen who are writing their 4th steps
for months on end, and let people with questionable experience get by
and water down the meeting. This weakens the group, and will
frustrate qualified people who have had the experience, and do not
want to hear (or for their sponsees to hear) about other methods .
If the
chairperson fails to do this at meeting level, a qualified person
should go up to the person in question directly after the meeting to
explain the format, and ask some of those same questions. This is all
done in an attitude of genuine concern, helpfulness, and loving
service.
What
happens if the person becomes angry and insists on sharing? It is
wise to give them their 5 minutes and let them have their say. But,
at a later time, they still need to demonstrate that they have had
the experience, if they want to participate on a sharing level. Our
inventories have shown us that outbursts of anger are often
self-seeking strategies to protect our security, self esteem,
personal relations, ambition, and pride are designed to get us the
things that we want.
II.
Summary
We have
provided clear and basic suggestions for how to have a BBSS meeting.
Big Book Step Study meetings work. They work by being very structured
and specific, providing clear-cut directions on how to recover from
the disease of alcoholism. They work by putting the principles of AA
ahead of our own (and other people's) personalities, and by keeping
one aim above all else: carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who
still suffers-no matter how long they are sober.
Our
experience is not the last word, but it is distilled from many
accumulated years of starting and participating in BBSS groups in our
areas. We have written this in anticipation of the basic stumbling
blocks which one may encounter when trying to start a meeting and
fellowship of this type within AA. We welcome the comments and
experience of other BBSS folks, as well as the questions of those who
want to do the steps this way, and do likewise with still others. One
final word. It is essential to have done the steps this way in order
to have the experience, faith, and courage it takes to pass it on. As
it says on page 164 of our book: "But obviously you cannot
transmit something you haven't got."
Comment:
Personally we would only give our name, rank and number at these
meetings – and after that not even the time of day!
Cheerio
The Fellas
(Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
