on a Sat morn so not going out at night is a big plus after working fulltime during the weekdays

larger meeting actually broke down to 3 separate meetings - 1) topic was Thankfulness 2) begineers and 3) step 8

well I knew I was nowhere near step 8!

Ive heard that begineers should attend 6 begineer meetings when they start so I did that - today I identified w/more ppl so felt like I really do belong and said so.

 

Do begineers have a choice of going to the topic meeting versus the begineer meeting? I think either would have been good today

Barbara,

I am do not have an answer to your question. In my district we do not have beginner meetings. If we have a new comer in a meeting, we usually have one person share their story, and then go on with the meeting. Most people share on the topic and the new comer gets to see the tools of the program. Then after the meeting a few people may ask if that person has any questions they need ask. I am not saying this is the best way, just how we do it here.

I think if you want to go to a topic meeting, if you feel led to then you should do it. My HP often guides me to the right place. I remember when I moved here from a different city, I called AA looking for a number for alanon. The guy I spoke to told me he could get me to an alanon meeting. The very nice AA man told me where and when the next alanon meeting was. I went. I sat down and I started wondering if I was at alanon. The meeting progressed, and then they had a smoke break, ummmmm huge flag to me that I was not at alanon. I had been to meetings in this city before, and they don't have smoke breaks. So I went to the chair and asked if this was AA, and she said yes. I took an AA schedule, because they have alanon meetings on them as well. I then asked if it was an open meeting, because I am not an "A", but wanted to stay because it was a 3rd step meeting and I loved the recovery I was hearing. SHe said it was open and that I was welcome to stay. That was the best 3rd step meeting I have ever been to. And when I was asked if I wanted to share. I told them all my story of how I got there, and that I felt that I was in the right place that night, my HP wanted me there that night I am sure of it.

I am soooooooo glad you found a meeting that made you feel like you were at home. Keep going back, and listen to your HP.

Much Love,

The rules at alanon are very simple - we try to follow the traditions, try not to give advice, and don't introduce non conference approved literature during actual meetings. Other than that, you can do what feels right to you. No one is going to tell you you don't belong at any meeting - even if you don't feel you have anything to share, you can always benefit from listening to the others. This is your program, you can work it in the way that feels best to you. The unstructured, nobody-is-the-boss tradition of alanon is one of its best features, in my opinion.