I am a grateful member of Al-Anon. We have a step meeting in our city, which is really helpful for recovery. We have been recently getting into the discussion, how much we can deviate from the step (one step a month, say, step 9 for September). I first thought, the step is like a topic in any other Al-Anon meeting, so we can take inspiration from step readings and questions and then let the share go wherever it goes. One of the founding member is quite unhappy with deviations, for example if a member talks too much about her pet passing away. I want to prepare for a conscience meeting and am trying to find information, but there is not much in the service manual. It would be helpful to be very clear on boundaries for shares, also because I tend to stick to the step questions overly precisely and don't feel safe talking about whatever comes to my mind.
Does anyone here have ESH to share, or can point me to information?
Lif.
hotrod said
Sep 22, 2018
Hello I attend a Step andTtradition meeting each week. We announce at the beginning of the meeting that we ask all to share on the Step or Tradition if possible or any other alanon related topic . That works for us. I understand people want to stick to the topic and since it is only one Step a month I can understand their concerns A Group meeting should decide
Bo said
Sep 22, 2018
Every step meeting I've ever attended has been just that -- a step meeting. It is focused on the step. The context of a step meeting is that the meeting is focused on the respective step, and that the meeting flows and goes through the steps in whatever form and fashion it has chosen. The content -- is the respective step. It's not a discussion meeting, it's not even a regular topic meeting -- although some say it is and the topic is the step. However, step meetings tend to use CAL literature as a guideline, reference, resource, etc. A regular topic meeting has a lot more latitude and breadth, far less focus, and a wider scope.
Perhaps the group might want to consider or would look to the WSO for their guidelines, material, etc. -- they are a great resource.
Iamhere said
Sep 22, 2018
We do a step meeting once per month, and it actually breaks off from the standard meeting - meaning those who want to focus and work on the steps go to the step meeting and those who want to discuss the topic go to that meeting. We are fortunate to have a location with several rooms so it's easy to break off into more than one gathering.
This all came about through group conscience meetings. We have a format and agenda for each business meeting (once per month) and those who attend are considered group conscience. If we intend to discuss more than standard business, we do promote the topic at the weekly meeting encouraging those with an interest to attend.
We also did a major group inventory using a set of questions we found online that helped stimulate great discussion/outcomes. I hope this helps!
pikelpak said
Oct 10, 2018
Thank you so much for the replies. They clarify things a lot, and I can see that it may actually be a good idea to stick to the step. We still haven't had our conscience meeting, but will soon. Lif xx
Hi all,
I am a grateful member of Al-Anon. We have a step meeting in our city, which is really helpful for recovery. We have been recently getting into the discussion, how much we can deviate from the step (one step a month, say, step 9 for September). I first thought, the step is like a topic in any other Al-Anon meeting, so we can take inspiration from step readings and questions and then let the share go wherever it goes. One of the founding member is quite unhappy with deviations, for example if a member talks too much about her pet passing away. I want to prepare for a conscience meeting and am trying to find information, but there is not much in the service manual. It would be helpful to be very clear on boundaries for shares, also because I tend to stick to the step questions overly precisely and don't feel safe talking about whatever comes to my mind.
Does anyone here have ESH to share, or can point me to information?
Lif.
Hello I attend a Step andTtradition meeting each week. We announce at the beginning of the meeting that we ask all to share on the Step or Tradition if possible or any other alanon related topic . That works for us.
I understand people want to stick to the topic and since it is only one Step a month I can understand their concerns A Group meeting should decide
Perhaps the group might want to consider or would look to the WSO for their guidelines, material, etc. -- they are a great resource.
This all came about through group conscience meetings. We have a format and agenda for each business meeting (once per month) and those who attend are considered group conscience. If we intend to discuss more than standard business, we do promote the topic at the weekly meeting encouraging those with an interest to attend.
We also did a major group inventory using a set of questions we found online that helped stimulate great discussion/outcomes. I hope this helps!