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Post Info TOPIC: chaired a meeting last night....,difficult


Senior Member

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Posts: 260
Date:
chaired a meeting last night....,difficult


 


i chaired a meeting last night.


first time in a couple of years.


it was very difficult


the two women who were there had developed their own format.


one in which i was unfamiliar with.


this is a brand new group, [about three meetings in total, we don't have any "how to" material]


with brand new members.


i guess these ladies just  sat and talked in the previous meetings.


no structure to speak of.


soooooo,


i drew upon my past experience and went ahead......,


i decided i would chair the meeting with step two.


one lady flung a book at me and said can't we just use this one.


i was using my One Day at a Time and Courage to Change.


for what ever reason.


they didn't care for my way of chairing.


i said nothing to them,


but,


inside of me,


i said........,


HIGHER POWER PLEASE !!!!!!


and,


steered the meeting back to step two.


it was peculiar.


they wouldn't even look at me.


they had their chairs turned into each other facing one and other like i wasn't even there.


HIGHER POWER PLEEEEEAAAASE !!!!!!.


by the end of the meeting,


the chairs were all turned to one and other ,


a calm had decended upon the group [the three of us]


hugs all the way around,


and the women thanked me sincerely for chairing the meeting.


HIGHER POWER THANK YOU !!


and thanks to all of you who allow me to share my experience, strength and hope.


 


blessings,


jewely



__________________


Senior Member

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Posts: 209
Date:

Sounds like you and your HP got through a tough moment and landed on your feet!  Good for you. 

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 418
Date:

I am so proud of you for hanging in there and forging on with your HP at your side.  Sometimes it is difficult to chair a meeting when you have people that have become set in their ways. 


To get your "How To" material, simply register your group with the WSO and you will recieve a bounty of materials free of charge.  When I chair a meeting, I use the following format.


Open with a moment of silence followed by the serenity prayer.


Ask members to introduce themselves, first names only.


Read the Preamble


Welcome new members and be sure they receive a New Member packet.


Ask members present to:


     respect anonimity of others present


     stick to the topic in their replies and keep their replies within 5 minutes to allow others to participate.


     discuss cross talk 


     Remind members that we are self supporting and pass the basket.


Announce chosen subject for the evening


Leave a minimum of ten minutes at the end of the meeting for new members to share if they wish.  This is also a good time to allow those members that do not have sponsor's to share anything that is giving them problems and ask for ESH.


Close by holding hands in a circle and recite the Lord's Prayer.



__________________

Everything I have ever let go of has claw marks all over it.



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 260
Date:

i don't know what is wrong with me.


just reading the replies  to my posting on chairing a meeting has made me feel emotional.


the tears are welling, a tug in my tummy, a softening in my heart.


thank you,


jewely



__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 418
Date:

There isn't anything wrong with you, I think we all get a little emotional when others in the program congratulate us on a job well done.  After years of not hearing positive things in our lives it's emotional to finally hear someone say we did something right.


 



__________________

Everything I have ever let go of has claw marks all over it.

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