Suggested Meeting Practices
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1. Follow a script (ACA sample script)​
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It makes it easier for members to lead a meeting​
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It prevents the meeting chair from improvising and going off topic
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It creates a stable and predictable environment, something that was missing from many ACA's homes of origin
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It creates a consistency between ACA meetings across the world
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2. Don't crosstalk
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Crosstalk is interrupting, giving advice, making comments about another person’s share, or making distracting noise during sharing time.
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We do not cross talk because as adult children we come from family backgrounds where feelings and perceptions may have been judged as wrong or defective.
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Today we accept without comment what others say because it is true for them. ​
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3. Use a timer during shares
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Contributes to a sense of equality
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Allows more members to share
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Prevents any one individual share from dominating the meeting
4. Rotate service positions
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Positions are filled by rotating trusted servants rather than long term leaders
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Doing service is part of recovery, rotation allows more members to participate
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Can invigorate a meeting (prevent it from feeling stale)
5. Make newcomers feel welcome
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Makes the newcomers feel part of the group
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Contributes to a safe environment
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Encourages newcomers to come back and continue their recovery journey
6. Hold a group conscience meeting (regularly)
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Allows everyone to have a voice in how the meeting is run
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Provides an environment to conduct business and resolve differences of opinion
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7. Hold an annual or semi-annual group inventory (ACA sample Group Inventory)
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