Your first meeting
Nobody walks in knowing what to do. Here is exactly what happens, so the only surprise is how welcome you feel.
What happens, step by step
Pick a meeting
Any meeting on the schedule works. Noon and 6 pm meetings run every weekday. An open meeting is a gentle first try.
Come ten minutes early
Park out front and come in the door at the right end of the storefront. Someone will usually say hello. Grab a coffee.
Sit anywhere
The meeting opens with a short reading, often the A.A. Preamble and “How It Works” from the Big Book.
Listen
Members take turns sharing what their drinking was like, what happened, and what life is like now. You never have to speak.
Stay a few minutes after
This is where phone numbers get swapped. Ask for a Big Book or a newcomer packet. Many groups give them away free.
Come back
Try a few different meetings. Most people find one that feels like home. That becomes their home group.
Not sure you belong?
A.A. offers twelve questions only you can answer. Take them privately, right now.
Free reading for newcomers
Questions people ask
Do I have to be sure I’m an alcoholic?
No. Only you can decide that, and you don’t have to decide before you come. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. If you aren’t sure, try an open meeting or take A.A.’s twelve-question self-check.
Does it cost anything?
No. A.A. meetings are free. A basket goes around for voluntary contributions that help the group pay rent and buy coffee and literature. Newcomers are encouraged to keep their money in their pocket.
Will I have to speak?
No. If someone asks if you’d like to share, “I’ll just listen today” is a perfectly good answer. Some people introduce themselves by first name; you can also just say you’re new.
What does open or closed mean?
Open meetings welcome anyone: family, friends, students, the curious. Closed meetings are for people who have a desire to stop drinking. If that might be you, closed meetings are for you too.
Is A.A. religious?
A.A. is not a religious organization and isn’t allied with any church. Members talk about a “higher power” in their own terms. Many members are agnostic or atheist. A.A.’s free pamphlet “Many Paths to Spirituality” covers this.
Will anyone find out I was there?
Anonymity is a foundation of A.A. What you see and hear at a meeting stays there. We also don’t post photos of members on this website.
Do I need to be a club member to go to meetings?
No. Club membership pays for the building and is completely separate from A.A. Anyone may attend any meeting here without joining anything.
What if I’ve been drinking today?
Come anyway. Just be respectful of the meeting. If you are in physical danger from withdrawal (shaking, sweating, confusion, seizures), please call your doctor or 911 first. Stopping drinking suddenly can be dangerous.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes, to any open meeting. The open speaker meeting on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 7 pm is a great one to bring a family member to.
I’m worried about someone else’s drinking.
Al-Anon and Alateen are for you. See our page for families and friends.