Welcome to the AA Beginners Group My name is __________. My last drink was on ____________. Alcoholism is a compulsive, obsessive and progressive disease affecting us physically, mentally, and spiritually, with symptoms such as blackouts, liver problems, depression, anxiety, horrible feelings, and various medical problems. All of this adds to the unmanageability that drinking may cause. Join me in a moment of silence for those who are struggling with the disease of alcoholism... The Serenity Prayer God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen. A.A. PREAMBLE Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. Anonymity is our spiritual foundation. Please keep names and discussion confidential. Anything that the leader or any other member says is only their opinion. No one person can speak on behalf of the entire worldwide fellowship of 2 million people. Copyright The AA Grapevine, Inc. Reprinted with permission Take Caution If you are still drinking and are planning to stop, you may want to ask your doctor for help to detox! They can help you. Quitting drinking can cause your body to experience sever medical issues. It is possible to have seizures and even worse, including death. We are not doctors here. Search out the advice of your doctor first. Also... Many times people are pressured to go to AA by the courts for drunk driving. That does not mean they are alcoholics or have a desire to stop drinking. If you are one of these people, to get your proof of attendance sheet send an email to: aabeginnersgroup@gmail.com. You do not have to stay for this meeting to get an attendance sheet, but if you have a desire to stop drinking you are welcome to stay and participate in todays discussion. First Things First When we first come to A.A., many of us do not realize the first drink triggers the compulsion to drink more and more; it deludes us into thinking we can drink another safely, then another and another. How do we avoid just that first drink for at least one day? Here are some suggestions: The twenty-four hour plan. Dont pick up a drink for 24 hours. Dont worry about tomorrow. Just focus on not picking up the 1st drink today. You cant get drunk if you dont pick up the 1st drink. Ask God or Higher Power for help to stay sober today. Goto AA Meetings on a regular basis. Get a sponsor to help you take the 12 Steps of AA Get the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous at www.aa.org. You can buy one or get it free on PDF. Change your routines or travel routes during drinking hours. If you have any compulsions or urges, postpone it and call someone in AA. Exchange phone numbers with sober people in chat box.

Step 1 We had to fully concede to our innermost selves that we were alcoholic. This is the 1st step in recovery. No one here will call you an alcoholic. Only you can decide that for yourself. If, when you honestly want to, you find you cannot quit entirely, or if when drinking, you have little control over the amount you take, you are probably alcoholic. If that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer. Most alcoholics have lost the power of choice when it comes to drinking. Our so called will-power becomes practically non-existent. Lack of power, that is our problem. But, there is One who has all power. That one is God. May you find Him now! Give it a try. Ask God or your Higher Power for help to stay sober for today. Once we tap this source of ALL POWER, step one takes on new meaning. Step 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable. We WERE powerless (past tense) because we have tapped this source of all power.

Open Floor We start off by letting the newest people speak first. 1st time visitors and people with 2 weeks or less. 24 Hour Token Step 1 What brings you to AA? Do you think you are powerless over alcohol? Do you have a desire to stop drinking?

Step 2 Step 2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. When we approach Step 2, we consider the belief wheather there is a power greater than ourselves or not. Not only that, we may consider believing this power can actually restore our sanity. When we hear people claim that their Higher Power had restored their sanity, we are faced with our own position on this matter. Some may choose not to believe. Some may have reasons which complicate their willingness to believe. Some may be willing to believe. Some may have already come to believe. The Big Book reads like this concerning Steps 1 and 2: Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas. a. That we were alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (Step 1) b. That probably no human power could have relieved our alcoholism. (Step 2) c. That God could and would if He were sought. (Step 2) Keep in mind, the Big Book also states it is possible to get sober regardless. AA does not have a monopoly on sobriety.

Open Floor For those who have 2 weeks to 1 month sober... 1 Month Token Step 1 What brings you to AA? Do you think you are powerless over alcohol? Do you have a desire to stop drinking? Step 2 What are your thoughts on God or a Higher Power? Do you believe a Higher Power can restore alcoholics to sanity? If the Higher Power is an issue, can you think of other possible remedies for sobriety?

Step 3 Step 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. The first requirement is that we be convinced that any life run on self-will can hardly be a success. We had to quit playing God. It didnt work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the principle; we are his agents. He is the Father and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch through which we passed to freedom. When we sincerely take such a position, all sorts of remarkable things follow. We had a new employer. Being all powerful, He provides what we need, if we keep close to Him and perform his work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became interested in seeing what we could contribute to life. As we felt new power flow in... as we enjoyed peace of mind... as we discovered we could face life successfully... as we became conscious of His presence... we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow or the hereafter. we were reborn. We were now at Step Three. You can join us in the 3rd Step Prayer now. God, I offer myself to Thee, to build with me and do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy will always! Amen. We thought well before taking this step making sure that we were ready; that we could abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

Open Floor Can you please share your experience with the first 3 steps and how they lead into the rest of the 12 steps. Step 1 What brings you to AA? Do you think you are powerless over alcohol? Do you have a desire to stop drinking? Step 2 What are your thoughts on God or a Higher Power? Do you believe a Higher Power can restore alcoholics to sanity? If the Higher Power is an issue, can you think of other possible remedies for sobriety? Step 3 Have you made the 3rd Step decision? How do you feel after the 3rd Step prayer? If the Higher Power is an issue, can you think of another way to take this step? 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year

For anyone who would like some help
to continue on with the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous,
there are several options at this point.

Join us for one of the Zoom workshops listed below. (We go through All 12 Steps) Send us an email aabeginnersgroup@gmail.com. Call one of the sponsor phone numbers from the chat. Go to an in-person meeting in your area and find a sponsor. Download the Meeting Guide APP to find nearby in-person meetings.

12 Step Workshop Schedule Sunday 10:00 AM EST AA Beginners Sponsorship Workshop ALL 12 STEPS 6 HOURS Duration Zoom Id: 3332088457 Password: alcoholic Saturday 1:00 PM EST AA Beginners Sponsorship Workshop ALL 12 STEPS 6 HOURS Duration Zoom Id: 838 6419 2971 Password: alcoholic

Announcements Open the chat box & post the following items: Visit www.aabeginners.com Information on our 12 Step Workshops can be found there. Visit https://www.aa.org/what-is-aa for a virtual beginner pack Order AA Big Book https://onlineliterature.aa.org/products/books/big-books-all-languages-and-formats https://www.aa.org/the-big-book download the PDF for free. Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. We observe monetary 7th Tradition contributions in Pay Pal aabeginnersgroup@gmail.com. Host/Chair contact info: Dave Carmona 313-551-9453

We want to thank everyone for attending todays meeting.

We close with a Prayer.

Our Father, who is in Heaven, Holy is Your Name.
Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Don't let us fall into temptation and deliver us from evil.
Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever,
AMEN.