Meeting Format

Each day someone, preferably a newcomer, is invited to "take the meeting." This temporary chairperson hands out the designated readings to others who will participate in the meeting formalities. The chairperson begins the meeting by calling the group to order with a moment of silence and initiating the Third Step prayer. The HIW preamble is read by the members who were selected prior to the start of the meeting. The day's leader then reads the group announcements. It is suggested that the leader makes no side comments and adds nothing more to the announcements other than what is on the format sheet. More specifically, the chairperson does not put a spotlight on people who may be returning from a relapse nor are such people expected to identify themselves beyond picking up a 24-hour sobriety chip if they choose to do so. The only exceptions to the "add nothing to the written format" suggestion is reminding the members of special holidays, candlelight meetings or six-month and yearly birthdays. At regular meetings, the leader then reads the excerpt from the HIW Group Daily Reading Book appropriate for the date and time of the meeting. The excerpt is then re-read a second time. The person "taking the meeting" begins the sharing portion of the meeting byintroducing themself (e.g. "I'm John; I'm an Alcoholic") and commences their sharing.

The meeting leader then "passes" to another person. The sharing then continues to move in an orderly direction from person to person around the room. Each member introduces themself and then is free to "share" or to "pass" as theirtum arrives. This means that every member has a reasonably equal opportunity to share. By moving around the room in an orderly fashion, the process prevents any one individual from sharing more than once. The ability of any one individual to dominate the meeting is substantially reduced. The tendency of some members to want to react to or comment upon the sharing of others is also minimized.

There is no timer for sharing, and no rule can be laid down. Instead, it is suggested that each member “out of consideration for others, please be mindful to keep sharing brief and on the reading.” Keeping shares brief and on the topic is designed to prevent any individual personalities from dominating the meeting (and the group), and to keep meetings on the subject of a book study format. Experienced consensus has shown that shares exceeding 3 minutes are not in keeping with this suggestion.

Inevitably when you have participants with selfishness and self- centeredness defined as the root of their troubles, and when dealing with mental illness and ego, you are going to have long-winded shares unmindful of this suggestion. It is important to avoid argument, fault-finding and/or resentment, just as it is for members to respect the format of the group and all its expressed suggestions.

When individual members of the HIW Group share, it is important for other members to listen to the message. Emphasis should be upon the message and the experience, strength and hope being delivered, not upon the person bearing the message. For this reason, we do not clap after each speaker shares. This keeps one member from getting more applause than another member, thereby avoiding the impression that any one member or what they say is any more important than another. Moreover, clapping takes time away from the meeting and restricts the ability of every member to share. It is, however, commonplace at the beginning of the meeting for members of the group to join in applause to acknowledge the completion of an individual's Fifth Step, a member's six-month or yearly birthday and the picking up of chips in recognition of 24 hours, 30, 60, or 90 days of continuous sobriety. Clapping is also heard at Cake Night.

Regular meetings start promptly at the designated times and end in precisely one hour. Discipline, with respect to starting and stopping on time, is helpful to the chairperson, who is probably a relatively new person to the program and may not otherwise feel comfortable ending a meeting at the designated time. The discipline to start and stop on time also serves as a reminder to all attendees to be respectful, both in terms of being seated at the beginning of the meeting and or limiting the duration of their own comments in anticipation of each other's desire or need to share within the allotted hour. Closing on time also ensures that everyone, including those who have appointments or must get to work, will havethe chance to join in the closing Seventh Step prayer which is collectively spoken aloud.

Five minutes prior to the end of the hour-long meeting, the leader stops the meeting to allow time for the reading of Playing Dead and the daily meditation. The meeting is then closed with the Seventh Step prayer and adjourned.

Occasionally, the allotted time for sharing elapses before everyone has had a chance to speak. In that instance, the leader announces that time has expired and invites all those who have not had a chance to share to identify themselves. This keeps members from imposing on other members' time by talking beyond the allotted hour. Sometimes everyone has had an opportunity to share in his or her turn before a full hour has elapsed. Even if the allotted hour has not expired, the regular meeting is ended. The fact that time remains does not get turned into an opportunity for second dipping and/or cross-talking*, clarification, or amending earlier remarks.

Either midway through or at the end of the meeting, the leader passes the contribution basket in accordance with the HIW Group’s principle of self- support.

*cross-talking is commenting on or interrupting someone else’s share