Sample Meeting 6

Meeting format for a video-conferencing meeting

Welcome to the _________ Group of Nicotine Anonymous. My name is _____ and I’m your chairperson today. Please raise your hand if you are new to Nicotine Anonymous. [If newcomer: Welcome, we are glad you are here and hope you will come to several meetings before deciding whether this program can help you. [or option B, if small group, read Newcomers Welcome] After the meeting, we’ll answer any questions you have about our fellowship.

Now, let us have a moment of silence to do with as you wish, followed by the Serenity Prayer. [Pause. Then together]

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.
We ask everyone to please put your phone ringers on silent mode and mute yourself during this online meeting when
you are not speaking so as not to disrupt the meeting.

Nicotine Anonymous ("NicA") is a 12-step fellowship of people sharing our experience, strength, and hope with each other so that we may be free from this powerful addiction. We welcome all those seeking freedom from nicotine, including those using cessation programs or nicotine withdrawal aids. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using nicotine in any form. There are no dues or fees for Nicotine Anonymous membership; we are self- supporting through our own contributions. Nicotine Anonymous is not allied with any religious denomination, political entity, or organization. Our primary purpose is to offer support to those who are trying to gain freedom from nicotine.

The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions are adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. They are the spiritual foundation of this program. The Steps provide a spiritual approach to first gain, and then maintain freedom from nicotine. By spiritual, we do not mean religious. The reference to God in the Twelve Steps conveys one of the concepts the fellowship uses for involving a Power greater than ourselves in our recovery. Each person comes to their own understanding of a Higher Power. For more information, please see the pamphlet, Our Policy of Openness: Our Higher Power As We May Each Come to Understand.

Would someone please serve the group by reading the Twelve Steps of Nicotine Anonymous? [volunteer reads]

The Twelve Traditions provide form and unity to our entire Fellowship. Today, I will read one, which is number
______________ [reads one related to the number of the month or volunteer reads all Traditions]

[only read blue sections when newcomers are present]
In addition to meetings, this Fellowship offers four other Tools to help us gain and maintain freedom from this cunning and dangerous addiction:

Literature – consisting of pamphlets and books.
The Group’s Phone/Email Contact List – of members willing to offer support between meetings.
Service – to the fellowship enhances recovery through action such as chairing a meeting or as a co-host
Sponsorship – offers additional one-to-one support and guidance for using this program.

We also have a pamphlet with 55 Tips. Most of us have discovered that if we want to be free of nicotine, we need to become willing to go to any length. This program offers us a way to live our lives free of nicotine.

NicA literature and other meeting information are available at the World Services website. Links are posted in the Chat section. To be included in our group contact list, post your phone and/or email in the Chat section to receive our list.

According to the Seventh Tradition, there are no dues or fees, but we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Our group asks that each member consider the cost of one day’s use of nicotine. In gratitude, we give what we can. The money goes for our internet costs and when the group votes- to help our Intergroup and World Services support all nicotine addicts who seek recovery. To contribute to this group, contact our treasurer. Contributions to support World Services can also be made. The information for both is posted in the Chat section.

Are there members with any Nicotine Anonymous-related announcements? [announcements]

The format of today’s meeting is: [chair picks and announces an option]

A. Read a Step in The Book [if newcomers: Step One, Serenity Prayer for Nic Users, HOW NicA Works, To the
Newcomer]
B. Read any pamphlet, the day’s daily meditation, or a share from the Sponsorship booklet
C. Speaker, followed by discussion on a speaker-chosen topic
D. Anniversary celebration [celebrant chooses reading/topic]

[if reading] We take turns reading a paragraph or so. Please raise your hand to volunteer. [Chair notes who, then Chair calls on successive volunteers]

We now open the meeting when each person can share, using first name only. When we each share our own experience, strength, and hope, we refrain from cross talk. This means we focus on ourselves and we do not interrupt, criticize, or offer unsolicited advice directly toward another member when they share. When you share, please keep in mind the size of the group so that all want to may have an opportunity to participate.
To share, please use the Raise Hand tool. Would someone like to start? [Chair calls on successive members to share, ending with time to do the following closing section]

Thank you all for sharing. Our group’s phone/email list are members available for further support between meetings. Anyone who is available to be a sponsor, please put an asterisk * next to your name.

Would a volunteer please serve the group by reading Our Promises? [volunteer reads, and thanked]

In closing, we remember the Twelfth Tradition because it is essential that anonymity and confidentiality are respected. The opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person who shared them. Take what you want and leave the rest. Nicotine addiction is difficult to stop and can bring up many issues. We can unburden our hearts and minds more freely if we can trust that what we hear here, who we see here, when we leave here, let it stay here. Remember, we suggest using the Tools of the program instead of using nicotine.

In honor of both our willingness to be here today and our group’s hope to be free of nicotine, we invite you to take a moment of silence for gratitude and then join together in saying the WE version of the Serenity Prayer. [group recites Serenity Prayer]

God, grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,

courage to change the things we change,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Thank you and Keep Showing Up - it works when we work it. We keep the room open for fellowship and anyone who didn’t get a chance to share. Newcomers are welcome to ask any questions you have about our fellowship or recovery.

Links to post in the chat when announced earlier:
World Services home page: www.nicotine-anonymous.org
Link to read pamphlets: https://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/publications

See more sample meeting formats, and materials to start a meeting.