e-AA Chat Format

After a moment of silence, please join me in saying The Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

AA 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 AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.

There are no dues or fees for AA membership;we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA 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 achieve sobriety.

Do we have any visitors or newcomers who would like to introduce themselves by first name, this is not to embarrass you, but for us to welcome you to our group?

How it Works:  Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path. Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. There are such unfortunates.

They are not at fault; they seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping and developing a manner of living which demands rigorous honesty. Their chances are less than average. There are those, too, who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders, but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest.

Our stories disclose in a general way what we used to be like, what happened, and what we are like now. If you have decided you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it-then you are ready to take certain steps.

At some of these we balked. We thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not. With all the earnestness at our command, we beg of you to be fearless and thorough from the very start. Some of us have tried to hold on to our old ideas and the result was nil until we let go absolutely.

Remember that we deal with alcohol-cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power-that One is God. May you find Him now!

Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon.

Here are the steps we took, which are suggested as a program of recovery:

12) Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Many of us exclaimed, "What an order! I can't go through with it." Do not be discouraged. No one among us has been able to maintain anything like perfect adherence to these principles. We are not saints. The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines. The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection.

Our description of the alcoholic, the chapter to the agnostic, and our personal adventures before and after make clear three pertinent ideas:

(All excerpts from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, copyrighted and used with permission from AAWS.) 

If you would like to share please raise your hand by typing !!   When speaking type the word END at the conclusion of your last entry, so that everyone knows you have finished. 

This meeting goes for 60 minutes, but everyone is invited to stay and chat as long as they like. The chat rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

This is an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. As such, it is for AA members to share their experience, strength, and hope with those who have a desire to stop drinking or to learn more about the AA program of recovery from alcoholism.

If you are a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and would like to support the 7th Tradition of The e AA group, click the 7th Tradition link, situated on the left of the page, as you log in to chat.

Does anyone have a particular step they would like to discuss?

Would anyone else like to add anything before we close up?

Are there any announcements for upcoming events on e AA ?

Please join me in closing the meeting with a moment of silence,  followed by the 3rd Step Prayer:

God, I offer myself to Thee to build with me and to 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 WE do Thy will always!