How to Start 12 Step Meetings

Twelve step meeting programs are designed to provide a course of action that helps people with personal recovery from addiction, compulsion or some type of behavioral issue, including alcohol and drugs, emotions, gambling, over-spending, food, sex, hoarding and work. Alcoholics Anonymous, the first 12 step program, has been adapted to become the foundation of these other meetings that address other forms of addiction and compulsion. If there is not a 12 step meeting in your area that addresses your specific need, start one.

Instructions

• 1

  Locate an appropriate meeting facility. Find other 12 step meetings and speak with the person in charge of facility scheduling where they meet. Try area counseling centers, hospitals, churches, city hall, treatment centers, community centers, universities, colleges and public libraries as well. Most 12 step programs stipulate that rent be paid for the meeting facility to reinforce the tenet that each group be fully self-supporting and not dependent on outside contributions.

• 2

  Decide on a day and time that the meeting will take place. When selecting a time, consider your target group. Early evening is usually works best. Look at the local community calendar to try to avoid competing with popular community events. If you need an approximate idea of the number of attendees, establish a way for prospective attendees to RSVP.

• 3

  Ask for guidance from another local group organizer to help establish the new meeting and finalize the small details. Their experience will ensure you are off to as smooth a start as possible. A mentor will also be able to provide unbiased advice about starting a meeting for your demographic within your community's unique issues, challenges and opportunities.

• 4

  Register with the General Service Office at the main office of the specific 12 step group. Order group-approved literature online for attendees to take with them when they leave. New group packets, including some basic handouts, are available from the general services division of most established groups.

• 5

  Announce your meeting to the community. Visit other meetings with the pertinent information, e.g., location, date and time. Place announcements in counseling centers and churches. Call your local newspaper to list a meeting notice. Most 12 step meetings do not encourage a great deal of public relations, and prefer that word of mouth attraction is the primary means of meeting promotion. As potential attendees see the announcements and hear about meetings, they will attend.