A remarkable effect can take place in an Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting when an individual struggling with a drinking problem asks for help and someone is there to share with them that AA may be a solution.
For some AA members, their journey of sobriety began at “open” AA meetings, which can be attended by any member of the community, alcoholic or nonalcoholic.
Open meetings have long been a vital source of information for anyone who wants to learn more firsthand about the AA Fellowship. The only request is that attendees not disclose the names of AA members outside the meeting so that members’ anonymity may be maintained.
The vast majority of meetings on the Sunshine Coast are open meetings; these take place seven days a week at various locations from Pender Harbour through Sechelt, Davis Bay and Gibsons. Find meeting information at sunshinecoastaa.ca/meetings/ or in other locations using the Meeting Guide app (aa.org/meeting-guide-app) to search for various types of meetings.
A typical open meeting will have a chair and other speakers. The chair opens the meeting, introduces each speaker, then closes the meeting after sharing and discussion. With rare exceptions, the speakers at an open meeting are usually AA members.
Meetings often have a topic related to recovery from alcoholism and speakers share on that topic. Members at a meeting may be relatively new to AA or may have decades of sobriety. They all come to share their experience, strength and hope. Newcomers are always welcome as the only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking.
Open meetings are among the variety of meeting types offered by AA. “Closed” meetings are open to anyone with a desire to stop drinking, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income, or profession.
There also are AA meetings specifically geared toward groups, topics, and communities, such as, young people, men and women, beginners, meditation, LGBTQ+, and online gatherings, to name a few.
More information on meetings and the fellowship can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions pamphlet and on aa.org. For nearly 90 years, AA has helped millions recover from alcoholism–to get sober and stay sober. Alcoholics Anonymous is for anyone who wants to stop drinking. For more info, visit aa.org.
