The Walkersville Group

Types of AA Meetings

Birthday: In AA, birthdays refer to the last day (or the day after) that a member used alcohol or drugs. Birthday anniversaries are celebrated as milestones to encourage sobriety.

Closed: In Maryland, closed AA meetings are not accessible to the general public. The only people who can attend are current members and individuals who recognize they have a problem with drinking and want to find help. Discussions are informal and participation is encouraged.

Discussion: AA discussion meetings in Maryland are designed to be conversational and informative. Leaders will choose a theme for discussion that relates to alcohol addiction and recovery, often pulling inspiration from an AA text, such as Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. After sharing briefly, they’ll invite others to join in.