Casual Discussions

Types of AA Meetings

As Bill Sees It: As Bill Sees It is a collection of essays and reflections from AA’s founder, Bill W., about the organization and its purpose. The book is often referenced in AA meetings to encourage members to individually and collectively discuss their recovery.

Big Book: California AA meetings often feature the Big Book. This text features stories about how women and men overcame alcohol use disorder and is used to inspire clients to build resilience.

Cross Talk Permitted: Cross talk refers to speech in AA meetings that are directed toward a specific member, rather than the group, and is generally critical. Crosstalk is generally not permitted in AA because it is considered disruptive and can undermine the unity of the group. However, some AA chapters allow cross talk in discussions.

Digital Basket: AA chapters may have a digital basket, which is a virtual collections plate for members to donate funds to pay for the chapter’s expenses. The virtual basket may accept various online payment services, such as PayPal, Google Pay, Stripe, and Venmo.

Discussion: AA discussion meetings in California help members share their thoughts and feelings on a specific topic related to alcoholism and recovery. A pre-determined speaker will open the meeting by sharing a topic from an AA text, such as the Big Book or AA Grapevine. After discussing the topic briefly, they will open the floor for others to speak.

Grapevine: Grapevine is a monthly magazine published by AA. Its contents, written by AA members, generally feature the experiences of individuals with alcohol use disorder, and articles are often discussed in AA meetings.

Living Sober: AA centers may have selected sessions set aside for Living Sober discussions. This text is secular in nature, and focuses on practical ways that members have used to stay sober one day at a time.