One of the workshops at the recent SA convention in Rochester was on the topic of meeting quality. Those workshop comments are listed below, without evaluation. It was not always possible to neatly separate the comments into those things that detract from good meeting quality and things that help, but this was the general scheme followed in the workshop. Remember: These notes are simply reports of what was said in the workshop; they do not represent SA-endorsed viewpoints.

Factors Detracting from Good Meeting Quality:

1. Lack of honesty
2. With no 30-day sobriety imperative there isn’t the same spirituality, and meeting quality (MQ) seems to diminish.
3. The one sharing first influences MQ most.
4. Some people think they get better by “dumping.”
5. Compulsive talking is a negative.
6. Lack of sobriety and lack of honesty at depth. MQ in part is determined by the “critical mass” of those who want sobriety. Until that is achieved, MQ doesn’t seem to improve.
7. Not having victory over my own lust. My own house not being in order hurts MQ.
8. The idea that there can be recovery without sobriety as long as one is “dealing with his feelings.”
9. The attitude “Committed relationships are OK” detracts.
10. Sober members not doing service.
11. When a meeting doesn’t follow the Participation Meeting Guidelines in the SA Meeting Guide.
12. Improper use of meeting time, e.g., when the leader talks on and on, it can set the pace and weaken MQ.
13. Lack of emphasis on the Steps.
14. Judgmental intolerance toward those who don’t stay sober. This can cause loss of honesty of those who do the judging.
15. Our sobriety imperative is not defined sufficiently, allowing marrieds to “run wild with lust and act out” in marital sex. Another example: for someone with a foot fetish, even going into a shoe store can be acting out.
16. One negative effect of the 30-day sobriety rule is that it allows people who are drunk to talk last, closing the meeting on a negative note. Suggested: leader can allow time for and ask sober member(s) to share before the meeting closes.

Factors enhancing meeting quality:

1. Meeting quality seems to be a function of how close the group is bonded to one another.
2. Step study meetings work wonders!
3. Periodic group inventories work wonders! One group (D.C.) announces this weeks in advance, passing out questions the group will be asking itself. When they come together, they spend the entire meeting taking the group inventory.
4. “It’s a good meeting if it helps keep me sober.”
5. Regular attendance by the same members is a plus.
6. “Don’t try to people-please those who don’t agree with our sobriety imperative, but at the same time, don’t slam the door on them, while still upholding the sobriety imperative.”
7. Promote more honesty.
8. Tell newcomers the sobriety imperative right from the start.
9. Break large meetings into subgroups of no more than 10-12.
10. Monthly joint SA/S-Anon meetings help MQ.
11. Set a good example yourself, regardless of negatives in the meeting.
12. By all means, where there are two or more groups in an area, have an Intergroup. This seems to help MQ slowly but surely.
13. If the founder of a group or leader of a meeting is in the right place spiritually, not controlling, without the ego in charge, a group or meeting has a better chance of having good MQ. No aggressive, dominating egos.
14. Meeting leaders can point to people and ask if they want to share. Leader’s choice can help turn around a meeting headed off to never-never land. Meetings don’t always have to be subject to random participation. Leaders can lead.

[After the above notes were typed into the computer, CO received notes taken by another member attending the same workshop. Rather than strain his brain trying to integrate the two, the computer operator decided to simply print them as reported. Thanks to A.B. of Ft. Valley, GA. —Ed.]

The Sobriety Imperative (“30-day rule,” “Santa Barbara rule”)

• Conforming to 30-day rule improves quality.
• Showing up to dump degrades a meeting, but compulsive talking doesn’t end with sobriety.
• One problem with the 30-day rule is that the drunkest persons at a meeting get the last word.
• That word “rule” is unfortunate; we ought to call it something else.
• More important than the 30-day rule is the tradition of sobriety. At some point a group passes a critical mass when a significant number of people want recovery.
• It’s not so bad for newcomers to dump; it may be necessary. It’s the repeat dumpers who are a problem.
• It’s important to distinguish between expressing despair and dumping. People in despair can be helped by hearing from people with experience, strength, and hope; on the other hand, sometimes the despair of the newcomer can be what ignites a meeting. Dumping is something else. In response to this kind of talk, the leader can say, “Thank you for sharing. Be sure to stick around and talk with others after the meeting.” Or, “Be sure to talk with your sponsor about that.”
• Sometimes newcomers and repeat slippers are ostracized. They are treated with judgmentalism and intolerance.
• Here is a suggested process for bringing in newcomers: 1) Tell the newcomer about the sobriety imperative immediately, 2) invite him/her to an informal meeting where everything comes out, 3) break large meetings into smaller groups of 10-12.

Group Business and Procedures

• Often groups must inventory themselves and decide what detracts from good meeting quality. Take group inventory, perhaps borrowing from the Al-Anon Fourth Step booklet. Announce it weeks ahead and give out questions weeks ahead.
• Business meetings can be held on a monthly basis with regular group consciences so everyone is involved.
• A weekly Step meeting helps improve the atmosphere of the program in the area.
• In each meeting, make sure everyone gets a chance to share before anyone shares a second time.
• Try separate meeting for women. Try occasional meetings for married people, singles, gays, other particular populations.
• An occasional joint meeting with S-Anon may help women to feel less alone.

General Questions and Suggestions

• What is meeting quality? Does it keep me sober? Do people come back for the second or third time? How can we make it easier for slippers to come back? How can we make it comfortable for newcomers in denial without compromising our principles?
• We need more precise definitions of acting out and of what constitutes sober sexuality in marriage.
• What about an international survey on these questions (definitions, etc.)? What about a survey on format?

Miscellaneous

• A tradition of service is important.
• A good leader is the single most important element in a good meeting.

[Members who attended the Rochester Convention are invited to share their feelings and experiences in Essay by calling or writing Central Office; also, any who wish to share on the topic of meeting quality. —Ed.]