Thinking about starting a new CoDA meeting? Consider the
following:
Where:
Meetings can be held almost anywhere. Try area churches,
synagogues, counseling centers, hospitals, or places where other groups hold
meetings.
When:
Based on a time that's best for you to serve, choose the
day and time of the week you want to hold the new meeting.
Rent:
It's important that rent (no matter how small) be paid for
the meeting place. In this way, we honor our Seventh Tradition: Every CoDA
group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Since you won't know how large a meeting will be at the
start, try to keep rent to a minimum. Rent may be a percentage of the meeting's
collection, a monthly or quarterly fee, or anything to which you and your
landlord agree. Some places let you use the space more as a courtesy than
as a revenue source, so don't be afraid to negotiate. At the same time, don’t
abuse their generosity.
Help:
Ask for help, especially in the beginning. Invite people
from other meetings to help you get the new meeting going. It helps to have
several people present when newcomers show up. And be sure to post a sign
at the new meeting location each week so that people can find your room easily.
Announce:
Let people know about the new meeting. Visit other meetings
with the necessary information (e.g., date, time, directions and/or a map).
Place announcements in counseling centers and hospitals. Some local newspapers
publish meeting notices at no charge. Just remember the Eleventh Tradition:
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion.
As people see the announcements and hear about the meeting, they will come.
Format:
After a few initial meetings, take a group conscience to
choose a meeting format. Several different types of meeting formats exist:
Speakers Meeting: A speaker meeting features one individual's
story of recovery. Speakers share their experience, strength, and hope with
the group. Depending on the length of the individual's story, the meeting
may or may not include open sharing after the speaker has shared.
Open Share Meeting: The open share meeting often has no topic or individual
speaker. This gives group members an opportunity to share their experience,
strength, and hope on any subject of their recovery.
Topic Share Meeting: The topic share meeting opens with a facilitator or group
member suggesting a specific topic (e.g., the Steps, setting boundaries, sponsorship,
etc.). The facilitator usually begins the sharing.
Step Meeting: The Step meeting makes use of our CoDA conference approved literature
or the CoDA Book. The group may elect to read a portion of the material out
loud before open sharing.
Structure:
After the first meeting or two, it's best to reach a consensus
on the structure of the new meeting. Note that this can always be changed
at a future business meeting. Some questions may include: What guidelines
will be used for sharing? How might the meeting deal with crosstalk? How will
newcomers, literature, and other issues be handled? When will regular business
meetings take place? The New Meeting Starter Packet (below) provides information
and guidelines.
New Meeting Starter Packet
CoDA has a New Meeting Starter Packet, which includes a
meeting format that can be adapted to individual meeting needs. CoDA recommends
that every meeting have a copy of this packet. It contains the basic documents
that support CoDA unity. A single copy is available for FREE from:
CoRe Publications
PO Box 670861
Dallas, TX 75367-0861
Fax (214) 340-6066
View
Meeting starter packet page| Print
Meeting starter packet
Registration: Once you receive the New Meeting Starter
Packet, you will need to register to become a CoDA meeting. In addition to
a suggested meeting format, the packet contains all the forms you will need
to apply for a registration number.
Once you have an official number, the meeting will be
listed in the National Meeting Directory. If you have a state organization
or Intergroup, tell them about your new meeting so that it can be added
to the state and/or community’s meeting lists as well.
CoDA Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions: Just as
the Twelve Steps offer guidance for maintaining healthy relationships, our
Twelve Traditions offer guidance for maintaining healthy meetings. The CoDA
Book contains commentary on all the Steps and Traditions. Also, a helpful
Service Manual is available.
Rely on the wisdom embodied in the Steps and Traditions.
Keep in mind that trusted servants take direction from the Fellowship. A
group conscience can be a powerful tool.
Jobs: Define what tasks must be done, such as:
• Key Holder: The key holder lets people in and locks
up after the meeting.
• Chair/Meeting Leader: The chair/meeting leader runs the meeting.
• Treasurer: The treasurer holds all Seventh Tradition donations, pays
rent, and mails funds to state and national offices.
• Secretary: The secretary takes notes at business meetings and keeps
records.
• Literature Person: The literature person orders and keeps track of
the group's CoDA literature.
• Phone Contact Person: The phone contact person responds to inquiries
from people asking about the group.
• Group Service Representative (GSR): The GSR is elected by the group
to represent the meeting's group conscience to community and state CoDA
organizations. Since GSRs act as liaisons to CoDA as a whole, they are also
known as contact persons.
Growth: In the beginning, people may be called to
do service work in more than one job. This is okay on a temporary basis, but
may cause "burn out" or resentments over the long term. Jobs in
CoDA are usually rotated to prevent "burn out."
Job rotation also supports the concept that each meeting
depends on all who attend. Let different volunteers perform each task, rotate
positions regularly, and limit terms of service. More information about
trusted servants can be found in the New Meeting Starter Packet. If at any
time the group wants help or support (or has questions), call your Intergroup,
community office, or delegates. Our Higher Power will surely make available
a member experienced in service, with whom you may consult
Higher Power is present at all Fellowship meetings.
The CoDA World Fellowship 