bridge number 712-432-8818
access code 8888# (updated 7-7-12)
mute- unmute * 1
access code 8888# (updated 7-7-12)
mute- unmute * 1
THIS MEETINGS FORMAT IS AT: http://afg-10pm-mon.blogspot.com/
FOR ALL MEETING FORMATS ON 712-432-8818 click on:
10pm - Technical Information: For the Secretary/Chair to read before leading a phone bridge meeting
As the Secretary/Chair for this meeting you will be given a “leader code” that will give you
more features on the key pad than other members.
Here is some information that will help before dialing into the meeting once you have been
given the leader code.
Dial the phone number and then use the regular pin number followed by the # sign that
everyone else uses.
There will be a voice prompt after entering the regular pin # that says “IF YOU ARE THE
MODERATOR PLEASE PRESS 1.”
Follow the prompt and Press 1. The word “moderator” and “leader” mean the same
thing.
The voice prompt will again say “PLEASE ENTER THE MODERATOR PIN (Leader Code)
number FOLLOWED BY THE # SIGN”.
You will join the phone meeting muted after entering the leader code and # sign. Press
*1 to unmute yourself and then introduce yourself as the Secretary/Chair of the
meeting. Press *0 for a menu of all features.
Probably one of the most important services you can give as the Secretary/Chair is to have the
highest sound quality on the phone bridge system. This means without background noise
and weak sound quality. “Sound” is all we have for the phone meeting to work.
Background noise can be taken as disrespectful or interruptive while members are speaking.
As a trusted servant you can guide the meeting without background noise or interruptions to
the best of your ability.
Along with your own skills; here are a few tips and a few pieces of information to help you:
Technically the phone bridge system is built for “only” one person to be unmuted at a
time. This of course would include, You (the Secretary/Chair) as well as the Timekeeper
to stay muted by using the *1 keys. The timekeeper only unmutes to say “time”. The
Secretary/Chair unmutes a few seconds before the member is done sharing to welcome
the next share. You can remind the timekeeper to please stay muted except to say
“time”. (Only one line unmuted at a time).
As the Secretary/Chair (with the leader code) you are encouraged to use the *5 to clear
the line to address the noise. This ensures that members will be able to speak so their
share can be heard. Then the member can press the *1 keys to continue sharing
without the previous background noise. We call this “Cycling Through”. (Most of the
time people forget to mute and don’t know they are not muted). This can be done by
saying “Excuse the interruption, I’m going to clear the line” and then press *5 keys. You
then could say, “Whoever was sharing please press *1 and begin again,” or “Whoever
would now like to share please press *1 to unmute yourself.”
Some meetings have multiple readers. The extra unmuted lines will cause the reading to
be heard by some but not by other members.
Here are some suggestions.
Organize the readers so they know the order they will be reading.
Then tell the rest of the readers to mute until a few seconds before it is their turn to
read.
After each member reads remind them to mute again.
(AS A Rule of Thumb), just because you can hear does not mean that other members
can. These phones meetings have global coverage. Not all phones have equal sound.
Only one line unmuted at a time will keep a clear worldwide phone line for everyone
during the meeting.
These 4 technical points can promote safety, warmth and recovery similar to face to face
meetings. This was written to assist you to know and understand the phone bridge technical
features.
Thank you for taking the time to read these suggestions. If you need help, just ask.
Congratulations on doing service and beginning the flow that opens our heart to what it
already knows---that we all need each other.
Sincerely,
Your format creation committee
SUGGESTIONS FOR SECRETARIES AND READERS:
Please scroll to the bottom of the meeting format for a week-by-week
schedule of which Topic/Reading/Question we are on today.
The Meeting Format Starts Now
(This is the part you read out loud)
Welcome to the Monday 10pm Blueprint for Progress, hour-long, 4th Step Meeting. My name
is ____________________, a grateful Al-Anon member and your secretary for this meeting.
Serenity Prayer:
Let’s open with a moment of silence for those family members still suffering inside and outside
of these rooms, followed by the Serenity Prayer. Press *1 if you would like to join us.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
(If necessary, include a gentle reminder to press *1 for participants to re-mute to clear the line.)
Phone Etiquette:
Prior to joining the meeting, we ask members to temporarily disable their call waiting by
dialing *70 before calling the number to the phone bridge. If a member does not disable
their call waiting, we may hear your conversation or beeping.
When you dial in, you will start the conference being muted.
Stay muted at all times unless you are sharing. You can un-mute by pressing your *1
keys. You will hear a voice saying “you are now un-muted”. Some phones do not have a
long enough beep for the muting and un-muting to happen. You may have to press *1
several times for this function to work. When the voice comes on, you will know that
the *1 keys have worked.
We ask members to use the *1keys to mute even if they have a mute function on their
individual phones. The *1 keys ensures the greatest sound strength for the entire phone
line and provides the greatest service to all members of the phone bridge during the
meeting.
Please do not use a speaker phone for sharing or we will all hear an echo. Some speaker
phones will not mute even when pressing your *1 keys.
To hear a menu of all the features--such as volume control or member count--simply
press * by itself.
Announcements:
7th Tradition: Al-Anon is fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Although we
have no expenses related to this phone bridge, we ask that you send your contributions to WSO
I.D. #:
TBD
.
Do we have any Al-Anon related announcements?
Our autonomous group Business Meeting is held the 1st Monday of each month.
Tonight’s meeting format can be found at www.afg-phonemeetings.blogspot.com.
Around the Globe Introductions:
Let’s go around the globe and introduce ourselves. Hi, I am _______________ (your first name)
from _______________ (state).
(If necessary, include a gentle reminder to press *1 for participants to re-mute to clear the line.)
There will be time to request and exchange phone numbers later in this meeting.
Format Explanation:
This meeting’s format may be different than other formats. We will be writing and using the
newest revised version of Al-Anon’s Blueprint for Progress. If you don’t have this work book
yet, please have a piece of paper and something to write. Writing is part of the meeting. We
will be doing just that, a written 4th step.
We will tell you how to order THE REVISED EXPANDED EDITION OF BLUE PRINT FOR PROGRESS
from Al-Anon at the after the meeting closes or ask for it at your local meeting. Until then we
will read you the questions as they are written in the workbook. All you need is a paper and
something to write with.
It is our intention in this meeting to start from the beginning of the Blue Print for Progress and
work through it until completed. One of the tools of Al-Anon is writing. The physical words on
paper can free our mind, collect our thoughts and stop the rehashing of what unconscientiously
can be repeated with non-useful results. Because this Al-Anon tool (of writing) works well, the
focus of the meeting is to write your answers. The written questions will go in order of the
workbook.
Basically, we will do 3 or 5 sub-questions a meeting always followed by the FINDINGS question
at the end of a MAIN CATEGORY. Next meeting we will pick up where we left off. You can find a
week-by-week schedule of topics, readings and questions at the end of this meetings format.
Simply put, the meeting will go as follows.
We will do some readings.
Then you will be asked 3 to 5 inventory questions for this week. This will give you time
for 1 to 4 sentences on each question. The thought is that the short answers will build
up to comprehensive inventory to go over it with your sponsor or whoever you ask to do
your fifth step.
There will a silent pause of 2 to 3 minutes between each question for members to write.
Individuals will then read all their answers and follow with a 3 minute self-timed share
on what you you’ve learned about yourself from your writing.
Ok with all that said let’s begin the workbook for the day.
Volunteer for Today’s Reading:
Do we have a volunteer on the line who would like to read the category and reflection for
today’s meeting from the Revised Edition of the Blue Print for Progress?
(You can find a week-by-week schedule of topics, readings and questions at the end of this
meetings format.)
Today’s Questions:
Now for today’s questions. I will read each question aloud 3 times, allowing time for you to
write them down. There will be 1 – 2 minutes to for you to write down your answers.
Here is the first question…….
Read the question once at a normal speaking pace. Wait a few seconds.
Repeat the question at a slow pace. Wait a few seconds.
Repeat the question at a snail’s pace, very slowly. Wait a few seconds.
Tell everyone that you will return in 2 minutes, that there will be silence for them to
write, and that you will return. Mute yourself as well.
Read the second question in the same manner and speed (as first) and allowing 2
minutes for people to write before returning.
Read the third question…..and so on if more questions.
Read the Findings Question at the end of each category every week. Allow 2 minutes
for writing.
Open Floor for Shares:
Ok so now we are in the sharing part of the meeting. Members share their answers, by reading
what they wrote, followed by a 3 minute share either on the Findings question or whatever
else you would like to share. A reminder, in this meeting we time ourselves on the 3 minute
shares.
Who would like to share?
(About 8-10 minutes before the top of the hour announce there is time for one more share.)
How To Order:
You can obtain a copy of the Revised Expanded Blueprint for Progress workbook in one of 3
ways.
First go to your individual meetings and ask for it
Call Al-Anon world service at (757) 563-1600
You can get the Revised Blue Print for Progress online by going to www.al-
anon.alateen.org then click on the “Al-Anon Literature”. Make sure you get the revised
expanded edition as they have the older one there as well. We are using the newest
revised version (P-91) for this meeting.
Request Phone Numbers:
Now it is time to request the names of people you would like to get a phone number from. Or
let us know if you’d like to leave your number for outreach. If these people would please stay
on the line after we close, we can exchange numbers after the closing.
Closing:
In closing I would like to say that the opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person
who gave them. Take what you liked and leave the rest. The things you heard were spoken in
confidence and should be treated as confidential. Keep them within the walls of this room and
the confines of your mind.
A few special words to those of you who haven’t been with us long: Whatever your problems,
there are those among us who have had them too. If you try to keep an open mind you will
find help. You will come to realize that there is no situation too difficult to be bettered and no
unhappiness too great to be lessened.
We aren’t perfect. The welcome we give you may not show the warmth we have in our hearts
for you. After a while, you’ll discover that though you may not like all of us, you’ll love us in a
very special way – the same way we already love you.
Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else, but let there be no gossip or criticism
of one another. Instead, let the understanding, love and peace of the program grow in you one
day at a time. (Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual pg.22)
Serenity Prayer:
Let’s close with the Serenity Prayer. Press *1 if you would like to join us.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
(If necessary, include a gentle reminder to press *1 for participants to re-mute to clear the line.)
The meeting is now closed.
Thank Everyone:
Thank everyone who read and shared. Repeat tonight’s topic was “__________________”.
The questions for next week will be… (read next weeks questions).
Phone Number Exchange:
Ok is ________________ on the line? ________________ is requesting your number. Would
you like to give out your phone # ?
____________ would you like to leave your number to receive outreach calls?
After Meeting:
This line is available for an after meeting and newcomer questions. Is there someone who
could stay on the line to answer newcomer questions or to chair the after meeting?
(Turn the meeting over to the newcomer greeter or chair for the after meeting.)
Thank you all. Good night.
Week-by-week schedule of Topics/Readings/Questions
DATE -TOPIC -WEEKLY QUESTIONS PAGE # - FINDINGS QUESTION PAGE #
5/28/12 Honesty 1. all 4 questions pg 11 Findings Question pg 13
6/4/12 Honesty 2. first 4 questions 12 Findings Question 13
6/11/12 Honesty 2. last 4 questions 12 Findings Question 13
6/18/12 Honesty 3. first 4 questions 12-13 Findings Question 13
6/25/12 Honesty 3. last 5 questions 13 Findings Question 13
7/2/12 Self-Worth 1. first 4 questions 14-15 Findings Question 17
7/9/12 Self-Worth 1. last 3 questions 15 Findings Question 17
7/16/12 Self-Worth 2. all 5 questions 15 Findings Question 17
7/23/12 Self-Worth 3. all 3 questions 16 Findings Question 17
7/30/12 Self-Worth 4. all 5 questions 16 Findings Question 17
8/6/12 Self-Worth 5. first 4 questions 16-17 Findings Question 17
8/13/12 Self-Worth 5. last 3 questions 17 Findings Question 17
8/20/12 Fear 1. all 3 questions 18-19 Findings Question 20
8/27/12 Fear 2. all 3 questions 19 Findings Question 20
9/3/12 Fear 3. all 4 questions 20 Findings Question 20
9/10/12 Anger 1. all 5 questions 21-22 Findings Question 23
9/17/12 Anger 2. all 5 questions 22 Findings Question 23
9/24/12 Anger 3. all 5 questions 22 Findings Question 23
10/1/12 Anger 4. all 5 questions 23 Findings Question 23
10/8/12 Resentment 1. all 3 questions 24-25 Findings Question 26
10/15/12 Resentment 2. first 3 questions 25 Findings Question 26
10/22/12 Resentment 2. second 3 questions 25 Findings Question 26
10/29/12 Resentment 3. all 3 questions 26 Findings Question 26
11/5/12 Justification 1. all 3 questions 27 Findings Question 28
11/12/12 Justification 2. all 4 questions 28 Findings Question 28
11/19/12 Justification 3. both questions 28 Findings Question 28
11/26/12 Control 1. all 4 questions 29-30 Findings Question 31
12/3/12 Control 2. both questions 3. first 2 quest30 Findings Question 31
12/10/12 Control 3. 4th and 5th questions 4. all 3 30-31 Findings Question 31
12/17/12 Attitudes 1. all 4 questions 32-33 Findings Question 34
12/24/12 Attitudes 2. all 4 questions 33 Findings Question 34
12/31/12 Attitudes 3. all 4 questions 34 Findings Question 34
