opening

SOS Meeting. Welcome to SOS my name is _____I've been asked to moderate tonight's meeting.

SOS respects recovery in any form, regardless of the path. It is our hope that you achieve recovery with the path by which you choose. We are not opposed to or in competition with any other recovery programs.

Save Our Selves is dedicated to providing a path to sobriety that credits the individual. We respect diversity, welcome healthy skepticism, encourage rational thinking as well as the expression of our feelings, and we each take responsibility for our individual sobriety daily.

This is a sobriety meeting. Our focus is on the priority of abstaining from alcohol and other mind- altering drugs.

We respect the anonymity of each person in this room. This is a self-help, nonprofessional group. At this meeting we share our experiences, understandings, thoughts, and feelings, We are free to form this meeting to meet our needs.

Sobriety is the number one priority in an alcoholic's/drug addict's life. As such, he or she must abstain from all mind-altering drugs or alcohol.

We are not against your religious or non-religious beliefs. What ever your religious or non-religious beliefs are, we are not here to change them. We hope you will respect the beliefs of each person in this meeting and not preach or promote your personal belief system. Let's respect each other's uniqueness.

We have it within each of us the power to change. This is a chance for us to build on this power. To bring positive forces out in the open and watch them grow. Sobriety is Attainable. The power to become sober is within each of us. SOS credits the individual for achieving and maintaining his or her own sobriety. There is no hidden agenda. This is an Abstinence Group. I would like to welcome you to your new life where you now have the freedom to live your life alcohol/drug free.

This is in only a guide to starting your meeting. There is a great deal written about SOS and this is only a narrow view of the Group and the ways to hold a meeting. My purpose in setting this down in a one page format is to provide a over view. Hopefully you will walk away with a
better understanding of what we are about.

Save Our Selves offers an Alternative- Self-Empowering approach to sobriety. In SOS we build a safe environment where there is no criticism of each others choices of recovery.

I learn to say  - I - Me - My - & refrain from using   You - We -  You Must - We Must -You Should -We Should - You Need To -

We provide a safe place to share.

How do I go about providing this safe place? I probably should start with my self. I realize that I am unique. I am one of a kind. No one has the same experiences or feelings that I do. If I share what I have done or would do if I were in that persons shoes and offer it in a sharing manner. Then I probably am doing it the SOS way.  If I stay focused on the reason I'm here. For Me.  My recovery.

Remembering If I try to fix someone else then I'm distracted from my recovery. I do care about others in the group and because I care, I will offer my support. Not my criticism.

I know that for each of us the way to sobriety is different. I will learn to accept that another persons recovery is going to be different than mine. Part of my learning to fit into this new world of sobriety is to help make this meeting as safe as possible. This will make me a stronger person & add power to my recovery.

Every person in the group should have a chance to share. This should be done first. The first priority.

A signal should be decided in advance. To enable every one to talk. After the signal is given the person speaking knows the reason for the signal is to give them a chance to wind up, condense and if there is time they can continue latter. It is of great importance that each person has a voice. After every one speaks that wants to speak. Then the floor can be opened, again using a signal to shorten each persons time in speaking. At your meeting you are free to use what works.

We have found that a meeting should be shared. Leaders should rotate. I learn that this Group belongs to each of us.

Religious & Non Religious Freedom. I know that in a recovery group there will be people with differing views on religion. There will be people with different views on politics. To keep our focuses on recovery and keep our religious and political views intact, free from criticism or to have members trying to convert us to their religion or politics. It is in the best interest of the group and each of us, that our religious or non religious beliefs be expressed with like minded people outside of meetings.

There will be no promotion of drug use. Except for medical reasons. Not for getting high reasons. If you are in recovery for alcohol and had no problem with pot don't start using pot.

This is a
This is an Abstinence group. Abstinence group.

Some members don't refer to them selves as a alcoholic or a drug addict. Each of us have the right to paint a picture of our self as we choose. The purpose of the group is to live life clean and sober. The purpose is not to chant in unison, as we are each unique.

SOS has no central apparatus, hierarchical structures or authoritarian leaderships.

Each individual is a leader in his or her own sobriety.
Our philosophy is that each individual is unique and should therefore find and fashion there own road to sober living and a full life. We have no interest in members private beliefs or lifestyles.

All groups are independent and work together as a voluntary association of free- thought groups.

There is no hidden agenda.

I am free to use other support groups.
There is no one way. My using other support
groups will not in any way affect my standing in SOS.

I will become the Captain of my ship and sail into a new life.

My religious or non religious beliefs are never challenged in the group because they are a private part of my recovery. With my mind clear, free of Alcohol/Drugs I will be better equipped to follow my belief system. I can expand and strengthen my belief system with like minded people outside of meetings.

Christians have many branches - Catholics & Baptist may want to worship in different Churches - Hindu - Hari Krishna - Buddhist - Moslem - Agnostic - Atheist - may want to practice their beliefs with like minded people outside of meetings. So here in SOS we build a safe place where,
Religious & Non Religious Freedom is Practiced.
Here everyone is encouraged to follow their own belief system.

No One Preaches To- Tries to Convert -or- Subvert Another's Belief System.

Here we are each Unique. We Celebrate- & - Support this Uniqueness.  From this celebration of just how different we are. Strength & Power Grows.

Clean and sober I learn to use the Power I have with in my self to change my life forever.

I will Accept the Challenge of Living Life Alcohol/Drug Free.

Duaine Metevia from Dallas

We are each Unique as are our Group Meetings. There is no one way, there is only the way that works for you our your group. If it isn't working then it is up to each of us to to find the way that works for us or our group. When you find things that work please share with the group, so we can all benefit.

Duaine Metevia. webmaster

Duaine Metevia.
webmaster