Traditions Group

Types of AA Meetings

Birthday: In AA, birthdays refer to the last day (or the day after) that a member used alcohol or drugs. Birthday anniversaries are celebrated as milestones to encourage sobriety.

Closed: Closed AA meetings in Tennessee are restricted to members only, as well as anyone who recognizes they have a drinking problem and is ready to find help. Leaders will facilitate the discussion, which usually focuses on an aspect of alcoholism and recovery.

Discussion: In Tennessee, AA discussion meetings center around a particular topic that relates to alcohol addiction and recovery. Group leaders will open the meeting by sharing their personal thoughts and experiences that relate to the topic, then allow other members to share. Topics typically come from AA texts, including the Big Book.

Open: In Tennessee, open AA meetings are accessible to anyone from the public, including alcoholics and nonalcoholics. During the meeting, members can share their stories and provide information about the organization, while observers can listen and learn.

Speaker: In Tennessee, speakers are an effective way to promote sobriety among AA members. Speakers directly appeal to their listeners by using wit, reason, charm, faith, and raw emotions.