New step study group for beginners

[Jefna]

Hi there folks, I'm an addict in Winnipeg MB looking for some suggestions regarding policies for a step study group I am chairing at my home group. The one issue I am struggling with the most is how to handle abscences. I will be doing the steps on a 14 week cycle and folks who miss 2 meetings will wind up far behind. My idea is to ask them to sign up for the next cycle. Wondering if anyone might have any suggestions for format etc. Look forward to hearing from you.

[cschell1031]

Originally Posted by Jefna

Hi there folks, I'm an addict in Winnipeg MB looking for some suggestions regarding policies for a step study group I am chairing at my home group. The one issue I am struggling with the most is how to handle abscences. I will be doing the steps on a 14 week cycle and folks who miss 2 meetings will wind up far behind. My idea is to ask them to sign up for the next cycle. Wondering if anyone might have any suggestions for format etc. Look forward to hearing from you.

Hi
I might be misunderstanding your post, if so please forgive me. None of the meetings in my area are structured in a format that supports mandatory attendance whether they be step/tradition study, book study or regular recovery meetings. If your study group is a class wherein participants sign-up, and attendance is taken, this then falls outside the parameters of the fellowship, and subsequently becomes an outside issue. If, on the other hand, its format is focused more toward a regular recovery meeting with the topic consistently that of the 12 steps, then taking attendance, calling roll and marking absences goes against some of the traditions.
Our step study meetings are structured in the same way as a regular meeting, except that the chair will usually choose some of the available literature for whichever step being reviewed for that particular week and as the membership reads, those wishing to share on their understanding and application of the step may do so, either after the reading of a passage or at the end of the chapter. (however the chairperson sets up the meeting).
Members do not fall behind, as it is not structured in this manor. No instructors, no homework, just addicts in the spirit of anonyminity, sharing recovery.
I have heard of more intense step study that individual sponsors do with a group of sponcees, but again this is outside the scope of NA and therefore structured by and for that particular group in and of itself.
I hope this is helpful to you.
With sincerest respect
connie

[Tahir]

Step Study Meetings are always a good initiative I've observed. When I relocated to another town/fellowship more than 5 years back, the homegroup I chose was hardly attended by 5-6 members at any of our recovery meetings. So me and a few other homegroup members sat down, explored what we could do to provide more attraction to our recovery meetings, and the end result was Step Study meetings.

We did a format of 12 Steps over 12 weeks, inviting a couple of speakers from the members present, to share their experience, strength and hope on the particular step each week supplemented by the Step reading from our literature like Basic Text, SWG, JFT etc.

It was a major attraction, our group meetings started flooding to such an extent that almost 40-60 members started attending our Step Study meetings. Many who haven't tried working the Steps till then took Sponsors and started working the Steps.

We repeated this cycle once again, this time with one Step and one Tradition each week. It worked well again. As for attendance, it's just like any other recovery meeting