This is only a guide to starting your meeting.  

There is a great deal written about SOS and this is only a narrow view of the SOS group and the ways to hold a meeting.  My purpose in setting  this down in a one page format is to provide an overview.  Hopefully you will walk away with a  better understanding of SOS as I see it.  

SOS-Save Our Selves  

SOS offers an Alternative- Self-Empowering approach to sobriety.  

In SOS I build a safe environment where there is no criticism  of each other's 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 -
                                                                   
I provide a safe place to share.  

How do I go about providing this safe place?  I probably should start with myself.  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 person's 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  person's 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.  If there is time they can continue latter.   

It is of great importance that each person has a voice.  

After everyone speaks that wants to speak, then the floor can be opened, again using a signal to shorten each person's time in speaking.    At your meeting you are free to use what works.

We learn that this Group belongs to each of us.

Leaders should rotate.

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 having members trying to convert each other 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 Abstinence group. 

I will repeat: SOS is a Abstinence group.

Alcoholic

Some members don't refer to themselves as an 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.

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 his or her own road to sober living and a full life.  We have no interest in member's private beliefs or lifestyles. 

All groups are  independent

We work together as a voluntary association of free- thought groups.
   
SOS has no central apparatus, hierarchical structures or authoritarian leaderships.

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 & Sail 
into a New Life.     

I am the captain of my ship & am sailing in my 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.  

A safe place.

So here in SOS  I build a safe place  where Religious & Non Religious Freedom is Practiced.  
Here everyone is encouraged to follow their own belief system.  

No One Preaches

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 within myself to  change my life forever. 
   

We are each Unique 

As are our Group Meetings.  There is no one way, there is only the way that works for you or 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.  

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

I have accepted the challenge of living my life Alcohol/drug free.

Duaine Metevia from Dallas