Start a Meeting | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families

You can help create a place for recovery.

You do not need to have every answer before you begin. Lone Star Intergroup can support you while you plan and the ACA World Service Organization provides a wealth of meeting materials and guidance.

CONTACT LONE STAR INTERGROUP

S T A R T A N A C A M E E T I N G

ACA WSO STARTER GUIDELINES

The ACA Big Red Book, beginning on page 557, covers starting and maintaining groups. The Sample Meeting Format appears on pages 563–564.

Start simply. Let the group grow.

A meeting can begin with a few people, a dependable time and place, and the willingness to follow ACA’s Twelve Traditions.

Reach out while you are planning

Email us. We can share local experience, answer questions, and help you connect with nearby ACA members.

1 Choose a meeting type and time

Decide whether the meeting will be in person, online, or hybrid and open or closed. Choose a weekly time and a simple focus such as discussion, literature, Steps, beginners, or a speaker.

2 Find a consistent, welcoming space

Look for a private, accessible, affordable location such as place of worship or a dedicated recovery center—or set up a dependable online room. A quiet and predictable setting helps members feel safe.

3 Begin with the official meeting format

Use WSO’s Sample Meeting Format and conference-approved readings. Your group can make thoughtful changes later through group conscience.

4 Register the meeting with ACA WSO

Registration places the meeting in the worldwide directory. Select Lone Star as the Intergroup. There is no region. Then send the details to Lone Star Intergroup to be added to our directory.

5 Welcome people and stay connected

Share the meeting through community listings, counselors, libraries, bulletin boards, and other Twelve Step fellowships with permission. Update the WSO Adult Children site and Lone Star Intergroup listing each year.

6

What a meeting usually includes.

The exact focus may vary, but most ACA meetings share a familiar structure that helps create consistency and safety.

✓ ACA foundational readings

✓ No-crosstalk guidance

✓ Meeting topic or literature

✓ Timed / Popcorn sharing

✓ Seventh Tradition and closing

✓ Welcome, silence, and Serenity Prayer

✓ Confidentiality and anonymity

✓ First-name introductions

✓ Welcoming newcomers

✓ Service announcements

Make your meeting a beacon for healing.

Get access to a community of other ACA groups who can share their experience and knowledge. As a member group, you may receive discounts on purchases of literature and chips. Contact us while you set up your meeting and we will provide support so your group can shine brightly like our other ACA member groups!

CONTACT LONE STAR INTERGROUP