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Format for a Violence Anonymous Meeting
1. Introduction
Good day, my name is _____ and I will be your secretary today. This
meeting is for persons who have been victims, perpetrators and/or rescuers in
the cycle of violence.
2. Serenity prayer
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change
the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
3. Read the preamble
4. Read how it works
5. Read one Additional Readings
6. Member Introduction
At this time we introduce ourselves by first name only.
This is not to embarrass you, but to get to know you.
7. Sharing
Week 1: Step Meeting for that month with step speaker
Week 2: Topic Meeting based on VA readings (open discussion
on topic)
Week 3: Open discussion - Business Meeting after meeting
Week 4: Open discussion
Now is the time for individual sharing. Would someone be willing to be timekeeper?
We ask that there be no cross talk – which means that we keep the focus
on ourselves, address our remarks to the group and not to any individual. Please
refrain from making remarks during another person’s share, and save questions
and comments for after the meeting. Explicit descriptions of violent fantasies
can be triggering to other members of the meeting. When sharing about violent
fantasies, we put our focus on our powerlessness over the fantasy and the feelings
that trigger the belief of victimhood. Please acknowledge that you have heard
the time keeper give the one minute warning and the word "time" at
the end of your share. You may mute and unmute your phone by pressing *6.
For those who are not sharing, please make sure that your phone is muted. We
are now open for discussion.
8. 7th Tradition
Every VA meeting is self supporting, declining outside
contributions. The secretary passes a basket and asks people to
give what they can. The funds are used to pay the expenses of the meeting.
9. Tools
We take the last few minutes of the meeting for each person to share the tools
they will use in the upcoming week to avoid playing the victim, rescuer and/or
perpetrator.
10. Contact Requests
Now is the time for contact (phone #, email, skype) requests. Please state who's
contact info you would like and we will exchange info after the closing of the
meeting.
11. VA Related Announcements
Announcements that affect this meeting or VA as a whole.
12. Closing
The opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person who gave them.
Take what you like and leave the rest. The things you heard were spoken in confidence
and should be treated as confidential. Keep them within the walls of this room.
Talk to each other, reason things out with someone else, but let there be no
gossip or criticism of one another.
Instead, let the understanding, love, and peace of the program grow in you one
day at a time.
The line will remain open after the meeting for fellowship.
Will all who care to join me in the serenity prayer.
14. Contact exchange and fellowship
Those persons's whose contact info was requested can be shared now.
