Blog

Meetings Meeting Format 12 Steps Tools Contact Resources

 

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

boundary styles

drama triangle roles

drama triangle

non violence

violence

child abuse

nurturing children

creator

 

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.