Document 3: Format Options for FA Meetings

DOCUMENT 3: 

FORMAT OPTIONS FOR FA MEETINGS

Registered FA meetings are asked to use the conference-approved FA Meeting Format.  Meeting Format Options refers to the type of meeting a group chooses. When choosing a meeting type, newcomers are considered first and foremost. Decide on the meeting format option(s), using group conscience.

There are three main types of meetings: Qualification, Sharing and Literature. 

Groups may choose to use the same format option each week, or a variety of types. To assist the leader, identify the rotation plan in the Meeting Format. For example:

• Week One: Qualification Week Four: FA Book 

• Week Two: Sharing Week Five: Connection

• Week Three: Tools

QUALIFICATION MEETING 

Speaker: The leader tells their story (“qualifies”), describing what their life was like before becoming abstinent, what happened to bring them into FA, and what their life is like in recovery. 

FA Audio Recordings and Podcasts: Small groups may choose to alternate between Speakers and FA audio recordings. Dozens of recorded qualifications can be accessed on the FA website, or by entering “Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous” into the podcast app of your choice. 

Download the audio recording prior to the start of the meeting. Check that the phone is charged and on airplane mode. A small portable speaker– as opposed to the phone’s speaker– allows everyone in the room to hear. Seventh Tradition funds may be used to purchase audio equipment. After the break, the leader invites qualified members to share, as written in the meeting format. 

SHARING MEETING 

The leader invites sharing of experience, strength, and hope from qualified members. A recommended length of three to five minutes allows more people to share. The leader may also choose to share briefly. This format option works best for groups with many members who have 90 days of continuous abstinence in FA. 

LITERATURE MEETING 

FA Conference-Approved Literature can be read at all types of FA meetings (phone, in-person, or video). Literature meetings help members share concretely and specifically on food addiction and recovery in FA. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Newcomers may find it difficult to absorb readings focused on Steps Four through Twelve. Sharing in detail, for example, about character defects, amends, or the Steps and how to work them can easily confuse or overwhelm newcomers. As such, it is not recommended for meeting groups to read p.64-103 in the Big Book or p.384-416 in the FA book, theTwenty-Four Hours a Day, The Little Red Book, or The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (“Twelve and Twelve”). 

Recommended literature types include: 

• Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous book

• Connection magazine

• Living Abstinently booklet

• FA pamphlets (choose from assorted titles)

• Alcoholics Anonymous (“Big Book”)

  • While the focus of the Big Book is alcohol, rather than food, the disease of addiction is the same regardless of the substance. 

Best Practices for a Literature Meeting 

Some literature is best read in sequence. At in-person meetings, placing a bookmark in a physical copy may be helpful. At virtual meetings, the secretary may wish to keep a log. After the break, smaller groups may choose to read from additional literature if there are limited numbers of FA members able to share.

• Meetings may prefer for members to read one paragraph, one-page, or one article at a time. Some groups may prefer for sharing to occur at any point during the reading. If the latter, consider adding this language to the format: “Any member with 90 days or more of continuous abstinence in FA, currently working with an FA sponsor, may raise their hand to share during any part of the reading.”

• Guidance for using the Living Abstinently booklet: Separate from the meeting format, the tools are described in detail in the Living Abstinently booklet. The leader selects a tool and asks members to read one paragraph at a time. Some groups choose to read one tool at a time, while otherwise prefer to read two or more. In addition to the tool itself, some groups also choose to read the Introduction and the Conclusion at the beginning and end of the booklet, respectively.

• At in-person meetings:

  • Selected literature may be read from members while seated or from the front of the room.

  • Mark literature with “Meeting Copy” so as to avoid reading from literature that might otherwise be given away or sold.

Revised April 2024