SUNDAY EVENING RCA MEETING LEAD COUPLE FORMAT

[Before beginning, pass out copies of the following to be read by members]

	The Preamble - How It Works (part 1)
	The Twelve Steps
	How It Works (part 2)
	Characteristics of Functional / Dysfunctional Couples
		(On alternate weeks - Tools of Recovery)
	Safety Guidelines 
	The Promises
		(Give the timer to the timer couple)

6:00PM - (The Meeting Begins)

Welcome to the Sunday evening meeting of "Recovering Couples Anonymous". 
 My name is ______ and my name is _______.  We are recovering couples, and
 your speaker couple for this evening.  This is a couples meeting.  Only
 couples may share.  Interested individuals may attend this meeting twice,
 without their partner, to learn about the program.

After a moment of silent meditation, will those who care to please join us
 in the Serenity Prayer?  In this meeting we substitute the words "us" and
 "we" for "me" and "I".  

[Pause....] 	"God, grant us the serenity
To accept the things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can,
And the wisdom to know the difference"

We hope you will find in this fellowship the help and friendship we have been
 privileged to enjoy.  The format for this evening is a "Speaker Couple", then
 open sharing.  [The last week of the month alternates between a "Step Study"
 and Tradition Study]

 Will the couple who has the RCA Preamble and How It Works Part One please
 share reading them?

 Will the couple who has the Twelve Steps please share reading them?

 Will the couple who has How It Works Part Two please share reading them?

We will start the meeting phone list circulating.  Phone calls are a helpful tool
 of the program.  "Phone list couples" are willing to receive RCA couple support
 calls.  If you would be willing to receive RCA phone calls please add your name,
 number and e-mail address to the list.  Free copies of the phone list should be
 available on the clipboard, if not, copies are available from the literature couple
 after the meeting.



Now let us introduce and greet ourselves as couples.  [Leaders start.]

"My name is ______ and my name is _____ and we are a recovering couple"

[Each couple introduces themselves]

 Would a couple now share reading (1st nine "Characters of
 Functional/Dysfunctional" one week, "Tools of Recovery" the next week, then the
 2nd 9 "Characters of Functional/Dysfunctional" the next, then "Tools of Recovery"
 again the next, and so on.)

Would all available sponsors please raise their hands?  Long distance sponsors
 are also available.  Please see the literature couple for a phone list.

It is now time for us to share our experience, strength and hope.  We will read our
 chosen topic material [or step], which is __________, and then we will speak for up
 to 7 minutes each.  [Advise the timer couple how you want your time broken down]

[Speaker couple begins sharing]

It is now time for other couples to share their experience, strength and hope.
 When one partner shares, the other partner may share next if that partner chooses.
 Please limit your share to 3 minutes, the timer will go off at 2 minutes, please
 wrap up your share by the second beep at 3 minutes.  We ask that everyone honor
 this boundary. 

Group Conscience suggests that couples who shared last week refrain from raising
 their hands to share until 7:00pm.  Newcomers are invited to share at anytime. 
 However, the last six minutes of the meeting will be made available for them to
 share if they wish to do so.  Please address your share to the group.  Sharing
 will end at 7:20 PM.

[Sharing will end at 7:00PM if a business meeting is scheduled]

	Would a couple now share reading the "Safety Guidelines"?

	Who would like to begin sharing?

[As leaders of this evening's meeting, and if time permits, as sharing time nears
 the end you may ask for newcomers, or for anyone that has a burning desire, to share]

7:20 PM - [Sharing ends - or 7:05 PM if there is a business meeting scheduled]

Thank you, that's all the time we have for sharing.  If you did not get a chance to
 share, please speak to another couple after the meeting, or make a "couple-to-couple"
 phone call.

Now as we practice the "Seventh Tradition", will a couple please share the reading of
 "The Twelve Traditions"?  Seventh tradition contributions are for rent, literature
 and the National Service Organization.  The basket will be passed a second time for
 childcare expenses.

We now hand the meeting format over to the secretary couple for RCA related
 announcements.

[After the secretaries' announcements - close the meeting with...]

  Would a couple please share reading "The Promises"?

  Would those who care to please join in closing the meeting with The 
  Unity Prayer?

The Safety Guidelines read at this meeting have been enhanced.  By adding the
 following paragraphs to the reading of the Safety Guidelines we have found that
 these words have helped create a safe environment for everyone. The Safety
 Guidelines have been typed with the following paragraphs as part of that reading.

Safety Guideline Enhancement Language

Reminder:  This is an open meeting and all are welcome.  It is, however, a Recovering
 Couples Anonymous meeting, so only couples may share.

If you wish to discuss something your partner shared when you leave the meeting it is
 suggested you ask your partners permission before bringing up the subject.  Your partner
 may say "Yes" or they may say "No".  Everyone needs to feel safe to share whatever he
 or she needs to share.

To keep our meeting a safe place, if a violation of the safety guidelines occurs any
 member of the group can raise their hand.  If the violation continues any member of
 the group can knock on his or her chair.

Learning and recognizing when we are violating the safety guidelines is hard,
 especially during difficult and emotional times.  The gentle hand raising or
 knocking on the chair is not intended to shame or embarrass anyone, rather to
 help us keep focused on our own recovery in R.C.A.