Speaking at your first meeting

Do I Have to Speak at an AA Meeting in Dumaguete?

No.

You don’t have to speak at a meeting in Dumaguete.

You can walk in, take a seat at the table, and listen.

Many people spend their first meeting listening.

Listening is enough.

Current local meetings

Looking for a Meeting?

Meeting times and locations can change. Check the current meeting page before attending.

View Current AA Meetings in Dumaguete

Before your first meeting

Many People Worry About This Before Their First Meeting

One of the most common fears isn’t the meeting itself.

It’s the thought that somebody will point at you and expect you to tell your story.

People wonder whether they’ll have to stand up, explain themselves, or answer questions in front of strangers.

That’s not how meetings in Dumaguete work.

You can attend your first meeting and simply listen.

At the beginning of the meeting

What Usually Happens

The meeting begins with opening readings and a brief explanation of the format.

Near the beginning, the chair may ask if anyone is visiting from another group, attending for the first time, or celebrating a sobriety anniversary, often called a birthday.

This is a question directed to the room.

It’s a soft invitation, not an obligation.

If you’d like to, you can raise your hand, say your first name, and say it’s your first meeting.

You can also simply say, “It’s my first time. I’m here to listen.”

That’s enough.

Remaining quiet

What If I Don’t Say Anything?

Nothing.

You don’t have to introduce yourself.

You don’t have to explain why you came.

You don’t have to describe your drinking.

You don’t have to tell your life story.

You can sit at the table and listen.

During the meeting

Will People Ask Me Questions?

Not during the meeting.

There is no direct follow-up.

There is no requirement to explain yourself.

Cross talk is discouraged.

People are there to share their own experience, not question somebody else’s.

What the room may look like

Large Meetings and Small Meetings

Meetings in Dumaguete are usually small.

People sit around a table.

A meeting with 15 to 20 people is usually considered large here and is often due to visitors, holidays, or convention activity.

Don’t be intimidated by the size of the room, whether it’s large or small.

The meeting follows basically the same pattern.

Everyone is there for the same reason.

Your first meeting

Listening Is Participation

You don’t have to earn your seat at the table by speaking.

You don’t have to arrive with the right words.

You don’t have to know how any of this works.

For a first meeting, listening is enough.

Questions that may still matter

Questions You May Still Be Asking

Do I Have to Say I’m an Alcoholic?

No. You don’t have to call yourself anything.

You can sit down, listen, and decide for yourself what the meeting means to you.

What If Someone Asks Me to Read Aloud?

You can pass.

You can say, “No thanks. I’m just here to listen today.”

That’s enough.

What If I Start Crying?

You can pause.

You can sit quietly or step outside if you need to.

You don’t have to explain what happened or continue speaking.

Can I Stop If I Begin Speaking and Change My Mind?

Yes.

You can stop at any point. You don’t have to finish a story once you begin it.

You can say, “That’s all I want to say today.”

Do I Have to Talk to Anyone After the Meeting?

No.

Someone may say hello after the meeting, but you don’t have to stay for a conversation or explain why you came.

What If I Don’t Understand Everything I Hear?

You don’t have to understand every reading, phrase, or reference at your first meeting.

Listen for what makes sense.

The rest can wait.

One more thought before you go

You Can Just Listen.

You don’t have to speak.

You don’t have to introduce yourself.

You don’t have to explain why you’re there.

Find the meeting.

Find the venue.

Find the table.

Find an open chair.

Sit down.

Listen.

That’s enough for a first meeting.