GC Approved Revision 12-10-23
Announcements updated 11-7-24
CONFERENCE DIAL-IN NUMBER: 1.667.770.1476 (USA). Enter the host code and use the keypad commands on your phone (listed below), OR use the Free Conference Call HD app (instructions posted here).
Host Commands
Manage Q&A
Note: Participants must dial *6 and 1 to ask a question
*5 Mute When not in Q&A mode. Listen to the recorded voice to know when you’re in the right setting, for example, “All participants are muted and can unmute themselves.”
Commands for Everyone
[Chair: When you log into the call, every minute or two, mention that the meeting is going to start at the top of the hour, or say, “in three minutes at 7:00 am” (for example). This lets everyone know that the chair is there. Start the meeting on the hour (or when there is at least 1 participant.)]
Hello everyone. My name is _____ and I’m powerless over marijuana (or a marijuana addict). Welcome to this open meeting of the “Marijuana Anonymous World Phone Meetings” or MAWPM (maa-pum) group. We meet daily at 7 AM, 10 AM, Noon, and 8 PM, and Friday at 10 PM US Eastern time zone.
Before the Serenity Prayer, we will take a moment of silence.
[Chair: Pause for 5 seconds.]
Thank you.
Make sure you are unmuted to participate. The Serenity Prayer starts with the word God, and that’s the Higher Power of your own understanding.
We will do the call-and-response version, where I say a line and you repeat it.
God, grant me the serenity . . .
[Chair: pause]
To accept the things I cannot change . . .
[Chair: pause]
The courage to change the things I can, . . .
[Chair: pause]
And the wisdom to know the difference.
[Chair: pause]
These phone meetings are managed using Q&A mode. To participate in the meeting, join or remove yourself from the queue by pressing *6-1. When the system tells you, “You may now ask your question,” that means it’s time for you to speak.
I am putting our call into Q&A mode now.
[Chair: Put meeting into Q&A mode for the entire meeting until the closing Serenity Prayer by pressing *01 or by pressing the “?” on the app.]
I am Responsible.
Whenever anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,
. . . I want the hand of Marijuana Anonymous to be there.
And for that: I am responsible.
Will someone please be of service and prepare to read one of the Twelves (The Steps, Traditions, Questions, Promises or Principles), Our Awakening, or the Dangers of Cross Addiction, and enter the queue by pressing *6-1. These can be found on our website, ma-phone.org, under Readings & Resources, Meeting Readings. I will check the queue for a reader after the MA Preamble.
[Chair: "Life with Hope" and the MA app have the old version of the 12 Questions.]
Marijuana Anonymous is a fellowship of people who share our experience, strength, and hope with each other that we may solve our common problem and help others to recover from marijuana addiction.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using marijuana. This is to adhere to the singleness of purpose concept, but many of us have found that the only way that we can keep our sobriety is to abstain from all mind and mood altering chemicals, including alcohol.
There are no dues or fees for membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. MA is not affiliated with any religious or secular institution or organization and has no opinion on any outside controversies or causes. Our primary purpose is to stay free of marijuana and to help the marijuana addict who still suffers achieve the same freedom. We can do this by practicing our suggested Twelve Steps of recovery and by being guided as a group by our Twelve Traditions.
I will check the queue for a volunteer to read.
[Chair: Press *02 or “Next Question” on the app to check for volunteers.
If no one is in the queue, ask again for a volunteer and wait about 10 seconds. If the queue is still empty, read one yourself.]
Hi, what would you like to read?
[Chair: Mute your phone while they read; unmute when they finish.]
Thank you ______ for your service.
[Chair: Or something similar, for example, “Thanks for reading for us.”
After reading, press *04 or scroll left on the app to mute the last caller.]
What happens at an MA meeting?
People discuss their problems with marijuana, what they did to recover, and what life is like now. We have found that, as a group, we can achieve for ourselves results which, as individuals, we failed repeatedly.
MARIJUANA ANONYMOUS uses the 12 Steps of Recovery founded by Alcoholics Anonymous, because it has been proven to work!
Before we begin sharing, we want to welcome any newcomers or anyone returning to MA. Please introduce yourself by first name; there will be time for sharing later. Whether you share today or stay to listen, we’re glad you’re here and hope you keep coming back.
Press *6-1 to join the queue.
[Chair: Pause for 5 seconds, and then press *02 to check for newcomers and welcome them individually.]
Welcome, _____. [Chair: Say something else, for example, “We’re so glad you’re here,” “Keep coming back,” or something similar. If they mention their day count, say, “Congratulations on __ days.”]
Please stay on the line after the meeting to ask questions, receive support, and learn about recovery resources. There will be an opportunity to exchange phone numbers with other members for support at the end of the meeting. Please join us Wednesdays at noon Eastern time for our newcomer meetings. Also visit the Newcomers page on our website, ma-phone.org.
Tonight is our “Saturday Night Live” speaker meeting. The format is a bit different from our other 8PM meetings. Our speaker, ________, will share their experience, strength and hope, and then you will be invited to join the queue to thank the speaker and claim your seat. If ____ (speaker) has not gotten in the queue yet, please press *6-1.
[Chair: Press *02 or "Next Question" on the app to bring the speaker in. After confirming you have them…]
[Chair: If speaker has agreed to be recorded:
________ (speaker) has agreed to be recorded for future playback. I will start the recording.
Press *9 or the REC button on the app to start the recording]
The floor is yours, ______ (speaker).
[Mute yourself locally on your phone so there is no background noise.]
[After speaker shares, press *9 or the REC button on the app to stop the recording]
Thank you _____ (speaker) for sharing your experience, strength, and hope with us.
It's now time to get in the queue by pressing *6-1 to claim your seat and thank the speaker. This means announcing your first name and, if you'd like, your location and day count. This helps us all know that we are not alone in this recovery process. Please mind your time while speaking. The meeting may run over a few minutes as we will give everyone in the queue a chance to speak.
[Chair: Press *02 or “Next Question” on the app to check the queue for seat-claimers. Use language similar to the following before and after each person claims their seat.]
“Go ahead and claim your seat,” or “It’s your turn.”
“Thank you,” or “Thanks, ______,” perhaps say “Congratulations on your __ days,” or “We’re glad you’re here,” or “Thanks for claiming your seat.”
[Chair: Press *04 or “Next Question” on the app to mute last caller.]
Since we have more time during the meeting, we will invite our speaker to offer a recovery related question and invite you to get in the queue to share. Would the speaker please press *6-1 to get back in the queue?
[Chair: Press *02 or “Next Question” on the app to bring the speaker in.
Is this _____? What question would you like to pose to the group as a discussion topic?
[Chair: Press *04 or scroll left on the app to mute speaker]
____ has suggested the question of _______ as a topic. To share, press *6-1. The system will say, “You may now ask your question,” which means it’s your turn to share.
Please honor MA’s primary purpose and focus your sharing on topics of recovery from marijuana addiction. MA is a spiritual program and not a religious or political program. We do not discuss outside issues. We share our own experience, strength, and hope by using “I” statements instead of speaking for the group or others by using "you, us, we, or our."
Please keep your share to 2 minutes and confirm my one-minute notice. There’s no need to stop abruptly; just wind down your share. You may offer your phone number at the end of your share, if you wish.
[Chair: Write down phone numbers when offered after member shares in case they are requested again after the meeting]
To provide a safe environment, we do not use excessive profanity or engage in crosstalk, which we define as giving someone advice, mentioning their name, or referring to their share. You can speak to others and ask questions after the meeting. I will follow these guidelines as well. If these guidelines are crossed, any member may ask the chairperson to reread the crosstalk statement.
Please stay on the line after we close to exchange phone numbers, ask questions, and join in fellowship.
Our 7th Tradition states that, "Every MA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions." District 28 is collecting 7th Tradition contributions to cover expenses such as our website and support MA World Services. To donate, use the 7th Tradition link on the home page of ma-phone.org.
Please give what you can and Keep Coming Back!
If you have an MA-related announcement press *6-1.
· Service is an important part of recovery. If you have 60 days of continuous sobriety and are interested in chairing a meeting or joining the Chairperson WhatsApp group to be a substitute chair, we currently have several meetings with no chair. Email cc.mawpm@gmail.com for more information.
· If you call into a meeting and there is no chair, please stick around. If you’re comfortable, anyone can access the script at ma-phone.org --> Meeting Scripts --> MAWPM and chair without going into Q&A mode. You may also do literature readings or share in fellowship. Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the marijuana addict who still suffers.
[Chair: list of open meetings can be found here Chairpersons List]
· All members are invited to our monthly MAWPM Group Conscience Meeting on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 1:10PM Eastern here on the MAWPM Line. The next meeting is November 10. The positions of Group Conscience Secretary, Saturday Night Live Speaker Coordinator, Chairperson Coordinator, and Console Administrator are open. To submit an agenda item, e-mail mawpm.secretary@gmail.com.
· We need help finding Saturday Night Live Speakers for the MA Speaker Tapes podcast. You can be a speaker or a speaker seeker, who finds speakers from other meetings you attend around the world.
· District 28 consists of three phone groups: MAWPM, Women in Recovery, and Dudes in Recovery. Combined, these three groups offer 39 phone meetings each week. See our website for meeting schedules and phone numbers. All members are welcome to attend the next regular District Service Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 20 at 7PM Eastern on the District Conference Line. The positions of Assistant Web Administrator, Chips and Hospitals, Institutions and Public Information Chairpersons, and World Services Conference Delegates and Alternate are available.
· Check out the Announcements page of ma-phone.org for free resources and to learn ways to get involved in our fellowship.
[Chair: Check the queue with *02 or “Next Question.”]
Thank you again to our speaker, ______, and to everyone who provided service, those who shared, and those listening. [Optional: read names]
Welcome again to the newcomer(s). We’re glad you’re here. Keep coming back! Connection is the opposite of addiction.
I will now take us out of Q&A mode and put us into mute all mode for the Serenity Prayer.
[Chair: Press *03 or the “End Q&A” on the app to end Q&A,
then press *5 or “Mute All” on the app to mute all.]
[FYI on the phone: After pressing *5, the system will say one of these 3 things:
If it says “muted” or “unmuted,” press *5 again until it says “...THEY CAN UNMUTE THEMSELVES”.]
You will need to unmute yourself by pressing *6.
Let’s do the all together “we” version, starting now…
God, grant us the serenity . . .
To accept the things we cannot change . . .
The courage to change the things we can . . .
And the wisdom to know the difference.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE! The meeting is concluded.
[Optional]
Keep coming back. It works!
I will put our call back in Q&A mode for phone number exchange.
[Chair: Press *01 or the “?” on the app to go back to Q&A.]
Telephone contact with other MA members between meetings helps maintain sobriety. We suggest that newcomers take down phone numbers from those who share and call the people you feel comfortable with.
Mention your willingness to be a sponsor or temporary sponsor. Sponsorship enhances recovery through one-on-one guidance working the Twelve Steps and applying them in your life. We suggest you listen for those who “have what you want."
[Chair: Press *02 or “Next Question” on the app to check for numbers.]
Do any newcomers have any questions at this time, or would anyone who didn’t get a chance to share during the meeting like to take a share? Press *61 to get in the queue.
[Chair: Press *02 or “Next Question” on the app. If someone takes a share, time it and follow other guidelines as you do during the meeting.
If you do not know the answer to a question, ask others to get in the queue to share their experience, strength, and hope.]
[Chair: For meeting attendance verification, attendee must e-mail:
1. date & time of meeting
2. chairperson's name
3. topic discussed
to mawpm.secretary@gmail.com within 48 hours of meeting.
Please tell them this is only for phone meetings on this line, not in person or Zoom meetings. If multiple verifications are needed, they will be sent weekly.]
[Chair: When queue is empty, end Q&A mode by pressing *03 or “End Q&A” on the app. ]
***Please keep fellowship safe by maintaining an atmosphere of recovery. Sexual harassment, violence, gossip, and targeting others erodes trust and group unity and will not be tolerated. Contact a Safety Support Team member from the list on our website if necessary.***
[Chair: A Safe Place pamphlet (is approved by GC but is not conference approved literature)]
It is now time for fellowship.
[Chair: Optional - give prompts for recovery discussion in fellowship if line is quiet, e.g., “What are you doing for your recovery today?,” “Does anyone have any challenges they would like to hear experience, strength and hope about?”]
[Chair: Create an inclusive atmosphere; avoid exclusivity or chair monologue.]
[Chair: If you’re using the app, when fellowship winds down, or you have to leave, press the red hang-up icon at the bottom of the screen, and then uncheck the box “End to Meeting for All Participants” in case people want to continue talking. If you leave the box checked, it will end the whole meeting.]
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