Thursday Format

RADICAL CLARITY GROUP
STEP & TRADITION STUDY 

THURSDAY

Meeting Format -- Printable PDF (Updated 12.04.24)

CHAIRPERSON

Service needed:

1. Reader #1: Step/Tradition/Concept of the Month

2. Reader #2: 12 Tools of Debtors Anonymous

3. Reader #3: 12 Promises of Debtors Anonymous

4. Spiritual Timekeeper

____________________________________________________________________________

TECH HOST - 8:29am ET [MUTE ALL]

Welcome everyone.  My name is ______.  I am a compulsive debtor, and my solvency date is _____.  I am serving as the Technology Host for today’s meeting. I just muted the group. Anyone may unmute themselves.  I am about to post two messages in the chat: 1. The link to this format with all the prayers and readings in use during the meeting.  Clicking on the link will not remove you from the meeting; and 2. My phone number.  Please text me to be readmitted if you are accidentally dropped from the meeting.  I now turn the meeting over to _______, our Chairperson. Thank you.

TECH HOST: 8:30am ET

1. Lock the room.

2. Paste Chat message to Everyone: 

https://www.radicalclaritygroup.com/meeting-formats/thursday-format

3. Paste Chat message to Everyone: 

If you are accidentally dropped from the meeting please text me at [insert your phone number] for re-entry. 

CHAIRPERSON

Good morning and welcome to the Radical Clarity Group - Step and Tradition Study Meeting of Debtors Anonymous. My name is _____. I'm a solvent compulsive debtor. My solvency date is _______. I am your Chairperson for today’s meeting.

SAFE MEETING PARAMETERS

As a Closed Meeting, we ask participants to: 

1. Identify solely with ‘compulsive debtor.’ Those who identify with other symptoms or issues will be gently interrupted to re-identify with ‘compulsive debtor’ only. 

2. Join from a private and fixed location. 

3. Keep their still video ON for the duration of the meeting, even if they need to step away briefly (up to 5 minutes) during the meeting.

SILENCE and PRAYER

Let us now take a moment of silence for the still suffering compulsive debtor, followed by the Third Step Prayer, found on page 19 in the book “The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Debtors Anonymous”.

MOMENT OF SILENCE 

[PAUSE for 5-10 SECONDS]

PRAYER (READ SLOWLY)

DA Third Step Prayer: Higher Power, I stand before you ready to be transformed.  I place myself in your hands.  Guide me on my recovery path.  Remove my compulsive debting, my self-centered fear, and my own self-will.  May I shine to others as a beacon of your power.  May I choose to remain on your path always.

WELCOME and PURPOSE

Welcome to Debtors Anonymous. Debtors Anonymous offers hope for people whose use of unsecured debt causes problems and suffering. We come to learn that compulsive debting is a spiritual problem with a spiritual solution, and we find relief by working the DA recovery program based on the Twelve-Step principles.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. Even if members are not in debt, they are welcome in D.A. Our Fellowship is supported solely through contributions made by members; there are no dues or fees.

Debtors Anonymous is not affiliated with any financial, legal, political, or religious entities, and we avoid controversy by not discussing outside issues. By sharing our experience, strength, and hope, and by carrying the message to those who still suffer, we find joy, clarity, and serenity as we recover together.

NEWCOMER - INTRODUCTIONS 

1. Is there anyone joining us today for their first DA meeting ever? Not to embarrass you, but only to welcome you, please click “Raise Hand” and I will call on you to introduce yourself by first name only? [PAUSE - Call on those with raised hands.]

2. Next, we welcome those in their first 30 days of solvency.  Please click “Raise Hand” and introduce yourself by first name and your solvency date. [PAUSE - Call on those with raised hands.]

NEWCOMERS WELCOME (SKIP IF NO NEWCOMERS)

A Word to Newcomers: If you are having problems with money and debt and think you may be a compulsive debtor, you have come to the right place.  Debtors Anonymous can help you.  We offer face-to-face, telephone, and internet meetings, and we suggest attending at least six meetings to have an opportunity to identify with the speakers and become familiar with D.A. before deciding whether or not this program is for you.  If you identify with some or all aspects of compulsive debting, we hope you will join us on the path of recovery and find the peace, joy, and love that we have found in Debtors Anonymous.

INTRODUCTORY READINGS

1. Step / Tradition / Concept of the Month

I have asked ___ to read Step ____, Tradition ___, and Concept _____.

2. The Twelve Tools of Debtors Anonymous

I have asked ____ to read the opening paragraph of the tools, the title of each tool, and the paragraph corresponding to the month.

DA PURPOSE

Solvency, the primary purpose of Debtors Anonymous, is the practice of not incurring any new unsecured debt one day at a time. Unsecured debt is any form of debt that is not backed up by collateral.

RCG PURPOSE

The Radical Clarity Group welcomes those suffering with compulsive debting, and those who are solvent. We maintain a safe environment to share our experience, strength, and hope. We believe compulsive debting is a spiritual illness; and we focus on the spiritual solution offered in Debtors Anonymous.

____________________________________________________________________________

CO-CHAIR #2: LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH – OTHERWISE, SKIP

TOOL 10. Business Meetings - We attend business meetings that are held monthly. Many of us have long harbored feelings that “business” was not a part of our lives but for others more qualified. Yet participation in running our own program teaches us how our organization operates, and also helps us to become responsible for our own recovery.

The purpose of this business meeting is to fill service positions for this meeting for the upcoming month.   

1. Service Position - Recordkeeper: There is no solvency requirement for the Recordkeeper. This person makes a record of the service commitments for the month, emails them to radicalclarityfun@gmail.com, and reminds the group each week who volunteered for service and which step or tradition we are on. Who is willing to serve as Recordkeeper for the month of ____?

2. Service Position - Tech Host: There is no solvency requirement, but you need to have gone through a RCG Tech Host training session with MeLisa or Tony.  Who is willing to serve as Tech Host for week 1, week 2, etc...

3. Service Position - Chair: The requirement for the Chair is 6 months of solvency and 2 Pressure Relief Meetings. Who is willing to serve as Chair for week 1, week 2, etc…

4. Service Position - Chip Master: There is no solvency requirement for Chip Master.  Is there anyone willing to serve as Chip Master for week 1, week 2, etc…

5. Are there any other business items to discuss for this meeting?

____________________________________________________________________________

[READ and SHARE to 9:20am ET]

STEP AND TRADITION STUDY 

In this meeting, we read from The 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts of Debtors Anonymous: 36 Principles of Recovery. We read the entire step each week, until the last week of the month when we read the tradition corresponding to the month. 

Spiritual Timekeeper:  I have asked _____ to be our Spiritual Timekeeper today. Thank you.

____________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTIONS

We will now go around the room and introduce ourselves.  Please click “Raise Hand” and when I call on you, please introduce yourself with your name, “compulsive debtor”, and your solvency date, if you have one.  [PAUSE - Call on each person in turn.]

____________________________________________________________________________

STEP / TRADITION READING

Weekly: We will now read step ____.

[OR] 

Last Thursday of the month: We will now read tradition _____.

Please click “Raise Hand” if you would like to read.  Re-introduction is not needed. Please read up to one page.  I will start and then call on those with raised hands.  [After you read, call on those with raised hands to continue to the end of the step.]

____________________________________________________________________________

SHARING

We now have time for 3-minute shares.  Please acknowledge the Timekeeper at the “One-Minute” mark; and when “Time” is called please bring your remarks to conclusion.  Please click “Raise Hand” if you would like to share. I will call on those in turn.

[9:15am ET - TIME CHECK - 5 MINUTES REMAIN]

9:20am ET: We have reached the end of our share time for today.  Please join us next week to continue our journey through the steps and traditions. 

[TECH HOST - ENABLE “EVERYONE” IN CHAT]

9:20am – 9:30am ET

7th TRADITION

We have no dues or fees.  In accordance with the 7th Tradition, every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. The money collected pays for our Zoom subscription and sends our Group Service Representative to the annual World Service Conference.  The Radical Clarity Group also supports our General Service Office to maintain our DA website, produce literature, and perform services that allow the still-suffering compulsive debtor to find us and get help.  If you are attending your first meeting or you are not yet solvent, we ask that you not contribute.  Just keep coming back. 

The Tech Host has posted the donation methods.  We accept donations via PayPal, Zelle, and personal check or money order.  Thank you.

[CHAIR: GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS NEXT PLEASE]

[TECH HOST: PASTE TO “EVERYONE” IN CHAT]

7th Tradition contributions can be made to the current group treasurer via: 

PayPal: radicalclarityfun@gmail.com

Zelle: radicalclarityfun@gmail.com

Checks or Money Orders: Made payable to “Radical Clarity Group” and  please email radicalclarityfun@gmail.com for the Treasurer’s address.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

1. The Chat is now available to post contact information. Please create your own outreach list, if needed.

2. This meeting conducts its monthly 15-minute Business Meeting on the last Thursday of the month.  The full Radical Clarity Group Business Meeting is held at 9:45am ET on the 1st Saturday of each month in this room.

3. RCG hosts a total of 5 meetings per week in this room:

   1. Tuesdays at 8:30pm ET

   2. Thursdays at 8:30am ET

   3. Fridays at 11:00am ET 

   4. Saturdays at 8:30am ET and 

   5. Sundays at 8:30am ET

4. I now turn the meeting over to our Chip Master. Thank you.

CHIP MASTER

Thank you. My name is _____, and I’m a compulsive debtor and Chip Master today. Here at Radical Clarity “Time Is Our Friend” and we celebrate time with virtual chips and virtual hugs. 

1. The first chip is a 24-hour DESIRE CHIP. This chip you pick up 3 different ways:  The first is when you first start counting your solvency days.  The second is if you need to restart counting your solvency days, which there is nothing wrong with that - sometimes things happen and you just have to start recounting.  The third way is if you just want to remind yourself that you have today and you don’t have to worry about yesterday or tomorrow.  Who would like to pick up a desire chip?

2. The next chip is a 30-day chip - 30 days and 30 nights.  Anybody have 30 days? 

3. How about 60 days? Then we go to 90 days? 6 months? and 9 months?

4. Then when you get to 1 year of solvency, we actually mail you two chips; one has your year marker and the other one has your name and your solvency date.  These chips we have custom made, we send them to you, and each year you get to collect a new chip.  Starting out, you get a 1 year chip and a chip with your name and solvency date. Does anybody have 1 year we are not aware of?  

5. Now we go around the room and people with 1 year or more of solvency identify their solvency dates so the rest of us see that you can acquire time and that Time Is Our Friend.  Who has 1 year and more of solvency?

6. I turn the meeting back to the Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to serve. 

CLOSING READING 

I have asked _____ to read The 12 Promises of Debtors Anonymous.

TWELVE PROMISES OF DEBTORS ANONYMOUS

In the program of Debtors Anonymous, we come together to share our journey in recovering from compulsive debting. There is hope. When we work D.A.’s Twelve Steps and use D.A.’s Twelve Tools we develop new ways of living, and begin to receive these gifts of the program:

1. Where once we felt despair, we will experience a newfound hope.

2. Clarity will replace vagueness. Confidence and intuition will replace confusion and chaos. We will live engaged lives, make decisions that best meet our needs, and become the people we were meant to be.

3. We will live within our means, yet our means will not define us.

4. We will begin to live a prosperous life, unencumbered by fear, worry, resentment or debt.

5. We will realize that we are enough; we will value ourselves and our contributions.

6. Isolation will give way to fellowship; faith will replace fear.

7. We will recognize that there is enough; our resources will be generous and we will share them with others and with D.A.

8. We will cease to compare ourselves to others; jealousy and envy will fade.

9. Acceptance and Gratitude will replace regret, self-pity and longing.

10. We will no longer fear the truth; we will move from hiding in denial to living in reality.

11. Honesty will guide our actions towards a rich life filled with meaning and purpose.

12. We will recognize a Power Greater than ourselves as the source of our abundance. We will ask for help and guidance and have faith that it will come.

All this and more is possible. When we work this program with integrity and to the best of our ability, one day at a time, a life of prosperity and serenity will be ours.

The 12 Promises of Debtors Anonymous ©Registered D.A. groups have permission for distribution to its members. 

CLOSING STATEMENT

In closing, we would like to remind you that in Debtors Anonymous we practice Tradition Twelve, which is the principle of anonymity. This assures us the freedom to express ourselves at meetings and in private conversations without fear that our comments will be repeated. We keep what is shared at meetings confidential. As we work the Steps and practice DA's Traditions and Concepts, we are reminded that recovery is possible and that we are all here for a common purpose – to recover from compulsive debting one day at a time.

SILENCE AND PLEDGE

Let us now offer a moment of silence for the suffering compulsive debtor followed by the DA Responsibility Pledge. 

MOMENT OF SILENCE 

[PAUSE for 5-10 SECONDS]

RESPONSIBILITY PLEDGE (READ SLOWLY)

I pledge to extend my hand and offer the hope of recovery to anyone who reaches out to Debtors Anonymous.

–The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Debtors Anonymous, p. 62.