What is an "open" meeting?

An open meeting of A.A. is a group meeting that any member of the community, alcoholic or nonalcoholic, may attend. Nonalcoholics may attend opens meetings as observers. The only obligation is that attendees not disclose the names of A.A. members outside the meeting. A typical open meeting will usually have a “leader” and other speakers. The leader opens the meeting, introduces each speaker, then closes the meeting. With rare exceptions, the speakers at an open meeting are A.A. members. Each, in turn, may review some individual drinking experiences that led to joining A.A. Speakers may also give their interpretation of the recovery program and suggest what sobriety has meant to them personally. All views expressed are that of the speaker and not of A.A., since members of A.A. speak only for themselves.