Here you can find some suggestions for how to start a face-to-face meeting in your area. Starting a new meeting is an incredible act of service which can help not only you, but also other struggling addicts in your area.
• The good news is that starting a new meeting is very simple! Anybody, anywhere can start an ITAA meeting – there is no need to receive permission from anybody.
• We recommend reading “A Vision For You” in the Big Book of AA. The chapter is incredibly inspiring and includes practical advice and guidance for those seeking to start new meetings.
• When trying to find a meeting place, it can be a good idea to look at places where other 12-step meetings are held and ask if they have any space available for you to start a new ITAA meeting.
• You only need two people seeking to recover from internet and technology addiction to start a meeting. And there is no need to get discouraged if you are alone. Some meetings have been started by individuals patiently showing up to their meeting space for months, until a newcomer finds the meeting and joins them.
• If you start a new meeting, you can let us know the meeting place, time, and contact details, and we can list them on the website.
• A helpful format for small meetings with just a few people is to read from 12-step literature. You can read a passage, take turns sharing any reflections, and then read another passage. You can also use the format we traditionally use in the phone meetings.
• You can also put up flyers for your meeting; most 12-step clubhouses have a place where you can leave a flyer or list your meeting details.
• The Twelve traditions of ITAA are useful guides in stewarding a new meeting.
• Have perseverance, patience, and trust in higher power.