LifeRing Secular Recovery Meeting Starter Supplies

Start a LifeRing Recovery Meeting

In LifeRing, the people who start, lead or support meetings are called “convenors” (con-VEE-nur). The word means "people who bring people together." This page is a short catalogue of the resources that are there for you if you decide that becoming a LifeRing convenor is part of your personal recovery program. An Order Form is provided below.

Before you start:

Get in touch with the LifeRing Service Center. Its mission is “Serve the Meetings.” From a friendly ear to a host of material resources, the volunteers at the Service Center can help you get a new meeting off the ground or grow one that exists. Call toll-free 1-800-811-4142 or email service@lifering.org.

Read How Was Your Week: Bringing People Together in Recovery the LifeRing Way. A Handbook. The most complete summary to date of LifeRing convenor experience, and explanation of LifeRing theory and practice. Check out especially Chapter 13, on starting new meetings (online as PDF). All the topics mentioned on this page are discussed in more detail in How Was Your Week.

LifeRing 101, the CD. A 45-minute audio and slide presentation by LifeRing author Marty N. delivered at the 2002 LifeRing Congress. Covers the basics of meeting format, how it works, and LifeRing philosophy. Runs on Real Player (included on CD). FREE to LifeRing pioneers (people starting new meetings); ask for one in the box below. For others, $10 from LifeRing Press.

How long have you been clean and sober? Generally, a person should have at least six months of continuous abstinence from alcohol and non-medically justified drugs before taking on meeting leadership. You can, however, accomplish a great deal of preparatory work before you get the six months.

Check the current meeting list. Maybe there is already a meeting or a meeting under construction in your area? Check the list first.

Look at the Meeting Charter. This is the basic agreement between you and LifeRing about the purpose and content of the meeting. PDF with fill-in fields. You can (1) fill in the fields and email it as attachment to the Service Center; or (2) download it, print it, fill in your side, mail it to the Service Center; a signed original will be sent back to you; or (3) get a blank copy sent to you to fill out and mail back.

You may need to have documentation about LifeRing's non-profit status. Some meeting room providers require it before they'll let you use their space. More information.

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Flyers for Posting or Handing Out
Once you have a room, you'll want to get the word out. Here are some sample posters/flyers. Download one that you like and add your information in the fill-in fields in Adobe Reader before printing. Or build your own. Contact the Service Center for hard copies if you do not have the capacity to produce flyers yourself.
	The flyer to the left (excerpt) is one of a set of four produced by Matt Dean for the Charleston S.C. meeting in 2008. These show a professional touch and are a cut above the first-generation handouts shown below. Use them for inspiration when designing your own. Click to see full-page PDFs: Flyer 1 * Flyer 2 * Flyer 3 * Flyer 4 Here's a great link to the complete collection of Matt's poster/flyers both as .jpg and as .pdf files, complete with info how Matt prepared and printed them.
New Meeting Flyer "A"; Had Enough? ... PDF with fill-in fields	New Meeting Flyer "B" No Steps, No Higher Power ... PDF with fill-in fields	New Meeting Flyer "C" Yes, I want to get clean and sober ... PDF with fill-in fields
New Meeting Flyer "D" Want support .... PDF with fill-in fields	New Meeting Flyer "E" Half size, specimen only, PDF no fields.	*Flyer "F" -- New or Established Meeting. "Having Problems with alcohol or drugs?" PDF with fill-in fields.* (By Gillian E., San Francisco.)**
Make your own flyer kit: a collection of logo images and other graphics. Use your word processing or graphics program to make the flyer that's right for your meeting. Top

Directional Signs and Door Sign Download the ones you need, fill in the field, and print them yourself. If you put these in plastic sheet protectors they'll last a long time.
Door Sign	Direction Sign, Ahead or Up, PDF with fill-in field	Direction Sign, Down, PDF with fill-in field
Direction Sign, Right, PDF with fill-in field	Direction Sign, Left, PDF with fill-in field	Blank Sign, PDF with fill-in field
Blank Sign, portrait orientation, PDF with fill-in field	Sign for when your regular room is closed and you meet at a restaurant instead. (By Robert D., Hayward CA)	Custom-made directional sign (by Robert D., Hayward CA.)
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Opening Statement, Signup Sheets
Opening Statement. A basic version for starters. Modify it to suit your needs, as long as you have abstinence, secularity and self-help in it.	Signup Sheet. With space for email addresses plus phone numbers. PDF with fill-in fields. One side, 15 spaces.	Two-Sided Signup Sheet: Front and back, 36 spaces.
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Handouts Make sure every newcomer gets at least one item of LifeRing literature to take home. If you have only one chance to reach them, give them the "Welcome to LifeRing" brochure or "If This Is Day One."

If This Is Day One. Download PDF. Buy.	Welcome to LifeRing. Download PDF. Buy.	We Come Recomm-ended. Download PDF. Buy..	Give Something Back. Download PDF. Buy..	Food for the Sober Mind. Download PDF.	LifeRing Online. Download PDF. Buy.	Choice: It's the Law Download PDF. Buy.	Sobriety Is Our Priority. Download PDF. Buy.	Secular Is Our Middle Name. Download PDF. Buy.	Self-Help Is What We Do. Download PDF. Buy.
You can get LifeRing handouts two ways: download as PDF and print and fold them yourself, or purchase them ready-made in quantities of 50 from LifeRing Press. Free samples are included with every book order from LifeRing Press. These are standard trifold brochures made for standard literature racks. The three titles on the right form a trilogy that provide a short introduction to the LifeRing "Three-S" philosophy (Sobriety, Secularity, Self-Help). Top

Books Keep a display copy of each of the LifeRing Press titles in view during the meeting. You can circulate the display copies during the meeting so that people can get familiar with them. A meeting is entitled to a free display copy of each title (but you pay shipping). For a complete description of the books, and to order, go to www.lifering.com (the LifeRing Press website).

Recovery by Choice workbook	Presenting LifeRing	Keepers	How Was Your Week?	Bylaws
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Mailings to Treatment Professionals

Your meeting will grow if it gets referrals from treatment professionals. Contact the Service Center for assistance with mailings to treatment centers in your area. Here is a sample series of mailings from the Service Center:

Helpful hints to increase referrals:

Get to know your local treatment centers and other places where people in recovery can be found.
Cultivate good relations with treatment professionals you know. Start with your own counselors.
Be active in your treatment program's alumni group, if it has one.
Keep the literature racks filled with LifeRing brochures.
Keep your flyers up on the bulletin boards.
Speak to recovery audiences at every opportunity.

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Other Supplies:

Money envelopes:

Self-addressed stamped envelopes addressed to Treasurer at the Service Center. For mailing basket contributions and book money to the Service Center. Free from the Service Center.

Rubber Stamp:

If you have a lot of participants from treatment centers or in the correctional system, they'll need to get their attendance slips signed. Take the tedium out of this paperwork with a LifeRing rubber stamp. Actual size of stamp impression: 1/4" high x 1" wide. Click.

A checklist of other basic meeting needs you can procure locally.

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Convenor Workshops and Support Meetings:

Convenor support meetings and workshops are held periodically at the Service Center in Oakland, usually on the second Saturday of each month. They can be held anywhere by arrangement.

The Annual LifeRing Congress:

The annual LifeRing Congress is an occasion for socializing, for educational workshops, and for democratic self-government. It's the one event of the year not to be missed. Check www.unhooked.com for announcements. Details.

Online Resources:

Join the LifeRing convenor email list. Connect with other convenors worldwide. To sign up, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/liferingconvenor/
Check out the LifeRing Convenor Blog, http://liferingconvenor.blogspot.com/
Browse the convenor's section of unhooked.com. Large archive of convenor stories and materials. Go to ../lifering.org/convenors/index.htm
Watch the unhooked.com Bulletin Board for announcements of upcoming events. Go to http://unhooked.com/bulletinbd/

Other Resources:

LifeRing 101 PowerPoint slide show; file size 2.85 mb; MS PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer required. Does not include audio track. (Same content as LifeRing 101 CD, above, but without the sound track).
LifeRing 101 RealAudio stream, sound track only from LifeRing 101 slideshow, no visuals, 45 minutes. Requires Real Audio player and 56k modem or faster. Starts automatically if you have RealAudio player installed. (Same content as the LifeRing 101 CD, above, but without the slides.)
A list of other suggested readings for meeting starters.
Web hosting service. Make it easy for people to find you: have your own web page for your meeting, with the web address www.unhooked.com/yourcity

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Get Started
Please provide your contact information and write a short message indicating what you want to do and what supplies you will need.

To the LifeRing Service Center:

My first name:	Last name:
My mailing address	Street: City: State: Zip:
My telephone(s):
My email address(es):
City of Meeting:
Meeting Location (if set):
I have six months or more continuous abstinence from alcohol and "drugs." Message for the LifeRing Service Center about the meeting I want to start and the supplies I need: