12 Step Meetings
The 12 step meetings at the Barrow Mansion in Jersey City provide support for people struggling with alcohol, drug, sex, or other types of addictions, as well as codependency (through Al-Anon). All meetings are anonymous and confidential.
If you need help right away, you can call the AA helpline at: 1-908-687-8566, 24 hours/7 days a week
There are many different types of 12 step meetings at the Barrow Mansion. Please note the meeting type, so you can find a meeting that best fits your needs:
Open Vs Closed Meetings
Open Meetings
Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’s program of recovery from alcoholism. Nonalcoholics may attend open meetings as observers.
Closed Meetings
Closed meetings are for A.A. members only or for those who have a drinking problem and “have a desire to stop drinking.”
At both types of meetings, it may be requested that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.
Whether open or closed, AA group meetings are conducted by AA members who determine the format of their meetings.
Open Vs Closed Meetings
Open Meetings
Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’s program of recovery from alcoholism. Nonalcoholics may attend open meetings as observers.
Closed Meetings
Closed meetings are for A.A. members only or for those who have a drinking problem and “have a desire to stop drinking.”
At both types of meetings, it may be requested that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.
Whether open or closed, AA group meetings are conducted by AA members who determine the format of their meetings.
Meeting Formats
Discussion
Whether closed or open, an AA member serving as leader or chair opens the meeting using that group’s format, and selects a topic for discussion. Background for many topic meetings derives from AA literature, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book), Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, As Bill Sees It, Daily Reflections, and from AA Grapevine.
Speaker
One or more members selected beforehand "share" — as described in the Big Book — telling "what we were like, what happened, and what we are like now." Depending on the meeting's general guidelines (determined by the "group conscience"), some groups prefer that members who speak have a minimum period of continuous sobriety. Speaker meetings often are open meetings.
Beginners
Usually led by a group member who has been sober for some time, these are sessions to help newcomers. Beginners meetings may also follow a discussion format, or focus on Steps One, Two and Three. (See A Guide for Leading Beginners Meetings for more information.)
Step, Tradition, or Big Book
Because the Twelve Steps are the foundation of personal recovery in A.A., many groups devote one or more meetings a week to the study of each Step in rotation; some discuss two or three Steps at a time. These same formats may be applied to group meetings on the Big Book or the Twelve Traditions. Many groups make it a practice to read aloud pertinent material from the Big Book or Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions at the beginning of the meeting.
What Happens at Meetings
The chair usually opens the meeting with the AA Preamble and a few remarks. Some call for a moment of silence and/or recite the Serenity Prayer. The chair will often ask if there are any people new to AA attending the meeting who would like to introduce themselves. It isn’t mandatory to identify yourself but it might be helpful if you are attending your first meeting. Many meetings begin with a reading from the Big Book — frequently a portion of Chapter 5 (“How It Works”) or Chapter 3 (“More About Alcoholism”). A statement about anonymity in AA as a valuable privacy principle for new and longtime members might be read. Many meetings close with members joining in a moment of silence followed by a prayer, or perhaps by reciting the Responsibility Statement or other AA text.
After the Meeting
People gather and talk, and there is a social air in the room once the meeting is over. Some may introduce themselves to you and offer their help or share their experiences getting sober. While many members find this time after the meeting valuable, it is up to you if you want to stay and socialize.
These meeting formats are also applied to Al-Anon and SRA meetings.
Helpful Links
Find the Right Meeting for You
Monday
12:15pm
The Mansion at 12:15 (Step, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
7:30pm
Soberly Speaking (women only, speaker, discussion, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
7:30pm
Soberly Speaking (men only, speaker, discussion, closed)
Location: Downstairs
Meeting: AA
Tuesday
12:15pm
The Mansion at 12:15 (beginners, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:00pm
Co-Dependents Anon
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
7:30pm
Soberly Speaking (beginners, literature, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting type: AA
Wednesday
12:15pm
The Mansion at 12:15 (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm
Primary Purpose (Big Book, discussion, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
6:30pm
AlAnon (Big Book, discussion,)
Location: Front Parlor
Meeting: AA
7:30pm
Today We Live
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: NA
Thursday
12:15pm
The Mansion at 12:15 (open, speaker, discussion)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm
Survivors Syndicate
Location: Front Parlor
Meeting: Cancer Survivors
7:30pm
Soberly Speaking (open, speaker)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
Friday
12:15pm
The Mansion at 12:15pm (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm
Work It You're Worth It
Location: Downstairs Kitchen
Meeting: AA
7:30pm
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: ACoA
10:00pm
Friday Night By Candlelight (topic, discussion, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
Saturday
10:00am
Sisters In Recovery (women only, Daily Reflection, discussion, closed) Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
12:00pm
Primary Purpose (Daily Reflection, discussion, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm
Soberly Speaking (Step, Tradition, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
Sunday
10:00am
Soberly Speaking (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
10:00am
Soberly Speaking (12 step, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
10:00am
Marijuana Anon (Daily Reflection, discussion, open)
Location: Room 206 (2nd floor)
Meeting: NA
Monday
12:15pm The Mansion at 12:15 (Step, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
7:30pm Soberly Speaking (women only, speaker, discussion, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
7:30pm Soberly Speaking (men only, speaker, discussion, closed)
Location: Downstairs
Meeting: AA
Tuesday
12:15pm The Mansion at 12:15 (beginners, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:00pm Co-Dependents Anon
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
7:30pm Soberly Speaking (beginners, literature, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting type: AA
Wednesday
12:15pm The Mansion at 12:15 (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm Primary Purpose (Big Book, discussion, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
6:30pm AlAnon (Big Book, discussion,)
Location: Front Parlor
Meeting: AA
7:30pm Today We Live
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: NA
Thursday
12:15pm The Mansion at 12:15 (open, speaker, discussion)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm Survivors Syndicate
Location: Front Parlor
Meeting: Cancer Survivors
7:30pm Soberly Speaking (open, speaker)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
Friday
12:15pm The Mansion at 12:15pm (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
6:30pm Work It You're Worth It
Location: Downstairs Kitchen
Meeting: AA
7:30pm Adult Children of Alcoholics
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: ACoA
10:00pm Friday Night By Candlelight (topic, discussion, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
Saturday
10:00am Sisters In Recovery (women only, Daily Reflection, discussion, closed) Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
12:00pm Primary Purpose (Daily Reflection, discussion, open)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
2:00pm Marijuana Anon (Daily Reflection, discussion, open)
Location:
Meeting: NA
6:30pm Soberly Speaking (Step, Tradition, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
7:30pm RIP
Location:
Meeting: NA
Sunday
10:00am Soberly Speaking (Big Book, closed)
Location: Downstairs Meeting Room
Meeting: AA
10:00am Soberly Speaking (12 step, closed)
Location: Rear Parlor
Meeting: AA
10:00am Marijuana Anon (Daily Reflection, discussion, open)
Location: Front Parlor
Meeting: NA