Do I have to call first?  Normally you can just show up at the meeting place without calling first.  The information in the meeting schedule is believed current.  Considerable effort goes into keeping it up to date.  In case of doubt, or if there is a problem, please telephone the contact person if one is listed (meetings outside the San Francisco Bay Area), or telephone the LifeRing Service Center in Oakland CA at 510-763-0779, or send an email to service@lifering.org.

A current print-format schedule for the S.F. Bay Area is available, click here (PDF format). To get a ready-made copy or copies, contact the LifeRing Service Center in Oakland CA at 510-763-0779, or send an email to service@lifering.org.

Does it cost anything?  No.  A basket will be passed but contributions are voluntary. 

Do I have to be a member of the HMO or church or other program where the meetings are held?  No.  The facility only provides the room; there is no organizational affiliation.  A few facilities require you to sign in at a security desk but you do not have to be a member of the facility that hosts the meetings.  In a few cases, the meeting is behind closed doors, available only to residents of the institution.  This will be noted in the listing.  Unless noted otherwise, all meetings are open to any interested member of the public. Treatment professionals and other guests not in recovery: as a courtesy, please identify yourself to the convenor before the meeting begins.

I need directions to the meeting place.  Each listing has a map link.  Click on it for an online map that shows the meeting location. The map page has buttons for getting directions to the meeting place from wherever you are. 

What if I can't find a face-to-face meeting in my area?  You can get support 24/7/365 with your choice of LifeRing email lists, forums, or online chat meetings.  We have unmoderated lists, moderated lists, heavy traffic lists, light traffic lists, special interest lists, a bulletin board, and chats seven days a week.  Click for  a list of lists.  Click for the chat rooms schedule.

I want to start a LifeRing meeting in my area.  Excellent!  Click for the Meeting Starter Kit page.

What happens at LifeRing meetings?  Formats vary, but at most meetings the discussion begins with the words "How Was Your Week?"  We go around the room and each person talks about what has been happening in their lives in the past week, and what they anticipate for next week.  The atmosphere is informal, supportive, conversational.  For more details, read the Welcome to LifeRing brochures.  For an extended discussion, read Ch. 3 of How Was Your Week.  For the theory behind why this works, read How Our Meetings Work.  For a different, more structured approach, look for a Workbook Study Group. 

Who's in charge at a LifeRing meeting? One member of the group acts as facilitator; we call such a person the "convenor."  Convenors of face-to-face meetings are ordinary persons in recovery with a minimum of six months clean and sober.  You yourself could become the next convenor as soon as you have the time.  There is a handbook "How Was Your Week?" where you can find out more about what the convenor role entails.