In Al-Anon 32 years since 4/13/1985, Marie just changed sponsors a week ago.
Her home group is a Step Study that, being autonomous, voted to allow the chair to use the AA Big Book and Twelve and Twelve, if they so choose, as the basis of the discussion.
She feels this is in alignment with Al-Anon's Fifth Tradition that, Marie says, states, "we do this by practicing the step ourselves".
Generally, 100 attend the meetings. They break into groups in separate rooms. There are spin off meetings in New York and Australia as well as others with a similar format in LA.
"If your alcoholics and you're in the room - thank you. You're my idea of an open bar...I'll have a double shot of that one."