For most it takes a long time to muster the strength and gain permission to share their testimony. Every Bag who successfully completes the first 9 Steps is a member of the Cob. Once your name has risen to the top of the waiting list and you have been interviewed and selected by the Cob to witness in front of the membership at large, you must fast and pray for 3 days. You are expected to be appropriately dressed and groomed for the event much like you would dress for any formal affair. You stand back stage waiting for the assembly to begin.
Meetings start promptly and doors are locked to prevent interruption of the service.
This is probably unnecessary as no one has ever been late, but they do not want to take a chance of compromising the addict's experience. Escorted on stage you seat yourself on a lone kitchen chair. Except for a small, empty table there is no other furniture, podiums, or other items on stage. Before exiting stage right the president of the Cob sets a platter of freshly baked brownies on the small table in front of you and the vice-president brings out an empty crystal glass, sweating pitcher of ice cold milk, and a very small fan which he sets near the brownies before exiting stage left. It's a surreal experience as not a single word is spoken once the meeting is underway.