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From the books ... Alcoholics Anonymous (Big Book) and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (12 & 12)
Click the page number or the book cover icon
to view that page in the literature.1.
... its actions
never be personally punitive nor ...
BB
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form), p.575
XII. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority
over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion,
vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial
unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that
it never perform acts of government, and that,
like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and
action.
2.
Though Tradition Nine at first sight seems to deal with a purely practical matter, in its actual operation it discloses a
society without organization, animated
only by the spirit of service -- a true fellowship.
3.
4.
5.
The association wanted
to use our member's full name in all its advertising; he was to be
described both as its director of publicity and as a member of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
6.
7.
But in relation to us, it means very simply that every A.A. group can manage its affairs exactly as it pleases, except when A.A. as a whole is threatened.
8.
We doctors have realized
for a long time that some form of moral psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its application presented
difficulties beyond
our conception.
9.
Then, under one provocation or another,
the aggrieved one would unearth the old affair and angrily cast its ashes about.
10.
If hundreds of experiences have shown him
that one drink means another debacle with all its attendant suffering and
humiliation, why is it he
takes that one drink?
11.
12.
In either case, the group now has a so-called rotating committee, very sharply limited in its authority.
13.
My old manner of life was by no means a bad one, but I would not exchange
its best moments for the worst I have now.
14.
This is our gift from God, and
its bestowal upon others like us is the one aim that today animates A.A.'s all around the globe.
15.
When a society composed
entirely of alcoholics
says it's going to pay its bills, that's really news.
16.
Who is more unpopular than
the oldtime A.A., full of wisdom, who moves to another area and tries to tell the group there how to run its business?
17.
18.
Most of us have entered the final stage with its commitment to health resorts, sanitariums, hospitals,
and jails.
19.
Being convinced that self, manifested in various ways, was what had defeated us, we considered its common manifestations.
20.
We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating
weakness and all its consequences.
21.
In spite of the great increase in the size and the span of this Fellowship, at
its core it remains simple and personal.
22.
23.
Alcohol, now become the rapacious creditor, bleeds us of all self-sufficiency and all will to resist its demands.
24.
25.
26.
The association wanted
to use our member's full name in all its advertising; he was to be
described both as its director of publicity and as a member of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
27.
None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did.
28.
This is the experience which has led us to the conclusion that
our group conscience, well-advised by its elders, will be in the long run wiser than any single leader.
29.
30.
31.
They pointed out that the irresponsible had become
responsible, and that by making financial independence part of its tradition, Alcoholics Anonymous had
revived an ideal that its era had almost forgotten.
32.
Nevertheless, the infant Society determined to set down its experience in a book which finally reached the public in April 1939.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Out of this alloy of drink and speculation, I commenced to forge the weapon that one day would turn in its flight like a boomerang and all but
cut me to ribbons.
38.
To those now in its fold, Alcoholics Anonymous has
made the difference between misery and sobriety, and often the difference between life and death.
39.
Its foreword made this revealing statement: "It is important that we remain anonymous because we are
too few, at present, to handle the overwhelming
number of personal appeals which may result from
this publication.
40.
Neither its General Service Conference, its Foundation Board,(*) nor the humblest group committee can issue a single directive to an A.A. member and make it stick, let alone mete out any punishment.
41.
42.
When the Twelfth Step is seen in its full implication, it is really talking about the kind of love that has no price tag
on it.
43.
Neither its General Service Conference, its Foundation Board,(*) nor the humblest group committee can issue a single directive to an A.A. member and make it stick, let alone mete out any punishment.
44.
45.
46.
(*) In adapted form, the Steps are also used by Al-Anon Family Groups. Not a part of A.A., this worldwide fellowship consists of spouses and other relatives or friends of alcoholics (in A.A. or still drinking). Its headquarters address is 1600 Corporate Landing Pkwy, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617.
47.
Above all, he believed he
had acquired such a profound knowledge of the
inner workings of his mind and its hidden springs that relapse was unthinkable.
48.
But when the broker gave him
Dr. Silkworth's description of alcoholism and its hopelessness, the physician began to pursue the spiritual remedy for his malady with a willingness he had never before been able to muster.
49.
Here was something rare in the world -- a society which said it wished to publicize its principles and its work, but not its individual members.
50.
We believe there isn't a fellowship on earth which lavishes more devoted care upon its individual members; surely there is none which more jealously guards the individual's right to think, talk, and act as he wishes.
51.
52.
As A.A. emerged from its infancy into adolescence, we swung from
the idea that we needed vast sums of money to the notion that A.A. shouldn't have any.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
A political party wishes to win an election, so it advertises the virtues of
its leadership to draw votes.
60.
61.
A worthy charity wants to raise money; forthwith, its letterhead shows the name of every distinguished person whose support can be obtained.
62.
63.
Its main object is to enable you to find a Power greater than yourself which
will solve your problem.
64.
Did anyone ever hear of a society which couldn't
somehow discipline
its members and enforce obedience to necessary rules and regulations?
65.
66.
... its members
in a position of unqualified ...
BB
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form), p.575
XII. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority
over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion,
vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial
unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that
it never perform acts of government, and that,
like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and
action.
67.
Doesn't nearly every society on earth give authority to some of
its members to impose obedience upon the rest and to punish or expel offenders?
68.
Not long after the man with the double stigma knocked for admission, A.A.'s other group received into its membership a salesman we
shall call Ed.
69.
Disliking the attempt of
some to manage a group, half its membership might angrily
rush off to form another group more to their liking.
70.
71.
Five -- Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic
who still suffers.
72.
5. Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose -- that of carrying its message to the alcoholic
who still suffers.
73.
Tradition Five -- "Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
74.
"Each group has but one primary purpose -- to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."
75.
Five -- Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but
one primary purpose -- that of carrying
its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
76.
77.
Let us look now upon the sea and ponder what its mystery is; and let us lift our eyes to the far horizon, beyond which we shall seek all those wonders still unseen.
78.
79.
But its object is always the same: to improve our conscious contact with God, with His grace, wisdom, and love.
80.
81.
All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds.
82.
4. With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible
to no other authority than its own conscience.
83.
Four -- With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.
84.
The fledgling society,
which had been nameless, now
began to be called Alcoholics Anonymous,
from the title of its own book.
85.
4. With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible
to no other authority than its own conscience.
86.
Four -- With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience.
87.
This meant, of course, that
we had been given the courage to declare each A.A. group an individual entity, strictly reliant on its own conscience as a guide to action.
88.
89.
Every newcomer in Alcoholics Anonymous is
told, and soon realizes for himself, that
his humble admission of
powerlessness over alcohol is his first step toward liberation from its paralyzing grip.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted.
95.
But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted.
96.
Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.'s speak the language of the heart in all
its power and simplicity.
97.
The Tradition section of
this volume portrays in
some detail the experience which finally
produced the Twelve Traditions and so gave A.A. its present form, substance, and unity.
98.
The pressure of that fat treasury would surely tempt the board to invent all kinds of schemes to do good with such funds, and so divert A.A. from its primary purpose.
99.
We had been presented with a hospital, and almost immediately the donor's son became its principal patient and would-be manager.
100.
Here was something rare in the world -- a society which said it wished to publicize its principles and its work, but not its individual members.
101.
... its prudent
financial principle; that it place ...
BB
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form), p.575
XII. The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority
over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion,
vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial
unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that
it never perform acts of government, and that,
like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and
action.
102.
103.
104.
He thought all alcoholics should constantly have chocolate available for
its quick energy value at times of fatigue.
105.
In all probability, we shall never be able to touch more than a fair fraction of the alcohol problem in all its ramifications.
106.
107.
108.
The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and
the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary.
109.
The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and
the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary.
110.
Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by character assassination, has its satisfactions for us, too.
111.
The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and
the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary.
112.
The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committee, and
the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full-time secretary.
113.
... its service
corporations, staffs, committees, and executives ...
BB
Appendix VII, Twelve Concepts (Short Form), p.574
III. To insure effective leadership, we
should endow each element of A.A. -- the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives -- with a traditional "Right of Decision."
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
Almost none of us liked the self-searching, the leveling of
our pride, the confession
of shortcomings which the process requires for its successful consummation.
119.
When the man is presented
with this volume it is best
that no one tell him he must abide by its suggestions.
120.
Our hope is that when this chip
of a book is launched on the
world tide of alcoholism, defeated drinkers will seize upon it, to follow its suggestions.
121.
Even more important, an empty club couldn't answer its telephone, but it was an open invitation to a drunk on a binge who possessed a spare key.
122.
They pointed out that the irresponsible had become
responsible, and that by making financial independence part of its tradition, Alcoholics Anonymous had
revived an ideal that its era had almost forgotten.
123.
We missed the reality and
the beauty of the forest because we were diverted by
the ugliness of some of its
trees.
124.
125.
Whoever pays the piper is apt to call the tune, and if the A.A. Foundation obtained money from outside sources, its trustees might be tempted to run things without reference to the wishes of
A.A. as a whole.
126.
127.
"The American Public Health Association presents a Lasker Group Award for 1951 to Alcoholics Anonymous in recognition of its unique and highly successful approach to
that age-old public health and social problem, alcoholism ... In emphasizing alcoholism
as an illness, the social
stigma associated with
this condition is being blotted out ... Historians may one day recognize Alcoholics Anonymous to
have been a great venture in
social pioneering which
forged a new instrument for social action; a new therapy based on the kinship of common suffering; one having a vast potential for the myriad other ills of mankind."
128.
129.
This self-insurance has resulted in the restoration of physical,
mental and spiritual health and self-respect to hundreds of men and women who would be hopelessly down and out without its unique but effective therapy."
130.
They outline the means by
which A.A. maintains its unity and relates itself to the world about it, the way it lives and grows.
131.
132.
Alcoholism may be causing your organization considerable damage in
its waste of time, men and reputation.
133.
134.
Now, this house will hardly accommodate its weekly visitors, for they number sixty or eighty as a rule.
135.
Each of us has had his own near-fatal encounter with the juggernaut of self-will, and has suffered enough under its weight to be willing to look for something better.
136.
137.
Before we ask what a spot-check inventory is, let's look at the kind of setting in which such an inventory can do its work.
138.
Here was something rare in the world -- a society which said it wished to publicize its principles and its work, but not its individual members.
139.
140.
II. The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of
our whole Society in its world affairs.
141.
If there is no Al-Anon listing in your local telephone book, you may obtain further information on Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups by writing to its World Service Office, 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617.
142.
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