Alcoholics Anonymous

Southern MN Area 36

District 24 Website

For Groups & Members

Contents  |  To be helpful is our only aim...

• The Twelve Steps
• The Twelve Traditions
• The A.A. Group
  • The A.A. Home Group
  • Naming an A.A. Group
  • The Principle of Rotation
  • Informed Group Conscience
  • A.A. Group Inventory
  • A.A. Business Meetings
  • About Those A.A. Group Problems...
• Our Tradition of Self-Support
• Understanding Anonymity
• Drug Addiction and Medications
• Suggested Reading for A.A. Groups and Members
• Suggested Topics for Discussion Meetings

The Twelve Steps

Our Program of Recovery from Alcoholism

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

The Twelve Traditions (short form)

How Our Fellowship Stays United

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

More on Our Traditions

• The Twelve Traditions Illustrated
• View/Download the Traditions Checklist

The A.A. Group

Where It All Begins

The entire structure of A.A. depends upon the participation and conscience of the individual groups, and how each of these groups conducts its affairs has a ripple effect on A.A. everywhere. Thus, we are ever individually conscious of our responsibility for our own sobriety and, as a group, for carrying the A.A. message to the suffering alcoholic who reaches out to us for help.

The long form of Tradition Three clearly states, “Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence, we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.”

Concept Twelve, Warranty Six:

• No penalties to be inflicted for nonconformity to A.A. principles;
• No fees or dues to be levied—voluntary contributions only;
• No member to be expelled from A.A.—membership always to be the choice of the individual;
• Each A.A. group conduct its internal affairs as it wishes—it being merely requested to abstain from acts that might injure A.A. as a whole; and finally
• That any group of alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group provided that, as a group, they have no other purpose or affiliation.

The A.A. Home Group

Traditionally, most A.A. members through the years have found it important to belong to one group which they call their “Home Group.” This is the group where they accept service responsibilities and try to sustain friendships. And although all A.A. members are usually welcome at all groups and feel at home at any of these meetings, the concept of the “Home Group” has still remained the strongest bond between the A.A. member and the Fellowship.

With membership comes the right to vote upon issues that might affect the group and might also affect A.A. as a whole—a process that forms the very cornerstone of A.A.’s service structure. As with all group-conscience matters, each A.A. member has one vote; and this, ideally, is voiced through the home group.

Naming an A.A. Group

No matter how noble the activity or institution, experience has taught A.A. groups to carefully avoid any affiliation with or endorsement of any enterprise outside A.A. (Tradition Six). Even the appearance of being linked to any organization, club, political or religious institution needs to be avoided. Therefore, an A.A. group that meets in a correctional or treatment facility or a church should take care not to use the institution’s name, but to call itself something quite different. This makes it clear that the A.A. group is not affiliated with the hospital, church, prison, treatment facility, or whatever, but simply rents space there for meetings.

The Principle of Rotation

To step out of an A.A. service position you love can be hard. If you have been doing a good job, if you honestly don’t see anyone else around willing, qualified, or with the time to do it, and if your friends agree, it’s especially tough. But it can be a real step forward in growth—a step into the humility that is, for some people, the spiritual essence of anonymity.

Among other things, anonymity in the Fellowship means that we forgo personal prestige for any A.A. work we do to help alcoholics. And, in the spirit of Tradition Twelve, it ever reminds us “to place principles before personalities.”

Informed Group Conscience

The group conscience is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive action is taken. This is achieved by the group members through the sharing of full information, individual points of view, and the practice of A.A. principles. To be fully informed requires a willingness to listen to minority opinions with an open mind.

On sensitive issues, the group works slowly—discouraging formal motions until a clear sense of its collective view emerges. Placing principles before personalities, the membership is wary of dominant opinions. Its voice is heard when a well-informed group arrives at a decision. The result rests on more than a “yes” or “no” count—precisely because it is the spiritual expression of the group conscience. The term “informed group conscience” implies that pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the group votes. Arriving at an informed group conscience in big matters or small is a process that may take some time. But it is important that the minority, or dissenting, views may be heard along with those of the majority. It some instances, they may even turn the tide.

A.A. Group Inventory

Many groups periodically hold a “group inventory meeting” to evaluate how well they are fulfilling their primary purpose: to help alcoholics recover through A.A.’s suggested Twelve Steps of recovery. Some groups take inventory by examining our Twelve Traditions, one at a time, to determine how well they are living up to these principles. Page 27 of “The A.A. Group” pamphlet offers a list of questions that many groups use for conducting their group inventory meetings.

A.A. Business Meetings

In most groups, the chairperson or another officer calls the business meeting, which ordinarily is held on a monthly or quarterly basis. While some groups may occasionally permit nonmembers to attend, the group may request that only home group members participate or vote. The order of business may include: electing new officers; scheduling meetings; receiving and discussing the treasurer’s periodic financial reports; hearing progress reports from the general service representative, intergroup representative, and other group servants; and apportioning excess funds among the local intergroup, G.S.O., and the area and district treasuries.

Business meetings generally are scheduled before or after the group’s regular meeting. They tend to be informal, but custom varies from group to group. There is the spiritual nature of our Fellowship, embodied in our Traditions and Concepts, which give ample guidance.

About Those A.A. Group Problems...

Group problems are often evidence of a healthy, desirable diversity of opinion among the group members. They give us a chance, in the words of Step Twelve, to “practice these principles in all our affairs.”

Group problems may include such common A.A. questions as: What should the group do about members who return to drinking? How can we boost lagging attendance at meetings? How can we get more people to help with group chores? What can we do about one member’s anonymity break, or another’s attempts to attract the romantic interest of newcomers? How can we get out from under those old-timers who insist they know what’s best for the group? And how can we get more of the old-timers to share their experience in resolving group dilemmas?

Almost every group problem can be solved through the process of an informed group conscience, A.A. principles, and our Twelve Traditions. Some groups find that their G.S.R. or D.C.M. can be helpful [questions and issues such as those listed above are often discussed at the District 24 meetings]. For all involved, a good sense of humor, cooling-off periods, patience, courtesy, willingness to listen and to wait—plus a sense of fairness and trust in a “Power greater than ourselves”—have been found far more effective than legalistic arguments or personal accusations.

For more information: The A.A. Group...Where It All Begins
See Also: Group Trusted Servant Opportunities

Our Tradition of Self-Support

Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting pleace, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters [now the General Service Office]….

Though not costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued expansion—to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that A.A. must every-where function in full strength—and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we are all going to foot the bill.

–Bill W.
copyright © October 1967 by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
reprinted with permission.

Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A.A. literature, local meeting lists, G.S.R. travel expenses to attend service functions), and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities:

• The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the area delegates and the G.S.R.s.
• The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference; holds area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information at all levels of service.
• The local intergroup or central office, which provides phone service for Twelfth Step calls and other inquires; coordination of group activities; A.A. literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the professional community activities.
• A.A.’s General Service Office (G.S.O.), which functions as a storehouse of A.A. information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes A.A.’s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and others interested in A.A.

The A.A. Conference-approved pamphlet “Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix” provides the following example of how groups distribute funds to service entities:

• 10% to district [District 24]
• 10% to area committee [Area 36—Southern Minnesota Area Assembly]
• 30% to G.S.O.
• 50% to intergroup or central office [Greater Minneapolis Intergroup]

For your convenience, addresses for your group contributions to the service entities are provided:

For more information: Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix

Understanding Anonymity

If we look at the history of A.A., from its beginning in 1935 until now, it is clear that anonymity serves two different yet equally vital functions:

• At the personal level, anonymity provides protection for all members from identification as alcoholics, a safeguard often of special importance to newcomers.
• At the level of press, radio, TV, films, and new media technologies such as the Internet, anonymity stresses the equality in the Fellowship of all members by putting the brake on those who might otherwise exploit their A.A. affiliation to achieve recognition, power, or personal gain.

Facts about Anonymity in A.A.

It is not the media’s responsibility to maintain our Traditions; it is our own individual responsibility.

• A.A. members generally think it unwise to break the anonymity of a member even after his or her death, but in each situation, the final decision must rest with the family.
• A.A. members may disclose their identity and speak as recovered alcoholics, giving radio, TV and Internet interviews, without violating the Traditions—so long as their A.A. membership is not revealed.
• A.A. members may speak as A.A. members only if their names or faces are not revealed. They speak not for A.A. but as individual members.

• Respect the right of other members to maintain their own anonymity at whatever levels they wish.
• When speaking as A.A. members at non-A.A. meetings, usually use first names only.
• Maintain personal anonymity in articles and autobiographies.
• Avoid the use of titles such as “A.A. counselor” when employed as professionals in the field of alcoholism (the title “alcoholism counselor” is preferred).
• Use last names within the Fellowship, especially for election of group officers and other service jobs.

Publicly accessible aspects of the Internet such as Web sites featuring text, graphics, audio and video ought to be considered another form of “public media.” Thus, they need to be treated in the same manner as press, radio, TV and films. This means that full names and faces should not be used.

For more information: Understanding Anonymity

Drug Addiction and Medications

Our first duty, as a society, is to insure our own survival. Therefore, we have to avoid distractions and multipurpose activity. An A.A. group, as such, cannot take on all the personal problems of its members, let alone the problems of the whole world.

Sobriety—freedom from alcohol—through the teaching and practice of the Twelve Steps is the sole purpose of an A.A. group. Groups have repeatedly tried other activities, and they have always failed. It has also been learned that there is no possible way to make nonalcoholics into A.A. members. We have to confine our membership to alcoholics, and we have to confine our A.A. groups to a single purpose. If we don’t stick to these principles, we shall almost surely collapse. And if we collapse, we cannot help anyone.

–Bill W.
copyright © February 1958 by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc.
reprinted with permission.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a program for alcoholics who seek freedom from alcohol. It is not a program against drugs. However, some A.A. members have misused drugs, often as a substitute for alcohol, in such a manner as to become a threat to the achievement and maintenance of sobriety. These incidents have caused all A.A. members to be concerned with what is popularly known as the “pill problem.”

The experience of some A.A. members reveals that drug misuse can threaten the achievement and maintenance of sobriety. Yet some A.A. members must take prescribed medication in order to treat certain serious medical problems. Some of us have had to cope with depressions that can be suicidal; schizophrenia that sometimes requires hospitalization; manic depression; and other mental and biological illnesses. Also among us are epileptics, members with heart trouble, cancer, hypertension, and many other serious physical conditions.

Experience has shown that this problem can be minimized if the following suggestions are carefully heeded:

1. Remember that as a recovering alcoholic your automatic response will be to turn to chemical relief for uncomfortable feelings and to take more than the usual, prescribed amount. Look for nonchemical solutions to the aches and discomforts of everyday living.
2. Remember that the best safeguard against drug-related relapse is an active participation in the A.A. program of recovery.
3. No A.A. Member Plays Doctor.
4. Be completely honest with yourself and your physician regarding use of medication.
5. If in doubt, consult a physician with demonstrated experience in the treatment of alcoholism.
6. Be frank about your alcoholism with any physician or dentist you consult. Such confidence will be respected and is most helpful to the doctor.
7. Inform the physician at once if you experience side effects from prescribed drugs.
8. Consider consulting another doctor if a personal physician refuses or fails to recognize the particular susceptibility of alcoholics to sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.
9. Give your doctor copies of the pamphlet The A.A. Member—Medications & Other Drugs.

For more information: Problems Other Than Alcohol and The A.A. Member—Medications & Other Drugs

Suggested Reading for A.A. Groups & Members

A.A. Conference-Approved Pamphlets

The A.A. Group...Where It All Begins
Understanding Anonymity
Questions & Answers on Sponsorship
Self-Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix
The Twelve Traditions Illustrated
Problems Other Than Alcohol
The A.A. Member—Medications & Other Drugs

Suggested Topics for Discussion Meetings

General Ideas

• The Twelve Steps: Some groups discuss one Step a week. If there is a newcomer attending for the first time, the group may change the topic to focus on the first three Steps.
• The Twelve Traditions: Following the conclusion of the Step meetings, some groups will discuss the Traditions so that, every thirteenth meeting the group focuses on a Tradition.
• The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous: Some groups discuss one chapter from the Big Book each week. Other groups read from the Big Book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along.
• Readings from As Bill Sees It can inspire sharing on discussion topics.
• Living Sober also has many topics used by groups.
• Some A.A. slogans can be used as topics—such as Live and Let Live, Easy Does It, First Things First, and H.A.L.T. (Don't get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired).

Some Specific Topics:

Other topics may be found in the A.A. Grapevine monthly section on Discussion Topics.

District 24 website is not endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. It is provided in an effort to reach out to the alcoholic who still suffers.

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