Tradition 6 is along the same lines as Tradition 4 – that AA is entirely independent and does not get involved with any outside organisations or causes:
An AA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the AA name to any related facility or outside enterprise. Lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
This is self explanatory – the ‘primary’ – indeed sole purpose is to carry the message of recovery to the alcoholic who still suffers. That said, although AA is entirely independent, many outside groups have adopted the Twelve Step programme. Both other groups run along the same lines as AA (such as Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous) and other organisations such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics.
Twelve Step Program
These organisations have adopted the Twelve Step programme as it is demonstrably the most successful and effective way for alcoholics and addicts to get and stay well. The important point here is that AA does not endorse them – rather they endorse AA.
Bill Wilson made a few mistakes of this nature, endorsing other organisations, in AA’s early days so he learnt from bitter experience that this was the way it should be.
Traditions 7 is perhaps the tradition that more AA members are familiar with as it is:
Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
In the early days, Bill and Bob hoped that the great American philanthropists of the day might finance the organisation. John D Rockerfeller Junior did show an interest but in the end no one came forward. This is probably a good thing as now AA is fully independent financially like no other organisation of its kind and it is independent and beholden to no one.
Traditions 8 states
Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centres may employ special workers.
The AA organisation itself, as it grew, inevitably required a support staff. This goes against the principle of no one earning money from AA. Bill himself turned down a therapist job at one point in the early years despite needing the income. So the sentiment runs deep.
Today, no one can ‘sell’ the Twelve Step programme as such (though as noted above, the Twelve Step programme can be used in rehab clinics. Whether privately run or state funded. Other self help support groups use the basis of the Twelve Step programme to help addicts). But administrative staff can be hired to help spread the message (such as distributing literature and informing people where meetings are via the internet etc).
Traditions 9 – that AA as such ought never to be organised;
But we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those we serve – is rather contradictory. AA members organise themselves and can set up groups to help them do this. However, there is no authoritative structure and no one can tell anyone else in AA what to do if it is not with their agreement.
Even members decide if they qualify as members
They only need to have a desire to stop drinking. The primary purpose of any mutually agreeable organisations and structure is to spread the message. Amazingly what sounds like a recipe for shambolic disaster actually works in practice. I believe this is because AA is founded on a fundamentally correct principle and there is a Higher Power that ensures it works.
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol, gambling and drug rehab clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions. It follows the Twelve Step Programme of recovery.
Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.
