About A.A. · Vadodara
How A.A. groups protect unity, independence, and their shared purpose.
Principles for the fellowship.
The Steps concern personal recovery; the Traditions guide relationships within groups and with the wider world. They help groups stay focused on supporting people with drinking problems.
The short headings are reading aids. The A.A. wording appears beneath each heading.
- UnityOur common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA unity.
- Group conscienceFor 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.
- MembershipThe only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking.
- AutonomyEach group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole.
- PurposeEach group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
- IndependenceAn 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.
- Self-supportEvery AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
- Nonprofessional fellowshipAlcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
- Accountable serviceAA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve
- Outside issuesAlcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the AA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
- Public anonymityOur public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.
- PrinciplesAnonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
Official source: The Twelve Traditions · A.A. World Services.
Learn through shared experience.
Ask members how these principles guide the group’s meetings and service. For further reading, visit Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.