A.A. SEVENTH TRADITION

Parts of the following are taken from literature which is listed under the following copyrights:
Copyright © The A. A. Grapevine, Inc., and Alcoholics Anonymous Publishing (now known as Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)

SEVENTH TRADITION

"Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."

Steve sez:

When I stopped drinking, I assumed the world was going to pat me on the back. At the least, was not I worth a little monetary handout? For being sober? For saving taxpayers the money it would have taken to lock me up for many years? You wouldn't miss a few bucks, along with maybe an award as a "good, interesting and honest blogger" --wait a minute! NO! We didn't have blogging in 1974--

There was not yet
an Internet.
but I had bet
I could get
good and drunk.
A little libation?
(A little donation,
that would do).
A little reward from you
for my being such a caring, sharing, newly sober member of--what was that again? Alcoholics Anonymous? Holy Shit! That sounded serious!

And it was! It was so serious that I'm still here, still sober, 34 years after. I have not killed myself, nor anyone else yet. But, IF someone had handed me a few bucks, I'd have taken it as an omen--to begin again that "one last fling" at pretending to be someone other than me. Nothing wrong here, just give me a dinner, give me a bed, give me shelter, comfort, a little credit, security...gimme, gimme, gimme. Well, 'Nobody' coughed up the loot. Thank you, 'Nobody'! You also saved my life, 'Nobody'.

It was and is so with our groups. Once my group accepts donations from an individual, business, philanthropy, or (shudder) government, we are beholden to somebody, somewhere, somehow. There is no escape from that axiom.

And where then goes the "God in charge of my group", Who meets with us in group conscience? Where goes our autonomy as is promised in Tradition Two? Where goes our justifiable JOY of having breached the walls built between each of us and God?

Our (my) independence shall not become dependence. And 'dependent'--that's where I've been all my 25 drinking years. Now, I have a piece of my mind back, along with 'peace of mind'--and that certain independence called free will.

The whole group-decision process, the carefully guarded quality of self-governance we cherish, would be in dire jeopardy if it were not for our Traditions. We are kept safe from ourselves (and others!) by virtue of strict observance of our beautiful Traditions.

Oh, something else. I've got to say this. In the beginning I was told that if all I had was a little loose change...do not put it in the basket. If that is all I have, AA does not want, nor need it. A dollar was customary 34 years ago. A dollar is no longer what it used to be. A pack of cigarettes probably costs at least $2 by now. A couple bucks is the (basket) norm today. My gosh how much does a 35 cent bottle of beer cost now? (I have not a clue.) Of course, this IS a private matter, but I had to bring up that we ARE self-supporting, even with no dues or fees! And coffee did not come down in price like gasoline.

I can also--if I'm broke or not!--make coffee, do dishes, set up room, wipe off tables and chairs, empty trash, sweep, mop, paint, be a greeter and meet everyone who comes in the door. this all comes under the heading "self-supporting"...

One more thing. It was the practice of my first sponsor, and adopted by me, that I neither lender nor borrower be. When, on rare occasion, I'm inspired to put some cash in someone's pocket, it is never intended as a loan. It is strictly a gift. That way, there is never hard feelings, misunderstandings, or problems, resulting from a necessary exchange of some bucks, now and then.

However, I frequently buy an A.A.-type book, or a special meditation book for another...and always, always it is with the sure knowledge that one day he will pass it forward to another.

Please do realize that A.A. in no way has anything to do with my own observations and opinions. Thank you for understanding this.

Even after the riskiness of writing my private thoughts on Tradition Seven...

I still LOVE you ALL. Believe that!

Peace, from me.
Steve E.

AA TRADITION SIX

AMENDED: After you read this, or before,
please slip over to Prayer Girl's blog...
it is dedicated to her husband.
He likes it, and you will also!

TRADITION SIX

"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."

Recently, a DAILY 'meeting' of alcoholics--which had grown to between 70-90 participants--decided, after ten years of 'keeping it simple', to register properly, and create a group. Certainly a wise decision, prompted by a group conscience meeting of some of the "older" members...then a vote of all who were interested. OK, that's a sketchy background.

At one of the first 'business' meetings, it surprised some of us to learn that the coffers of this 'meeting' had grown to THOUSANDS of dollars. Who knew? I had been a member of this 'meeting' for only a half year, and just never had a clue that it was not a registered GROUP.

As I looked about the room as they were discussing 'financials', it amused me to watch the eyes of some as we were voting on methods of disbursement of funds. I could just "SEE" dollar signs dancing in those reflections (of a few) as they might have been envisioning really REALLY great places to put a bunch of those thousands of dollars. No mistake--there was not a doubt in my mind of the lofty motives abounding in that room that morning. I believed the ceiling was about to open at any moment, and the Second, or Fifth (or whatever) Coming would take place anon!

Well, I have since joined another group, the one that pulled me into its arms--literally--34 years ago. I still do attend the daily morning meeting of 90 souls, though. I learned there--first hand--that money can and WILL become a problem in Alcoholics Anonymous, if allowed to accumulate. We at the group level--or at any level--must remain poor, so that our focus will remain on our Primary Purpose. That is, to stay sober and help others to stay sober...

A.A. is not a business...however we ARE "in the business" of saving asses (as in "save your ass", phew!)--not souls, OK? A.A. does not intend to provide plush meeting places, card rooms, TV rooms, etc. A group in A.A. should not enter into leases of buildings, rooms, or other long term obligations. Heck, the group could split up in a one-hour session. A quick vote, a grab-the-books-and-grapevines, and "get outta Dodge in a pickup", and who pays the lease?

Money is not the lifeblood of A.A. It should be little more than a mere nuisance. We do not need it, would do well without it entirely. A.A. is--at its very core--one alcoholic talking to another, one ex-drunk helping another. Two people can get together in a coffee shop, a park bench (Brrrrr!), a curbstone, a home, or a meeting. That's what we are about. That's how we began. One drunk, explaining to another, how I stay sober.

NOW, having said all that--how does this affect ME? By joining the group and attending their monthly business meetings, I learned something about how to LIVE, other than just NOT DRINK! I learned how to eat (didn't follow what I learned though), how to dress (bought a tie, and a new pair of shoes...with soles), how to date (met a girl in sobriety, and we're going on 20 years of marriage at this time).

Also learned a little about money Well, I may choose to run my life in a similar fashion as what I learned in A.A. Understand that A.A. does not give me a job, health, house, wife, car, boat, etc. A.A. MAY teach me to be frugal, watchful, conservative where money is concerned. Or I could "fake it, make it, spend it, end it". (Don't know what I meant there, but it sounded good -grin).

A prudent reserve is essential, just as in an A.A. group. I had no idea how to handle money, or what role money played in my life--when I came to A.A. In a business meeting setting I did learn something by listening, by asking, by sharing, just as I learned about SOBRIETY!

I must reiterate, this SIXTH session of the TRADITIONS discussion is of and from my own personal experiences, CERTAINLY NOT endorsed--in any way--by Alcoholics Anonymous. Just one person's viewpoint. Hopefully I will not lead anyone astray, or offend any one with these snippets of E,S, and H. (Experiences, Strengths, and Hopes)....of mine own.

Love, and PEACE, somehow they seem to be always together in my mind. Please stay with us here, only six more to go...Why, oh why, oh why, Steve? Why did you DO this to yourself? -grin!