Concept VII

“The Conference recognizes that the Charter and the Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments: that the Trustees are thereby fully empowered to manage and conduct all of the world service affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is further understood that the Conference Charter itself is not a legal document: that it relies instead upon the force of tradition … Read More

Tradition 7: Responsibility

There are so many benefits to this tradition for the alcoholic and for the group and for all AA as a whole. When we first come into AA we were at a bottom — nothing was working for us. Many did not have a job or a place to stay, but most could still find the money for the next … Read More

From: The Chair in the Corner, July 2012

Wow can you believe it? Spring has come and gone. June has come and gone. The Founders Day Spring Kick Off has come and gone. By the time you read this and before you know it July will have come and gone. I hope you were able to attend the Kick Off, Xtreme Yard Sale and Group Competitions. If not … Read More

Step 7: Humbly asked . . .

My wise and dedicated counselor in rehab insisted that when I returned home I find a Big Book Study and a 12 Step Study and to attend them regularly.  I followed her terrific advise and I suggest it to others.  My home group is the 5:15 Happy Hour and each Tuesday we read from the Big Book and each Thursday … Read More

Our Greatest Danger: Rigidity

Bob P. (1917-2008) was General Manager of the General Service Office from 1974 to 1984, and then served as Senior Advisor to the G.S.O. from 1985 until his retirement. His story is in the Big Book as “AA Taught Him to Handle Sobriety,” 3rd edit. (1976) pp. 554-561, 4th edit. (2001) pp. 553-559. During the 1986 General Service Conference, Bob … Read More

Step Six: An Enormous Opportunity

When I finished my first Step Five, I was eager to continue. After all I was nine months sober, and ready to work my way through Step Twelve and get the step process behind me. I asked my sponsor what I should be doing, and he reminded me with his slow Mississippi drawl to read Steps One through Five again … Read More

On 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.” Editorial by Bill W. A.A. Grapevine, May 1948 The sixth of our 12 Points of A.A. Tradition is deemed so important that it states at length the relation … Read More