The AA Preamble – contd

Here it is:

“Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.

AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.”

(our emphases)

As we have already indicated there is only one membership requirement (but this is a necessity): a desire to stop drinking. Moreover this applies to AA as a whole and does not of itself imply membership of a particular group or groups. These may have their own provisions . Each group is free to operate as it wishes (subject to the Traditions – and most specifically Tradition Four). Similarly these Traditions are merely guidelines and not binding on any group. However where groups elect to conduct themselves in such a way as to bring themselves into conflict with other groups or AA as a whole the latter are equally at liberty to act as they see fit (which may include exclusion of the former entities (and their members qua group members) from participation in the service structure of AA at any level, removal from group directories together with appropriate notifications to other agencies etc). We would include, of course, cult groups in this deviant category. Such exclusion naturally does not apply to individual membership of the fellowship as a whole. No member can be banned from AA nor excluded (permanently) on any ground from attending any meeting they wish. Any group which seeks to impose any restriction on attendance at a (closed) meeting other than the above membership requirement is in direct conflict with our central purpose (eg. men only, women only, gay, straight, newcomer, oldtimer etc groups). These, according to their own designation, are NOT AA groups NOR do they run AA meetings

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

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