Short form:
“Eight—Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centres may employ special workers.”
Long form:
“8.—Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional. We define professionalism as the occupation of counselling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise have to engage non-alcoholics. Such special services may be well recompensed. But our usual A.A. "12 Step" work is never to be paid for.”
(our emphases)
Again a pretty straightforward bit of advice. Administrative functions have to be carried out and whereas a lot of key work can done by AA volunteers things like office management, literature distribution etc need to be conducted by full timers, and bills after all do have to be paid somehow! AA however is NOT in the business of providing employment and whereas such individuals should always be paid the full market rate for their skills this sector should be kept to an absolute minimum consistent with providing an optimum service. The key element of this tradition from our point of view however is the one we have emphasised. This statement is itself pretty unambiguous although what constitutes “12 Step” work might be debated. In the narrowest possible sense this could refer simply to those members who go out on 12 Step calls ie. to contact and possibly meet up with potential newcomers to the Fellowship. However we prefer to use it in the widest possible sense ie. any activity which involves carrying the AA message to the still suffering alcoholic. This would therefore include practically everything that takes place in AA (apart from those administrative functions mentioned above). So for example it would seem to us that the practice of charging entrance fees to so-called “workshops” (or any similar activity) is entirely contrary to this principle and forms no part of genuine AA. Such functions (where they are necessary, and this itself is a moot point to be debated perhaps at another time!) should rather be funded purely by voluntary contributions ie. by the amount designated by the attendee and NOT determined by the organiser(s) of the event. In the case of AA (weekend) conventions however (and where accommodation is required) it is entirely legitimate to include an element to cover such costs (ie. where they form part of a 'package') but not for attendance at the meetings themselves (the costs of which should be met again by the “voluntary contributions” of those attending). In our view day conventions are much easier to administer since these generally do not require such provision and serve mostly members from the local area. We regard the larger conventions (and especially the international ones) to be of dubious value in terms of carrying the AA message and believe that these serve mostly a “consolidating” function, that is in providing a platform to reinforce the sense of a wider community within AA. However in these times of modern communications it seems to us rather archaic to continue to indulge these “tribal” gatherings and believe that such a function can just as easily (and certainly more economically) be carried out via the various electronic media. The same principle might also be applied to the AA Conference and the various other service functions which up until now might have required members to travel some distance (with all the associated costs). We live (just in case you haven't noticed) in financially straitened times and AA is by no means exempt from such realities. Economies need to be made and all wasteful expenditure cut. However none of this should affect our ability to help the still suffering alcoholic. This service has always been provided FREE OF ANY CHARGE.
Showing posts with label AA conventions. voluntary contributions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AA conventions. voluntary contributions. Show all posts
Friday, 8 October 2010
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Tradition Seven
Short form:
"Seven—Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
Long form:
"7.—The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members. We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any obligation whatever, is unwise. Then too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose. Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority."
(our emphases)
Again a pretty straightforward piece of advice. (Firstly it might be useful to know what an AA group is as distinguished from an AA meeting. For some useful (conference approved) insights into this we recommend the following booklet called unsurprisingly enough: The AA Group. Click here (http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-16_theaagroup.pdf) for pdf download)). Essentially a self-supporting fellowship ensures its own autonomy, and of course this is consistent with our principle of non-affiliation. Most importantly we are not a “business” nor should we be unduly distracted by such concerns beyond those necessary to ensure that AA remains viable. In practice this means that ONLY AA members are responsible for the financing of our society. Therefore AA meetings at which non-AAs are present (eg. guests) should ensure that these are made aware of this (courteously and discreetly) and should not put any money in the pot. Similarly groups should pay the going rate for whatever accommodation they use for their meetings; they should not allow themselves to be subsidised in any way. So for example those meetings run on hospital premises where there may be no charge should still pay an appropriate market rent to ensure that they abide by this principle. Interestingly this tradition does raise a question with regard to the sale of AA literature to the general public. Effectively any monies derived from this source and subsequently used to subsidise AA mean that we are in fact taking money from “outside agencies”. This problem would be avoided of course if literature was sold simply at cost price with no profits made, the funds derived being used simply to finance the costs associated with production and distribution. The debate about whether AA should be partly financing itself in this fashion has been going on for some time now. Perhaps it is time we achieved this “ideal” and started abiding fully by this principle. Such a step would also avoid the current controversy of literature being bought from sources outside AA (online distributors for example). We should only be financing ourselves from our own members' “voluntary contributions” - AA is not in the book selling “business” - that is not our “primary purpose”.
Finally a “voluntary contribution” means precisely that. Whatever money is given is given ONLY according to the will of the donor including the time, place and amount, all of these specified by them and by them alone. Any AA event which seeks to impose a charge upon the attendees is clearly in breach of this Tradition and in our view ceases any more to be associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. Moreover any attempt to “suggest” an amount as a way of avoiding this guideline is in our view contrary to this principle especially where such “suggestions” are accompanied by any form of coercion or manipulation (It is entirely reasonable though for the treasurer of a group to ensure that its members – and any visitor to the group (in accordance with Tradition 4)– are kept fully informed of the group's financial position). This may have implications for AA conventions etc but the principle is pretty clearly stated. Therefore if AA members wish to organise such events and where these may include the provision of food (beyond the customary tea/coffee and biscuits), entertainment etc - and where there are inevitably costs associated with these - then the two activities should be clearly separated. Access to the AA meeting should be open to all AA members who wish to attend (and without charge) the remainder subject to the usual economic constraints. One is an AA activity, the other is not. Again AA is not in the “business” of running dances, discos, buffets, raffles, bingo and other assorted purely social occasions – these are “outside” issues.
In connection with the above the current “rash” of workshops and cult conventions organised by sundry individuals where a charge is made for attendance are NOT by definition AA events. They should not be promoted at AA meetings and newcomers especially should be made aware that these are NOT AA sponsored events. Moreover the organisers of such events should NOT use the name Alcoholics Anonymous nor use the AA logo and should explicitly (and in large lettering) make it plain to all and in understandable language that they are nothing to do with AA. After that a fool and his money are easily parted......
Cheerio
The Fellas
"Seven—Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
Long form:
"7.—The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members. We think that each group should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by groups, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance of large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any obligation whatever, is unwise. Then too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose. Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority."
(our emphases)
Again a pretty straightforward piece of advice. (Firstly it might be useful to know what an AA group is as distinguished from an AA meeting. For some useful (conference approved) insights into this we recommend the following booklet called unsurprisingly enough: The AA Group. Click here (http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/p-16_theaagroup.pdf) for pdf download)). Essentially a self-supporting fellowship ensures its own autonomy, and of course this is consistent with our principle of non-affiliation. Most importantly we are not a “business” nor should we be unduly distracted by such concerns beyond those necessary to ensure that AA remains viable. In practice this means that ONLY AA members are responsible for the financing of our society. Therefore AA meetings at which non-AAs are present (eg. guests) should ensure that these are made aware of this (courteously and discreetly) and should not put any money in the pot. Similarly groups should pay the going rate for whatever accommodation they use for their meetings; they should not allow themselves to be subsidised in any way. So for example those meetings run on hospital premises where there may be no charge should still pay an appropriate market rent to ensure that they abide by this principle. Interestingly this tradition does raise a question with regard to the sale of AA literature to the general public. Effectively any monies derived from this source and subsequently used to subsidise AA mean that we are in fact taking money from “outside agencies”. This problem would be avoided of course if literature was sold simply at cost price with no profits made, the funds derived being used simply to finance the costs associated with production and distribution. The debate about whether AA should be partly financing itself in this fashion has been going on for some time now. Perhaps it is time we achieved this “ideal” and started abiding fully by this principle. Such a step would also avoid the current controversy of literature being bought from sources outside AA (online distributors for example). We should only be financing ourselves from our own members' “voluntary contributions” - AA is not in the book selling “business” - that is not our “primary purpose”.
Finally a “voluntary contribution” means precisely that. Whatever money is given is given ONLY according to the will of the donor including the time, place and amount, all of these specified by them and by them alone. Any AA event which seeks to impose a charge upon the attendees is clearly in breach of this Tradition and in our view ceases any more to be associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. Moreover any attempt to “suggest” an amount as a way of avoiding this guideline is in our view contrary to this principle especially where such “suggestions” are accompanied by any form of coercion or manipulation (It is entirely reasonable though for the treasurer of a group to ensure that its members – and any visitor to the group (in accordance with Tradition 4)– are kept fully informed of the group's financial position). This may have implications for AA conventions etc but the principle is pretty clearly stated. Therefore if AA members wish to organise such events and where these may include the provision of food (beyond the customary tea/coffee and biscuits), entertainment etc - and where there are inevitably costs associated with these - then the two activities should be clearly separated. Access to the AA meeting should be open to all AA members who wish to attend (and without charge) the remainder subject to the usual economic constraints. One is an AA activity, the other is not. Again AA is not in the “business” of running dances, discos, buffets, raffles, bingo and other assorted purely social occasions – these are “outside” issues.
In connection with the above the current “rash” of workshops and cult conventions organised by sundry individuals where a charge is made for attendance are NOT by definition AA events. They should not be promoted at AA meetings and newcomers especially should be made aware that these are NOT AA sponsored events. Moreover the organisers of such events should NOT use the name Alcoholics Anonymous nor use the AA logo and should explicitly (and in large lettering) make it plain to all and in understandable language that they are nothing to do with AA. After that a fool and his money are easily parted......
Cheerio
The Fellas
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