Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation.

Tradition 4
pg.146

"Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a hole."

With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responcible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Services Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.

Tradition 5
pg.150

"Each group has but one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers."

Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose-that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

Tradition 6
pg.155

"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any outside facility or enterprise, lest problems ot money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose."

Problems of money, property, and authority mat easily divert us from our primary spiritual aim. We think, therefore, that any considerable property of genuine use to A.A. should be separatly incorporated and managed, thus dividing the material from the spiritual. An A.A. group, as such, should never go into business. Secondary aids to A.A., such as clubs or hospitals which require much propery or administration, ought to be incorporated and so set apart that, if necessary, they can be freely discarded by the groups. Hence such facilities ought not use the A.A. name. Their management should be the sole responcibility of those who financially support them. For clubs, A.A. managers are usually preferred. But hospitals, as well as other places of recuperation, ought to be well outside A.A.-and medically supervised. While an A.A. group may cooperate with anyone, such cooperation ought never to go so far as affilation or endorsement, actual or implied. An A.A. group can bind itself to no one.

Tradition 7
pg.160

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

The A.A. groups themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of their own members. We think that each group should achieve this ideal; that any public solicitations 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 obligation whatever, is unwise. Then, too, we view with much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate 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.

Tradition 8
pg.166

"Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers."

Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional. We define professionalism as the occupation of counceling alcoholics for fees or hire. But we may employ alcoholics where they are going to perform those services for which we might otherwise engage nonalcoholics. Such special services may be well recompenced. But our usual A.A. Twelfth Step work is never to be paid for.

Tradition 9
pg.172

"A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committies directly responsible to those they serve."

Each A.A. group needs the least possible organization. Rotating leadership is the best. The small group may elect its secretary, the large group its rotating committe, and the groups of a large metropolitan area their central or intergroup committee, which often employs a full time secretary. The trustees of the General Services Board are, in effect, our A.A. General Services Committee. They are the custodians of our A.A. Tradition and the receivers of voluntary A.A. contributions by which we maintain our General Services Office at New York. They are authorized by the groups to handle our overall public relations and they guarantee the integrity of our principal newspaper, the A.A. Grapevine. All such reprensentatives are to be guided in the spirit of service, for true leaders in A.A. are but trusted and experienced servants of the whole. They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.

Tradition 10
pg.176

"Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy."

No A.A. group or member should ever, in such a way as to implicate A.A., espress any opinion on outside controversial issues-particulary those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion. The Alcoholics Anonymous groups oppose no one. Concerning such matters they can express no views whatever.

Tradition 11
pg.180

"Our public ealations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films."

Our public relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations shoud be guided by the principal of attraction rather than promotion. There is never a need to praise ourselves. We feel better to let our friends recommend us.

Tradition 12
pg.184

"Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities."

And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principal of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles
before personalities; that we are actually to practice genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us.