Tradition VII

on

Short form: Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

Long form: The AA 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 AA treasuries which continue, beyond prudent reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated AA purpose. Experience has often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual heritage as futile disputes over property, money, and authority.

Application in AA

  • Why is the Tradition there in the first place?
  • The reasons are given in the long form
    • There are stated reasons
      • Outside contributions entail an overt or cover obligation towards the contributor
        • This could result in diversion from primary purpose onto other projects
        • This could result in submission to an authority other than the group conscience
      • We want to avoid futile disputes over property, money, and authority
    • There are also implied reasons
      • Outside organisations should not use the AA name
        • To raise money for them
        • To raise money for us
      • We could taint our reputation by allying ourselves or aligning ourselves with outside organisations or individuals
        • Our reputation would become tied to theirs
        • If their reputation is damaged, so would ours be
      • We would struggle to distance ourselves from misrepresentation by allied or aligned organisations or individuals
  • Group reasons:
    • The need to pay the rent and other expenses weeds out failing groups
    • If a group is failing, solve the problem within by looking at:
      • Format
      • Content
      • The individuals' own programmes
      • Attraction not promotion: if we're not attracting members, why not?
      • 'But obviously you cannot transmit something you haven’t got. See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.' (A Vision For You, Alcoholics Anonymous)
      • Seek therefore do become that which is attractive
    • Don't solicit support from elsewhere
      • Operationally
      • Financially
    • Exceptions:
      • When a group is new, it's OK to publicise it
        • To attract, one must be visible
      • Theoretically groups can be seeded financially by other groups
      • In practice that will rarely be necessary today
  • Other group-level considerations:
    • Groups should not solicit funds from non-group members
    • The funds should be disposed of in accordance with the conscience of the members
    • If money is coming from outside, the disposal of the funds (internal to the group) is separated from the providers of the funds (external to the group)
    • This represents a breach of Concept XI: authority and responsibility being matched
    • Groups can be kept alive by visitors: this results in the group members not taking full financial responsibility
    • Free rent / cross-subsidisation
      • The venue sometimes wants something back
        • Sway over content / attendance
      • Terrible meetings don't die
      • As a result, a false impression is given of AA to newcomers (and others who know no better)
        • E.g. some clubhouse meetings
        • It is not uncommon for clubhouses to accommodate very large numbers of meetings, most of which are poorly attended, disorganised, and lack a group spirit and ethos
        • (Although some clubhouse-based groups are immensely successful)
      • People think they've tried AA, when what they're tried is a non-viable AA meeting on a life-support system
      • If they drink, they think AA hasn't worked; in truth: they have no idea what AA can and should be
  • Fellowship-level considerations
    • AA is funded by the groups
    • Groups must therefore play their part
    • A group's expenses include its contribution to the fellowship at all levels
      • Financially
      • In terms of service
  • Treasury principles
    • Stay poor: use money for PI & then pass down the structure
    • Use bank accounts only if necessary
    • It is best to stay poor
    • Watertight reporting prevents abuse:
      • Records publicly available at the group, and on display
      • Transfers and bill settlement are evidenced in hard copy in the records
    • The group retains final responsibility and ultimate responsibility even though an officer is in place (see Concept I)
  • Maintain a prudent reserve:
    • Good practice:
      • 2 months of operating costs for groups
      • 1 to 2 years of operating costs for AA as a whole + working capital (to cover temporary fluctuations)

Application in life

  • The ideal:
    • To support oneself financially
    • But this can operate at individual level or family level
    • Each member of a family does not need necessarily to contribute financially
    • ... as long as the family as a whole is self-supporting
    • There are other ways of contributing
  • Benefits of being financially self-supporting:
    • There are no obligations towards others
    • We are free to serve God not others (who are the objects of the service not the principals of the service)
    • We can choose where we live
    • We can leave toxic environments
    • We have freedom over how we live our lives and spend our time
    • We have self-respect
    • Being financially self-supporting requires work
      • That lends purpose: contributing to the business of the world
      • Work gives us a practical focus (to get out of our heads)
      • Work gives us a forum for meeting others & doing God's will in those relationships
      • Work yields opportunities for personal growth
    • We have to face the consequences of our actions
    • Behind most chronic relapsers are enablers (agencies and individuals) who cushion them from the consequences
  • The principle of being a giver powered by abundance rather than a taken driven by poverty
    • Abundance: relying on God, overflowing into others' lives
    • Poverty: looking to sex, money, power, prestige, comfort, thrills, and appearance to sustain us
  • A vision of heaven & hell
    • Both involve people seated at a banquet with straightened arms, locked at the elbows
    • In heaven, people are feeding each other
    • In hell people are trying and failing to feed themselves
  • Responsibility for self:
    • Physically
    • Mentally
    • Spiritually
    • Socially
    • Developmentally
    • Financially
    • Practically
  • But:
    • It's OK to seek help
    • It's OK to delegate
  • Being spiritually self-supporting:
    • This means being OK because we've recovered ...
    • ... instead of being OK because we're living off the recoveries of other people
  • Being financially self-supporting:
    • Pay debts
    • Cover expenses
    • Provide for old age
    • Contribute to community and society (like AA groups contribute to the AA service structure)
    • Maintain a prudent reserve (1 to 2 years of operating costs + working capital)
    • Avoidance of excessive accumulation of funds
  • Emotionally self-supporting:
    • Do I need / want anything from any individual or situation?
    • ... these are my emotional dependencies ...
    • Or do I go only to God and accept whatever channel God provides?
  • Enabling
    • Am I enabling anyone else?
    • Is anyone else enabling me?
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