WHAT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS (AND WHAT IT IS NOT)

 

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

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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, organization 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. 

(COPIED WITH PERMISSION FROM GRAPEVINE INC. 2022)

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ABOUT THIS GROUP.    We are an online group meeting several times each week on the ZOOM platform.​ We opened our first zoom meeting in March 2020. This was a result of most live meetings closing down due to the Covid-19 restrictions imposed by most governments. This group plans to continue hosting some if not all our current scheduled meetings, mainly to cater for those members with restricted mobility.

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INFORMALITY. AA is an informal society of more than 2 million recovering alcoholics throughout the world.  Meetings range in size from a handful in some localities to a hundred or more in larger communities.

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NON-PROFESSIONAL. AA is nonprofessional – it doesn't have clinics, doctors, counsellors or psychologists. Our members simply have a desire to stop drinking alcohol and help others who wish to do the same thing. There are no charges whatsoever.

 

AUTONOMOUS. There is no central authority controlling how AA groups operate. It is up to the members of each group to decide what they do. However, the AA program of recovery has proved to be so successful that almost every group follows it in very similar ways.

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NO AFFILIATIONS. AA is not a religious organisation nor is it affiliated with any religious body, political entity, or ANY other outside enterprises.

 

ONLY A SINGLE REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP. Just a desire to stop drinking alcohol. Thats it.  You're a member of a group if you say so.

 

NO BOSSES. You can come and go as you please. No one is "in charge" of a group,

 

WE SUGGEST RATHER THAN ADVISE.  We work through the offer of help and suggestion only. No one can tell you what you should or shouldn't do.