The traditions are read at almost every meeting I go to, and they are frequently topics at discussion meetings.

I must admit I am pretty old-school, and part of the reason I started looking for discussions online has to do with what I see as sort of a pop AA taking hold in my area. The traditions have always defined what AA is and what it isn't. It's not an organization. There are no "rules" outside of a desire to stop drinking. Its "brand" is never for sale. It doesn't solicit or accept outside donations. It has exactly one purpose. It values principles over personalities.

On the other hand, groups can do whatever they please, and this has led to some practices that I feel dilute the primary purpose of the program: to carry the message the helps the next drunk achieve sobriety.

For a long time my home group, a closed discussion, did not sign court slips. We didn't think anyone should be forced to go to AA, and we had people showing up and openly stating they were planning to go to the bar after the meeting. There was no desire whatsoever to stop drinking, and certainly no reason for them to honor anyone's anonymity. Another group just puts the stamp on the back table for people to do their own slips. They're free to stay of course, but only if they want what we have.

This is supposed to be a program of attraction rather than promotion, no matter who is doing for the promoting or for what good reason. Since the courts have gotten so heavily involved, we end up with a room full of crack addicts and junkies.

I love AA. I feel very protective of it. The traditions are in place so AA will be there for those who want it -- not those who need it.

Sorry this has become something of a rant. I promise to listen to everyone else with an open mind.

I am pretty old school too. I have been criticised in group conscience meetings in the past for being "too focused" on making sure the traditions are upheld. In particular believing that the traditions should be applied for the good of the whole group and AA as a whole rather than violated for the benefit of an individual or group of individuals.

Also interested in and open minded about what others have to say about their experiences of learning about and applying the traditions.

Hey Nicky,

Some of the meetings here, especially the 12x12 formats run an ocassional Traditions meeting. Reading the tradition from the 12x12 then sharing discussing around it for the full meeting. I'm not sure how well these work but they do happen.

As for me, I like to and encourage others to read the traditions and the history of AA, official lit like 'Pass it On' and 'comes of age' as well as less official literature. To see how AA cam to be and how it came to be what it is. It's the sort of thing I tend to talk to people about in the kitchen sink and living room meetings that go on until 3.00am sometimes :o)

Service at all levels brings it up also, eh? When I personally struggle with an aspect of the fellowship or service the traditions come to life a bit more than a dry reading gives me. Important to remember the traditions come from real-life experience, the fear of losing something very fragile (the early fellowship).

That's how it works for me anyway...steps and traditions are vital for me and I grow in understanding. The concepts (world service) are still a little over my head but who knows, maybe some time in the future eh? :o) Or maybe not hehe

Keep meaning to say, if you and Lyn tell me where you hang out I'd love to drop in to a meeting some time when I'm London.

Oh, and the anonymity thing...I'm not sure how my behaviour on DS fits with T11 and T12. Putting photos up and so on became a personal exercise in openness...I found there was maybe a temptation to hide behind anonymity here and pretend to be someone I'm not...not sure, still working with it. The desire to be more open was maybe something that came from Mark(BBH) anyway - watch this space, more will be revealed I guess!

Have a great day

P

Thanks for the post! It made me realize that I need to paid more attention to the Traditions. If it wasn't for an old AA friend of mine I wouldn't even discuss them with anyone. There are tradition- meetings but I never had the chance to go to these meetings.

I comment on Laura saying that they didn't sign the slips. My old home-group have the same opinion here (Australia). Otherwise most of groups just don't care. "They're free to stay of course, but only if they want what we have." First, my personal opinion was that even though they must come, there is a chance for a spark. Now, I think that without a desire to stop drinking and coming only because they must, rather might kill the spark at the very beginning.

My sponsor told me a while back the traditions are to the group as the steps are to the individual. They define, moderate and protect the group from indiividual bias through their application both by daily observance and the exercise of group conscience when necessary.
They insure that wherever I walk into the rooms, I have a darn good chance of picking up a piece of experience, strength and hope. I've seen a couple of groups that fell apart by not following those simple guidlines...

Hugs,
Dennis

I love the traditions. Around my area they say that the steps help to prevent suicide, and the traditions help to prevent homicide. I find them so important, but a lot of the people aren't so keen. If you want to empty a room, announce that the topic is a tradition. I try to bring in traditions into open topic discussions (which I not a fan of, but at least I try), but it never sticks...no one seems interested. Some of the meetings have a tradition discussion once a week, and I certainly try to attend those.

Like many newcomers, I didn't understand much about them, and didn't feel they were important - hell, I just wanted to stop drinking. I wasn't interested in these group "rules" - who cares? but I quickly came to see how important they are, not only for groups, but how they can be used in my life. I use them in my marriage. it's amazing how they can be transferred to so many things in our lives...work, home life, etc.

These days I make sure that I get my sponsees to understand them as well, and I too have been reading a lot of AA history, which shows why we need the traditions. One book I recommend for traditions is Language of the Heart, which is Bill W's writings in the Grapevine. You can see the slow progression of him both forming and slowly "selling" the traditions to AA. It's quite fascinating.

Great topic!

PaulS9 just told my experience with the Traditions. And yes!, the Traditions can apply in a family environment or any other group setting.

My sponsor insisted on taking me through the Traditions, as well as the Steps.

I also avoided the Traditions meetings. I attended a Steps and Traditions meeting. The steps were alternating with the Traditions. I would get confused on what day they were on and inevitably end up at a Traditions meeting, lol.

nicky, my husband's Al-Anon sponsor gave us The 12 Traditions and how they can be applied in any situation on audiotape. It really helped me gain a better insight on The Traditions. Maybe because, rather than reading them, a person actually spoke on the matter.

I have always tried to encourage my sponsees to go through the Traditions with me but most of them aren't interested. It was always a policy of mine to sponsor them into service and took them to intergroup with me when i went, but again, many aren't interested.

We have had some votes at intergroup to decide whether or not to accept the 'chit system' here. i.e one of those forms where people are required to attend. We have always been against it here in North London and my opinion hasn't changed although it is run very successfully in other parts of the UK.

Like you, I am also pretty 'old school' and have been critiicised for it too. Nicky and I put together a series of workshops in order to explain our history and we had the most tremendous fun doing it. We had to check and cross check our sources but oh we did laugh at some of the tales we read!

I must confess that the Concepts are the things baffle me and I feel that I should understand them more but there is no one locally who knows very much about them so, I remain fairly ignorant about them.

I think that there are many ways to employ the principles contained within the Traditions. In fact I have heard Mark H and (I think) Dave F who talk about how their households are run upon such lines. Only blokes could get away with that, I can't imagine that my husband would have been amenable to it!!

Hey Paul, it would be great if you are ever in our neck of the woods. We are quite hospitable and would love to take you to our home group which is on a Friday - it's a newcomers meeting.

Lyn