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Description of AA Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. 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.* *Reprinted with permission from the AA Grapevine, Inc. The AA Group The AA group is the basic unit of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. Any two or three gathered for the purpose may call themselves an AA group. Groups consist of a few to hundreds of members who may meet daily, weekly or monthly. Some groups have several meetings each day; these groups are often called fellowships. The primary purpose of every group is the sobriety of its members and to help others obtain sobriety. Organization of Alcoholics Anonymous Traditionally, Alcoholics Anonymous shall never be organized. However, groups in contiguous geographical or metropolitan areas often form cooperative intergroups or central offices to handle service responsibilities that are better done collectively than by individual groups, such as publishing meeting directories and maintaining area telephone hotlines. The General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous is in New York, but this is a service body, not a governing body. Individual groups may register with the New York General Service office or not. It is each group's choice. An individual becomes a member of AA when he or she says so. There are no dues or fees, no initiation rites, and no special requirements. Membership implies a desire to stop drinking, but this is a matter between the individual and his or her conscience. Most AA members attend meetings of several different groups. Many AA members choose a home group and attend its meetings regularly, but others do not. Getting Started in AA An Individual gets started by attending an AA meeting. If you think you may be an alcoholic or are concerned about your drinking or merely curious about it, you will be welcome at AA meetings, both those designated as Closed and those designated as Open. All are welcome at open AA meetings. closed meetings are limited to alcoholics and those concerned or curious about their drinking. Attending AA Meetings Meetings are conducted informally. One need only show up to be admitted and welcomed. In the east bay, newcomers may call our telephone hotline, 510-839-8900, for advice and assistance, or use our email hotline, helpline@eastbayaa.org. For a directory of meetings in the east bay, use our Meeting Schedule . The AA Program of Recovery The AA program of recovery is based upon spiritual principles and values such as honesty, selflessness, humility; and love, service and helpfulness to others. A strong component is the desire and willingness to carry the message of recovery to others. The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are recommended as the means for obtaining these spiritual principles.
A Brief History of AA In 1931 a fellow named Rowland H. placed himself in the care of the noted psychiatrist, Carl Jung, for the treatment of his alcoholism. Dr. Jung concluded that Rowland's alcoholism was beyond the help of psychiatry and without some deep seated personality or psychic change Rowland was doomed. Dr. Jung admitted that he was unable to bring about such a change in Rowland but that Rowland might find it through spiritual guidance. Rowland sought that guidance in the Oxford Groups, a movement that stressed first century Christian practices including emphasis on carrying the message to others. Rowland was relieved of his drinking problem and subsequently carried the message to Ebby T. Ebby stopped drinking and took the message to Bill W., one of his close drinking buddies. Soon, Bill experienced a spiritual episode, attended meetings of the Oxford Groups in New York, and set out to carry the message to other alcoholics. For about six months Bill was unsuccessful, but then on a business trip to Akron he was put in touch with Dr Bob S., a desperate alcoholic who incidentally also attended meetings of the Oxford Groups. After another bender, Dr Bob achieved sobriety in May of 1935. Dr Bob and Bill were successful in bringing the message to other alcoholics. Soon the alcoholics separated from the Oxford Groups. The fellowship grew to about one hundred members by 1939 when the book, Alcoholics Anonymous, was published. The members then adopted the book title for the name of their fellowship. From that first one hundred, Alcoholics Anonymous has grown to include members throughout the world with new groups still forming. |
