The A.A. Group

As is says in Concept 1:

The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

The A.A. group – the final voice of the Fellowship

Alcoholics Anonymous has been called an upside down organization because “the ultimate responsibility and final authority for World Services resides with the groups – rather than with the trustees, the General Service Board or the General Service Office in New York.” (“Twelve Concepts for World Service Illustrated”).

The entire structure of A.A. depends upon the participation and conscience of the individual groups, and how each of these groups conducts its affairs has a ripple effect on A.A. everywhere. Thus, we are ever individually conscious of our responsibility for our own sobriety and, as a group, for carrying the A.A. message to the suffering alcoholic who reaches out to us for help.

A.A. has no central authority, minimal organization, and a handful of Traditions instead of laws. As co-founder Bill W. noted in 1960, “we obey [the Twelve Traditions] willingly because we ought to and because we want to. Perhaps the secret of their power lies in the fact that these life-giving communications spring out of living experience and are rooted in love.”

A.A. is shaped by the collective voice of its local groups and their representatives to the General Service Conference, which works toward unanimity on matters vital to the Fellowship. Each group functions independently, except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

Each group is a unique as a thumbprint, and approaches to carrying the message of sobriety vary not just from group to group but from region to region. Acting autonomously, each group charts its own course. The better informed the members, the stronger and more cohesive the group – and the greater the assurance that when a newcomer reaches out for help, the hand of A.A. always will be there.

Most of us cannot recover unless there is a group. As Bill said, “Realization dawns on each member that he is but a small part of a great whole…He learns that the clamor of desires and ambitions within him must be silenced whenever these could damage the group. It becomes plain that the group must survive or the individual will not.”

What is an A.A. group?

As the long form of Tradition Three clearly states, “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.”

Some A.A.s come together as specialized A.A. groups – for men, women, young people, doctors, gays and others. If the members are all alcoholics, and if they open the door to all alcoholics who seek help, regardless of profession, gender or other distinction, and meet all the other aspects defining an A.A. group, they may call themselves an A.A. group.

A.A. groups are encouraged to register at G.S.O., as well as with their area, district, inter-group or central office.

The difference between open and closed A.A. meetings.

The purpose of all A.A. group meetings, as the Preamble states, is for A.A. members to “share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.” Toward this end, A.A. groups have both open and closed meetings.

Closed meetings are for A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and “have a desire to stop drinking.”

Open meetings are available to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’ program of recovery from alcoholism.

At both types of meetings, the A.A. chairperson may request that participants confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism. Whether open or closed, A.A. group meetings are conducted by A.A. members, who determine the format of their meetings.

What kinds of meetings do A.A. groups hold?

“Every A.A. group is autonomous,” our Fourth Tradition says, “except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.” So, predictably, the meetings held by our thousands of groups each have their own imprint.

The most common kinds of A.A. meetings are:

1. Discussion. Whether closed or open, an A.A. member serving as “leader” or “chair” opens the meeting in the usual way and selects a topic for discussion.

Background for many topic meetings derives from our Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, As Bill Sees It and the A.A. Grapevine. A few specific topic suggestions would include: acceptance versus admission, freedom through sobriety, principles versus personalities, fear (or the nameless fears), surrender, gratitude, anger, willingness, honesty, attitude, resentments, making amends, humility and tolerance.

2. Speaker. One or more members selected beforehand “share” as described in in the Big Book, telling what they were like, what happened and what they are like now.

Depending upon the group conscience for general guidelines, some groups prefer that members who speak have a minimum period of continuous sobriety. Speaker meetings often are “open” meetings.

3. Beginners. Usually lead by a group member who has been sober awhile, these are often question-and-answer sessions to help newcomers. (A guide for leading Beginners Meetings is available from G.S.O.)

4. Step, Tradition or Big Book. Because the Twelve Steps are the basis of personal recovery in A.A., many groups devote one or more meetings a week to the study of each Step in rotation; some discuss two or three Steps at a time. These same formats may be applied to group meetings on the Big Book or the Twelve Traditions. Many groups make it a practice to read aloud pertinent material from the Big Book or the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions at the onset of the meeting.

In addition to the meetings described above, groups also hold the following kinds of meetings:

Business. Some groups schedule special sessions through out the year, apart from regular meetings, for reports from group officers to discuss group affairs and obtain group guidance. Group officers usually are elected at such meetings

Group Inventory. These are meetings at which members work toward understanding how well the group is fulfilling its primary purpose.

Service. These re general information meetings about service; they may also serve as a form for delegate reports or other communications.

Grapevine. These are meetings where A.A. topics from the Grapevine my be discussed.

The A.A. Home Group

“Traditionally, most A.A. members through the years have found it important to belong to one group which they call ‘Home Group.’ This is the group where they accept responsibilities and try to sustain friendships. And although all A.A. members are usually welcome at all groups and feel at home at any of these meetings, the concept of the ‘Home Group’ has still remained the strongest bond between the A.A. member and the Fellowship.” (from The A.A. Service Manual, p. S48-S49.)

With membership comes the right to vote upon issues that might affect the group and might also affect A.A. as a whole – a process that forms the very cornerstone of A.A.’s service structure. As with all group – conscience matters, each A.A. member has one vote; and this, ideally, is voiced through the home group.

Over the years, the very essence of A.A. strength has remained with the home group, which, for many members, becomes their extended family. Once isolated by their drinking, they find in the home group a solid, continuing support system, friends and, very often, a sponsor. They also learn firsthand, through the group’s workings, how to place “principles before personalities” in the interest of carrying the A.A. message.

Talking about her own group, a member says: “Part of my commitment is to show up at my home-group meetings, greet newcomers at the door, and be available to them – not only for them but for me. My fellow group members are the people who know me, listen to me, and steer me straight when I am off in left field. They give me their experience, strength and A.A. love, enabling me to ‘pass it on’ to the alcoholic who still suffers.”