From Silkworth.net;

Tradition Five: Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

• Do I ever cop out by saying, “I’m not a group, so this or that Tradition doesn’t apply to me?”

• Am I willing to explain firmly to a newcomer the limitations of AA help, even if he gets mad at me for not giving him a loan?

• Have I today imposed on any AA member for a special favor or consideration simply because I am a fellow alcoholic?

• Am I willing to twelfth-step the next newcomer without regard to who or what is in it for me?

• Do I help my group in every way I can to fulfill our primary purpose?

• Do I remember that AA old-timers, too, can be alcoholics who still suffer? Do I try both to help them and to learn from them?

[Edited and brought into the now... 05/14/2008]

Post from: Blisstree

Tradition Five Checklist

Fourth Tradition – (long form) – “With respect to its own affairs, each A.A. group should be responsible to no other authority than its own conscience. But when its plans concern the welfare of neighboring groups also, those groups ought to be consulted. And no group, regional committee, or individual should ever take any action that might greatly affect A.A. as a whole without conferring with the trustees of the General Service Board. On such issues our common welfare is paramount.”

Tom asked another question: “Just as we do in our lives, are we seeking God’s guidance in the home group business meetings too?”

Once again I’ll offer simply my own personal thoughts…

Based on this, from “The A.A. Group… Where It All Begins” pamphlet, page 43;

5. Each Alcoholics Anonymous group ought to be a spiritual entity having but one primary purpose — that of carrying its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

It would be my thought that each and every spiritual entity ought to be seeking God’s guidance or it might suddenly find itself no longer a spiritual entity. Now, with the idea that I can’t get you sober and you can’t get me drunk etc., I’d like to consider that an A.A. group holds the lives of each newcomer squarely in its hands and might seriously determine that the right thing to do before each business meeting would be to ask for God’s guidance.

Just one man’s opinion… what do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

Does The Home Group Also Seek God’s Guidance?

Those that have interested me the most – from Silkworth.net, written by Milton A. Maxwell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sociology, State College of Washington, Pullman, Washington and compiled by Jim B.;

“Strong efforts were made in the Washingtonian movement to minimize sectarian, theological and political differences, but the movement did not avoid attracting to itself the hostile emotions generated by these conflicts.”

“… at their best, the Washingtonian groups possessed no understanding of alcoholism other than the possibility of recovery through love and sympathy.”

“Their approach to the problem of alcoholism and alcohol was moralistic rather than psychological or therapeutic. They possessed no program for personality change.”

“The group had no resource of ideas to help them rise above the ideational content locally possessed. Except for their program of mutual aid they had no pattern of organization or activity different from existing patterns. There was far too great a reliance upon the pledge, and not enough appreciation of other elements in their program.”

“Work with other alcoholics was not required, nor was the therapeutic value of this work explicitly recognized. There was no anonymity to keep the public from becoming aware of broken pledges, or to keep individuals from exploiting the movement for prestige and fame.”

“A comparison with the Washingtonian experience underscores the sheer survival value of the principle of anonymity in Alcoholics Anonymous… the opponents of the Washingtonian movement seized upon [anonymity lapses] with glee and made the most of it to hurt … the movement.”

“A decided Washingtonian weakness was its general lack of follow-through. In contrast, A.A. is particularly strong on this point, providing a potent follow-through in a group setting where self-analysis and catharsis are stimulated; where new attitudes toward alcohol, self and others are learned; where the feeling tones are modified through a new quality of relationships; where, in short, a new way of life is acquired – one which not only enables the person to interact with his environment (particularly with other persons) without the use of alcohol, but enables him to do so on a more mature, satisfying basis.”

Finally, from the Wikipedia: “The Washingtonians drifted away from their initial purpose of helping the individual alcoholic. Disagreements, controversies and infighting destroyed what was at one time a beneficial resource to the problem drinker, and their good work perished in the swirl of controversy over temperance and prohibition. Their successes, which might have been advanced to treat untold thousands of alcoholics, perished along with them.”

Are we paying attention?

Post from: Blisstree

Washingtonian Weaknesses

A recent news article spoke of one of a few precise reasons I believe “they” derived this Tradition. The group the article talked about – in Washington, D.C., if indeed it is true, is no longer an A.A. group and ought to be treated that way (imho). But that’s not what this post is about…

From our 12&12: “The very life of our fellowship requires the preservation of this principle.”

“Alcoholics Anonymous can be likened to a group of physicians who might find a cure for cancer… In the radiance of such a miraculous discovery, any doctor would set his other ambitions aside, at whatever personal cost… Just as firmly bound by obligation are the members of Alcoholics Anonymous.”

From “The Language of The Heart” page 82, Bill says:

“Because it has now become plain enough that only a recovered alcoholic can do much for a sick alcoholic, a tremendous responsibility has descended upon us all, an obligation so great that it amounts to a sacred trust.”

As Johnny O. told us – if you go to an A.A. meeting and it doesn’t feel like an A.A. meeting – make it an A.A. meeting!

[Yeah, I know - Bill said "recovered", with a "d" and?]

Post from: Blisstree

The Fifth Tradition