TRADITION EIGHT

 

Definition of Tradition:
Guideline for relationships between groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large.

Synonyms for Tradition:
Guideline, principle, practice, etc.

These notes are from recovery in AA and/or related 12 step programs.
Readers are encouraged to click external links for more detail.
We hope you find them helpful.

Love in fellowship.

Tradition Eight  – Fellowship: Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. | More…

AA will never have a professional class. We have gained some understanding of the ancient words “Freely ye have received, freely give.”

Tradition Eight  ensures that any time a newcomer reaches out for help, he will receive it, free of charge. Members freely share their own experience, strength, and hope with the newcomer and by doing so, help themselves by reinforcing their own recovery in the process. | More…

Tradition Eight checklist Is my own behavior accurately described by the Traditions? If not, what needs changing?

When I chafe about any particular Tradition, do I realize how it affects others?

Do I sometimes try to get some reward even if not money – for my personal AA efforts?

Do I try to sound in AA like an expert on alcoholism? On recovery? On medicine? On sociology? On AA itself? On psychology? On spiritual matters? Or, heaven help me, even on humility?

Do I make an effort to understand what AA employees do? What workers in other alcoholism agencies do? Can I distinguish clearly among them?

In my own AA life, have I any experiences which illustrate the wisdom of this Tradition.

Have I paid enough attention to the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions? To the pamphlet AA Tradition – How It Developed?
The 12 Traditions of AA are a set of guidelines for how the organization should function. They were developed by the early members in response to problems as they arose.

The 12 Traditions first appeared as a set of principles in 1946.It is unlikely that AA could have survived so many years without these guiding regulations. | More…

The Principles of the Twelve Traditions
Tradition One: Unity
Tradition Two: Trust
Tradition Three: Identity
Tradition Four: Autonomy
Tradition Five: Purpose
Tradition Six: Solidarity
Tradition Seven: Responsibility
Tradition Eight: Fellowship
Tradition Nine: Structure
Tradition Ten: Neutrality
Tradition Eleven: Anonymity
Tradition Twelve: Spirituality | More…

Every August, one of the founding members of my group (a real character, who is jokingly said to be our spiritual leader — or is it spherical leader?) says that in honor of the eighth month and Tradition Eight, he is offering a special discount on sponsorship for anyone who needs it. Sometimes people take him up on the offer, but a good proportion of them cancel during the introductory trial period. Of course, this is all said in jest at our meetings, and we get a good laugh out of it. –Grapevine, Lynwood, Washington, August 2004.