You Were Sent to A. A.
What You Need to Know
Perhaps as a result of some problem involving alcohol, a judge, employer, or school sent you to Alcoholics Anonymous. Some of us were sent to our first AA meeting by persons in authority. You are not alone, you are not the first, and you won't be the last.
You probably have some questions. We hope this article answers some of them.
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What is A.A.
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 A. A. 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.
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Many people have found recovery through A. A., including those who were sent by the courts, their employers or school. While some who are sent to A. A. attend the required number of meetings and never come back, others keep coming back because they find that A. A. helps them live without alcohol.
Alcoholics Anonymous is not part of a court, school, employment or any other system. When people show up with papers to be signed for verification of meeting attendance, A. A. is not responsible to make sure the person is sober.
A. A. provides information about alcoholism to all who are interested. If a court school, employer or any other organization sent you to Alcoholics Anonymous it is because they have evidence you may have a drinking problem; A. A. had nothing to do with their decision.
If you have a desire to stop drinking, or if you decide you are an alcoholic, you may call yourself a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A. A. states "there are no dues or fees for A. A. membership. We are fully self-supporting through our own contributions." If you consider yourself a member of A. A., you may contribute a couple of dollars to the group to pay for room rent and other group expenses such as coffee, cream, sugar and cups. Most groups will have a collection basket. If you do not consider yourself a member, in the spirit of self-support, we ask that you do not donate to the collection.
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A Few Points To Keep in Mind
- Open A. A. meetings mean that anyone may attend. Closed A. A. meetings are for members or those who have a desire to stop drinking. If you do not have a desire to stop drinking you are a welcome guest at open A. A. meetings.
-While most A. A. groups will sign papers of verification, some groups won't. It is up to each group to decide. A. A. groups are not required to sign the papers.
-If the meeting leader, chairperson or secretary agrees to sign the papers, they will probably sign only their first name or use initials to protect their anonymity. Individual A. A. members are not required to sign the papers.
-Ask any guestions you may have before the meeting, after the meeting or during the meeting break if there is one. There is usually always someone willing to talk and answer questions.
-A. A. members are all humans imaginable from young to old: we live imagiable lifestyles, work all jobs imaginable, or have no job; we are of all races or blend of races. Some of us live in homes some are homeless. Some of us have physical illness or handicap, some have mental illness.
-All people are welcome to be members of Alcoholics Anonymous; the only reequirement is a desire to stop drinking.
-While you are free to adopt, repeat, and use any ideas or concepts you hear at a meeting, do not identify who you heard or saw at a meeting.
-Remember: People can point out indications that you have a drinking problem - indications like loss of control, drunk driving arrests, lost jobs, broken relationships, blackouts, etc. - but only you can decide if you are actually an alcoholic. If you decide you are an alcoholic, you're in the right place.
-Most of us are happy to be A. A. members. If you stick around long enough you'll find out why.
Keep Coming Back!