Tradition Seven
by Judy F.
Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Tradition seven is about contributions and self-support. “This means that only A.A. members contribute financially to Alcoholics Anonymous – and even then, they are limited in the amount they can contribute. This keeps A.A. free of outside influences that can divert us from our primary purpose – to help the alcoholic who still suffers. The amount of contribution is secondary to the spiritual connection that unites all groups around the world.”
Is your contribution helping to cover your meeting’s rent, literature, and coffee, as well as supporting other local AA service agencies such as your local central office/intergroup, district, area, and General Service Office?
As I look back at the times I was a meeting secretary, I think how often I would glide over the announcement regarding the 7th tradition and assume we would collect enough when the baskets were passed to cover our expenses, never really thinking what those expenses might be. I believe it’s especially true if your meeting is part of a group of meetings or at a clubhouse, where they may not hold you responsible if rent wasn’t met.
About six months ago, the GSB in New York informed Area 93 and District 7 (our local general service offices) that group/meeting and individual contributions were at an all-time low. We were no longer supporting New York’s operating expenses, and they were going to have to take from the prudent reserve to cover expenses for the remainder of the year. Because of this financial crisis, should NY put aside the 7th tradition this one time and apply for a little boost from some government agency? Surprisingly, with word spreading through our local service agencies, groups/meetings and individuals stepped up and met the challenge of increasing contributions. Should it take a crisis for us to meet our financial responsibility to NY or other service agencies within your area?
Available from the General Service Office is a Traditions Checklist originally published in the AA Grapevine. One of the questions asked for tradition seven is – “Honestly now, do I do all I can to help AA (my group, my central office, my GSO) remain self-supporting? Could I put a little more into the basket on behalf of the new guy who can’t afford it yet? How generous was I when tanked in a barroom?” The question I identified was – “Is a group treasurer’s report unimportant AA business? How does the treasurer feel about it?” As with any service announcement made, everyone’s eyes glaze over, and you can almost hear their thoughts, “OMG, here she goes again.” Did you ever think about the added time your treasurer put in to prepare their report or the extra meeting your IGR or GSR had to sit through to bring you those service announcements?
So, the next time you are in a meeting and the basket is being passed for the 7th tradition, think about our responsibilities as sober members of Alcoholics Anonymous. As an individual and as a group, are we meeting the obligations of supporting the offices that provide unlimited services to the alcoholic who still suffers?