What A.A. Does
1. AA members share their experience with anyone seeking help for their drinking problem; they give person-to-person service or “sponsor” the alcoholic who comes to AA regardless of their background.
2. The AA program, outlined in our Twelve Steps, offers the alcoholic a way to develop a satisfying life without alcohol.
3. This program is discussed in AA group meetings.
to. Open speaker meetings — open to alcoholics and nonalcoholics. (Attending an open AA meeting is the best way to find out what AA is, what it does, and what it doesn't do.) At speaker meetings, AA members "tell their stories." They describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to AA, and how their lives have changed as a result of AA
b. Open Discussion Meetings — One member talks briefly about his or her drinking experience, and then leads a discussion about recovery in AA or about any drinking-related issues anyone wants to raise.
(Closed meetings are for AAs or anyone who may have a drinking problem.)
c. Closed Discussion Meetings — conducted the same as open discussions, but only for alcoholics or prospective AA members
d. Steps Meetings (normally closed) —discussion on one of the Twelve Steps.
and. AA members also hold meetings at correctional and treatment facilities.
F. AA members may be asked to hold AA informational meetings as part of other alcoholism programs. These meetings about AA are not regular meetings of AA groups.
Alcoholics Anonymous does not run promotional campaigns to recruit members. OFFERS help alcoholics who want to get sober.
It does not track its members. He does not monitor them to see that they are not drinking. HELP alcoholics to help themselves.
It is not a religious organization. Each member can have and develop their own ideas about the meaning of life.
It is not a medical organization. It does not provide medications or diagnoses, or psychiatric services.
It does not run or have hospitals or health centers; does not provide hospitalization services.
It is not affiliated with any other organization. But cooperate with organizations that fight alcoholism. Some members work in these organizations, but they always do so in a personal capacity; never as representatives of or on behalf of Alcoholics Anonymous.
It does not accept money from outside sources, whether public or private.
It does not offer social assistance services. It does not provide accommodation, food, work or money; HELP alcoholics stay sober to get these things done for themselves.
Due to the principle of anonymity, included in the name of the Fellowship, Alcoholics Anonymous does not want the name of its members to be revealed on the radio, press or TV. For this reason, members of Alcoholics Anonymous never reveal the names of other members to outsiders. But the members of Alcoholics Anonymous are not ashamed to be. They only want to MOTIVATE other alcoholics to seek help in the Community and do not pretend to be considered heroes or heroines just for taking care of their own health.
Alcoholics Anonymous does not provide certifications or letters of recommendation to prison parole bodies, judicial authorities, companies, social institutions, etc.