The Al-Anon Twelve
Traditions |
These guidelines are
means of promoting harmony and growth in Al-Anon groups and in the
worldwide fellowship of Al-Anon as a whole. Our group experience
suggests that our unity depends upon our adherence to these Traditions.
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| 1 |
Our
common welfare should come first; personal progress for the greatest
number depends upon unity. |
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| 2 |
For
our group purpose there is but one authority - a loving God as He
may express himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are
but trusted servants; they do not govern. |
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| 3 |
The
relatives of alcoholics, when gathered together for mutual aid, may
call themselves an Al-Anon Family Group, provided that, as a group,
they have no other affiliation. The only requirement for membership
is that there be a problem of alcoholism in a relative or friend. |
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| 4 |
Each
group should be autonomous, except in matters affecting another group
of Al-Anon or AA as a whole. |
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| 5 |
Each
Al-Anon Family Group has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics.
We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps of AA ourselves, by encouraging
and understanding our alcoholic relatives, and by welcoming and giving
comfort to families of alcoholics. |
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| 6 |
Our
Al-Anon Family Groups ought never endorse, finance or lend our name
to any outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige
divert us from our primary spiritual aim. Although a separate entity,
we should always cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous. |
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| 7 |
Every
group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. |
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| 8 |
Al-Anon
Twelfth-Step work should remain forever non-professional, but our
service centers may employ special workers. |
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| 9 |
Our
groups, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service
boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. |
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| 10 |
The
Al-Anon Family Groups have no opinion on outside issues; hence our
name ought never be drawn into public controversy. |
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| 11 |
Our
public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion;
we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press,
radio, TV and films. We need guard with special care the anonymity
of all AA members. |
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| 12 |
Anonymity
is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding
us to place principles above personalities. |
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Al-Anon Service Center of Northern Virginia
