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Responsibility
"Our spiritual way
of life is safe for future generations if, as a Society, we resist the
temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us
with a responsibility - one that every member ought to understand. We
cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat.
Our groups, our
areas, and AA as a whole will not function unless our services are
sufficient and their bills are paid. When we meet and defeat the
temptation to take large gifts, we are only being prudent. But when we
are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful for our
blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found
with all those who still suffer."
Bill W., November
1957
©1988AAGrapevine, The Language of the Heart, p. 221
"The A.A. groups
themselves ought to be fully supported by the voluntary contributions of
their own members.
We think that each group
should soon achieve this ideal; that any public solicitation of funds
using the name of Alcoholics Anonymous is highly dangerous, whether by
group, clubs, hospitals, or other outside agencies; that acceptance of
large gifts from any source, or of contributions carrying any
obligations whatever, is unwise.
Then, too, we view with
much concern those A.A. treasuries which continue, beyond prudent
reserves, to accumulate funds for no stated A.A. purpose. Experience has
often warned us that nothing can so surely destroy our spiritual
heritage as futile disputes over property, money and authority."
-- Tradition Seven
(long form)
"Self-Support begins
with me, because I am part of us - the group. We pay our rent and
utility bills, buy coffee, snacks and A.A. literature. We support our
central office, our area committee, and our General Service Office. If
it were not for those entities, many new people would never discover the
miracles of A.A."
-- "Self-support: Where
Money and Spirituality Mix" pamphlet
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