Page 9 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

As we discovered the principles by which the individual
alcoholic could live, so we had to evolve principles by
which the A.A. groups and A.A. as a whole could survive
and function effectively. It was thought that no alcoholic
man or woman could be excluded from our Society; that
our leaders might serve but never govern; that each group
was to be autonomous and there was to be no professional
class of therapy. There were to be no fees or dues; our
expenses were to be met by our own voluntary
contributions. There was to be the least possible
organization, even in our service centers. Our public
relations were to be based upon attraction rather than
promotion. It was decided that all members ought to be
anonymous at the level of press, radio, TV and films. And
in no circumstances should we give endorsements, make
alliances, or enter public controversies.

This was the substance of A.A.’s Twelve Traditions, which
are stated in full on page 561 of this book. Though none of
these principles had the force of rules or laws, they had
become so widely accepted by 1950 that they were
confirmed by our first International Conference held at
Cleveland. Today the remarkable unity of A.A. is one of the
greatest assets that our Society has.

While the internal difficulties of our adolescent period
were being ironed out, public acceptance of A.A. grew by
leaps and bounds. For this there were two principal
reasons: the large numbers of recoveries, and reunited
homes. These made their impressions everywhere. Of
alcoholics who came to A.A. and really tried, 50% got sober
at once and remained that way; 25% sobered up after some
relapses, and among the remainder, those who stayed on
with A.A. showed improvement. Other thousands came to
a few A.A. meetings and at first decided they didn’t want
the program. But great numbers of these—about two out
of three—began to return as time passed.