These guidelines are the means of
promoting harmony and growth in Al-Anon groups and in the world-wide
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. |
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Our common welfare should come first.
Personal progress for the greatest number should depend upon unity.
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| 2. |
For our group purpose there is but one
ultimate 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, we 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 or 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 the 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 nonprofessional, 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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