The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous*

of HIV Anonymous

 

	OUR COMMON WELFARE SHOULD COME FIRST; PERSONAL GROWTH DEPENDS UPON HIV ANONYMOUS UNITY.
	FOR OUR GROUP PURPOSE THERE IS BUT ONE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY: A LOVING HIGHER POWER AS EXPRESSED IN OUR GROUP CONSCIENCE. OUR LEADERS ARE BUT TRUSTED SERVANTS; THEY DO NOT GOVERN.
	THE REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERSHIP IS CLEAR; ANY TWO OR MORE PERSONS GATHERED FOR MUTUAL AID MAY CALL THEMSELVES A HIV ANONYMOUS GROUP, PROVIDED THEY FOLLOW THE TRADITIONS AND AS A GROUP HAVE NO OUTSIDE AFFILIATION.
	EACH GROUP SHOULD BE AUTONOMOUS EXCEPT IN MATTERS AFFECTING OTHER GROUPS OR THE FELLOWSHIP AS A WHOLE.
	EACH GROUP HAS TWO KEY FUNCTIONS: 1) TO PROVIDE A DESIRABLE ATMOSPHERE FOR RECOVERY, 2) TO CARRY ITS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO OUR AFFLICTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
	OUR FELLOWSHIP OUGHT NEVER ENDORSE, FINANCE, OR LEND ITS NAME TO ANY RELATED FACILITY OR OUTSIDE ENTERPRISE, LEST MONEY, PROPERTY, OR PRESTIGE DIVERT US FROM OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE.
	EVERY GROUP SHOULD BE FULLY SELF-SUPPORTING THROUGH VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.  HOWEVER, THE HIVAWSO IS IN CHARGE OF FILING FOR AND ACCEPTING GRANTS.  APPROPRIATENESS OF ACCEPTING OR DECLINING DONATIONS OR OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE REFERRED TO THE HIVAWSO.
	OUR FELLOWSHIP WILL REMAIN FOREVER NONPROFESSIONAL, BUT OUR SERVICE CENTERS MAY EMPLOY SPECIAL WORKERS.
	HIV ANONYMOUS SHOULD BE ORGANIZED, CREATING SERVICE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THOSE THEY SERVE.
	OUR FELLOWSHIP HAS NO OPINION ON OUTSIDE ISSUES, TO PROTECT OUR NAME FROM BEING DRAWN INTO PUBLIC CONTROVERSY.
	OUR PUBLIC-RELATIONS POLICY IS TO CARRY THIS MESSAGE OF HOPE; THE HIVAWSO WILL UTILIZE PRESS, RADIO, TELEVISION, AND FILM.  MEMBERS OF HIV ANONYMOUS MUST ALWAYS MAINTAIN THE PERSONAL ANONYMITY OF OTHER MEMBERS.
	SOUND ETHICS AND EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS OF ALL OUR TRADITIONS, ALWAYS INSTRUCTING US TO PLACE PRINCIPLES BEFORE PERSONALITIES.

The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous*

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 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. 3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, and films. 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.