Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
July
Tradition 7 · 31 readings
Tradition 7
"Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."
Read the Long Form (pp. 563–566). The short form on pp. 561–562 is the one everybody quotes — but the Long Form is where the Traditions actually say what they mean. Tradition 3's "no other affiliation" clause, for instance, exists only in the Long Form. That single clause is why no treatment centre can own an A.A. group. Most of what circulates online skips it.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
And a distinction worth keeping straight: the Traditions are governance, not theology. They bind A.A. groups and the Fellowship — not individuals, and not outside businesses. They were adopted in 1950 to keep A.A. from being owned or co-opted. They are not a rulebook for your personal life.
July 1
The Gift With a Shadow
where it goes wrong
July 2
Why We Say No
the earned answer
July 3
Whose Meeting Is It?
where it goes wrong
July 4
Truly A.A.
the earned answer
July 5
A.A. in the Headlines
where it goes wrong
July 6
Beholden to No One
the earned answer
July 7
The Small Yes
where it goes wrong
July 8
The Irresponsible Became Responsible
the earned answer
July 9
Nobody Has to Give
where it goes wrong
July 10
One Dollar, All the Way Up
the earned answer
July 11
'For A.A.' on the Internet
where it goes wrong
July 12
Enough, Then Pass It On
the earned answer
July 13
The Gift That Wants Things
where it goes wrong
July 14
A Real Peril Averted
the earned answer
July 15
A Meeting With a Landlord
where it goes wrong
July 16
A New Kind of Growth
the earned answer
July 17
The Rainy-Day War Chest
where it goes wrong
July 18
Nobody Owns the Room
the earned answer
July 19
Matching Funds
where it goes wrong
July 20
Not a Cover Charge
the earned answer
July 21
A Vote for a Check
where it goes wrong
July 22
Nothing to Fight Over
the earned answer
July 23
A Price on the Name
where it goes wrong
July 24
The Basket Went Digital
the earned answer
July 25
The Man Who Pays the Rent
where it goes wrong
July 26
What Money Can't Buy
the earned answer
July 27
The Slow Drift
where it goes wrong
July 28
What It Doesn't Govern
the earned answer
July 29
Why They Capped It
where it goes wrong
July 30
What It Was Really Protecting
the earned answer
July 31
If They'd Never Written It
where it goes wrong
JanuaryTradition 1
FebruaryTradition 2
MarchTradition 3
AprilTradition 4
MayTradition 5
JuneTradition 6
JulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · liveDaily Traditions is an independent educational resource from Recovery Starts — not official A.A. literature, not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, and not medical advice. The Twelve Traditions are the property of A.A. Page references are to Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), 4th Edition: short form 561–562, long form 563–566. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).