Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
September
Tradition 9 · 30 readings
Tradition 9
"A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve."
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.
September 1
Not an Organization
the threat
September 2
Won't Money Spoil This Thing?
before the tradition
September 3
In the Supposed Interest of Efficiency
the threat today
September 4
The Man Who Started It
how a group breaks it
September 5
Which Way the Money Runs
how it gets captured
September 6
Rule-Making Benders
the threat
September 7
Shouted Down
before the tradition
September 8
The Passion for Consolidation
the threat today
September 9
Somebody Has to Be Told
how a group breaks it
September 10
The Missing Clause
how it gets captured
September 11
Ten Men and a Committee
the threat
September 12
Cleveland Invents Rotation
before the tradition
September 13
Equipped to Set Up a Center
the threat today
September 14
Six Months, Then Out
how a group breaks it
September 15
Responsibility, Not Authority
how it gets captured
September 16
The Screening Committee
the threat
September 17
A Legal Bludgeon
before the tradition
September 18
Still Around
the threat today
September 19
The Expanded Program
how a group breaks it
September 20
We'll Supply the Organization
how it gets captured
September 21
A Great Many Sheets of Paper
the threat
September 22
Business Meetings
before the tradition
September 23
Now Dr. Bob Said
the threat today
September 24
Bleeding Deacons
how a group breaks it
September 25
The Name, Incorporated
how it gets captured
September 26
Officials
the threat
September 27
Safe, Even From Me
before the tradition
September 28
Should We Ever Harden
the threat today
September 29
Judges of Other People's Morals
how a group breaks it
September 30
Never Organized At All
how it gets captured
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).