The desire to quit—local AA members offer help and understanding to others
A fellowship is a unique organization. It is defined as simply any organized group of people with similar interests. That is the exact definition of AA. While many assume AA is a support group, in actuality it is not.
“The image of a support group is often misleading when referring to AA,” explained Scott Self, LICDC, SAP, Your Human Resource Center (YHRC) counselor. “AA was founded as, and still is more accurately defined as, a fellowship (people with similar interests), and in the case of AA the similar interest is simply the desire to stop drinking.”
Self knows a lot about AA and how it works. In addition to his work with YHRC, Self has been a member of AA for 27 years. Self believes that the unique structure of AA is one of the reasons it is so successful and retains members for many years.
“In 1935 the founders of AA met, and over the next three years they intentionally organized the group(s) to function the way that they still function today,” he said. “They designed AA this way in order to be the most successful at being a single-minded/one-purpose fellowship. They did this by avoiding organizational structures, which they had observed to be less functional in other groups.”
Unlike many groups, AA has no leaders, no president, no board of advisors, owns nothing, asks for nothing from anyone, accepts nothing from anyone except members, and is not involved in anything outside of the interests of the members of remaining abstinent. They have one focus and one focus only, and this format has worked for many years.
“AA’s founders were pretty wise, as AA has existed for over 76 years without being involved in any scandals, investigations, corruptions, scams, or asking for any handouts/bailouts, and it has probably tens of millions of members internationally, with absolutely no recruitment,” Self added. “I don’t know of any other fellowship that can say the same.”
According to the official preamble, AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; it is self-supporting through the member’s own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. The primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
This preamble concept is the same for other fellowships of common issue such as CA (Cocaine Members) and SA (Smoking/Tobacco Members).
Although AA has a high success rate, Self said it’s the members and not the program that actually works.
“AA doesn’t actually ‘work,’ the people who are members ‘work,’ they just find fellowship by associating with other people who have and still are interested in the same thing, staying abstinent and sober,” Self explained. “As it says in the preamble, “the only requirement for membership is the desire.”
In addition to the organization of the fellowship, the founders of AA discovered the 12 steps, which are often helpful to individuals in their efforts to remain abstinent.
“The 12 steps are some simple guidelines that the founders discovered to help members stay on track,” Self said. “There isn’t anything magic here; it’s just good sense and philosophies which when practiced help guide people through the personal changes, which support long-term abstinence. AA is not a treatment program. AA is a good place for many people, but then again, some people need professional treatment of some sort before they may be interested in being part of a fellowship like AA.”
According to Self, many AA members stay with the fellowship for many years, and most will say that they do it to stay sober, but their definition of sober may go beyond abstinence.
“Many just form bonds with the other members of the fellowship, which is probably why the ‘support group’ description is used so often,” he said. “Many also commit to ‘passing it on’ or ‘keeping the doors open’ for the newcomer to the fellowship, so that they can share their experience, strength, and hope.”
In addition to AA, there are other fellowships such as AlaNon, AlaTeen and even AlaTot. AlaNon is for spouses or other adult family members of the alcoholic, AlaTeen is for the teen family member of the alcoholic, and AlaTot is for the very young child of the alcoholic.
Local groups that are currently available include AlaNon, AlaTeen and AA, which all meet on Tuesday nights, at 7 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 90 S. Clay St. in Millersburg. There is also a Killbuck fellowship that meets Monday nights, at 8 p.m., at the Killbuck United Methodist Church, located at 410 N. Main St.
“The image of a support group is often misleading when referring to AA,” explained Scott Self, LICDC, SAP, Your Human Resource Center (YHRC) counselor. “AA was founded as, and still is more accurately defined as, a fellowship (people with similar interests), and in the case of AA the similar interest is simply the desire to stop drinking.”
Self knows a lot about AA and how it works. In addition to his work with YHRC, Self has been a member of AA for 27 years. Self believes that the unique structure of AA is one of the reasons it is so successful and retains members for many years.
“In 1935 the founders of AA met, and over the next three years they intentionally organized the group(s) to function the way that they still function today,” he said. “They designed AA this way in order to be the most successful at being a single-minded/one-purpose fellowship. They did this by avoiding organizational structures, which they had observed to be less functional in other groups.”
Unlike many groups, AA has no leaders, no president, no board of advisors, owns nothing, asks for nothing from anyone, accepts nothing from anyone except members, and is not involved in anything outside of the interests of the members of remaining abstinent. They have one focus and one focus only, and this format has worked for many years.
“AA’s founders were pretty wise, as AA has existed for over 76 years without being involved in any scandals, investigations, corruptions, scams, or asking for any handouts/bailouts, and it has probably tens of millions of members internationally, with absolutely no recruitment,” Self added. “I don’t know of any other fellowship that can say the same.”
According to the official preamble, AA is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; it is self-supporting through the member’s own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. The primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
This preamble concept is the same for other fellowships of common issue such as CA (Cocaine Members) and SA (Smoking/Tobacco Members).
Although AA has a high success rate, Self said it’s the members and not the program that actually works.
“AA doesn’t actually ‘work,’ the people who are members ‘work,’ they just find fellowship by associating with other people who have and still are interested in the same thing, staying abstinent and sober,” Self explained. “As it says in the preamble, “the only requirement for membership is the desire.”
In addition to the organization of the fellowship, the founders of AA discovered the 12 steps, which are often helpful to individuals in their efforts to remain abstinent.
“The 12 steps are some simple guidelines that the founders discovered to help members stay on track,” Self said. “There isn’t anything magic here; it’s just good sense and philosophies which when practiced help guide people through the personal changes, which support long-term abstinence. AA is not a treatment program. AA is a good place for many people, but then again, some people need professional treatment of some sort before they may be interested in being part of a fellowship like AA.”
According to Self, many AA members stay with the fellowship for many years, and most will say that they do it to stay sober, but their definition of sober may go beyond abstinence.
“Many just form bonds with the other members of the fellowship, which is probably why the ‘support group’ description is used so often,” he said. “Many also commit to ‘passing it on’ or ‘keeping the doors open’ for the newcomer to the fellowship, so that they can share their experience, strength, and hope.”
In addition to AA, there are other fellowships such as AlaNon, AlaTeen and even AlaTot. AlaNon is for spouses or other adult family members of the alcoholic, AlaTeen is for the teen family member of the alcoholic, and AlaTot is for the very young child of the alcoholic.
Local groups that are currently available include AlaNon, AlaTeen and AA, which all meet on Tuesday nights, at 7 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 90 S. Clay St. in Millersburg. There is also a Killbuck fellowship that meets Monday nights, at 8 p.m., at the Killbuck United Methodist Church, located at 410 N. Main St.
Published: February 2, 2012
