"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"

artgirl · Newbie

9th Tradition

canadianguy · ~*Service Worker*~

To me, Tradition 9 is all about maintaining our objectivity.... The concern would be if we were sponsored by some kind of outside entity, that they might (purposely or otherwise) influence our direction or purpose. Al-Anon tries very hard NOT to exclude individuals..... This tradition helps ensure that this "openness" remains intact.

T

lin0606 · ~*Service Worker*~

This is one of the more difficult traditions to talk about, but what usually comes up in our group discussions is that there is no hierarchy here - no leader, no boss, no working your way up the ladder, etc. Many of the people in my f2f are active in the community, and serve on the boards of various volunteer organizations. Alanon is so different from that type of group, and there is a lot of value in that difference.

This tradition seems to be kinda covered by other ones - I see that in the discussion on traditions in "Alanon Family Groups" (the blue and black book), it is not even covered. By the way, that discussion ("application of the 12 traditions to group problems" pg 65) is very useful when doing this type of thing.

Lunamoth · ~*Service Worker*~

This to me is about autonomy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomy

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/autonomous

In everyday life for me, well, I may go to others for information guidance etc., but ultimately this household is run by those who live and participate in it. We may hold family meetings but we don't answer to or are governd by any one else ( though there are some who would love to govern us)

artgirl · Newbie

Thank you. That's a good way to think about it. Very helpful.

debilyn · ~*Service Worker*~

In an AA book I have it states for one example, that this has to do with, there is no one who can tell someone else to leave. There is no president or CEO, we are brothers and sisters in AA or alanon.

We do not make message boards or commitees to govern us, we will always need each other to provide authorized people to serve us.

Tradition 9 is not as difficult or complex as we might think.

It just simply means we are a "fellowship" people with like goals and hopes that are helped by each other that no one is above, that we serve each other, and as we get more seasoned we may be appointed to humbly be even more service to others.

Much love,debilyn

abbyal · ~*Service Worker*~

For me the words ( directly resonsible for those they sever) means us the every day al anon members thru out the world , this is the only organization that I know of where policy cannot be changed unless all groups world wide agree. OUr delegates are the ones that carry our vote to WSO . if we do not agree nothing is changed.

bobump · ~*Service Worker*~

Paths to Recovery has a chapter on each Step and each Tradition with questions in the back. My Wed afternoon step meeting uses this and it never fails to invoke thought in living the traditions in the program and in our family and relationships.

This non CAL site I've also found interesting.

TRADITIONS AS A GUIDE TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS

http://www.singlesinsobriety.org/Traditions.htm

Bob

MsgBo · Veteran Member

Artgirl

Hi
My take isthat each AFG sets it's own program, based on what the members themselves feel the need to explore, eg. detachment, live and let live, etc.

We are not governed or directed by anyone but the groups desires and needs.

Yours in recovery

Bill

Rita G · ~*Service Worker*~

I liked this info that I read in the Al-Anon 12 Steps & 12 Traditions

Tradition 9 pg 124 -

Thinking It Over
. . . Rotation of office guarantees that all have a chance to grow through service.

I know I am in Al-Anon for my own recovery, and by volunterring to serve on the necessary committees, I translate phrases such as, "I am responsible" and "Let it Begin with Me" into action.

Tradition 9 reminds me that someone was doing service work to keep a healthy meeting available for me when I needed to walk into the rooms of recovery. To ensure that a healthy meeting is always available to the newcomer, I can be responsible to serve my group according to the Al-Anon 12 Traditions.

Hope you have a great meeting,
Rita

The material presented here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method to exchange information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal level.

"He is either gonna drink, or he won't.... what are YOU gonna do?"