Daily Traditions · one month, one Tradition
June
Tradition 6 · 30 readings
Tradition 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."
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.
June 1
Build and Operate Our Own
the threat
June 2
On the Side Lines
before the tradition
June 3
Actual or Implied
the threat today
June 4
Which Prospects Deserve Them
how a group breaks it
June 5
Freely Discarded
how it gets captured
June 6
Name and Financial Credit
the threat
June 7
Under the Direct Auspices
before the tradition
June 8
Medicine Is for Doctors
the threat today
June 9
Spiritual Entities
how a group breaks it
June 10
Twelfth Step Houses
how it gets captured
June 11
It Is Going to Take Millions
the threat
June 12
Co-operate but Never Compete
before the tradition
June 13
Bind Itself to No One
the threat today
June 14
Thank You to the Group
how a group breaks it
June 15
Whoever Pays
how it gets captured
June 16
A Field Day for Promoters
the threat
June 17
His Work and Ours
before the tradition
June 18
A Central A.A. Institution
the threat today
June 19
Bigger Than the Walls
how a group breaks it
June 20
Left Definitely Outside
how it gets captured
June 21
The Name on the Drive
the threat
June 22
Not Strictly A.A. Enterprises
before the tradition
June 23
Regardless of Anyone
the threat today
June 24
The Group's House
how a group breaks it
June 25
Known as A.A.
how it gets captured
June 26
Superintend It
the threat
June 27
Even Sober Drunks
before the tradition
June 28
Decline to Marry
the threat today
June 29
A Flyer on the Table
how a group breaks it
June 30
Best Stay Whole
how it gets captured
JanuaryTradition 1 · liveFebruaryTradition 2 · liveMarchTradition 3 · liveAprilTradition 4 · liveMayTradition 5 · liveJuneTradition 6 · liveJulyTradition 7 · liveAugustTradition 8 · liveSeptemberTradition 9 · liveOctoberTradition 10 · liveNovemberTradition 11 · liveDecemberTradition 12 · live
Daily 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).