Alcoholics Anonymous, Covid-19
and our Seventh Tradition
Along with the rest of the world - continue to experience an unprecedented situation. Without question, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Fellowship, including our organized service structure, is facing enormous challenges, locally and globally. For many of us the most prominent example is that, for the first time in 85-year history our Fellowship, we are navigating the lack of face-to-face meetings. While we have found creative ways to allow for the vital interaction between one alcoholic and another, and welcoming newcomers daily, it is clear that the health crisis has other far-reaching consequences.
As we all adapt to the present reality of digital meetings, the question now is, "How do we responsibly practice self-support, Our Seventh Tradition?" As we can no longer pass a physical basket we are working to find ways to support the Fellowship at all levels, from our groups to intergroups and Central Offices, from our Districts and Areas to the General Service Office itself.
The reality is that even though the meetings, Twelfth Step services and operation has shifted to a virtual enviroment, expenses continue to accumulate during this crisis, which underscores the importnace of proacting the Seventh Tradition.
The entire A.A. Fellowship has come together to provide onging support. Among them:
- Many home groups are still paying rent for a room and meeting are on line and some platforms still have costs
- Intergroups/Central Offices are still stocking literature and fielding Twelfth Step calls, redirecting A. A. member and those looking for recovery to online meetings.
- Area-level committees are working to keep channels open between the Fellowships and the delegates and board members that make up our General Service Conference, as well as to do public information, corrections and other services.
- G.S.O. in New York is continuing to support all levels of service. Literature still needs to be published and distributed, calls need to be answered, online platforms still need to be updated and support operation sustained.
