A.A.’s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole.

Millions of people have found sobriety through A.A., including many whom the courts, lawyers, or employers sent. We in A.A. are men and women who have discovered, and admitted, that we cannot control alcohol. We are not reformers, and we are not allied with any group, cause, or religious denomination. We have no wish to dry up the world. We do not recruit new members but do welcome them.

A.A. is not part of the court system. We do not work for the courts or the police department. We do not ask the courts to send people to us. When people show up with court cards or slips to be signed, we are not responsible for ensuring they are sober. If a judge, court, school, or employer has sent you to A.A. meetings, we had nothing to do with their decision.

While some who are sent to A.A. attend the required meetings and never come back, others keep coming back because they find that A.A. helps them live without alcohol.

Most meetings will sign court cards or slips, some will not. It’s up to each meeting to decide. Since A.A. is not allied with the court system, A.A. is not required to do the court’s work. If you arrive at a meeting early, you can ask anyone if they will sign your card or slip.
If you were not given a court card and need a signed attendance record you will need to create your own. An example of one might be, on a lined piece of paper make 3 columns and title them: DATE, MEETING NAME, and SIGNATURE then bring the paper to the meeting.
For online meetings, join early and ask the meeting leader or secretary what their practice is for attendance verification (usually via email).
If a meeting leader or secretary agrees to sign your court card, they will probably just sign their first name or initials. We are personally anonymous. We are not court employees.
If you have any questions, please ask them before the meeting starts, during a meeting break, or when the meeting is over. You can always find someone willing to talk to you and answer your questions.

We offer regularly scheduled meetings (not classes) and there is no enrollment. You just show up for a meeting.                           
There are open and closed meetings. Anyone can attend an open meeting but participation is limited to those who have a problem with alcohol. You can just say your first name or not, and nothing else. You don’t have to identify as an alcoholic to attend an open meeting. A.A. does not keep membership files, or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back. Closed meetings are for for members or folks whom acknowledge they have a problem with alcohol and want to stay stopped. All meeting list’ will tell you if the meeting is open or closed. On the “Meeting Guide” app you’ll need to tap om the meeting name for all the information. Our local website aaflagler.org has the most updated information for Flagler county AA.

In A.A. we respect all members’ anonymity. While you are free to take, repeat, and use any of the ideas or concepts that you hear at a meeting, please do not identify anyone you heard or saw there and NO pictures!

Our membership ought to (should) include all who suffer from alcoholism.There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership. We are fully self-supporting through our own contributions. We pass the basket to pay our rent and expenses. (The most common donation is one dollar.)

Reprinted with permission from the A.A. Grapevine.

Flagler AA helpline (386) 445- 4357