The 12 Traditions

It's often said that where the Twelve Steps are suicide prevention, the Twelve Traditions are homicide prevention. As recovering compulsive eaters, we often have strong opinions and want things our own way. The Twelve Traditions guide us to work together harmoniously in the service of our primary purpose.

The Twelve Traditions of GreySheeters Anonymous*

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon GSA unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants – they do not govern.
3. The only requirement for GSA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or GSA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the compulsive eater who still suffers.
6. A GSA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the GSA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
7. Every GSA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. GreySheeters Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers.
9. GSA as such ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.
10. GreySheeters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the GSA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and film.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

* The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous have been reprinted and adapted with permission (1998)  of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (“A.A.W.S.”). Permission to reprint and adapt the Traditions does not mean that Alcoholics Anonymous is affiliated with this program. A.A. is a program of recovery from alcoholism only - use of A.A.’s Traditions or an adapted version in connection with programs and activities which are patterned after A.A., but which address other problems, or use in any other non-A.A. context, does not imply otherwise.

The Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. 
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants – they do not govern. 
3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. 
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 
5. Each group has but one primary purpose – to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. 
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. 
7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 
8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. 
9. A.A. as such ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. 
10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. 
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and film.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.