From the October 1981 magazine.
A Motley Crew
Tradition 3 - The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking
ONE OF THE fears that dogged me at the beginning was that I would not meet the requirements for membership. Every night at a meeting, the definition of Alcoholics Anonymous was read, and I heard "the only requirement." But my sense of uniqueness told me that the requirements for me would be different and more difficult. I concluded that they would be sprung on me at some critical moment. Either I would pass with flying colors and be instantly upgraded, or I would have to pay somebody off in order to hang on to my AA membership.
From my vantage point of twenty sober years later, it seems a pretty bizarre attitude. At the time, it made very good sense.
-- W. H.Manhattan, New York
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