Guidelines for Cooperation with Other S-Recovery Fellowships
These guidelines were developed to familiarize the members, groups, and intergroups of SAA with the policies of the ISO regarding relationships and interactions with other S-recovery fellowships. The policies and recommendations are based on the Twelve Traditions of SAA, in particular Traditions One, Four, Six, Seven, and Ten.
As sex addicts, we naturally identify with members of other S-recovery fellowships because we struggle with various manifestations of the same malady. However, the governing bodies of the S-recovery fellowships have affirmed that each should remain autonomous and distinct from one another. Each fellowship has its own particular way of focusing on the message of recovery, and all agree that singleness of purpose and clarity of message are important to ensure consistency and integrity within each individual fellowship.
The guidelines are also available in PDF format here.
Cooperation without affiliation has become the dominant basis for interaction among S-recovery fellowships and groups. This underlying principle should not, however, prevent cooperation among fellowships; the goal of recovery from addictive sexual behavior is a common theme to which we all subscribe. At the national-international level, SAA interacts with other S-recovery fellowships through the executive director.
ISO participation in any cooperative venture with other fellowships, such as websites, conventions, or public service activities, requires direct approval of the Board of Trustees of the ISO of SAA. For example, the Board has repeatedly refused to grant permission for any outside entity to use the SAA medallion logo, although links to other pertinent websites have been permitted under strict rules of content and structure.
Most conventions, retreats, and meetings attended by members of more than one fellowship are sponsored by only one fellowship. Members of other fellowships may be invited as guests to participate fully, but control of program content and fiscal responsibility are usually retained by only one group, intergroup, or fellowship.
The autonomy of local groups permits cooperative activities among S-recovery fellowships as dictated by group conscience. It is strongly recommended, however, that fellowship integrity be honored and that careful reflection on the Twelve Traditions serve as the basis for all such decisions. Such activities might include listing local meetings of other S-recovery groups in information packets or use of common telephone lists.
Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon SAA unity.
Tradition Four: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or SAA as a whole.
Tradition Six: An SAA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the SAA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.
Tradition Seven: Every SAA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Tradition Ten: Sex Addicts Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the SAA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
