Bill W.'s original 1948 Grapevine article on Tradition Nine:

                  The least possible organization, that's our universal ideal. 

                  No fees, or dues, no rules imposed on anybody, one alcoholic 

                  bringing recovery to the next; that's the substance of what we 

                  most desire, isn't it?

                  But how shall this simple ideal best be realized? Often a 

                  question, that.

                  We have, for example, the kind of AA who is for simplicity. 

                  Terrified of anything organized, he tells us that AA is 

                  getting too complicated. He thinks money only makes trouble, 

                  committees only make dissension, elections only make politics, 

                  paid workers only make professionals, and clubs only coddle 

                  slippers. Says he, let's get back to coffee and cakes by cozy 

                  firesides. If any alcoholics stray our way, let's look after 

                  the. But that's enough. Simplicity is our answer.

                  Quite opposed to such halcyon simplicity is the AA promoter. 

                  Left to himself, he would "bang the cannon and twang the lyre" 

                  at every crossroad of the world. Millions for drunks, great AA 

                  hospitals, batteries of paid organizer, and publicity experts 

                  wielding all the latest paraphernalia of sound and script; 

                  such would be our promoters dream. "Yes, sir," he would bark. 

                  "My two-year plan calls for one million AA members by 1950!"

                  For one, I'm glad we have both conservatives and enthusiasts. 

                  They teach us much. The conservative will surely see to it 

                  that the AA movement never gets overly organized. But the 

                  promoter will continue to remind us of our terrific obligation 

                  to the newcomer and to those hundreds of thousands of 

                  alcoholics still waiting all over the world to hear of AA.

                  We shall, naturally, take the firm and safe middle course. AA 

                  has always violently resisted the idea of any general 

                  organization. Yet, paradoxically, we have ever stoutly 

                  insisted upon organizing certain special services; mostly 

                  those absolutely necessary to effective and plentiful Twelfth 

                  Step work.

                  If, for instance, an AA group elects a secretary or rotating 

                  committee, if an area forms an intergroup committee, if we set 

                  up a foundation, a general office or a Grapevine, then we are 

                  organized for service. The AA book and pamphlets, our meeting 

                  places and clubs, our dinners and regional assemblies -- these 

                  are services, too. Nor can we secure good hospital 

                  connections, properly sponsor new prospects, and obtain good 

                  public relations just by chance. People have to be appointed 

                  to look after these things, sometimes paid people. Special 

                  services are performed.

                  But by none of these special services has our spiritual or 

                  social activity, the great current of AA, ever been really 

                  organized or professionalized. Yet our recovery program has 

                  been enormously aided. While important, these service 

                  activities are very small by contrast with our main effort.

                  As such facts and distinctions become clear, we shall easily 

                  lay aside our fears of blighting organization or hazardous 

                  wealth. As a movement, we shall remain comfortably poor, for 

                  our service expenses are trifling.

                  With such assurances, we shall without doubt continue to 

                  improve and extend our vital lifelines of special service; to 

                  better carry our AA message to others; to make for ourselves a 

                  finer, greater Society, and, God willing, to assure Alcoholics 

                  Anonymous a long life and perfect unity.

                  Copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc., August 1948