About Us
Our committee is driven by A.A.’s primary purpose: to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Our committee is comprised mostly of young members in Alcoholics Anonymous, who have stayed sober through A.A. service and A.A.’s General Service Structure, as well as by practicing the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The overall goal is to bring a rotating statewide young people's convention to New Jersey.
In the process, we hope to promote and create unity, not only within our committee, but also with young people in A.A as a whole. We strive to create an accessible young people’s fellowship that allows any and all members to experience what it is like to live happy, joyous, and free.
With the committee, and hopefully subsequently the future bid and hosting committees, we hope to stir up a fire for recovery in the bellies of all the new young A.A. members in our area. As always, we plan to achieve these goals as a collective unit, while maintaining sobriety and abiding by the principles and traditions of A.A.
A Brief History of YPAA
Alcoholism recognizes no barriers, age included. The first Young People Groups (YPG’s) in Alcoholics Anonymous appeared in 1945 in Los Angeles, California and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1957, at Niagara Falls, a meeting of young A.A.s from across the U.S. and Canada started what is now the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA).
Bill W., at the 1960 A.A. Convention, noted that the age of new members was much lower than when he and Dr. Bob founded A.A., 25 years earlier. In the letter written to the 12th ICYPAA in 1969, Bill W. is quoted
“I have found nothing for greater inspiration than the knowledge that A.A. of tomorrow will be safe, and certainly magnificent, in the keeping of you who are the younger generation of A.A. today.”
An ICYPAA pamphlet, in 1975, put the ages of people in YPGs in their twenties and thirties, with occasional teenagers. The trend has continued. In 1983, an A.A. survey reported 20% of respondents were under 31 years of age, and 3% were under 21. The number of ‘young people suffering from Alcoholism who turn to A.A. for help is continuing to grow.
How Do I Get Involved?
Am I too Old?
Anyone is welcome at our business meetings. feel free to come in person or hop on zoom!
At our business meetings we discuss old and new business, sub committee reports are read, we review the tradition and or concept of the month and most importantly we work together on on achieving our primary purpose.
Can't wait to join?! Reach out to a Committee Member via email at njypaa@gmail.com
No, we have a young at heart policy! Our Committee is open to all.
As the third tradition states, "the only requirement for A.A membership is the desire to stop drinking".
Is This a Cult?
What is a Bid & Why Do We Bid?
A committee with elected positions that work in unison on achieving the goal of hosting a convention for their area. These conventions can include activities such as workshops, traditional meetings, panels, and dances.
NJYPAA Bid for EACYPAA bids because we want to bring a convention to the state of New Jersey and help the next sick and suffering alcoholic. NJ currently has over 383 active rehabs, we want to spread the message to all those newcomers and show them SOBRIETY RULES!
No but it can feel like one ;)
How Is This Different from General Service?
General Service and YPAA both share the same common purpose: to carry the AA message to alcoholics of all ages.
Young People's groups are in no way separate from Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole. Members are involved in and committed to Twelve Step work, Hospital and Institution work, Public Information, General Service, and every other facet of AA Service. Newcomers are shown that using AA principles in their daily lives and getting involved in AA Service can lead to a lasting and comfortable sobriety.