Mission

Santa Barbara Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (SBYPAA) has but one primary purpose
to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help,
we want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: we are responsible. We insure to do this by
unifying young people in the Santa Barbara area and by practicing the principles of AA through meetings,
events, and outreach.

Alcoholism has no barriers, age included. Young people suffering from alcoholism have turned to Alcoholics Anonymous and found help there since AA’s earliest days. In 1945, one of the first young people’s groups was formed in Los Angeles to help carry the message of recovery to young people in AA.

The number of young people suffering from alcoholism, who turned to AA for help continued to grow. At the 1960 AA convention, Bill W. noted the age of new members to be much lower in 1960 than when he and Dr. Bob founded AA 25 years earlier. The 1998 AA membership survey reported 11% of the respondents under 30 years of age and 2% under 21 years of age.

The aim of young people’s groups is to help newcomers understand that they need not experience years of drinking, loss of family, friends and finances to be ready for sobriety. They help bring the newcomers into the mainstream of AA Recovery, Unity, and Service through the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and the 12 Concepts of World Service by carrying AA’s message to the suffering alcoholic.

Young People’s groups are in now way separate from Alcoholic’s Anonymous as a whole. Members are involved in and committed to Twelfth Step work, Hospitals and Institution work, Public Information, General Service, and every other facet of AA service. Newcomers are shown by people their own age that using AA principles in their daily lives and getting involved in AA service can lead to a lasting and comfortable sobriety. The purpose of young people’s groups is to carry the Alcoholics Anonymous message to alcoholics no matter what their age.

The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.
All elected officers shall serve one full committee term (see Appendix for definition of “committee term”).
Failure to attend two consecutive SBYPAA Steering Committee meetings or to fulfill description of duties, without prior notice to the Chair, Co-chair, or Secretary shall be considered a resignation of committee position.
Every SBYPAA elected officer is required to attend and participate in all SBYPAA hosted events.
Any break in continuous sobriety is considered a resignation of committee position.
Any change in an officer position should follow the “Election Guidelines”.