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The only requirement for D.A. membership is a desire to stop using any form of unsecured debt. There
are no dues or fees; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
Members share their experiences in recovery
from compulsive indebtedness on a one-to-one basis, and introduce the newcomer to D.A.'s Twelve Steps of personal recovery
(based on the Twelve Steps of A.A.) and its Twelve Traditions that sustain the Fellowship itself.
Meetings
At
the heart of the program are its meetings, which are conducted autonomously by D.A. groups in cities and towns throughout the world.
Anonymity
Anonymity
helps the Fellowship to govern itself by principles rather than personalities; attraction rather than promotion. We openly
share our program of recovery, but not the names of individuals in it.
What D.A. does NOT do
D.A. does not
keep attendance records or case histories, engage in or sponsor research, affiliate with "councils" or social agencies (although
D.A. members, groups and service officers cooperate with them), offer religious services, provide housing, food, clothing,
jobs, money or other social services, provide domestic or vocational counseling, provide letters of reference to parole boards,
lawyers, court officials or social agencies.
D.A. does not discriminate against any prospective member. Who made the
referral to D.A. is not what interests us...it is the compulsive debtor who elicits our concern.
Problems other
than debt
Some people are compulsive spenders or compulsive shoppers. Underearning is another problem faced by many.
These problems may exist separately from the problem of compulsive debt. Our primary purpose is to "stop debting one day at
a time and to help other compulsive debtors to stop incurring unsecured debt."
We service those who have a desire
to stop using any form of unsecured debt, which is any debt that is not secured with some form of collateral such as a car,
house, or other property.
Working the program
After a member has gained some familiarity with
the D.A. program through attendance at meetings, he or she may take the following actions:
-Obtain a sponsor
-Work the
Twelve Steps of D.A.
-Read D.A. literature
-Organize a pressure relief group and pressure relief meeting
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