C.A.’s Seventh Tradition means each group is fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. The basket covers essentials—rent for meeting space (we’re not affiliated with venues), chips and literature (ordered via the service structure), and refreshments. After expenses, groups keep a prudent reserve of two to three months’ costs; any surplus is typically shared using the 70/30 plan (70% to the District/Area, 30% to the World Service Office) so phones get answered, websites and schedules are maintained, literature is stocked, and C.A.’s message is carried worldwide. Guided by group conscience and trusted servants—not governors—our contributions keep the focus on our primary purpose: helping the addict who still suffers.
C.A.’s 7th Tradition reads as follows: “Every C.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”
You’re probably like many of us were when we first came into Cocaine Anonymous—we put our money into the basket and then saw it collected by a person we thought must be the boss or president of C.A. At first this didn’t seem like a big deal, but eventually we wondered, “Where does that money go?” To answer this question, let’s follow the money in the basket.
The treasurer collects the money and uses it to pay the Group’s expenses. The treasurer also gives the Group regular reports on the total donations collected and expenses paid, as well as any amounts left over. A typical Group’s expenses include the following:
Rent: Cocaine Anonymous is not affiliated with the hospitals, churches, or other facilities where our meetings are held; we pay rent and/or make a donation for the use of their space. This arrangement is mandated by Tradition 6 and our preamble, which state that we are not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution. Paying for the use of its meeting space is part of the Group being self-supporting through its own members’ contributions.