Recovery Blog

A unity service recovery coin is a type of recovery token used to mark progress in sobriety. You may hear it called a sobriety coin, medallion, or “AA chip.” The coin is not a medical tool and it is not a test of commitment. It is a small, physical reminder that many people find helpful as they build a stable routine and stay connected to support. While designs vary, many of these coins include a circle-and-triangle symbol and the words “Unity, Service, Recovery.” Those three words are often treated as a short summary of what keeps a recovery program working: personal change, connection with others, and giving back.

If you are looking for AA meeting information, it is normal to wonder about “the rules.” AA groups use shared guidelines to keep meetings respectful, private, and focused. The format can differ by group. Still, many expectations are common across meetings. This article covers AA meeting etiquette and AA meeting rules—what often happens before, during, and after a meeting. It also covers online meetings, where privacy can take extra planning.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is widely known for the Twelve Steps, but AA also has a second set of guiding principles: the AA Twelve Traditions. The traditions are designed to help AA groups function well over time, especially as membership expands and group needs evolve. In that sense, the traditions are less about any one person’s recovery plan and more about how the fellowship stays stable, accessible, and welcoming. This article focuses on AA Tradition 1 (also written as the AA first tradition, AA tradition 1, or Tradition One AA). It explains the wording, the core idea of unity, and what “common welfare” can look like in meetings and in day-to-day life.