WHERE WE CAME FROM:
Young People’s Groups in Alcoholics Anonymous began appearing around 1945 in Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Philadelphia, and now they can be found all across North America. In 1958, a meeting of young AA’s from across the U.S. and Canada started what is now the International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA), and it has met on an annual basis ever since. At the 1960 AA Convention, Bill W. noted that the age of new members was much lower than when he and Dr. Bob founded AA 25 years earlier. In a letter to ICYPAA datedJune 15, 1969, Bill wrote
“…in recent years I have found nothing for greater inspiration than the knowledge that AA of tomorrow will be safe, and certainly magnificent, in the keeping of you who are the younger generation of AA today.”
PURPOSE
We, The Salt Lake Territory Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (SaLTYPAA) are a committee set up as a standing service body for young (and young at heart) people in Salt Lake City and the surrounding cities of Utah. This committee is sprung out of our 5th and 9th Traditions having a primary spiritual aim—that of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers regardless of age. We have no governing body and we ought never to name boards to govern but we shall always need to authorize workers to serve our fellowship. Our hope is to unify young people in our area by practicing the principles of AA through meetings, events, and outreach animated by the spirit of service and the necessity of “absolutely insisting on enjoying life!”
MISSION
We accomplish our purpose by sponsoring young people’s meetings and events in our area of service. Through unity we facilitate communication between younger and older members of the fellowship to assist in bridging the generation gap. We also work in cooperation with other area YPAA’s to bid for conferences and co-host larger events.
MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE
SaLTYPAA is comprised of members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA member is defined in our third Tradition). Any AA member may be elected to a committee positions. We do not turn anyone away who desires to be of service. Any new member interested in being of service to the committee will be given a position. If no positions are currently available one will be created and added to the Bylaws at the subsequent meeting.