The annual Founders' Day Florida Style convention is sponsored by Founders' Day Florida Style, Inc. (FDFS). FDFS Inc., a not for profit corporation, was founded so that our convention may be held in accordance with the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA's sixth tradition states that:
"An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose."
Further, AA's ninth tradition goes on to say that:
"A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve."
Further implied in these, and other, traditions are the facts that AA, as such, may not own property, be held liable for contracts -- such as those necessary to secure convention halls, hotel space and catering services -- or accept monies required to defray the cost of said contracts. Therefore, outside organizations must be created in order to conduct conventions or conferences of this nature, much as the General Service Office and Intergroup Offices function to serve AA members in other ways.
Though Founders' Day Florida Style, Inc. is not itself a part of Alcoholics Anonymous, all of its board and committee members as members of the AA fellowship. Thus, the Founders' Day Florida Style convention is sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous members, for the benefit of members of the AA fellowship. According to AA's General Service Office (GSO), this qualify's our convention to be considered an AA function.
