How to Ask Your AA Group About Adding a Chip Milestone
A member asks about an 18-month chip and the group usually offers yearly coins. If you want the group to consider adding a milestone, bring a short proposal that says exactly what would change, what it would cost and who would do the extra work.
Find out what the group currently does
Ask the chip volunteer or secretary about the milestones already offered. Confirm whether the issue is a missing item, a policy, or simply uncertainty about where the group keeps the coins. Our guide to obtaining AA chips explains why it helps to ask about a particular meeting’s practice before making plans.
Look at the current schedule for recognition. If someone wants a chip on a date when there is no presentation, that is a separate question from adding a milestone. Write one sentence about the exact change you want. “Keep a small supply of 18-month chips for members who request one” is specific enough to discuss.
The A.A. Group booklet describes how groups make local decisions. Follow the group’s agreed process for asking for time on the agenda. Check how early you need to send the item and what information would help members prepare.
Bring a proposal people can evaluate
Write the expected cost based on a current quote and name the person who would check inventory. Say whether you’re proposing a one-time order, a trial or a standing addition. Leave room for the group to choose a different quantity or decide to revisit it later.
Ask how the chip would be presented and whether members would need to request it in advance. Keep the request process private and confirm what the member wants said. Our anniversary announcement guide gives examples for agreeing on the wording without collecting extra details.
If someone suggests buying a personal coin instead, distinguish that choice from the proposed group purchase. A gift receipt can help with an individual order. The group can keep its own purchasing and reimbursement records through the process it already uses.
Leave a simple record of the decision
Use the group conscience guide to understand how the business meeting handles discussion and decisions. Record the result in a short sentence, including who will act and when the group will look at it again. Keep the record about the policy, costs and work, with personal names and dates out unless they are needed and agreed.
If the proposal is deferred, find out what information would help the group consider it later. Someone may need to check a quote or explain how stock is tracked. Ask when to bring it back rather than treating a delay as a final answer.
For a trial, check whether people could request the chip easily and whether the additional work fit the volunteer’s role. Bring those observations to the review date. The group can then decide whether to continue.
Check how the group would tell people if it approves the change. One brief announcement or a line in the group’s own instructions can explain how to request the chip. Revisit the wording when the trial ends so a temporary arrangement does not become a lasting promise by accident.
Medallions to consider
The two listings below have different selections. Use each product’s Sobriety Time selector to see the options it offers.
The photos show sample milestones. Confirm your choice in the Sobriety Time selector.
Tricolor Opulent Deep Blue Diamond Sparkle
Elite deep-blue design with a stone-set triangle. The selector lists 18 months and annual milestones from 1 to 65 years.
Tricolor Glittering Silver
Deluxe silver-colored design. The selector lists annual milestones from 1 to 40 years.
Common questions
Is there a required list of milestones?
Ask your group which milestones it recognizes. Local customs and the coins a seller offers can differ.
Should I buy a box before asking the group?
Get the group’s agreement before spending money you expect it to reimburse. A personal gift can be arranged separately.
Keep reading
Compare designs and milestone options in Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins.
