AA Chip Service: A Practical Checklist for Your Home Group
Taking care of a group's sobriety chips involves more than remembering to bring the box. Someone needs to know what is available, which milestones have been requested, and how the next person will take over. A small, repeatable system can make this service easier without turning members' anniversaries into an administrative project.
Agree on what the service includes
Start with the group's existing decisions. Does it offer early milestones, yearly chips, or both? Are anniversaries recognized at every meeting or on a particular date? Who buys replacements, and how are expenses approved? A.A.'s group literature discusses group conscience; a volunteer's preference should not silently become the group's purchasing policy.
Write down the answers in plain language. Include the usual supplier, the agreed spending limit, and who can approve an unexpected purchase. If someone wants to introduce a different coin range, bring that suggestion to the group rather than changing the box first. Keep personally purchased gifts separate from group stock.
Count by milestone, not by appearance
An attractive tray can hide a practical problem: several coins of one year and none of the year someone requested. Record each duration and the number on hand. Include units explicitly, such as months or years. Set a reminder to review stock on a schedule that suits the group's meeting frequency.
A useful record needs only four columns: milestone, quantity, requests already confirmed, and quantity to reorder. You do not need members' recovery histories in the same document. Check physical coins against the record after a presentation. If you discover a missing item, correct the count before placing another order.
Make requests easy and discreet
Tell members how to request a chip, who to approach, and when the volunteer is usually available. Ask only for the information needed to prepare the presentation. Confirm the milestone with the person rather than estimating it from how long you have seen them attend.
If a requested coin is unavailable, explain that privately before the meeting. Offer the group's agreed alternative or arrange a later presentation. Do not substitute a different number to fill the gap. The absence of stock need not become a public conversation about the person's date or attendance.
Leave a service handover someone can use
Before each meeting, check the box, any agreed requests, and the practical arrangements for handing out coins. Afterward, update quantities and note purchases that still need reimbursement. Store receipts with the group's financial records through its usual process rather than mixing them with private anniversary requests.
When the service rotates, hand over the stock list, supplier details, outstanding orders, and the group's presentation routine. Remove personal notes that are no longer needed. A new volunteer should be able to do the job without gaining access to an unnecessary archive of members' personal information.
Medallions to consider
Explore the Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins collections. Check the current listing and selected option before ordering. Catalog photographs may show a sample year; use the milestone selector when offered.
Tricolor Opulent Deep Blue Diamond Sparkle (1-65y)
An Elite anniversary option for an individually chosen gift. The current selector includes 18 months and annual options; check the exact selection.
Tricolor Jade Green (24h, 1-65y)
A Deluxe AA design with a milestone selector. Keep any personal purchase distinct from the group's agreed chip supply.
Common questions
Should every group buy premium medallions?
That is a group decision. A personal keepsake and the group's regular chip service can have different budgets and purposes.
Do we need to keep everyone's sober date?
Keep only what the group needs and members agree to share. A stock record can work without a permanent list of personal dates.
