It is important that I clarity the relationship between Token Manufactures and AA globally
AASA (Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa) or Alcoholics Anonymous worldwide, never has and never will have any claim whatsoever over the recovery tokens that our various groups give their members. All tokens used by AA are NOT manufactured by AA, nor are they a recognized part of AA literature. AA has no copyright claim over any of them. The official AA logo is not used on any recovery token and no copyright is infringed upon. Because of this, the same recovery coins are used by numerous other recovery groups. The vast majority of tokens and chips used by Alcoholics Anonymous and other groups are manufactured independently in the USA by four main companies, namely: Wendell’s, Bright Star Press, REA and The Northwest Territorial Mint. Alcoholics Anonymous do not manufacture tokens, and groups are free to acquire their Tokens however they can. AA South Africa does not sell authentic USA imported aluminum recovery coins. Groups that do have them, have almost always acquired them independently by a member travelling to the USA or Canada. Each AA group is autonomous (Having the freedom to govern itself and control its own affairs) and we are free to use our collections in any way we feel is best for our own individual groups and members, be it rent, coffee, literature, banners, ashtrays, or recovery coins. We make our own decisions and are not governed by anyone. If you hear differently then unfortunately you are being misinformed.
Genuine Alcoholics Anonymous Tokens are nearly impossible to find in South Africa. Importing AA coins from the USA is very costly and unreliable.
We have decided to change that:)
An airline pilot in our fellowship is able to legally bring small amounts of tokens into South Africa on a regular basis and with a lower import duty than that of the Post Office. It is through his line of work, and my ability to create this website, that we are happy to pass this opportunity on to our fellow recovery groups around South Africa, with zero mark up in price. Why are we doing this? Well, because we are in the unique position to be able to do this. AA is all about service and if we can help our local groups get tokens without the high costs of importing and without the risk of your items never arriving with our current postal system, we will:) The Covid situation has limited many flights to and from the USA, especially flights that stop over in certain countries. As a result our stock levels are a bit low right now, but hopefully we are nearing the end of this very difficult time and our lives will soon return to normal.
Some Interesting facts and History about AA Tokens / Chips
A sobriety coin is a token given to Alcoholics Anonymous or other 12 step group members representing the amount of time the member has remained sober. It is marked with the sobriety time achieved, awarded for abstaining from alcohol while with the program. In other 12 step programs it is to mark time abstaining from whatever the recipient is staying away from. There is no official AA medallion or chip; they are used in AA culture but not officially Conference Approved, and the AA logo is not used on the medallions.
Alcoholics Anonymous was not the first organization to use sobriety chips: other temperance societies gave medallions to those who swore to stop drinking/using and to track the duration of their sobriety
Their first use is mentioned in the book Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers. The history book for Alcoholics Anonymous, discusses the work of Sister Ignatia in Akron, a nun who was devoted to assist early members of A.A. and was known for passing out coins to these members. In this book, it states, “Sister Ignatia gave each of her newly released patients a Sacred Heart Medallion, which she asked them to return before they took the first drink. She would occasionally give out St. Christopher and St. George medals as well.”
The actual history of how the A.A. chip came about after this is still a mystery. It is believed to have originated in 1942 in Indianapolis. The man who began the Alcoholics Anonymous section in Indianapolis, Doherty S., is thought to have started the sobriety coin tradition within this section of A.A. The Portland Group (Maine) began a tradition of using colored poker chips to mark time of sobriety. As each section of A.A. saw fit, it joined in on the sobriety coin custom. As private companies saw these coins being used, they began to manufacture “A.A.” chips (even though they were not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous) and sell them to different sections. It is believed that the company that made the modern chip as we know it today occurred in Minneapolis in 1965. Wendells Inc from Ramsey, Minnesota began manufacturing the raised center bronze AA Medallion in 1973. The Wendells medallion is the most common bronze coin given by AA members
The chip system is optional and not a used by all AA groups nationally or internationally, however it has been shown to have a very strong, positive impact on a members journey through sobriety. Kept in the wallet or pocket, many an alcoholic has held their token and experienced the powerful reminder of how far they have come and what will be lost if they choose to drink again.
*The information above is mainly from the Wikipedia Page on AA Tokens / Chips.