Business debtors
Business Debtors Anonymous (BDA)
BDA is a distinct and dynamic but not separate part of DA, created to focus on the recovery of members of the fellowship who are self-employed people or business owners. Together, members of BDA support one another in applying the DA principles and tools when owning and running a business. There are particular issues that arise for such people, both in managing their businesses, and in keeping them separate from their home lives. Note that the primary purpose of BDA is to operate businesses without incurring debt, and personal debting issues should be addressed at regular DA meetings
However, as part of DA, there is no separate membership for attending BDA meetings. As it states in our Third Tradition, “the only requirement for DA membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt”. This applies to both professional and personal debt. It is understood that paying bills for goods and services rendered according to agreed upon terms does not constitute debting.
The meetings list specifies which meetings focus on BDA issues. Some may restrict participation in order to allow a focus on particular aspects of business debting (see meetings list).
Investors Business Owners Debtors Anonymous (iBODA)
In iBODA, our business plans need an enormous infusion of cash to take it to the next level. This cash infusion would allow the businesses to expand to a position of potential market dominance. We found putting our businesses ‘out there’ exposed to the venture capital community is intimidating, risky and very frightening to the iBODA member. We draw strength from each other in our meetings as we learn to find spiritual solutions to our common business problems. Some iBODA examples:
- an invention that needs to be patented and manufactured
- a new product that needs to be distributed nationwide
- a high technology company that needs a large technical staff with overhead to produce the service being offered
Qualifications: iBODA members are actively raising outside capital for their companies by selling shares of stock based on the assets and projected assets (business plan) of their companies as collateral. The only qualification to join is to be a member of both DA and BDA meetings, and creating a business plan that generates a profitable return on the way to becoming an asset in itself.
About DA
Membership of DA
The only requirement for DA membership is a desire to stop using any form of unsecured debt. There are no dues or fees; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
Members share their experiences in recovery from compulsive indebtedness on a one-to-one basis, and introduce the newcomer to DA’s Twelve Steps of personal recovery (based on the Twelve Steps of AA) and its Twelve Traditions that sustain the Fellowship itself.
Meetings
At the heart of the program are its meetings, which are conducted autonomously by D.A. groups in cities and towns throughout the world.
Anonymity
Anonymity helps the Fellowship to govern itself by principles rather than personalities; attraction rather than promotion. We openly share our program of recovery, but not the names of individuals in it.
What D.A. does NOT do
D.A. does not keep attendance records or case histories, engage in or sponsor research, affiliate with “councils” or social agencies (although DA members, groups and service officers cooperate with them), offer religious services, provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money or other social services, provide domestic or vocational counseling, provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials or social agencies.
D.A. does not discriminate against any prospective member. Who made the referral to DA is not what interests us… it is the compulsive debtor who elicits our concern.
Problems other than debt
Some people are compulsive spenders or compulsive shoppers. Underearning is another problem faced by many. These problems may exist separately from the problem of compulsive debt. Our primary purpose is to “stop debting one day at a time and to help other compulsive debtors to stop incurring unsecured debt.”
We service those who have a desire to stop using any form of unsecured debt, which is any debt that is not secured with some form of collateral such as a car, house, or other property.
Working the programme
After a member has gained some familiarity with the DA programme through attendance at meetings, he or she may take the following actions:
- Obtain a sponsor
- Work the Twelve Steps of DA
- Read DA literature
- Organize a pressure relief group and pressure relief meeting
Home
What is Debtors Anonymous?
Debtors Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from compulsive debting.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt. There are no dues or fees for DA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions.
DA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes.
Our primary purpose is to stop debting one day at a time and to help other compulsive debtors to stop incurring unsecured debt.
This site was visited over 21,000 times between March 2008 and July 2011
*** STOP PRESS ***
28th October 2011: This site has just moved to a new hosting provider, and parts of it had to be re-written. Please let us know if there are any errors by contacting the webmaster (webmaster@debtorsanonymous.org.uk)