📜 DGL Bros Charter

V5 (07/06/2025)

📕 Table of Contents

☀️ Introduction & Mission Statement

 🐺 DGL Bros began on February 13th, 2023, as an informal WhatsApp thread created by a group of SLAA cofounders who wanted to save time by sharing their DGLs in one chat instead of copying and pasting them to multiple recipients each day. Since then, DGL Bros has evolved into a unique support community with its own distinct culture, practices, and rules.

🐺 DGL Bros is an anonymous, not-for-profit men's support and accountability service community for SLAA brothers. Our primary purpose is to provide supplemental support through the healing power of prayer, accountability, gratitude, and fellowship. While DGL Bros is inspired by 12-step principles, this is not a 12-step group and is not meant to replace working a 12-step program. The group is governed by experienced admins who vote on group matters. Although DGL Bros is not governed by direct group conscience vote, all members are encouraged to voice their perspectives, which admins consider when making decisions. 

🐺 Our mascot is the wolf which represents strength, teamwork, and community. 

ℹ️ Rules are subject to change but any major changes will offer a 90 day grace period for fellows to voice concerns or make arrangements. 

ℹ️ For any questions, concerns, or complaints please contact an admin. 

🔒 Confidentiality, Anonymity & Data Security Statement

🛡️ As members of 12-step programs in a digital world, it is important to review and understand data & confidentiality choices and expectations. All communications within DGL bros, membership information, & WhatsApp chats are strictly confidential. WhatsApp messages are securely end-to-end encrypted, meaning that only the person sending and receiving the messages has access (according to the terms and conditions, the WhatsApp platform cannot read members’ messages but may have access to data that “a message was sent at X time”). Although WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, please note that posts shared on DGL channels may be vulnerable to being compromised by data stored on devices or drives like chat backups or screen hacks, which are not encrypted. As a result, each member is invited to decide for himself what he does or does not feel comfortable sharing, understanding that there is always a risk of compromised data.

🛡️ Please only share first names, last initials, nicknames/monikers and city/state names to identify oneself. Please do not provide any identifying personal information on any DGL channel. Members are welcome to share their personally identifying details privately at their own discretion.

🛡️ Members joining DGL bros who decide to join are required to take a vow of confidentiality upon their Higher Power (H.P.) to honor this sacred commitment. “I, ________________, solemnly vow ____________ (upon my Higher Power) to keep confidential and secret all information and data shared on DGL to nonparticipants, unless explicitly given permission by the sharing individual.” If a prospective member has questions or concerns about this vow, they are asked to discuss this with an admin,

🛡️ For the safety & serenity of the group, please do not mention any specific illegal activities or behaviors, if needed members may simply refer to these vaguely as “U.B.s” — “unlawful behaviors”

🛡️ Any use of 3rd party applications to analyze, export, or externally process DGL Bros data is strictly prohibited. WhatsApp’s native backup feature is the only acceptable form of exporting data in the case of a loss or disablement of a device, as WhatsApp chats are not backed up on WhatsApp servers. 

💬 WhatsApp Community

DGL Bros has a rich array of chat channels and features in the WhatsApp community:

❤ DGL Bros Classic

❤ DGL Bros Classic is a channel we consider a sacred space. Use this channel for outreach requests, daily gratitude lists (DGLs), reflections, recovery exercises, affirmations, 2WPs (2-way prayers), accountability checks, day counts, and feelings or experience check-ins.

⭐ Positive support, experience, strength, and hope in response to messages is welcome, however, please refrain from directive or critical feedback, or discussing outside issues for the serenity of the group. We strive to create a positive, supportive, focused, listening and drama-free space where brothers can feel heard & seen.

⚠️ For the serenity of the group, please follow the DGL Classic sharing guidelines:

Please refrain from posting photos, memes, videos, documents, stickers or links. DGL Bros Freestyle Channel is the appropriate channel for posting these.

Please refrain from mentioning body parts or describing S-related acts. It’s okay to talk about S-related matters using vague language omitting details as long as the focus is on our feelings. Example:

• • • ✅ “I had a sexual experience with my partner. I felt [feeling A]” → Vague mentions and focus on feelings are welcome.

    • ❌ “I had a sexual experience with my partner. We did [sexual acts XYZ then ABC] involving [body part A].” → Detailed mentions of sexual acts or body parts are not appropriate for any DGL Bros Channel. Admins encourage fellows to discuss with their fellows or sponsors what is and isn’t appropriate to share with whom.

Please refrain from identifying details or names in shares, with the exception of positive, non-feedback mentions of fellows in the group. Examples:

• • • ✅ “I really related to fellow Josh’s share.” → Positive mention of fellows are okay.

    • ✅ “I was frustrated by my boss,” → Appropriate non-identifying mention.

    • ❌ “I was frustrated with my boss, Bill.” → Not okay to identify non-group individuals.

    • ❌ “I was frustrated by fellow Paul J.” → Not okay to mention a fellow by name if the context or content is negative.

    • ❓ “I hadn’t seen fellow Paul J. in awhile.” → While not explicitly negative and not technically breaking the rule, the comment could be construed in a negative light depending on the context.

Please refrain from derogatory or divisive discussion of outside topics such as race, religion, politics, and gender identity. We may share on these topics only as they are relevant to our feelings, and the focus is on our experience. We do not identify “outside enemies”. Examples:

• • • ✅ “As a person of identity A, I sometimes perceive myself to be the victim of [situation B].” → Appropriate. Focuses on fellow’s feelings and personal experience.

    • ❌ “As a person of group A, I strongly disagree with people of group B.” → Not appropriate. The focus is not on feelings and an “outside enemy” is identified.

    • ✅ “This week I went to a political rally, and I felt a sense of belonging.” → Appropriate. Does not identify a specific political party or group, focuses on feelings.

    • ❌ “This week I went to a political rally for Candidate A/Party A and I felt a sense of belonging.” → Not appropriate. Identifies and associates with a specific political ideology.

Admins and mods reserve the final right to remove posts deemed inappropriate. Admins reserve the right to post relevant links, documents & announcements in DGL Classic

⚠️📆☠️ As an accountability group, there is a mandatory minimum activity requirement to participate in DGL Classic. Brothers inactive for over 60 days are moved to DGL Ghost Boyz. Courtesy inactivity reminders may be provided at an admin or reaper’s discretion but are not guaranteed. To be restored, members must undergo the intake call again and may undergo reinstatement as many times as needed.

😎 DGL Freestyle

DGL Freestyle is a forum where members can share fun or humorous posts, including photos, videos, links etc. Many members share art, music, and top line activities on this channel. Although there are no formal restrictions on what can be posted, admins and moderators reserve the right to remove content deemed disruptive or inappropriate.

🛡️ Service Channel

DGL Service is the appropriate channel for all service and group business related matters. Fully initiated members who take service positions are added to this channel after their 90-day introductory period. Brothers close to completing their 90-day period may be added early at their own request and admin’s discretion for ease of scheduling trainings. Additional Channels At various times, DGL Bros has hosted special interest channels such as “DGL Sugarboyz” for food/overeating related discussion, and “DGL Arts” for specific discussion of film, music, and art, however we do not have any such active channels at this time. We are open to adding channels if there is adequate interest.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 Membership

DGL Bros is open to all qualifying SLAA men who undergo the intake process and commit to doing mandatory service after the 90-day introductory period.

📲 Intake Process

1. Intake Call — interested brothers are asked to share the basics of their story and what brought them to the program in a 2-minute share, confirming they are qualifying members of SLAA, and asked to read the DGL Bros Charter out loud over a phone call to a qualifying admin or headhunter. Brothers are asked if they have any questions or concerns about the rules, and the intaking representative offers clarification if needed.

2. Welcoming to DGL Community — Upon successfully completing the intake call, new members are added to the DGL Classic channel and welcomed with the following welcome message “DGL Bros, please join me in welcoming [Name] [@WhatsApp Tag]!”

3. Mandatory Service Requirement — As an accountability group DGL Bros are required to be of service to the DGL community to maintain active membership after their introductory 90-day period. By day 90, initiates are required to state which position they would like and to undergo training within the next 30-day period when they and admins are available to meet. We offer a wide range of positions with varying levels of responsibility and requirements appropriate for experience level. Positions may vary in responsibility from a few minutes a week to multiple hours a week. Brothers not fulfilling their service responsibilities may be contacted or moved to Ghost Boyz at an admin’s discretion.

📢 DGL Bros Meetings

We also intend to create weekly men’s meetings for supplemental work to SLAA recovery. Meetings designated as [12S] will function as 12-step groups with their own group conscious. All DGL Bros meetings are open to qualifying participants and membership in DGL Bros is not mandatory to attend. Some topics we are considering for different days of the week are:

• DGL Bros Gratitude Speaker

• Gentle Path Study Group

• The Body Keeps the Score Study Group

• [12S] ACA Big Book Study Group

• [12S] ACA Inner Loving Parent Guidebook Study Group

• [12S] Incest Survivors Anonymous

Interested in hosting any of these meetings? We are actively seeking meeting hosts!

👋🏼 Welcoming New Members

If you have read this far and decided DGL Bros is a community and practice you would like to try, congratulations!

🛡️ The Confidentiality, Anonymity & Data Security Vow

Please note that this vow only relates to honor sacred confidentiality — There is not, nor will there ever be a vow for continued participation. Continued participation is not part of this vow, and members are encouraged to explore the community and decide if it works for them, to stay when it works and leave when it is no longer useful. Please make the following vow with the admin or headhunter:

“I, ________________ (name), solemnly vow ____________ (upon my Higher Power) to keep confidential and secret all information and data shared on DGL to non-participants, unless explicitly given permission by the sharing individual.”

📦 DGL Starter Pack

New members of DGL bros are encouraged (but not required) to do the following introductory tasks to help them on their journey

1. Do 30 consecutive daily gratitude lists in 30 days, with at least 10 items on each list. If you miss a day, start over until you get it. This exercise has changed the lives of many fellows and was originally suggested by an experienced veteran of SLAA.

2. Introduce yourself on DGL Classic. Share your name, number, location, patterns, behaviors, and interests. Examples might be:

   • “Hi guys, my name is Quentin B. from NYC. You can reach me at [phone number] My patterns include compulsive P&M and lying. I am currently in a long-term relationship I am trying to reconcile. I am a musician and want to connect more to my art in recovery”

   • or “Hello brothers, this is Thomas R. from LA. My # is [phone number] is My patterns include anorexia and romantic obsession. I am early in program and don’t have a dating plan yet. I am really into cars, if anybody is interested in that.”

3. Personally introduce yourself to 5 DGL bros you are interested in getting to know more and arrange outreach calls.

🛡️ Service Positions

DGL Bros earn badges for continued participation in the group. Each badge unlocks new service roles. DGL bros are welcome to hold multiple roles but only 1 is required to fulfill the mandatory service requirement. Estimated time and energy for each commitment is indicated in brackets following each role. Please note that unless otherwise noted, there is no cap on how many brothers may hold a role.

🐺 DGL Initiate (0-90 days)

🥉 DGL Brother (90-180 days)

• • 🛡 Mod: moderates DGL classic posting, moving posts to Freestyle or deleting when necessary. [light]

  • ⚡ Chaplain: proactively reaches out to and encourages members, especially newcomers and less active members. [light/medium]

  • ⚔ Headhunter: recruits new DGL bros and takes them through the intake call process, explaining rules and history. [light/medium]

  • 🧑🏼‍✈ Host: hosts DGL bros zoom meetings (we have an active zoom sub right now that is underused). [heavy]

  • 🛡 Channel Mod: moderates discussion in special interest channels. [very light]

🥈 DGL Guardian (180-365 days)

• • 💀 Reaper: tracks user activity to ensure active members and reaps inactive users to ghost boyz. [medium]

  • 💀 Commissar: tracks commitments and check-ins for service positions and reaps delinquent service positions to ghost boyz. [heavy]

  • 🖋 Literature Person: writes and creates written materials for DGL bros. [medium]

  • 🪙 Treasurer: manages DGL bros finances, keeps records of spending, solicits for 7th tradition. [heavy]

🎖 DGL Admins (365+ days)

• • 🕊 Admin: DGL Guardians who have experience with every service role and demonstrate strong consistent presence in DGL Bros may voluntarily undergo additional training and initiation to become DGL Admins. Admins help guide and mentor service brothers and have vote power to determine the future course of the brotherhood. Admins fill in gaps for all other service roles as needed. Has 1 vote each. [very heavy]

  • 🕊 Reserve Admin: Admin designated as a next in chain-of-command to Master Admin in case of death, illness, or abandonment. A Master Admin is considered abandoned after 15 days of no contact with the group without prior notice. (limit: 1)

  • 🕊 Master Admin: Overall leader of DGL Bros. Has 2 votes. [very heavy] (limit: 1)

  • 🕊 Emeritus Admin: Admins (of any rank) with over 2 years of service in DGL bros may elect to become Emeritus, and may stay as active members without obligations for service or activity. Emeritus Admins have no vote, however, they may undergo a 30-day reinstatement after which they revert to active Admin.

If there is a way that a DGL Brother believes they can be of service that is not addressed in the roles above or have legitimate reason that prevent them from doing service we encourage you to reach out to a DGL admin to discuss alternatives.