I have never had this type of experience in AA.
In all of my meetings, you tell the secretary of the meeting before the meeting or a week before or whatever, that you would like to take your One Year chip and then they give it to you when the time comes if you do not have someone that you want to have give it to you. In my meetings we also do cake for annual birthdays but that is not mandatory.
Every meeting is different but here in San Diego (at least my meetings), it is a big dam deal and they treat every one like a celebration. I like it
It is a HUGE deal! I am now at 17 months and have not gotten a chip in 5 months, I miss it, lol.
FYI, I personally take three tokens at each milestone. My sponsor told me to do this. Take one for you, one for your higher power and one for the newcomer.
By the way,
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