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The 2/3 majority Area Delegate issue again – can we be inclusive and democratic?
Use this Topic to consult the fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous Australia to see if there is need for a National Group Conscience on this again at Conference.
Permit all AA members the chance to be informed rather than being told that it is needed. Find out if is a need to proceed with divisive discussion on an issue that may not be viewed as an issue when the fellowship are allowed a chance to consider and view our literature for themselves.
If a bigger topic needs to be created to fully inform and we must wait until 2025 to do it right then that is good thing and best for AA as a whole to make sure everyone is having opportunity to consider it.
If the delegates return with a no vote, then conference can move on from time consuming nitpicking process debates and get focused on helping develop things that will save alkies.
The Conference shall observe the spirit of AA Tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power….that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, sustainable unanimity,….that it never perform acts of government, that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
As a former delegate I have seen for myself the time-consuming and disunity effects of this topic when it gets brought to conference when the topics ask for it to be solved. Never have we the members actually been asked as a whole if it is even something we all want addressed.
I think that if this topic is discussed through the proper channels of communication via delegates and GSRs and groups conference will know if the members of AA want the time of their trusted conference servants spent on this. Isnt that truly democratic?
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OR REASON FOR THE TOPIC?
I attended conference when this came up before and now it is back it seems with articles on our members’ website – which all have flaws.
Having asked around not many actually seems aware of the ratio issue or to care much when it is explained.
When members hear that conference are potentially spending a lot of time discussing a solution to a problem that has never happened it puts them off general service. The US/Canada illustrate this well and write “historically the voting ratio has never been important, since no issue has ever divided opinion along the lines delegates opposed to other conference members.” This is also true for the 60 odd years of Australia Conference.
When topics appear aimed at addressing a problem new delegates and the main members might think every topic is reliably a big problem and they work in the solution. They may not be aware that it is possible that the problem has only been raised by a small number and needs to be discussed to see it even merits conference time.
Our founders’ writings have been changed and interpreted many ways down the years in many countries and at many conferences – always for the good of AA and saving alcoholics. Conference works here in Australia- at helping get alkies recovered – so why muck around with it? We need to get more people involved!
DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTED SOLUTION?
If the members across Australia are informed of the issue clearly and referred to the right areas of literature then they can through the group conscience, Area conscience inform the Conference of their thinking and ask conference to act on their behalf which is the role of conference after all.
People writing articles or in previous years sending topics only comes from them – a small number. Let’s get the group conscience of the majority and act on that.
No need to proceed with divisive discussion on an issue that may not be viewed as an issue when the fellowship are allowed a chance to consider and view our literature for themselves.
HOW WILL THE ALCOHOLIC WHO STILL SUFFERS OR THE FELLOWSHIP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS BENEFIT FROM THIS SUGGESTION?
Conference time can be spent on making decisions that impact members rather than arguing pointless procedures.
Unity will be preserved. More people will participate in a focused message carrying service structure.
AA grows and more alkies get sober and live life.
WHAT ARE THE ESTIMATED COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS SUGGESTION?
Nil
HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR GROUP, DISTRICT OR AREA TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THIS TOPIC AND, IF SO, WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
Consulted with other ex-delegates and members and they support a real democratic approach to AA.
The Concepts exist to guide us. Let’s use this one.
From Concept 12
