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Suggested rewrite for the section on Past Delegates and Trustees in the Service Manual THE AREA PART 2 pg 15. See attachment.
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OR REASON FOR THE TOPIC?
The rewrite offers suggestion as to how past Delegates and Trustees can best be of use to AA and is in line with the Spiritual Principles contained in The Twelve Steps, The Twelve Traditions and The Twelve Concepts for world service, especially those of healthy rotation and participation in reasonable proportion.
DO YOU HAVE A SUGGESTED SOLUTION?
See attached.
HOW WILL THE ALCOHOLIC WHO STILL SUFFERS OR THE FELLOWSHIP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS BENEFIT FROM THIS SUGGESTION?
Maintaining a healthy General Service Structure will preserve Alcoholics Anonymous for the Alcoholics still yet to be born. AA servants with experience can be useful in encouraging and supporting those new to General Service. Healthy rotation of leadership is one of AA’s guiding spiritual principles. Leadership in AA ever a vital need essay in Concept 9 and written by one of AAs co-founders suggests AA needs leaders and what qualities AA leaders require.
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?
Multiple discussions with past Delegates and Trustee seeking guidance in the content of the rewrite.
ATTACHMENT – THE AREA PART 2 Pg 15
Suggested Re-write
PAST AREA DELEGATES AND TRUSTEES CAN BE HELPFUL
AA has a wealth of AA experience in the form of past Delegates and Trustees that can be considered within the Area Structure. While the AA spiritual principle of rotation prevents Delegates and Trustees from succeeding themselves or from returning as a Delegate or Trustee; a role for past Delegates and Trustees can often be found that does not interfere with responsibilities of the current Area Committee and Delegate. Primarily past Delegates and Trustees are found actively encouraging and supporting those new to General Service. It is suggested that past Area Delegates and Trustees not hold office as GSRs, DCMs or Area Committee officers, but find other ways to become involved in Area service, at the request of Area Committees. It can be useful for past Delegates and Trustees to attend Area Assemblies and hold the position in the back of the room and share any history that may be sought and or useful to the Area Committee when invited to comment.
Past Delegates and Trustees might be asked to:
- Provide leadership and developing answers to various service or Tradition issues as needed.
- Chair Area sharing sessions.
- Conducting workshops or orientation meetings for newly elected GSRs.
- Chair Regional Forums.
- Support Area PI&CPC activities.
- Become ex-officio, non voting members of Area Committees.
- Be called in from time to time for consultation or for a special assignment.
- Hold the job in the back of the room as Institutional history on rare occurrences can be useful.
- Share lived experience of The Principles of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts for world service, in the form of workshops.
Some Regions hold regular Delegate meetings that invite past and current Delegates and alternates. The purpose of these meetings is typically to help new Delegates prepare for Conference and to strengthen the lines of communication among the General Service Conference, GSO, and the GSB and can be a valuable way of passing experience on to new Delegates.
