The Board – Drunks Like Me –Trusting Our Trusted Servants

Members Opinion

I was chatting with a passionate AA member the other day and we were discussing the path our group contributions follow down the triangle to the board. 

Holding the Board Accountable

He made a comment “how will we hold the board accountable?” That simple question has prompted me to write a short piece on my change of feeling across 22 years of sobriety towards our amazing trusted servants, those trustees at the bottom of the triangle who sacrifice so much of their time on our behalf.

Like many members I know, I grew up with a deep sense of defiance. No one will ever get the better of me, is an old idea I wore as a badge of honour. Sometimes we know it as self will run riot . When I got sober there was massive ego deflation in this space but still I held a deep sense of resistance to perceived authority. 

Keeping an Open Mind

Over the past 5 odd years in my service dealings I’ve experienced a couple of things that have given me cause to re-look at our board of trustees and their relationship to our fellowship. One is having interactions with members who constantly feel the need to challenge the board, to keep the board honest and to hold them to account regardless of rotation or new initiatives. This was my default approach for years too. The second one was having closer dealings with our trustees and my eyes being opened to some realities that should have been obvious to me much sooner.

These members have a deep, consistent abiding love of Alcoholics Anonymous (just like me). Why else would you put your hand up for 4 years of sacrifice and often being criticised for the labours they give our fellowship. The other one is that the class B trustees are just drunks (just like me), that need to work a spiritual program in order to stay sober and to thrive. It just doesn’t make sense that they would want to do anything but act in the best interests of our fellowship. 

Updating Opinions When Facts Update

So in summary, my current spiritual position around AA’s board has changed from a default of throwing rocks and suspicion, to how grateful I am for their significant and enduring service to AA. An attitude of deep trust and an attitude of “your doing an amazing job, what can I do to help” feels like it brings an energy of positivity that helps our fellowship with increased health and participation. 

I’m not saying we don’t need things like the power of the purse. I’m not saying that a 2/3rds majority isn’t a good thing to aspire to for area delegates at conference. Those safeguards, checks and balances are there for a reason. 

It’s Just Us and Us

What I’m saying is that in my mind it’s not us and them (fellowship and board) just us and us. Thank you to those trusted servants who have served AA at the bottom of the triangle to try and ensure the the drunk who hasn’t made it here yet, gets the three legacies undiluted and intact like we did when we came in. Trustees are drunks just like us, with a deep desire to give back freely what’s been given to them.

AA Member The Way Out Group Gold Coast, Qld