Information supplied by GSO's Treasurer
Cost to provide services in 2005 - $7,622,288
Group contributions coming from 43% of the registered groups of $5,417,046 covered 71% of the costs (literature costs cover the rest). According to his calculation if every member contributed 48 cents US monthly we would be fully self supporting,
Monday, March 26, 2007
Concepts Checklist
Concepts Checklist
Service Material from the General Service Office
A service piece for home groups, districts, areas
Some of these discussion points were originally developed by an A.A. group and further developed by the trustees’ Literature Committee to be distributed by the General Service Office. While this checklist is intended as a starting point for discussion by groups, districts or areas, individual A.A. members may find it useful along with our co-founder Bill W.’s writings, a service sponsor if you have one and reflection on your own service experience. Additional information about the Concepts can be found in The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service and “The Twelve Concepts Illustrated” pamphlet. (The Concepts stated here are in the short form.)
Concept I: Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
Does our group have a general service representative (G.S.R.)? Do we feel that our home group is part of A.A. as a whole and do our group’s decisions and actions reflect that?
Do we hold regular group conscience meetings encouraging everyone to participate? Do we pass that conscience on to the district, area, or the local intergroup meetings?
Is the “collective conscience” of Alcoholics Anonymous at work in my home group? In my area?
Where do we fit in the upside-down triangle of A.A.?
Are we willing to do what it takes to insure that our democracy of world service will work under all conditions?
Concept II: The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs.
Do we have an understanding of the history of the General Service Conference (the “Conference”)?
What is a Conference Advisory Action? Does our home group’s G.S.R., D.C.M., area delegate report back to the group on the highlights of the Conference and Conference Advisory Actions?
Is our group meeting its wider Seventh Tradition responsibilities?
Concept III: To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. —the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives—with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
Do we understand what is meant by the “Right of Decision”? Do we grant it at all levels of service or do we “instruct”?
Do we trust our trusted servants — G.S.R., D.C.M., area delegate, the Conference itself?
Concept IV: At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
Do we understand the spiritual principles underlying the “Right of Participation”?
What does “in reasonable proportion” mean? Do we understand when it is appropriate for A.A. paid staff to have a vote at the General Service Conference or in our local service structure?
Do we expect that, because we are A.A. members, we should be allowed to vote at any group, even if we are not active members of that group?
Concept V: Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
Do we encourage the minority opinion, the “Right of Appeal”, to be heard at our home group, district committee meetings, area assemblies and the Conference?
What does our group accept as “substantial unanimity”?
Has our group experienced the “tyranny of the majority” or the “tyranny of the minority”?
Does our group understand the importance of all points of view being heard before a vote is taken?
Concept Vl: The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.
Are we familiar with how our General Service Board (G.S.B.) Class A and Class B trustees serve A.A.? Are we familiar with how our other trusted servants serve A.A.?
Are we clear about the terms, “chief initiative” and “active responsibility”? Can we see a direct link to our home group?
Concept Vll: The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.
Do we act responsibly regarding the “power of the purse?”
Do we realize that the practical and spiritual power of the Conference will nearly always be superior to the legal power of the G.S.B.?
Concept VIII: The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities.
Do we understand the relationship between the two corporate service entities (A.A. World Services, Inc., the A.A. Grapevine) and the General Service Board?
How can the business term “custodial oversight” apply to the trustees’ relationship to the two corporate service entities?
Does my home group subscribe to G.S.O.’s bimonthly newsletter Box 4-5-9? The A.A.Grapevine? Do I?
Concept IX: Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.
Do we discuss how we can best strengthen the composition and leadership of our future trusted servants?
Do we recognize the need for group officers? What is our criteria for election? Do we sometimes give a position to someone “because it would be good for them?”
Do I set a positive leadership example?
Concept X: Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
Do we understand “authority” and “responsibility” as they relate to group conscience decisions by G.S.R.s, D.C.M.s and our area delegates?
Why is delegation of “authority” so important to the overall effectiveness of A.A.? Do we use this concept to define the scope of “authority?”
Concept Xl: The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.
Do we understand how the roles of nontrustee directors and nontrustee appointed committee members help serve and strengthen the committee system?
How do we encourage our special paid workers to exercise their traditional “Right of Participation?”
Do we practice rotation in all our service positions?
Concept Xll: The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
How do we guard against becoming a “seat of perilous wealth or power?”
How do we practice prudent use of our Seventh Tradition contributions and literature revenue?
Do we insure the spiritual liberties of all A.A. members by not placing any member in the position of absolute authority over others?
Do we try to reach important decisions by thorough discussion, vote and, where possible, substantial unanimity?
As guardians of A.A.’s traditions, are we ever justified in being personally punitive?
Are we careful to avoid public controversy?
Do we always try to treat each other with mutual respect and love?
Rev.7/1/02
Service Material from the General Service Office
A service piece for home groups, districts, areas
Some of these discussion points were originally developed by an A.A. group and further developed by the trustees’ Literature Committee to be distributed by the General Service Office. While this checklist is intended as a starting point for discussion by groups, districts or areas, individual A.A. members may find it useful along with our co-founder Bill W.’s writings, a service sponsor if you have one and reflection on your own service experience. Additional information about the Concepts can be found in The A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service and “The Twelve Concepts Illustrated” pamphlet. (The Concepts stated here are in the short form.)
Concept I: Final responsibility and ultimate authority for A.A. world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
Does our group have a general service representative (G.S.R.)? Do we feel that our home group is part of A.A. as a whole and do our group’s decisions and actions reflect that?
Do we hold regular group conscience meetings encouraging everyone to participate? Do we pass that conscience on to the district, area, or the local intergroup meetings?
Is the “collective conscience” of Alcoholics Anonymous at work in my home group? In my area?
Where do we fit in the upside-down triangle of A.A.?
Are we willing to do what it takes to insure that our democracy of world service will work under all conditions?
Concept II: The General Service Conference of A.A. has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole Society in its world affairs.
Do we have an understanding of the history of the General Service Conference (the “Conference”)?
What is a Conference Advisory Action? Does our home group’s G.S.R., D.C.M., area delegate report back to the group on the highlights of the Conference and Conference Advisory Actions?
Is our group meeting its wider Seventh Tradition responsibilities?
Concept III: To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A. —the Conference, the General Service Board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives—with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
Do we understand what is meant by the “Right of Decision”? Do we grant it at all levels of service or do we “instruct”?
Do we trust our trusted servants — G.S.R., D.C.M., area delegate, the Conference itself?
Concept IV: At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
Do we understand the spiritual principles underlying the “Right of Participation”?
What does “in reasonable proportion” mean? Do we understand when it is appropriate for A.A. paid staff to have a vote at the General Service Conference or in our local service structure?
Do we expect that, because we are A.A. members, we should be allowed to vote at any group, even if we are not active members of that group?
Concept V: Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
Do we encourage the minority opinion, the “Right of Appeal”, to be heard at our home group, district committee meetings, area assemblies and the Conference?
What does our group accept as “substantial unanimity”?
Has our group experienced the “tyranny of the majority” or the “tyranny of the minority”?
Does our group understand the importance of all points of view being heard before a vote is taken?
Concept Vl: The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the General Service Board.
Are we familiar with how our General Service Board (G.S.B.) Class A and Class B trustees serve A.A.? Are we familiar with how our other trusted servants serve A.A.?
Are we clear about the terms, “chief initiative” and “active responsibility”? Can we see a direct link to our home group?
Concept Vll: The Charter and Bylaws of the General Service Board are legal instruments, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the A.A. purse for final effectiveness.
Do we act responsibly regarding the “power of the purse?”
Do we realize that the practical and spiritual power of the Conference will nearly always be superior to the legal power of the G.S.B.?
Concept VIII: The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities.
Do we understand the relationship between the two corporate service entities (A.A. World Services, Inc., the A.A. Grapevine) and the General Service Board?
How can the business term “custodial oversight” apply to the trustees’ relationship to the two corporate service entities?
Does my home group subscribe to G.S.O.’s bimonthly newsletter Box 4-5-9? The A.A.Grapevine? Do I?
Concept IX: Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.
Do we discuss how we can best strengthen the composition and leadership of our future trusted servants?
Do we recognize the need for group officers? What is our criteria for election? Do we sometimes give a position to someone “because it would be good for them?”
Do I set a positive leadership example?
Concept X: Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
Do we understand “authority” and “responsibility” as they relate to group conscience decisions by G.S.R.s, D.C.M.s and our area delegates?
Why is delegation of “authority” so important to the overall effectiveness of A.A.? Do we use this concept to define the scope of “authority?”
Concept Xl: The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern.
Do we understand how the roles of nontrustee directors and nontrustee appointed committee members help serve and strengthen the committee system?
How do we encourage our special paid workers to exercise their traditional “Right of Participation?”
Do we practice rotation in all our service positions?
Concept Xll: The Conference shall observe the spirit of A.A. tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
How do we guard against becoming a “seat of perilous wealth or power?”
How do we practice prudent use of our Seventh Tradition contributions and literature revenue?
Do we insure the spiritual liberties of all A.A. members by not placing any member in the position of absolute authority over others?
Do we try to reach important decisions by thorough discussion, vote and, where possible, substantial unanimity?
As guardians of A.A.’s traditions, are we ever justified in being personally punitive?
Are we careful to avoid public controversy?
Do we always try to treat each other with mutual respect and love?
Rev.7/1/02
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Self Support Quiz
1. What year was A.A. founded.
1935
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
The New York office had greatly expanded its activities, and these now consisted of public relations, advice to new groups, services to hospitals, prisons, Loners, and Internationalists, and cooperation with other agencies in the alcoholism field. The headquarters was also publishing "standard" A.A. books and pamphlets, and it supervised their translation into other tongues. Our international magazine, the A.A. Grapevine, had achieved a large circulation. These and many other activities had become indispensable for A.A. as a whole.
Nevertheless, these vital services were still in the hands of an isolated board of trustees, whose only link to the Fellowship had been Bill and Dr. Bob. As the co-founders had foreseen years earlier, it became absolutely necessary to link A.A.'s world trusteeship (now the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous) with the Fellowship that it served. Delegates from all states and provinces of the U.S. and Canada were forthwith called in. Thus composed, this body for world service first met in 1951. Despite earlier misgivings, the gathering was a great success. For the first time, the remote trusteeship became directly accountable to A.A. as a whole. The A.A. General Service Conference had been created, and A.A.'s over-all functioning was thereby assured for the future.
3. When were the traditions introduced?
In 1946, in the Fellowship’s international journal, the A.A. Grapevine, these principles were reduced to writing by the founders and early members as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of A.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.
4. When were the concepts introduced?
The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
John D. Rockeffer Jr.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?
12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___1967__article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
2,000
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute _$1.00_ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradition speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
The 7th Tradition
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?
Service
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
April
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
The Delegate
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help __I___ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ___I___am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
Each group is autonomous there for it is determined by group conscious usually at a business meeting.
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO?
Self Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix.
17. Self-Support: Where Money and __Spirituality_ Mix.
1. What year was A.A. founded.
1935
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
The New York office had greatly expanded its activities, and these now consisted of public relations, advice to new groups, services to hospitals, prisons, Loners, and Internationalists, and cooperation with other agencies in the alcoholism field. The headquarters was also publishing "standard" A.A. books and pamphlets, and it supervised their translation into other tongues. Our international magazine, the A.A. Grapevine, had achieved a large circulation. These and many other activities had become indispensable for A.A. as a whole.
Nevertheless, these vital services were still in the hands of an isolated board of trustees, whose only link to the Fellowship had been Bill and Dr. Bob. As the co-founders had foreseen years earlier, it became absolutely necessary to link A.A.'s world trusteeship (now the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous) with the Fellowship that it served. Delegates from all states and provinces of the U.S. and Canada were forthwith called in. Thus composed, this body for world service first met in 1951. Despite earlier misgivings, the gathering was a great success. For the first time, the remote trusteeship became directly accountable to A.A. as a whole. The A.A. General Service Conference had been created, and A.A.'s over-all functioning was thereby assured for the future.
3. When were the traditions introduced?
In 1946, in the Fellowship’s international journal, the A.A. Grapevine, these principles were reduced to writing by the founders and early members as the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. They were accepted and endorsed by the membership as a whole at the International Convention of A.A., at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950.
4. When were the concepts introduced?
The Twelve Concepts for World Service were written by A.A.’s co-founder Bill W., and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962. The Concepts are an interpretation of A.A.’s world service structure as it emerged through A.A.’s early history and experience. The short form of the Concepts reads
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
John D. Rockeffer Jr.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?
12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___1967__article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
2,000
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute _$1.00_ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradition speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
The 7th Tradition
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?
Service
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
April
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
The Delegate
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help __I___ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ___I___am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
Each group is autonomous there for it is determined by group conscious usually at a business meeting.
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO?
Self Support: Where Money and Spirituality Mix.
17. Self-Support: Where Money and __Spirituality_ Mix.
Self Support – Where Spirituality and Money Mix
Twelfth Step work is the lifeblood of Alcoholics Anonymous – carrying the message to the next suffering alcoholic. Without it, the Fellowship would wither and die. Yet even at its simplest level this vital contact between one alcoholic and another involves an investment of time and money.
“Let’s begin with my own sponsor, Ebby,” writes Bill W., in the book of Alcoholics
Anonymous Comes of Age. “When Ebby heard how serious my drinking was, he
resolved to visit me. He was in New York; I was in Brooklyn. His resolve was not
enough; he had to take action and he had to spend money.
“He called me on the phone and then got into the subway; total cost, ten cents. At
the level of the telephone booth and subway turnstiles, spirituality and money began to mix. One without the other would have amounted to nothing at all.” “Right then and there, Ebby established the principle that A.A. in action calls for the sacrifice of much time and a little money.”
Another important story is this Rockefeller Story; One potential A.A. patron, however, when approached by the pioneering members for money, instead helped to lay the groundwork for A.A.’s Tradition of self-support: “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,” said John D. Rockefeller Jr., while at the same time endorsing the work of the fledgling Fellowship.
This marked a turning point in A.A. history and, as the reality of Mr. Rockefeller’s
statement sank in and A.A. members began to see the truth in the old cliché, “Who pays the piper calls the tune,” the seed of the Seventh Tradition took root.
With the realization that A.A. must steer clear of outside contributions. In order for A.A.’s survival contributions would have to come from individual A.A. members and groups. As Bill W. put it in1957, “Our spiritual way of life is safe for future if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas, and A.A. as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid.
“When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being
prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful
for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all
those who still suffer.” (The Language of the Heart, p.221)
“Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of
things?” asks Bill W. in an October 1967 article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should
we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters …
“Though costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued
expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that A.A. must function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we all are going to foot the bill.
How can groups participate?
To help support A.A.’s essential services, the General Service Office suggests that
individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan tailored to meet the group’s financial situation.
Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A.A.
literature, local meeting lists), and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities.
The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the
district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the
area delegates and the G.S.Rs.
The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad
geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference, holds
area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information
at all levels of service.
The local intergroup or central office, which may provide phone service for
Twelfth Step calls and other inquiries; coordination of group activities; A.A.
literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the
professional community activities.
A.A.’s General Service Office, which functions as a storehouse of A.A.
information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes
A.A.’s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and
others interested in A.A.
Twelfth Step work is the lifeblood of Alcoholics Anonymous – carrying the message to the next suffering alcoholic. Without it, the Fellowship would wither and die. Yet even at its simplest level this vital contact between one alcoholic and another involves an investment of time and money.
“Let’s begin with my own sponsor, Ebby,” writes Bill W., in the book of Alcoholics
Anonymous Comes of Age. “When Ebby heard how serious my drinking was, he
resolved to visit me. He was in New York; I was in Brooklyn. His resolve was not
enough; he had to take action and he had to spend money.
“He called me on the phone and then got into the subway; total cost, ten cents. At
the level of the telephone booth and subway turnstiles, spirituality and money began to mix. One without the other would have amounted to nothing at all.” “Right then and there, Ebby established the principle that A.A. in action calls for the sacrifice of much time and a little money.”
Another important story is this Rockefeller Story; One potential A.A. patron, however, when approached by the pioneering members for money, instead helped to lay the groundwork for A.A.’s Tradition of self-support: “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,” said John D. Rockefeller Jr., while at the same time endorsing the work of the fledgling Fellowship.
This marked a turning point in A.A. history and, as the reality of Mr. Rockefeller’s
statement sank in and A.A. members began to see the truth in the old cliché, “Who pays the piper calls the tune,” the seed of the Seventh Tradition took root.
With the realization that A.A. must steer clear of outside contributions. In order for A.A.’s survival contributions would have to come from individual A.A. members and groups. As Bill W. put it in1957, “Our spiritual way of life is safe for future if, as a Society, we resist the temptation to receive money from the outside world. But this leaves us with a responsibility – one that every member ought to understand. We cannot skimp when the treasurer of our group passes the hat. Our groups, our areas, and A.A. as a whole will not function unless our services are sufficient and their bills are paid.
“When we meet and defeat the temptation to take large gifts, we are only being
prudent. But when we are generous with the hat we give a token that we are grateful
for our blessings and evidence that we are eager to share what we have found with all
those who still suffer.” (The Language of the Heart, p.221)
“Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of
things?” asks Bill W. in an October 1967 article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should
we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters …
“Though costly, these service agencies are absolutely essential to our continued
expansion – to our survival as a Fellowship. Their costs are a collective obligation that rests squarely upon all of us. Our support of services actually amounts to a recognition on our part that A.A. must function in full strength – and that, under our Tradition of self-support, we all are going to foot the bill.
How can groups participate?
To help support A.A.’s essential services, the General Service Office suggests that
individual groups, through an informed group conscience, adopt a specific contribution plan tailored to meet the group’s financial situation.
Once the basic group expenses have been taken care of (rent, refreshments, A.A.
literature, local meeting lists), and a “prudent reserve” has been set aside to cover any emergency contingencies that might arise, the group may decide to further carry the message by sending money to the following A.A. service entities.
The local district, which communicates directly with the groups, providing the
district group conscience for the area assemblies, and serving as a link between the
area delegates and the G.S.Rs.
The area committee, which coordinates vital A.A. activities over a broad
geographic area; sends a delegate to the annual General Service Conference, holds
area assemblies to determine the needs of the Fellowship; and provides information
at all levels of service.
The local intergroup or central office, which may provide phone service for
Twelfth Step calls and other inquiries; coordination of group activities; A.A.
literature sales; institutions work; public information and cooperation with the
professional community activities.
A.A.’s General Service Office, which functions as a storehouse of A.A.
information, communicating with members and groups around the world; publishes
A.A.’s literature; and supplies information and experience to professionals and
others interested in A.A.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The Ask it Basket is a part of our Service Information Day, attendees during the day are asked to put their questions in a "basket". Then at our final workshop these questions are answered by someone on the Area Committee (Past or Present).
This will be an electronic version of that. Here is the first question, it is one that came to mind one weekend when I was working on this Blog. For years at Service functions I have been repeating the Declaration of Responsibility but where did it come from ???????
Question One Where,when and why was the Declaration of Responsibility introduced ? What is it's history ? Who wrote it ?
My thanks to Anne M, Past Delegate, who did a fabulous job of supplying me with the answer.
“Marking AA's thirtieth year we shall, in this month of July, 1965, hold our International Convention at Toronto. It is most fitting that the chosen keynote for this gala occasion will be ‘AA's Responsibility.’ There we shall review the three decades of AA life that are now history. Stirred by gratitude beyond expression, we shall give thanks to God whose Grace has made it possible for us to achieve the quality of responsibility, individual and collective, that has brought our Fellowship into its present state of well-being and worldwide reach….At Toronto, we shall therefore be asking ourselves, ‘What sort of heritage are we leaving, for the use of all those future generations that will people our Society? Is this heritage as good as we can make it? While there is yet time, what can we still do that may multiply our assets and decrease our liabilities?’”…
“Our first concern should be with those sufferers that we are still unable to reach. Let's first humbly realize that throughout the world of today there are 20,000,000 alcoholics, 5,000,000 of these being in the United States alone. Of course, these vast numbers are in all stages of sickness. Some cannot be reached because they are not hurt enough, others because they are hurt too much. Many sufferers have mental and emotional complications that seem to foreclose their chances. Yet it would be conservative to estimate that at any particular time there are 4,000,000 alcoholics in the world who are able, ready and willing to get well--if only they knew how! … When we remember that in the thirty years of AA's existence, we have reached less than ten per cent of those who might have been willing to approach us, we begin to get an idea of the immensity of our task, and of the responsibilities with which we will always be confronted.”…
“These facts point straight to our next responsibility: that of intelligently and lovingly sponsoring each man and woman who comes among us asking help. The care and concern with which we individually and collectively do this can make all the difference. Besides, this is the greatest expression of gratitude that we can give for what we ourselves have received. Without much doubt, a million alcoholics have approached AA during the last thirty years. We can soberly ask ourselves what became of the 600,000 who did not stay. How much and how often did we fail all these? …
In conclusion, it is only fair to say that we of AA have been able in most areas of our lives together to make substantial gains in both our willingness and our capability for the acceptance and discharge of responsibility, something that our great gathering in Toronto will symbolize and demonstrate.”
Bill’s essay is available from the Grapevine Archives.
This will be an electronic version of that. Here is the first question, it is one that came to mind one weekend when I was working on this Blog. For years at Service functions I have been repeating the Declaration of Responsibility but where did it come from ???????
Question One Where,when and why was the Declaration of Responsibility introduced ? What is it's history ? Who wrote it ?
My thanks to Anne M, Past Delegate, who did a fabulous job of supplying me with the answer.
“Marking AA's thirtieth year we shall, in this month of July, 1965, hold our International Convention at Toronto. It is most fitting that the chosen keynote for this gala occasion will be ‘AA's Responsibility.’ There we shall review the three decades of AA life that are now history. Stirred by gratitude beyond expression, we shall give thanks to God whose Grace has made it possible for us to achieve the quality of responsibility, individual and collective, that has brought our Fellowship into its present state of well-being and worldwide reach….At Toronto, we shall therefore be asking ourselves, ‘What sort of heritage are we leaving, for the use of all those future generations that will people our Society? Is this heritage as good as we can make it? While there is yet time, what can we still do that may multiply our assets and decrease our liabilities?’”…
“Our first concern should be with those sufferers that we are still unable to reach. Let's first humbly realize that throughout the world of today there are 20,000,000 alcoholics, 5,000,000 of these being in the United States alone. Of course, these vast numbers are in all stages of sickness. Some cannot be reached because they are not hurt enough, others because they are hurt too much. Many sufferers have mental and emotional complications that seem to foreclose their chances. Yet it would be conservative to estimate that at any particular time there are 4,000,000 alcoholics in the world who are able, ready and willing to get well--if only they knew how! … When we remember that in the thirty years of AA's existence, we have reached less than ten per cent of those who might have been willing to approach us, we begin to get an idea of the immensity of our task, and of the responsibilities with which we will always be confronted.”…
“These facts point straight to our next responsibility: that of intelligently and lovingly sponsoring each man and woman who comes among us asking help. The care and concern with which we individually and collectively do this can make all the difference. Besides, this is the greatest expression of gratitude that we can give for what we ourselves have received. Without much doubt, a million alcoholics have approached AA during the last thirty years. We can soberly ask ourselves what became of the 600,000 who did not stay. How much and how often did we fail all these? …
In conclusion, it is only fair to say that we of AA have been able in most areas of our lives together to make substantial gains in both our willingness and our capability for the acceptance and discharge of responsibility, something that our great gathering in Toronto will symbolize and demonstrate.”
Bill’s essay is available from the Grapevine Archives.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Self Support Quiz
Hi Friends, in preparation for the Assembly I have created a fun Self Support quiz, some answers are a little hard, some are quite easy. Answers will be supplied at the Assembly as part of my presentation, as well, I will post them on-line at the end of March. Let me know how you do.Self Support Quiz
1. What year was A.A. founded.
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
3. When were the traditions introduced?
4. When were the concepts introduced?
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?(Circle one)
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___________article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute ________ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradtion speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?(Circle one)
a. Service
b. Recovery
c. Unity.
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help _____ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ______am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO ?
17. Self-Support:Where Money and ____________ Mix.
1. What year was A.A. founded.
2. In what year was the General Service Conference Started?
3. When were the traditions introduced?
4. When were the concepts introduced?
5. What rich potential A.A. patron stated “I am afraid that money will spoil this thing,”.
6. Area 83 has prudent reserve, how many months operating expenses is this based on?(Circle one)
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
7. “Now, where do A.A.’s services – worldwide, area, local – fit into our scheme of things?” asks Bill W. in an October ___________article in the A.A. Grapevine. “Why should we provide these functions with money?” According to Bill, “The answer is simple enough. Every single A.A. service is designed to make more and better Twelfth Step work possible, whether it be a group meeting place, a central or intergroup office … or the world service Headquarters. (what year was this printed in the A.A. Grapevine, please fill in the blank.)
8. What is the limit on how much an individual can donate to G.S.O.?
9. The A.A. Birthday Plan suggest we contribute ________ for each year we have been sober. (fill in the blank)
10. What tradtion speaks to groups being Self Supporting through their own contributions.
11. Which legacy of A.A. do the concepts represent ?(Circle one)
a. Service
b. Recovery
c. Unity.
12. What month is the General Service Conference held ?
13. Who attends the General Service Conference representing Area 83?
14. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help _____ want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that: ______am responsible. (Fill in the blanks)
15. Who determines your group’s prudent reserve?
16. What pamphlet gives suggestions on how to split contributions between district, group, area and GSO ?
17. Self-Support:Where Money and ____________ Mix.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Concept 1
TWELVE CONCEPTS OF WORLD SERVICE
CONCEPT 1
The Twelve Concepts for World Service represent the third of the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous – the first legacy being Recovery, as represented by the Twelve Steps, the second being Unity represented in the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill W. in 1952 and adopted by the 12th Annual General Service Conference of AA in 1962.
What are the Concepts?
• they are an interpretation of AA’s world service structure
• they reveal how the service structure arrived in its present form
• they detail the experience and reasoning on which our operation stands today
• they record the “why” of our service structure so that the experience and lessons of the past are not forgotten or lost
What do the Concepts do?
• The Steps hold us together
• The Traditions hold the group together
• The Concepts hold A.A. together
Concept 1 reads:
The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. This concept is illustrated in the inverted triangle with the groups at the top and the General Service Board at the bottom.
The groups assumed that responsibility and authority for AA service activity at the St. Louis International Convention in 1955 – when on behalf of Dr. Bob, the Trustees and AA’s old-time leaders, Bill made the transfer of world service responsibility to the entire fellowship.
The service structure was not always this way – how did this come about?
Our founders had established the original world service structure – creating The Alcoholic Foundation, later the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous – to perform services for AA as a whole that could not be performed by single groups or areas – literature, public relations policy for AA as a whole, helping new groups get established, a regular magazine.
However, responsibility and accountability remained with the Trustees who in turn looked to the founders, the old timers for guidance – many believed it should remain such, that a representative conference to whom they would be accountable would not work – and the membership at large was more concerned with group life than world services.
When in 1948 Dr, Bob became ill, it became evident that AA could not forever remain dependent on the founders for direction, that a new broad based representative structure was required, to provide direction to the trustees and a link between the board and the many groups, to ensure the continuation of world services.
There was another reason for this shift of responsibility – Tradition Two which states – For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. The main principles were clear – AA groups are to be the final authority and their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated authority only.
Tradition Two was written and published in 1945. The first experimental General Service Conference was held in 1951 to see if the Tradition could be successfully applied to AA as a whole including trustees and founders, whether the conference could and would assume ultimate responsibility for the world service organization. By 1955, even the skeptics were convinced that the General Service Conference representing the group conscience of AA world wide was going to work and work permanently. And so “final responsibility and ultimate authority” was transferred to the fellowship as a whole.
The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill to detail how this world service structure would work. That structure has survived the decades – today, still ultimate responsibility remains with the group – Concept 1. And our role, as General Service Representatives, is to serve as the link between our group and AA as a whole – carrying the message from and to the group from district, area, GSO.
CONCEPT 1
The Twelve Concepts for World Service represent the third of the three legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous – the first legacy being Recovery, as represented by the Twelve Steps, the second being Unity represented in the Twelve Traditions. The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill W. in 1952 and adopted by the 12th Annual General Service Conference of AA in 1962.
What are the Concepts?
• they are an interpretation of AA’s world service structure
• they reveal how the service structure arrived in its present form
• they detail the experience and reasoning on which our operation stands today
• they record the “why” of our service structure so that the experience and lessons of the past are not forgotten or lost
What do the Concepts do?
• The Steps hold us together
• The Traditions hold the group together
• The Concepts hold A.A. together
Concept 1 reads:
The final responsibility and the ultimate authority for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship. This concept is illustrated in the inverted triangle with the groups at the top and the General Service Board at the bottom.
The groups assumed that responsibility and authority for AA service activity at the St. Louis International Convention in 1955 – when on behalf of Dr. Bob, the Trustees and AA’s old-time leaders, Bill made the transfer of world service responsibility to the entire fellowship.
The service structure was not always this way – how did this come about?
Our founders had established the original world service structure – creating The Alcoholic Foundation, later the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous – to perform services for AA as a whole that could not be performed by single groups or areas – literature, public relations policy for AA as a whole, helping new groups get established, a regular magazine.
However, responsibility and accountability remained with the Trustees who in turn looked to the founders, the old timers for guidance – many believed it should remain such, that a representative conference to whom they would be accountable would not work – and the membership at large was more concerned with group life than world services.
When in 1948 Dr, Bob became ill, it became evident that AA could not forever remain dependent on the founders for direction, that a new broad based representative structure was required, to provide direction to the trustees and a link between the board and the many groups, to ensure the continuation of world services.
There was another reason for this shift of responsibility – Tradition Two which states – For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as he may express Himself in our group conscience. The main principles were clear – AA groups are to be the final authority and their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated authority only.
Tradition Two was written and published in 1945. The first experimental General Service Conference was held in 1951 to see if the Tradition could be successfully applied to AA as a whole including trustees and founders, whether the conference could and would assume ultimate responsibility for the world service organization. By 1955, even the skeptics were convinced that the General Service Conference representing the group conscience of AA world wide was going to work and work permanently. And so “final responsibility and ultimate authority” was transferred to the fellowship as a whole.
The Twelve Concepts were written by Bill to detail how this world service structure would work. That structure has survived the decades – today, still ultimate responsibility remains with the group – Concept 1. And our role, as General Service Representatives, is to serve as the link between our group and AA as a whole – carrying the message from and to the group from district, area, GSO.
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