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[00:00:06.140 – 00:00:06.800] Hi, everybody.

[00:00:06.800 – 00:00:09.399] My name is David Aronofsky, and I’m an alcoholic.

[00:00:09.399 – 00:00:11.340] Hi, David.

[00:00:11.340 – 00:00:21.410] And only because of God’s grace through the miracle of Alcoholics Anonymous, I have not found it necessary to, nor have I taken a drink of an alcoholic nature since April the 20th, 1967, and for this

[00:00:21.410 – 00:00:22.320] I am so thankful.

[00:00:22.320 – 00:00:26.140] Robert, that’s the best talk you’re gonna make two years from today.

[00:00:26.140 – 00:00:34.660] You can tell by the appreciation and the response of the members of the Arkansas Assembly.

[00:00:34.660 – 00:00:43.180] I’m one of these believes that a delegate needs to be visible, not so much vocal, I’ll tell you.

[00:00:43.180 – 00:00:46.740] No reflection.

[00:00:46.740 – 00:00:50.800] I speak with a few years of experience.

[00:00:50.800 – 00:00:57.760] It’s a wonderful pleasure to be here once again, to be asked to come here to your assembly.

[00:00:57.760 – 00:01:03.100] Thank God, when I was here the last time, I woke up and it was snowing outside.

[00:01:03.100 – 00:01:10.900] And so tonight, today, rather, this afternoon, we’ll get on with the business of what it’s all about.

[00:01:10.900 – 00:01:21.640] Now, back in nineteen hundred and eighty-three, it started really in ’82 and ’83, and it culminated in ’84.

[00:01:21.640 – 00:01:31.820] Our fellowship woke up and found out that our concepts, the writings about

[00:01:31.820 – 00:01:41.830] the concepts, not the concepts themselves, had been changed with no clearance from any groups or any of

[00:01:41.830 – 00:01:49.320] the trustees, literature committee, or the conference literature committee, because that is conference-approved literature.

[00:01:49.320 – 00:01:59.480] So, at the behest of the chairman of the General Service Board, Gordon Patrick, at that time, Gordon appointed

[00:01:59.480 – 00:02:09.580] an ad hoc committee, and this alcoholic was fortunate enough to be a member of that committee to see to get

[00:02:09.580 – 00:02:12.880] it back to where it needs to be.

[00:02:12.880 – 00:02:19.320] Not necessarily to go on a witch hunt to find out who did or who didn’t.

[00:02:19.320 – 00:02:20.620] Doesn’t make a bit of difference.

[00:02:20.620 – 00:02:31.500] But to get it back to where the grassroots or the members of Alcoholics Anonymous have a voice and a vote in

[00:02:31.500 – 00:02:35.140] our affairs because we own Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:02:35.140 – 00:02:45.260] It belongs to us, and we’ll have it only as long as God is willing to let us have it, and God will always let us have it as long as we let God

[00:02:45.260 – 00:02:45.760] have it.

[00:02:45.760 – 00:02:52.840] Because it is a special gift.

[00:02:52.840 – 00:02:58.380] We are unlike no society in the world.

[00:02:58.380 – 00:03:03.980] Don’t let anybody tell you that we’re like the Boy Scouts or this or that.

[00:03:03.980 – 00:03:12.260] AA’s been given special dispensation many, many years ago when no one knew anything about AA.

[00:03:12.260 – 00:03:16.740] The Internal Revenue Service, they had no guidelines to go by.

[00:03:16.740 – 00:03:20.300] So they just simply said back in the early days when Mr.

[00:03:20.300 – 00:03:25.860] Mooney was the commissioner of Internal Revenue Service, “We have nothing to go by.

[00:03:25.860 – 00:03:35.740] You go back and you tell us and write down where you get your money, how you spend it, and what you do with what’s left over.” And that has been the guidelines ever since.

[00:03:35.740 – 00:03:40.720] And they automatically made us a tax-exempt, not-for-profit.

[00:03:40.720 – 00:03:44.480] And that was done in nineteen hundred and forty-three.

[00:03:44.480 – 00:03:54.920] And still today, every time our entities are audited by the Internal Revenue Service, that’s the first thing they look for to see if we’re still operating

[00:03:54.920 – 00:03:58.780] in the manner in which it was so graciously given to us.

[00:03:58.780 – 00:04:01.660] Because you see, we’re unique.

[00:04:01.660 – 00:04:07.579] Oh, yes, we own property, but it’s not…

[00:04:07.579 – 00:04:08.860] it’s personal property.

[00:04:08.860 – 00:04:10.080] It’s not real estate.

[00:04:10.080 – 00:04:13.540] And this is the thing that they’re so important.

[00:04:13.540 – 00:04:23.760] So anyway, in order to keep this mess from getting out of hand once again, in nineteen hundred and eighty-four, the July board meeting,

[00:04:23.760 – 00:04:34.380] at that time, the ad hoc committee presented to the General Service Board its recommendations, and the General Service Board in turn passed a resolution

[00:04:34.380 – 00:04:44.400] that the bylaws of the General Service Board be amended, and that the short form of the concepts be inserted

[00:04:44.400 – 00:04:54.640] in the bylaws of the General Service Board, making the General Service Board directly responsible to the members of Alcoholics Anonymous that the spirit

[00:04:54.640 – 00:05:04.640] of the concepts not be violated, which now puts it in a legal ramification, the same as the

[00:05:04.640 – 00:05:09.380] 12 Steps of Recovery of Alcoholics Anonymous and our 12 Traditions.

[00:05:09.380 – 00:05:12.980] And so it was inserted at that time.

[00:05:12.980 – 00:05:22.980] Then the following year, in 1985, it was presented to the conference, and the conference approved the amending of the bylaws of the

[00:05:22.980 – 00:05:24.080] General Service Board.

[00:05:24.080 – 00:05:25.620] And so here we are today.

[00:05:25.620 – 00:05:35.980] Now, because of the large range of topics which had to be included, these concepts have been very difficult, not only to organize,

[00:05:35.980 – 00:05:37.640] but to write.

[00:05:37.640 – 00:05:47.760] Now, since each concept is really a group of related principles, abbreviated statements used in AA’s 12 Steps and 12

[00:05:47.760 – 00:05:50.600] Traditions, they would not have been possible.

[00:05:50.600 – 00:06:00.600] However, the concepts do represent the best summation that Bill was able to make after more than, well, actually, it was twenty-seven years at the

[00:06:00.600 – 00:06:08.200] time, experiences, in which the creation of our service structure and in, uh, the conduct of AA’s world affairs.

[00:06:08.200 – 00:06:18.308] Now, like the earlier written Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions in the Conference Charter, these service principles are also the results of long

[00:06:18.308 – 00:06:21.208] reflection and extensive consultation.

[00:06:21.208 – 00:06:31.298] Now, it was Bill’s hope that these 12 Concepts would become a welcome addition to our third legacy manual of AA World Service,

[00:06:31.298 – 00:06:41.468] which is now called the AA Service Manual, and that these concepts would prove to be a reliable working guide

[00:06:41.468 – 00:06:43.408] in the years that lie ahead.

[00:06:43.408 – 00:06:53.908] Now, the 12 Concepts very carefully delineate those important traditions, customs, relationships, and legal arrangements

[00:06:53.908 – 00:07:03.988] that weld the General Service Board into a working harmony with its primary committee and with its corporate and active service, AA World Services Incorporated, AA Grapevine

[00:07:03.988 – 00:07:04.568] Incorporated.

[00:07:04.568 – 00:07:14.828] And the, the 12 Concepts can be basically used in any, in any spiritual entity in Alcoholics Anonymous,

[00:07:14.828 – 00:07:24.908] from the group to the district to the area to the region to the General Service conference and to the countries in which AA is now all over the world.

[00:07:24.908 – 00:07:28.768] And ideas like the following pervade the concepts.

[00:07:28.768 – 00:07:39.288] No group or individual should be set in unqualified authority over another’s large, active, and dissimilar operations should be separately

[00:07:39.288 – 00:07:44.908] incorporated and managed, each with its own staff, equipment, and working capital.

[00:07:44.908 – 00:07:55.148] We ought to avoid undue concentration of money or personal influence in any service group or entity and at

[00:07:55.148 – 00:07:56.528] e-each level of service.

[00:07:56.528 – 00:07:58.908] And once again, it starts with a group.

[00:07:58.908 – 00:08:08.968] Uh, its service authority should be equal to responsibility, and that’s one of the most difficult things for members of Alcoholics Anonymous to

[00:08:08.968 – 00:08:18.808] understand, that no one is set in unqualified authority over any member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:08:18.808 – 00:08:25.688] That is very, very difficult, and sometimes we have to learn it the hard way.

[00:08:25.688 – 00:08:30.168] Double-headed executive direction should be avoided.

[00:08:30.168 – 00:08:38.488] The delegate to the General Service conference is a delegate to the General Service conference from the area.

[00:08:38.488 – 00:08:43.108] They cannot come back and be a double-headed operator of a, of the area.

[00:08:43.108 – 00:08:52.668] That is the area’s officer’s responsibility, and their, their responsibility is in trust for the members of AA groups.

[00:08:52.668 – 00:08:57.948] Each one has a definite area to operate in.

[00:08:57.948 – 00:09:00.868] One cannot exceed the other.

[00:09:00.868 – 00:09:04.228] When that happens, that makes one of them useless.

[00:09:04.228 – 00:09:10.768] And when that happens, that’s what causes all the personality conflicts in Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:09:10.768 – 00:09:21.028] It’s no different than we come in here unless we’re willing to let God be God, and we quit playing God, there is no way in the world that God can work in our lives.

[00:09:21.028 – 00:09:28.208] And AA allows us to be our own sober, miserable, or happy selves, either way around.

[00:09:28.208 – 00:09:38.488] And so as a result of it, these and other similar, uh, provisions define the working relations that can be friendly

[00:09:38.488 – 00:09:49.068] yet efficient, and thus they will resist the tendency to concentrate money, power, and this nearly always being the underlying,

[00:09:49.068 – 00:09:59.088] though not always the main reason, but a lot of times it is the underlying reason, uh, of our conscious motivation of our

[00:09:59.088 – 00:10:04.408] recurrent passion for the consolidation of world service entities.

[00:10:04.408 – 00:10:05.848] And so concept one.

[00:10:05.848 – 00:10:15.948] Now, I’m gonna use for this afternoon the short form, and if you wanna follow it along in

[00:10:15.948 – 00:10:20.488] the service manual, why, you may free to do so.

[00:10:20.488 – 00:10:29.148] Concept one, final responsibility and the ultimate authority of AA World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of the whole fellowship.

[00:10:29.148 – 00:10:39.388] The primary responsibility and the ultimate authority for the Arkansas Area Assembly and its services

[00:10:39.388 – 00:10:49.408] should always reside in the collective conscience of the assembly, which is means is nothing more than the whole membership of, of

[00:10:49.408 – 00:10:51.008] the area of Arkansas.

[00:10:51.008 – 00:10:58.568] Now, the AA groups today hold ultimate authority and, I mean, ultimate responsibility and final authority for our world services.

[00:10:58.568 – 00:11:08.228] These special elements of overall service activity, which makes it possible for our society to function as a whole.

[00:11:08.228 – 00:11:14.568] Now, the groups, uh, assumed that responsibility at the international convention in 1955 in St.

[00:11:14.568 – 00:11:15.148] Louis.

[00:11:15.148 – 00:11:18.398] It was there that Bill, on behalf of Dr.

[00:11:18.398 – 00:11:26.428] Bob, the trustees, and AA old-time leaders, made the transfer of world service responsibility to our entire fellowship.

[00:11:26.428 – 00:11:36.548] The reason was this came about as a result of the stark necessity, for the fact had to be faced that AA’s founders were perishable.

[00:11:36.548 – 00:11:37.377] Dr.

[00:11:37.377 – 00:11:46.688] Bob had passed away, and Bill knew that in time he would, too, and that the older members of Alcoholics Anonymous would be.

[00:11:46.688 – 00:11:54.788] Thus, who would then be in line to suggest and advise our trustees, so the gap had to be filled.

[00:11:54.788 – 00:12:00.688] There were other reasons for this basic shift of ultimate responsibility and authority as a whole.

[00:12:00.688 – 00:12:05.288] All these reasons evolved in and around Tradition Two.

[00:12:05.288 – 00:12:12.488] For our group purpose, there is but one ultimate authority, a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.

[00:12:12.488 – 00:12:15.108] Our leaders are but trusted servants.

[00:12:15.108 – 00:12:16.028] They do not govern.

[00:12:16.028 – 00:12:26.188] Tradition Two, like all of A.A.’s traditions, is a voice of experience based upon trials and bitter experiences of thousands of groups.

[00:12:26.188 – 00:12:30.788] So the main principles of Tradition Two are inevitable.

[00:12:30.788 – 00:12:32.028] The A.A.

[00:12:32.028 – 00:12:34.168] groups are to be the final authorities.

[00:12:34.168 – 00:12:39.688] Their leaders are to be entrusted with delegated responsibilities only.

[00:12:39.688 – 00:12:45.098] And if you have a breakdown in the area or in A-A.

[00:12:45.098 – 00:12:52.528] as a whole, it has to do basically with those who exceed the delegated responsibility.

[00:12:52.528 – 00:12:58.408] And when that happens, then they’re taking on, they’re exceeding delegated authority.

[00:12:58.408 – 00:13:08.508] We have to constant keep in our uppermost conscience that th- our fellowship is a spiritualized society characterized by

[00:13:08.508 – 00:13:18.848] enough enlightenment, enough responsibility, and enough love of man and God to ensure that our democracy of world service will work

[00:13:18.848 – 00:13:20.368] under all conditions.

[00:13:20.368 – 00:13:28.008] If it didn’t work under all conditions, the condition that it didn’t work under, us drunks would eat this deal alive.

[00:13:28.008 – 00:13:35.768] That is the precise reason that we can rely on Tradition Two, our group conscience, its trusted servants.

[00:13:35.768 – 00:13:42.628] Happily for us, there seems little prospect of a spiritual calamity in A.A.

[00:13:42.628 – 00:13:43.448] Where are we going?

[00:13:43.448 – 00:13:45.528] This is the last house on the block, baby.

[00:13:45.528 – 00:13:55.048] The life of each individual and of each group is built around our Twelve Steps and our Twelve Traditions.

[00:13:55.048 – 00:14:05.448] We very well know that the penalty for extensive disobedience to these principles is death for the individual and dissolution

[00:14:05.448 – 00:14:06.548] for the group.

[00:14:06.548 – 00:14:16.568] An even greater force for A.A.’s unity is the compelling love that we have for each member of Alcoholics Anonymous, but above

[00:14:16.568 – 00:14:22.888] all, for the principles upon which our lives today are founded.

[00:14:22.888 – 00:14:29.188] Concept Two: the General Service Conference of A.A.

[00:14:29.188 – 00:14:39.448] has become for every pr– for nearly every practical reason, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole society in its world

[00:14:39.448 – 00:14:40.028] affairs.

[00:14:40.028 – 00:14:50.768] The Arkansas Assembly has become, in Arkansas, for nearly every practical purpose,

[00:14:50.768 – 00:14:57.338] the active voice and the effective conscience of the whole membership of the A.A.

[00:14:57.338 – 00:15:01.308] groups in Arkansas for its service affairs.

[00:15:01.308 – 00:15:06.008] Now, s- the ultimate authority and responsibility for A.A.

[00:15:06.008 – 00:15:07.908] world services belongs to the A.A.

[00:15:07.908 – 00:15:08.428] groups.

[00:15:08.428 – 00:15:15.148] It became rather obvious that the seventy some odd thousand A.A.

[00:15:15.148 – 00:15:17.128] groups and over two million A.A.

[00:15:17.128 – 00:15:19.428] members scattered all over the world, in A.A.

[00:15:19.428 – 00:15:26.588] we really don’t know how many members we really have because ours is kind of like a floating crap game, you know?

[00:15:26.588 – 00:15:36.988] God knows how many members of Alcoholics Anonymous, when they woke up this morning all over the world when the sun come up, were members of Alcoholics Anonymous, and tonight

[00:15:36.988 – 00:15:40.748] when the sun goes down all over the world, many who were members of A.A.

[00:15:40.748 – 00:15:45.288] when they woke up this morning will no longer b– were not longer members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:15:45.288 – 00:15:48.428] So we’re not really interested in numbers.

[00:15:48.428 – 00:15:50.768] The b-basic line, are we staying sober?

[00:15:50.768 – 00:15:56.437] And as a result, uh, actually, uh, so the A.A.

[00:15:56.437 – 00:16:01.088] groups of themselves cannot, uh, actually manage to conduct our world services.

[00:16:01.088 – 00:16:11.088] Sure, the group conscience and the needed monies are out there, and the power of the groups and members to change our world service structure and to

[00:16:11.088 – 00:16:14.108] criticize its operation is virtually supreme.

[00:16:14.108 – 00:16:17.608] And don’t think for a minute we don’t criticize it.

[00:16:17.608 – 00:16:24.548] And they have all the final responsibility and authority is because it is ours and no one else’s.

[00:16:24.548 – 00:16:35.008] So in order to avoid confusion and to function in simplicity and service, the groups have delegated complete administrative and operational authority, authority

[00:16:35.008 – 00:16:45.128] to their conference and its service arms to avoid confusion in the area and so that the area, uh, can function

[00:16:45.128 – 00:16:47.708] in simplicity of the services.

[00:16:47.708 – 00:16:57.848] The groups have delegated complete administration and operational authority for their area and its service arms to the

[00:16:57.848 – 00:16:58.868] area structure.

[00:16:58.868 – 00:17:00.478] And as Bill and Dr.

[00:17:00.478 – 00:17:01.768] Bob early in A.A.

[00:17:01.768 – 00:17:06.998] had found it necessary to delegate a large part of their active authority to the trustees, the A.A.

[00:17:06.998 – 00:17:13.428] groups have also found it necessary to delegate these same powers to the General Service Conference.

[00:17:13.428 – 00:17:23.688] As a result of the conference charter, the General Service Conference of A.A., plus any later formed sections, have become, for nearly every practical purpose,

[00:17:23.688 – 00:17:29.028] the active voice and the effective conscience of our society in its world affairs.

[00:17:29.028 – 00:17:32.568] The reasons for this is very simple.

[00:17:32.568 – 00:17:41.678] A vesting of responsibility as a result of finding out that the ultimate authority and responsibility for the A.A.

[00:17:41.678 – 00:17:49.728] groups is world services, that, that, that if that were all that was to be, then it could not amount to hardly anything.

[00:17:49.728 – 00:17:53.028] Nothing could be accomplished on the basis alone.

[00:17:53.028 – 00:18:03.028] So in order to get effective action, the groups must delegate the actual res– operational authority to the chosen service representatives

[00:18:03.028 – 00:18:06.868] who are fully empowered to speak and act for them.

[00:18:06.868 – 00:18:17.168] Everyone who is here this weekend, whether they be a delegated servant, a GSR

[00:18:17.168 – 00:18:28.408] or an alternate DCM or an alternate DCM, or a-any members of the area committee, or just members of Alcoholics Anonymous, we

[00:18:28.408 – 00:18:33.408] have to do this if we’re ever gonna have simplicity and not confusion.

[00:18:33.408 – 00:18:36.028] The group conscience of A.A.

[00:18:36.028 – 00:18:46.148] could not be heard unless a properly chosen conference or an area structure was fully trusted to speak for its,

[00:18:46.148 – 00:18:49.248] it respecting in most matters of our services.

[00:18:49.248 – 00:18:59.328] Since a principle of amply delegated authority and responsibility to trusted servants must be implicit from the top to the bottom of our active

[00:18:59.328 – 00:19:00.668] structure of service.

[00:19:00.668 – 00:19:04.168] This is a clear implication of Tradition Two.

[00:19:04.168 – 00:19:14.288] Concept Three: to ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of A.A., the conference, you notice I said each element

[00:19:14.288 – 00:19:24.388] of A.A., not just necessarily the general conference, the General Service board and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives with its traditional right of decision.

[00:19:24.388 – 00:19:30.428] And when I get to the next concept, I’m gonna have some raised eyes, I’ll tell you.

[00:19:30.428 – 00:19:36.288] Here again is a working example of Tradition Two.

[00:19:36.288 – 00:19:38.788] Our leaders are but trusted servants.

[00:19:38.788 – 00:19:40.208] They do not govern.

[00:19:40.208 – 00:19:47.148] We cannot stress that too much in Alcoholics ano– You tell a drunk like me I gotta do something, and I ain’t gonna do it.

[00:19:47.148 – 00:19:53.488] I’m one of those kinds that if it says, “Don’t walk on the grass,” I’ll walk on the grass.

[00:19:53.488 – 00:19:59.258] I love the one that says, “Don’t take drink or food out of the dining room.” I’ll test them every time.

[00:20:01.477 – 00:20:06.407] If it got a sign on the wall, wet paint, don’t touch, I’ll put my fingerprints on it.

[00:20:06.407 – 00:20:11.167] But if you suggest I do not do this, that is another matter altogether.

[00:20:11.167 – 00:20:21.487] We ought to trust our world servants, for within the freightwork, framework of our general responsibilities, whether they be defined by charter, resolution,

[00:20:21.487 – 00:20:32.007] advisory action, or custom, it should be the traditional right of all world service boards, committees, and executive to decide which problems will dispose of themselves,

[00:20:32.007 – 00:20:37.187] upon which matters they will report, consult, or ask specific directions.

[00:20:37.187 – 00:20:47.207] Now, your area committee, unless you trust them to make decisions, and they can’t

[00:20:47.207 – 00:20:53.127] do it, and they gotta come back to the group on everything that’s brought up here this weekend, why have an assembly?

[00:20:53.127 – 00:20:55.307] Decide it in your group.

[00:20:55.307 – 00:21:02.237] And that causes nothing but problems, because basically in an A.A.

[00:21:02.237 – 00:21:07.627] group, each group has but one primary purpose: to carry its message to the alcoholic.

[00:21:07.627 – 00:21:17.127] And so it has to delegate the responsibility to see that the area is in tune with A.A.

[00:21:17.127 – 00:21:22.727] as a whole, still reserving the right of its autonomy.

[00:21:22.727 – 00:21:32.727] And so therefore, uh, if, if, if we do not trust our world servants to make decisions, then no effective leadership can be

[00:21:32.727 – 00:21:33.267] possible.

[00:21:33.267 – 00:21:44.207] So as a result of Concepts One and Two, fortified in power by Tradition Two, the General Service Conference and the General Service Board charter simply define the responsibility

[00:21:44.207 – 00:21:46.337] of our conference to act on behalf of A.A.

[00:21:46.337 – 00:21:46.867] as a whole.

[00:21:46.867 – 00:21:56.967] That’s exactly what your guidelines are for the area, nothing more, nothing less, must simply in a general way describe

[00:21:56.967 – 00:22:02.667] the relations between the group, the conference, the trustees, and the active service entities.

[00:22:02.667 – 00:22:06.207] Without these definitions and descriptions, we could not function.

[00:22:06.207 – 00:22:16.307] This con- this concept just simply tells us, and it puts Tradition Two into action by allowing us to trust our responsible leaders

[00:22:16.307 – 00:22:26.407] to decide within the understanding framework of their duties how they will interpret and apply their own authority and responsibility to each particular problem or

[00:22:26.407 – 00:22:28.567] situation as it arises.

[00:22:28.567 – 00:22:36.767] Now, there will always be plenty of ultimate authority to correct inefficiency, ineffectiveness, or abuse.

[00:22:36.767 – 00:22:47.107] Now, if the conference or if the area doesn’t function well, the group can send better delegates to the conference or elect

[00:22:47.107 – 00:22:49.037] better area officers.

[00:22:49.037 – 00:22:55.937] If the trustees get out of line, the conference can censor or criticize them, even reorganize them.

[00:22:55.937 – 00:23:04.947] If our headquarter services go haywire, the trustees can elect better directors and hire better help.

[00:23:04.947 – 00:23:15.487] Still, many areas are sometimes tempted, and some still do, to instruct their delegates exactly

[00:23:15.487 – 00:23:23.347] how to vote upon certain matters in the conference because they hold the responsibility and the ultimate authority.

[00:23:23.347 – 00:23:25.337] There is no doubt that the A.A.

[00:23:25.337 – 00:23:26.897] groups have the right to do this.

[00:23:26.897 – 00:23:30.967] However, if they insist, they can give effect…

[00:23:30.967 – 00:23:34.567] they can give directives to their delegates on any and all A.A.

[00:23:34.567 – 00:23:35.067] matters.

[00:23:35.067 – 00:23:45.087] But were the groups to carry these, their instructions, uh, to delegates to extremes, then they would be

[00:23:45.087 – 00:23:55.087] proceeding on the false theory that group opinion in most world matters would somehow be superior, much more superior, to conference

[00:23:55.087 – 00:23:55.607] opinion.

[00:23:55.607 – 00:24:00.627] Practically speaking, this could almost never be the case.

[00:24:00.627 – 00:24:11.087] There would be very few questions indeed that instructed delegates could better settle than a conference acting on the spot with full facts, and debate

[00:24:11.087 – 00:24:12.907] is always desirable.

[00:24:12.907 – 00:24:22.567] And that’s one of the reasons why many, after the Saturday night meeting tonight, will leave, and they will not participate in the morning.

[00:24:22.567 – 00:24:28.307] That is the most vital meeting you’re gonna have, in the morning.

[00:24:28.307 – 00:24:36.267] Everything leads up to it, because this is where the, the group conscience or the area conscience is put into living action.

[00:24:36.267 – 00:24:42.067] So is there c- full consultation with committee members and general service representatives.

[00:24:42.067 – 00:24:52.207] The instructed delegate who cannot act on his own conscience in a final conference vote is not a trusted servant at all.

[00:24:52.207 – 00:24:56.187] They’re just simply a messenger boy or girl.

[00:24:56.187 – 00:25:01.447] And you know when somebody delivers a message, they always got their hand out.

[00:25:01.447 – 00:25:02.707] They’re waiting for a tip.

[00:25:02.707 – 00:25:12.947] And so now this brings us to, this brings us to another one,

[00:25:12.947 – 00:25:14.427] and I’ll tell you, this next one.

[00:25:14.427 – 00:25:25.607] Now, I don’t know whether you re- not realize it or not, Concept Four: At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional right of participation, allowing

[00:25:25.607 – 00:25:31.567] a voting representative in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.

[00:25:31.567 – 00:25:33.087] Now, I’m gonna ask you a question.

[00:25:33.087 – 00:25:36.007] How in the dickens in A.A.

[00:25:36.007 – 00:25:39.767] can you participate if you’re not free to make a decision?

[00:25:39.767 – 00:25:42.527] You see, the concepts are written backwards.

[00:25:42.527 – 00:25:48.667] In any other organization, you got the freedom to participate and then make a decision.

[00:25:48.667 – 00:25:52.276] But in A.A., you don’t participate if you can’t make a decision.

[00:25:52.276 – 00:25:58.767] You can’t say sober unless you decide you’re gonna stop drinking.

[00:25:58.767 – 00:26:04.655] And only then can you participate as a member of AA.

[00:26:04.655 – 00:26:10.135] Some try to participate drinking, but it’s tough.

[00:26:10.135 – 00:26:13.435] Fall out of chairs every now and then, you know.

[00:26:13.435 – 00:26:15.395] Yeah.

[00:26:15.395 – 00:26:16.155] Oh, yeah.

[00:26:16.155 – 00:26:20.395] Know a lot about AA, but know noth-nothing about AA, you know.

[00:26:20.395 – 00:26:25.595] Now, the principle of participation has been very carefully built into our conference structure.

[00:26:25.595 – 00:26:35.635] The conference charter specifically provides that the trustees and the directors of our service corporations, together with their respective executive

[00:26:35.635 – 00:26:40.735] staff, shall always be voting members of the general service conference itself.

[00:26:40.735 – 00:26:44.995] And that has caused more problems over a period of years than anything in the world.

[00:26:44.995 – 00:26:55.055] But Bill stoutly defended it by saying: Why should non-alcoholic trustees and why should paid staff have an equal

[00:26:55.055 – 00:26:57.975] vote at the conference?

[00:26:57.975 – 00:26:59.955] That only the delegates should.

[00:26:59.955 – 00:27:03.575] Well, the delegate comes to the conference.

[00:27:03.575 – 00:27:05.635] Some come instructed.

[00:27:05.635 – 00:27:08.035] Some don’t even know where they are.

[00:27:08.035 – 00:27:18.175] All they’re interested in is where can I get ice cream, how to get from the airport to the hotel, the cheapest way,

[00:27:18.175 – 00:27:18.435] you know.

[00:27:18.435 – 00:27:22.075] What kind of clothes to wear, you know.

[00:27:22.075 – 00:27:25.695] Do I take a suit or do I take a running suit?

[00:27:25.695 – 00:27:32.735] Can I wear running shoes or do I have to wear my cowboy boots all the time or my dress shoes, you know?

[00:27:32.735 – 00:27:36.535] Some come with volumes of notes.

[00:27:36.535 – 00:27:39.575] Some are up at the microphone.

[00:27:39.575 – 00:27:40.415] They don’t sleep.

[00:27:40.415 – 00:27:43.235] They stay up all night figuring out how to make a talk.

[00:27:43.235 – 00:27:53.235] And so as a result of it, you know, so as a result, to get everything in perspective, the voting

[00:27:53.235 – 00:27:56.995] process is turned out to be correct up to now.

[00:27:56.995 – 00:28:07.395] And then this partici– uh, principle of participation also applies to the directors of the General Service board’s wholly owned active service corporation,

[00:28:07.395 – 00:28:10.835] as well as to those who are appointed to the board standing committee.

[00:28:10.835 – 00:28:17.515] Now, one of the best reasons for our participation certainly has to do with our spiritual needs.

[00:28:17.515 – 00:28:20.955] All of us deeply desire to belong.

[00:28:20.955 – 00:28:26.995] We need and want an AA relation of brotherly partnership.

[00:28:26.995 – 00:28:36.675] The paramount ideal of our spiritual corporation should never include any members who are regarded as second class.

[00:28:36.675 – 00:28:46.275] Thus, if we are to have no second class AAs, then neither should there be any second class world service worker.

[00:28:46.275 – 00:28:56.334] Thus, it encourages every one of us who serve AA to accept the necessary disciplines that our several, uh, re-service responsibilities require.

[00:28:56.334 – 00:29:06.395] This we can do when each of us is sure that we belong, for the principle of our participation assures us that we

[00:29:06.395 – 00:29:11.394] are truly the trusted servants, as Tradition Two suggests that we are.

[00:29:11.394 – 00:29:21.435] Now, the preservation of this principle of participation is our, in our service structure is to those of us who already

[00:29:21.435 – 00:29:27.875] understand its application and benefits, a matter of the highest importance in our future.

[00:29:27.875 – 00:29:36.035] The saddest member of Alcoholics Anonymous is the one who is afraid to get up and to participate.

[00:29:36.035 – 00:29:40.855] Afraid they’re gonna be criticized.

[00:29:40.855 – 00:29:44.335] Afraid that nobody’s gonna like them.

[00:29:44.335 – 00:29:47.875] Afraid they won’t be elected delegate.

[00:29:47.875 – 00:29:51.695] Afraid they won’t be the GSR or the DCF.

[00:29:51.695 – 00:29:54.575] I’ll tell you about this business in service.

[00:29:54.575 – 00:30:02.235] You know, in service, you know, it, it’s just like standing there and kicking an elephant in the rear end.

[00:30:02.235 – 00:30:09.275] The ki– the, the key is to stay there kicking, and one day smoke will come out.

[00:30:09.275 – 00:30:18.054] And experience has shown us …

[00:30:18.054 – 00:30:28.195] That some of, uh, each new generation of delegates and trustees will invariably try to weaken, modify, or toss out the principles of corporate

[00:30:28.195 – 00:30:29.155] participation.

[00:30:29.155 – 00:30:31.564] And you’re gonna find it in your area assemblies.

[00:30:31.564 – 00:30:40.535] You’re gonna find it in the district, in by-district meetings, that you’re gonna get members that either wanna weaken it, modify it, throw it out every year.

[00:30:40.535 – 00:30:47.295] A few delegates will question the right of the corporate director staff and even trustees to vote in conference.

[00:30:47.295 – 00:30:57.375] Sometimes new volunteer corporate directors will ask why our paid staff members should also be directors and thereby, there-thereby have

[00:30:57.375 – 00:30:59.515] a vote as good as their own.

[00:30:59.515 – 00:31:09.815] So it is virtually important that we preserve the traditional right of participation in the face of every tendency to whittle it down and weaken

[00:31:09.815 – 00:31:10.155] it.

[00:31:10.155 – 00:31:20.475] Concept five: throughout the structure, a traditional right of appeal ought to prevail so that minority opinion will be heard

[00:31:20.475 – 00:31:25.855] and personal grievances receive careful consideration.

[00:31:25.855 – 00:31:31.175] This is one of the most valuable principles that we have in AA.

[00:31:31.175 – 00:31:38.475] I’ll tell you, in many instances, the minority has become the majority.

[00:31:38.475 – 00:31:48.575] I have been the voting member of six general service conferences, and I’ve seen them pass an advisory action one morning.

[00:31:48.575 – 00:31:58.895] The next morning when the conference convened, a member, a voting member of the conference who’s a delegate came

[00:31:58.895 – 00:32:09.007] up to the mic and said, “I have had a tough time sleeping last night.” I walked the streets of New York City mulling over on

[00:32:09.007 – 00:32:12.687] the advisory action that we passed yesterday.

[00:32:12.687 – 00:32:15.687] Something doesn’t smell right.

[00:32:15.687 – 00:32:18.187] It’s not comfortable.

[00:32:18.187 – 00:32:28.387] And while that delegate is talking, all of a sudden you see delegates walking up to the other mics, standing in line, and they said, “I have, have the same

[00:32:28.387 – 00:32:35.887] feeling.” And the next thing you know, somebody says, “Let’s bring it up again,” and they do.

[00:32:35.887 – 00:32:38.427] And then they make another vote.

[00:32:38.427 – 00:32:45.687] And what they voted on yesterday, two-thirds majority, all of a sudden it’s reversed by two-thirds.

[00:32:45.687 – 00:32:55.827] This is where minority opinion is so important because this concept encourages all

[00:32:55.827 – 00:32:56.507] minorities.

[00:32:56.507 – 00:33:02.807] Now, we’re, we’re not talking about color, and we’re not talking about religion, and we’re not talking about language.

[00:33:02.807 – 00:33:09.907] We’re talking about those who feel that they have something to say.

[00:33:09.907 – 00:33:19.537] As I said before, the most uncomfortable member of any AA group or any service entity in A is the one that’s afraid to get up.

[00:33:19.537 – 00:33:23.967] They’re afraid they’re not gonna be popular anymore, afraid their AA babies are gonna quit them.

[00:33:23.967 – 00:33:29.147] But there is something else involved in the situation.

[00:33:29.147 – 00:33:38.187] So therefore, the freedom to file minority reports whenever they feel a majority be in considerable error.

[00:33:38.187 – 00:33:48.187] Particularly is this true when a minority considers an issue to be such a grave one that a mistaken decision could seriously affect AA as a

[00:33:48.187 – 00:33:48.567] whole.

[00:33:48.567 – 00:33:59.547] It should then charge itself with the actual duty of presenting a minority report to the conference, and that’s the precise reason in a few conferences ago, they

[00:33:59.547 – 00:34:03.007] made it a service piece, but not an advisory action.

[00:34:03.007 – 00:34:14.257] An advisory action is two-thirds majority, and that is the blue card that they read, that this is an open or closed AA meeting, and

[00:34:14.257 – 00:34:18.147] we suggest that all who participate talk about drinking of alcohol.

[00:34:18.147 – 00:34:26.607] Now, if they’d have made it an advisory action, right there and then, every dope head would be in that group screaming.

[00:34:26.607 – 00:34:28.547] So they didn’t.

[00:34:28.547 – 00:34:32.687] They left it up to the freedom of the groups to read it or not to read it.

[00:34:32.687 – 00:34:42.947] And basically, all in the world they are, we’re doing is reinforcing Traditions Three and Traditions

[00:34:42.947 – 00:34:43.447] Five.

[00:34:43.447 – 00:34:53.507] Now, this concept permits any person in our service structure, whether paid or unpaid, to petition for the redress of a personal grievance carrying

[00:34:53.507 – 00:34:59.167] his or her complaint, if he or she so desires, directly to the general service board.

[00:34:59.167 – 00:35:05.707] He or she should be able to do this without prejudice or fear of reprisal.

[00:35:05.707 – 00:35:15.867] Every member of a AA group in the area structure of Arkansas is free to carry whatever personal

[00:35:15.867 – 00:35:19.727] grievance it had directly to the area committee.

[00:35:19.727 – 00:35:29.787] And the area committee would be negligent in their duties if they failed to bring it up and throw it out and see what can happen.

[00:35:29.787 – 00:35:33.227] And thank them.

[00:35:33.227 – 00:35:42.746] If the area says, “Well, you know, this is the way we feel about it,” fine, but allow them to participate.

[00:35:42.746 – 00:35:43.827] That’s all.

[00:35:43.827 – 00:35:50.587] Or in other words, to get it off their chest, fully well realizing that nobody can kick anybody out of AA.

[00:35:50.587 – 00:35:55.616] In Alcoholics Anonymous, individual freedom is of enormous importance.

[00:35:55.616 – 00:36:03.007] Thus, this concept aims at the total problem of protecting and making the best possible use of minority feelings and opinion.

[00:36:03.007 – 00:36:13.267] We cannot take away the right of any alcoholic to belong to AA, neither can we force our members to believe, pay,

[00:36:13.267 – 00:36:15.327] or do anything.

[00:36:15.327 – 00:36:20.007] We don’t have to because in Alcoholics Anonymous, we have two authorities.

[00:36:20.007 – 00:36:29.647] We have God as we understand Him that heals, and we have alcohol as we understand it that kills.

[00:36:29.647 – 00:36:37.547] And we don’t need any human beings forcing anything on us to believe, to pay, or to do anything.

[00:36:37.547 – 00:36:47.547] In time, if we live our recovery program, we would be derelict if we did not love AA

[00:36:47.547 – 00:36:52.447] for the life that it gives us, and then we’re willing to do anything that we’re asked to do.

[00:36:52.447 – 00:36:59.587] This concept allows us the freedom to never be subjected to the tyranny of either the majority or the minority.

[00:36:59.587 – 00:37:08.047] And you have to remember that the majority sometimes can be more tyrannical than the minority.

[00:37:08.047 – 00:37:12.147] Now, run that around your head a little bit.

[00:37:12.147 – 00:37:20.047] A lot of times we say, well, they’re a bunch of tyrants, the minority, but the majority sometimes is just as bad as the other.

[00:37:20.047 – 00:37:23.587] Or in other words, Tradition Ten, we neither endorse nor oppose.

[00:37:23.587 – 00:37:27.487] It’s just as bad to oppose a controversy as it is to endorse it.

[00:37:27.487 – 00:37:37.827] So either provided we carefully define the relationships between them, and thus we can walk in the path of world service in the spirit of the Twelve Steps,

[00:37:37.827 – 00:37:41.507] and then also in the spirit of our Twelve Traditions.

[00:37:41.507 – 00:37:48.007] I’ll tell you, this business, and this is where personalities get involved.

[00:37:48.007 – 00:37:49.367] “Oh, I don’t wanna hear it.

[00:37:49.367 – 00:37:55.907] I’m not in AA to listen to all that politics and all that junk.” Shut up.

[00:37:55.907 – 00:38:02.827] And the minute you tell me to shut up, I’m running back up there again, you know.

[00:38:02.827 – 00:38:12.887] Concept six, the conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility of most world service matters should

[00:38:12.887 – 00:38:18.167] be exercised by the trustee members of the conference acting as a general service board.

[00:38:18.167 – 00:38:28.687] The area committee is a, is absolutely one of the most important

[00:38:28.687 – 00:38:38.507] committees that we have in Alcoholics Anonymous, and they should be delegated with the responsibility to exercise.

[00:38:38.507 – 00:38:42.647] And I’ll tell you, you can’t water it down.

[00:38:42.647 – 00:38:44.487] When you do, then we get into trouble.

[00:38:44.487 – 00:38:55.097] This concept allows the conference to delegate a liberal administrative authority to the general service board so that the trustees may act freely and effectively

[00:38:55.097 – 00:38:57.347] in the absence of the conference itself.

[00:38:57.347 – 00:39:01.747] The area committee, it just doesn’t sit still.

[00:39:01.747 – 00:39:07.467] It is active all year long, not just at the area assembly.

[00:39:07.467 – 00:39:09.767] It certainly isn’t.

[00:39:09.767 – 00:39:13.527] You and then Connolly is in for a surprise.

[00:39:13.527 – 00:39:22.327] He’s gonna find it’s gonna be an almost full-time job in between assemblies.

[00:39:22.327 – 00:39:24.187] How come they did this?

[00:39:24.187 – 00:39:25.067] Who changed that?

[00:39:25.067 – 00:39:26.667] By God, I’m a member of AA.

[00:39:26.667 – 00:39:27.967] I’m gonna quit sending my money.

[00:39:27.967 – 00:39:30.207] My group’s gonna quit going all this and that.

[00:39:30.207 – 00:39:33.727] And he’ll say, “Well, we love you,” and hang up.

[00:39:33.727 – 00:39:43.807] Next to the conference, AA’s board of trustees should be the most influential group of world servants that we have, and therefore,

[00:39:43.807 – 00:39:53.807] we shall have to consider carefully the amount and degree of authority, responsibility, leadership, and legal status the trustees must possess

[00:39:53.807 – 00:39:57.327] in order to function at the top effectiveness over the years to come.

[00:39:57.327 – 00:39:58.527] Now, why-

[00:39:58.638 – 00:40:03.118] Should our trustees be given this latitude of judgment and action?

[00:40:03.118 – 00:40:11.938] Very simply, because we, the members of AA, are holding them mainly responsible for all of our service activities.

[00:40:11.938 – 00:40:17.438] That is AA World Services Incorporated, including AA Publishing and the AA Grapevine Incorporated.

[00:40:17.438 – 00:40:26.118] These affiliates, as of today, have gross receipts of over twelve million dollars annually.

[00:40:26.118 – 00:40:32.158] Now, that may seem like a lot of money, and it is if you ain’t got no money.

[00:40:32.158 – 00:40:39.698] But you have to remember, AA’s money comes in not in hundred thousand dollar grants, ten thousand dollar grants.

[00:40:39.698 – 00:40:44.498] It comes in in quarters and dimes and nickels and pennies and dollar bills.

[00:40:44.498 – 00:40:50.338] Our trustees are also responsible for AA’s worldwide public relations.

[00:40:50.338 – 00:41:00.338] They are expected to lead in the formulation of AA policy and must see to its proper execution because they are the

[00:41:00.338 – 00:41:02.658] active guardians of our Twelve Traditions.

[00:41:02.658 – 00:41:12.898] Now, you may ask, why is it that every self-help group in the world uses what they call the AA method or the Twelve

[00:41:12.898 – 00:41:13.458] Steps?

[00:41:13.458 – 00:41:23.158] If one reads the service manual and the bylaws of the General Service Board, the Twelve Steps belong to all mankind.

[00:41:23.158 – 00:41:33.718] However, when you say the Twelve Steps and add the two words Alcoholics Anonymous, that’s a different matter altogether

[00:41:33.718 – 00:41:38.898] because the two words Alcoholics Anonymous is a registered trademark.

[00:41:38.898 – 00:41:48.038] That is the precise reason at the end of, uh, the words in our literature and our pamphlets today, you will see above the S on Anonymous, circle with an R.

[00:41:48.038 – 00:41:50.218] That had to be done.

[00:41:50.218 – 00:42:00.758] It had to be done not by the misuse of organizations outside

[00:42:00.758 – 00:42:08.398] of AA, but by the misuse of our own members for greed, period.

[00:42:08.398 – 00:42:18.518] And Bill said many years ago, there’s gonna be some members of AA who are gonna attempt to and probably will make a

[00:42:18.518 – 00:42:26.798] lot of money at the expense of members of AA and just because they’re members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:42:26.798 – 00:42:38.338] That’s the precise reason that that book that was put out by that lady, she

[00:42:38.338 – 00:42:40.378] was forced to have the title changed.

[00:42:40.378 – 00:42:49.338] It was on the bestseller list, and it’s no longer the same title that it was.

[00:42:49.338 – 00:42:54.478] Not because she was such a grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:42:54.478 – 00:43:05.038] By her own admission, she, oh, she went to an AA meeting maybe once every five or six weeks or

[00:43:05.038 – 00:43:06.998] maybe four or five times a year.

[00:43:06.998 – 00:43:17.178] It was changed because she violated one of the most valuable principles that any member

[00:43:17.178 – 00:43:25.158] of Alcoholics Anonymous can violate, and that is the misuse of the two words Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:43:25.158 – 00:43:28.878] The traditions, they’re ours.

[00:43:28.878 – 00:43:31.858] We cannot give them to anyone.

[00:43:31.858 – 00:43:33.648] Our name is ours.

[00:43:33.648 – 00:43:44.238] We cannot give our name to anyone because you see, the, they’re the active, the, the trustees are the active guardians of our Twelve Traditions.

[00:43:44.238 – 00:43:47.538] They are– trustees are also our bankers.

[00:43:47.538 – 00:43:53.258] They are entirely responsible for the investment and use of our substantial reserve fund.

[00:43:53.258 – 00:43:54.218] Thank God.

[00:43:54.218 – 00:44:00.258] And we allow non-alcoholics to handle our money.

[00:44:00.258 – 00:44:12.238] You’d be surprised how many members of AA that are upstanding and upright citizens of the community can’t

[00:44:12.238 – 00:44:14.178] even get a financial clearance.

[00:44:14.178 – 00:44:18.718] They can’t be bonded, in other words.

[00:44:18.718 – 00:44:29.018] So we turn it over to non-alcoholics to handle our money because we’ve got something more important to do, and that is to stay sober

[00:44:29.018 – 00:44:31.218] and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

[00:44:31.218 – 00:44:38.158] From top to bottom, our whole service structure resembles that of a large corporation.

[00:44:38.158 – 00:44:42.858] The AA groups, we own it, so therefore we are the stockholders.

[00:44:42.858 – 00:44:50.678] And we delegate delegates to go to our General Service conference to vote for us.

[00:44:50.678 – 00:44:55.858] Our proxies are our stock, really, at the annual meeting of the General Service.

[00:44:55.858 – 00:45:01.738] And our General Service board trustees are actually the directors of a large holding company.

[00:45:01.738 – 00:45:11.758] And this holding company, the General Service board, actually owns and controls the subsidiaries which carry out most of our active world

[00:45:11.758 – 00:45:12.378] services.

[00:45:12.378 – 00:45:21.598] So therefore, our trustees must be given large powers if they are to effectively manage the principle of world affairs of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:45:21.598 – 00:45:31.918] Concept seven: the charter and bylaws of the General Service board are legal instruments empowering the trustees to manage

[00:45:31.918 – 00:45:34.478] and conduct world service affairs.

[00:45:34.478 – 00:45:39.158] The conference charter is not a legal document.

[00:45:39.158 – 00:45:44.978] It relies upon tradition and the AA purse for final effectiveness.

[00:45:44.978 – 00:45:56.038] I know that when I was elected to the General Service board of Alcoholics Anonymous, before I was even allowed to attend the first board meeting, I

[00:45:56.038 – 00:46:03.198] had to sign a legal document in front of a notary and have it notarized.

[00:46:03.198 – 00:46:13.818] That when I came upon the board, that I would be individually and collectively responsible for the financial

[00:46:13.818 – 00:46:17.198] and the policy integrity of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:46:17.198 – 00:46:27.538] So we now can see a board of trustees which is invested with complete legal power over our funds and services, and yet we find

[00:46:27.538 – 00:46:37.618] that the AA General Service Board, Conference rather, which is not a legal instrument, is clothed with such great traditions, influence, and financial power that if necessary, it could

[00:46:37.618 – 00:46:40.478] overcome the legal rights of the board of trustees.

[00:46:40.478 – 00:46:48.918] It can therefore give the trustees directives and secure compliance with them, practically speaking.

[00:46:48.918 – 00:46:57.878] This means that the practical power of the conference will nearly always be superior to the legal power of the trustees.

[00:46:57.878 – 00:47:08.178] This allows the conference to still run our business and not have a handful clothed with legal

[00:47:08.178 – 00:47:12.078] power to go us down the drain.

[00:47:12.078 – 00:47:13.998] This is the thing that concerned Bill.

[00:47:13.998 – 00:47:25.178] After Bill was gone, who then would be the buffer between the members of the AA group, AA

[00:47:25.178 – 00:47:31.458] members as a whole, and the trustees who had legal control over everything that we had?

[00:47:31.458 – 00:47:41.538] That’s the reason why the General Service Conference was born, so that the conference would be the buffer, which is nothing more than

[00:47:41.538 – 00:47:43.438] just the members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:47:43.438 – 00:47:53.538] Our present conference is so structured to clearly give the conference a final and ultimate authority, but which nevertheless legally preserves the right

[00:47:53.538 – 00:48:00.438] of the trustees to function freely and adequately because we have to live by the laws of the land.

[00:48:00.438 – 00:48:10.598] Just because we come into AA and we’re flushed with this spiritual enema does not free us from being to observe the

[00:48:10.598 – 00:48:11.698] laws of the land.

[00:48:11.698 – 00:48:17.498] We can’t just run around here because we’re alcoholics, you know, and hold up banks.

[00:48:17.498 – 00:48:22.798] I held a lot of them up before I got sober, with paper.

[00:48:22.798 – 00:48:24.618] Yeah.

[00:48:24.618 – 00:48:31.398] Didn’t need a gun, just a pen and a counter draft, you know.

[00:48:31.398 – 00:48:38.518] And so therefore, which nevertheless legally preserves the right of the trustees to function adequately.

[00:48:38.518 – 00:48:45.138] Up to now, our experience shows that this balance of powers between the trustees and conference is thoroughly workable.

[00:48:45.138 – 00:48:55.138] Even though our board of trustees does reserve a veto power over any conference action, and this is legally necessary and right in principle, it will

[00:48:55.138 – 00:48:56.218] seldom be used.

[00:48:56.218 – 00:48:59.518] It never has been used, basically.

[00:48:59.518 – 00:49:03.198] Rather than veto, all in the world they’ll do is say, “Hey, wait a minute here.

[00:49:03.198 – 00:49:13.358] Let’s bring it up at the next conference and explain the reasons why we can’t go through with it on a legal basis.” But at certain times, however, the trustees’ veto could

[00:49:13.358 – 00:49:15.438] be of important and constructive use.

[00:49:15.438 – 00:49:24.798] So in the years to come, the conference will always bear in mind the actual rights, duties, responsibilities, and legal status of the General Service Board.

[00:49:24.798 – 00:49:34.818] And if the trustees in their deliberations will constantly realize that the conference is the real seat of the ultimate service authority, we then

[00:49:34.818 – 00:49:40.538] may be sure that neither will be seriously tempted to make a rubber stamp out of each other.

[00:49:40.538 – 00:49:49.538] In this matter, grave issues can always be resolved, and harmonious cooperation will be the general rule.

[00:49:49.538 – 00:49:53.398] Not necessarily always, but this is the way it’s been working out.

[00:49:53.398 – 00:50:01.158] Concept eight: The trustees are, are the principal planners and administrators of our overall policy and finance.

[00:50:01.158 – 00:50:11.498] They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability

[00:50:11.498 – 00:50:14.258] to elect all the directors of these entities.

[00:50:14.258 – 00:50:26.418] Well, I’ll tell you, your area committee are the principal planners and administrators of the policy and the monies that

[00:50:26.418 – 00:50:28.238] it is given to operate.

[00:50:28.238 – 00:50:30.318] There’s no difference.

[00:50:30.318 – 00:50:40.458] A lot of times, you know, you’re, you’re read– you look at the, at the concepts, and my God, it’s just like reading the Yellow Pages in the phone

[00:50:40.458 – 00:50:41.078] book, you know?

[00:50:41.078 – 00:50:45.658] But basically, they’re some of the finest writings about AA.

[00:50:45.658 – 00:50:55.858] Our trustees bear the primary responsibility for the good conduct of our world service affairs, and this concept deals with the basic concept

[00:50:55.858 – 00:50:59.798] and method in which they can best discharge their heavy obligation.

[00:50:59.798 – 00:51:09.798] The board is expected to skillfully plan, manage, and execute almost exclusively to the larger and more service questions

[00:51:09.798 – 00:51:14.018] of policy, finance, group relations, public relations, and leadership.

[00:51:14.018 – 00:51:22.858] Thus, the board cannot be burdened with the daily, weekly, and monthly questions and routine conduct of the world service office and our publishing entity.

[00:51:22.858 – 00:51:30.598] This concept clearly indicates how the board delegates its executive function to those entities.

[00:51:30.598 – 00:51:38.878] The board’s attitude has to be that of custodial oversight only and not executive.

[00:51:38.878 – 00:51:49.138] This then makes the trustees the guarantors for us of the good management of AA World Services Incorporated and the AA

[00:51:49.138 – 00:51:50.978] Grapevine Incorporated.

[00:51:50.978 – 00:52:01.098] In the last couple of years, they’ve had a breakdown in that area, and the breakdown in that area, very bluntly, has been

[00:52:01.098 – 00:52:11.358] the fact that we have had members of the General Service Board as trustees who got carried away with a Madison Avenue approach

[00:52:11.358 – 00:52:13.418] to Alcoholics Anonymous.

[00:52:13.418 – 00:52:17.328] And they had to be brought back to their senses.

[00:52:17.328 – 00:52:20.998] And you know how we bring– are bringing them back to their senses?

[00:52:20.998 – 00:52:24.908] Group contributions have fallen.

[00:52:24.908 – 00:52:35.108] And it sent a clear message to the current General Service board that,

[00:52:35.108 – 00:52:45.408] “Hey, get with it, and quit trying to run us like Lever Brothers, Singer Corporation, and Exxon.

[00:52:45.408 – 00:52:51.448] Get with it.” And they’ve got the message, and they’re now doing it.

[00:52:51.448 – 00:53:01.668] This is what we mean by we don’t– uh, the, the members of A.A., I’ll tell you, with the power of the purse in Alcoholics Anonymous are very effective.

[00:53:01.668 – 00:53:05.628] In A.A., we need both God and money.

[00:53:05.628 – 00:53:13.368] But it is effective use of each is the important thing.

[00:53:13.368 – 00:53:19.788] So the trustees can discharge their custodial obligation by electing directors of these services.

[00:53:19.788 – 00:53:23.368] A part of whom must always be trustees.

[00:53:23.368 – 00:53:33.708] This is another flaw that we picked up when we went through the, in this particular concept about how

[00:53:33.708 – 00:53:41.248] directors come aboard who are later uncovered in future general service trustees.

[00:53:41.248 – 00:53:43.628] That has been changed.

[00:53:43.628 – 00:53:53.888] Now, any member of Alcoholics Anonymous, their name can be submitted to be a director regardless of wherever

[00:53:53.888 – 00:53:54.608] they come from.

[00:53:54.608 – 00:54:04.908] And one of the biggest hassles that Robert is gonna be involved in is the changing of those words, what they call in-town or New York trustees are commuting distance from New York.

[00:54:04.908 – 00:54:12.848] That is gonna be changed to where they can come from Canada, they can come from anywhere in the North American conference area.

[00:54:12.848 – 00:54:23.068] Because each corporate service entity should possess its own charter, its working capital, its own ex-executive, its own employers, its own offices and equipment,

[00:54:23.068 – 00:54:33.488] except to mediate difficult situations and to see that the service corporations operate within their budgets and within the general framework

[00:54:33.488 – 00:54:35.158] of A.A.

[00:54:35.158 – 00:54:40.968] And you don’t know what a joy it was to hear the treasurer’s report this morning as a member of A.A.

[00:54:40.968 – 00:54:49.108] not in this area, to see how close you operate basically on what we call a zero budget.

[00:54:49.108 – 00:54:53.648] That’s tremendous.

[00:54:53.648 – 00:54:57.648] That means you’re doing with your monies what you’re supposed to do with them.

[00:54:57.648 – 00:55:03.668] You’re not piling it up, so you argue about it, fight over it.

[00:55:03.668 – 00:55:05.507] You’re emptying it out.

[00:55:05.507 – 00:55:08.168] Time you get all your contributions in.

[00:55:08.168 – 00:55:09.368] What were you?

[00:55:09.368 – 00:55:11.268] Right about a couple of hundred dollars short.

[00:55:11.268 – 00:55:13.808] I mean, just to the plus, right?

[00:55:13.808 – 00:55:16.028] And so th-that’s good.

[00:55:16.028 – 00:55:20.448] That means that your area committee is tending to business.

[00:55:20.448 – 00:55:30.708] That is a credit, and it only comes about as a result of the quality of your delegated

[00:55:30.708 – 00:55:36.308] trustees that you delegate by election to serve in those areas.

[00:55:36.308 – 00:55:46.448] And so therefore, and to see that the service corpora– they operate within their budgets and but mainly within the general framework

[00:55:46.448 – 00:55:46.917] of A.A.

[00:55:46.917 – 00:55:50.288] to see that this area committee operates within the guidelines.

[00:55:50.288 – 00:55:55.228] Guidelines are no good if they’re not used.

[00:55:55.228 – 00:56:02.648] The 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are of no value whatsoever unless we’re willing to live them.

[00:56:02.648 – 00:56:07.828] The 12 traditions are of no value unless we’re willing to do it.

[00:56:07.828 – 00:56:11.828] And a, a drunk comes into A.A., and he sees that there’s a principle that’s been in A.A.

[00:56:11.828 – 00:56:12.448] ever since A.A.

[00:56:12.448 – 00:56:13.148] got started.

[00:56:13.148 – 00:56:17.928] A drunk comes in, and he looks at the 12 steps, and they gotta do something about it.

[00:56:17.928 – 00:56:23.088] In a group, they look at the 12 traditions, they gotta do something about them.

[00:56:23.088 – 00:56:27.848] The 12 concepts of world service, we’ve got to do something about them.

[00:56:27.848 – 00:56:31.828] We’ve got our service manual, we’ve got to do something about them.

[00:56:31.828 – 00:56:36.028] They’re just not gonna hop in and do us just sitting there.

[00:56:36.028 – 00:56:44.968] So they, uh, and as a result, they’ll seldom need to do any more except to do what we’re supposed to do.

[00:56:44.968 – 00:56:54.988] While the trustees must always operate under the close observation, guidance, and sometimes direction of the conference, it is nevertheless true

[00:56:54.988 – 00:57:05.068] that nobody but the trustees and their wholly owned subsidiary corporations could possibly pass judgment upon and handle a very large amount of transactions now

[00:57:05.068 – 00:57:08.368] involved in our total world service operations.

[00:57:08.368 – 00:57:18.608] In view of this very large responsibility, they must therefore be given a correspondingly large grant of authority and leadership within which to

[00:57:18.608 – 00:57:19.448] discharge it.

[00:57:19.448 – 00:57:29.768] It should be understood that the conduct of our world services is simply just a, primarily a matter of policy

[00:57:29.768 – 00:57:30.468] and business.

[00:57:30.468 – 00:57:40.428] Of course, our objective is always a spiritual one, but this service aim can be achieved only by the means of effective business operation.

[00:57:40.428 – 00:57:51.428] This is the precise reason that our trustees must function almost exactly like the directors of a large business corporation, for they must have ample authority

[00:57:51.428 – 00:57:54.508] to really manage and conduct A.A.’s business.

[00:57:54.508 – 00:58:05.088] Here comes my favorite concept, Concept nine: good service leadership at all levels is indispensable

[00:58:05.088 – 00:58:07.168] for our future functioning and safety.

[00:58:07.168 – 00:58:16.328] Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders, must necessarily be assumed by the trustees.

[00:58:16.328 – 00:58:26.428] Basically, Concept nine is nothing more than a copy of an article that Bill first had published in The Grapevine

[00:58:26.428 – 00:58:28.828] in nineteen hundred and fifty-nine.

[00:58:28.828 – 00:58:35.798] If you have not read it, it is possibly some of the finest writing about A.A.

[00:58:35.798 – 00:58:36.988] that one will ever read.

[00:58:36.988 – 00:58:45.268] The operating results of our structure can be no better than the personal performance of those who man it and make it work.

[00:58:45.268 – 00:58:55.288] Your area structure can be no better than the personal performance and then collectively of those

[00:58:55.288 – 00:58:58.988] who must man it and make it work.

[00:58:58.988 – 00:59:09.168] Good leadership cannot function well in a poorly designed structure, and a weak leader

[00:59:09.168 – 00:59:12.908] cannot perform in a strong structure.

[00:59:12.908 – 00:59:14.388] It’s impossible.

[00:59:14.388 – 00:59:18.008] Leadership will always be a continuous problem.

[00:59:18.008 – 00:59:21.648] Good leadership can be here today and gone tomorrow.

[00:59:21.648 – 00:59:28.008] We must continuously uncover the right people for our many service jobs.

[00:59:28.008 – 00:59:38.308] That is a precise reason that it is so important that a group elect a GSR,

[00:59:38.308 – 00:59:45.908] and the GSRs in turn DCMs in their district, and in turn an area committee, and in turn the assembly of delegate.

[00:59:45.908 – 00:59:56.288] You go for the best one, not because they come from the east or the west or the north or the south,

[00:59:56.288 – 00:59:57.778] not because they’re the favorite

[00:59:58.685 – 01:00:00.465] Of most of those in there?

[01:00:00.465 – 01:00:00.885] Nuh-uh.

[01:00:00.885 – 01:00:01.765] No.

[01:00:01.765 – 01:00:03.725] You see, many in A.A.

[01:00:03.725 – 01:00:11.545] are eligible to be trusted servants, but are they qualified?

[01:00:11.545 – 01:00:22.205] That is a thing that’s so important because leadership will always be a continuous problem, and,

[01:00:22.205 – 01:00:26.385] uh, we must continually find the right people for our many service jobs.

[01:00:26.385 – 01:00:36.404] The base of our service structure rests upon the dedication and the ability of the GSRs,

[01:00:36.405 – 01:00:40.965] the DCMs, the area committee members, and the conference delegates.

[01:00:40.965 – 01:00:46.265] When electing GSRs, a group should have these facts well in mind.

[01:00:46.265 – 01:00:49.035] A leader in A.A.

[01:00:49.035 – 01:00:59.045] services, therefore, a man or a woman who can personally put principles, plans, and policies in such a dedicated, effective action that the rest

[01:00:59.045 – 01:01:02.825] of us want to back them up and help him or her with the job.

[01:01:02.825 – 01:01:10.145] Good leadership originates plans, policies, and ideas for the improvement of our fellowship and its services.

[01:01:10.145 – 01:01:18.725] Good leadership will also remember that a fine plan or an idea can come from anybody, anywhere, any place.

[01:01:18.725 – 01:01:28.765] Good leadership will often discard its own cherished plans for others that are better and in turn give credit to the

[01:01:28.765 – 01:01:29.165] source.

[01:01:29.165 – 01:01:33.525] Many misunderstand the functions of a delegate.

[01:01:33.525 – 01:01:43.585] A delegate’s area primary responsibility is to the general service conference and then

[01:01:43.585 – 01:01:44.565] report back.

[01:01:44.565 – 01:01:48.745] The delegate is not the area committee.

[01:01:48.745 – 01:01:52.725] The area committee is the area committee.

[01:01:52.725 – 01:01:56.365] It has a job to form.

[01:01:56.365 – 01:02:05.205] In A.A., we cannot be all things for all people because we then begin to weaken down the primary purpose of each and every one of us.

[01:02:05.205 – 01:02:09.525] The following attributes are necessary for good leadership.

[01:02:09.525 – 01:02:19.265] They are tolerance, responsibility, flexibility, and vision exercised at all levels of A.A.

[01:02:19.265 – 01:02:20.025] services.

[01:02:20.025 – 01:02:22.605] Sort of sounds like Parmelee, doesn’t it?

[01:02:22.605 – 01:02:27.665] Not the one I know, but…

[01:02:27.665 – 01:02:38.145] Concept 10: Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority with the scope of such authority

[01:02:38.145 – 01:02:39.305] well defined.

[01:02:39.305 – 01:02:44.545] Now, the principles of ultimate authority runs clear through the structure.

[01:02:44.545 – 01:02:52.265] This is necessary because all of our service affairs and activities have to head up somewhere for final responsibility.

[01:02:52.265 – 01:03:00.585] Ultimate authority is also needed so that each worker or each classification of servant knows where and who the final boss is.

[01:03:00.585 – 01:03:06.225] Therefore, ultimate authority has to be very carefully qualified.

[01:03:06.225 – 01:03:08.365] How?

[01:03:08.365 – 01:03:11.595] By delegated authority.

[01:03:11.595 – 01:03:21.625] We have to always be sure that there is an abundance of final and ultimate authority to correct or to r-reorganize, but we have to be equally

[01:03:21.625 – 01:03:32.725] sure at all times that all of our trusted servants have a clearly defined and adequate authority to do their daily work and to discharge their clear responsibility.

[01:03:32.725 – 01:03:40.845] Sometime if one falls out temporarily, yes, we’ve got to help out, but we cannot make it a permanent thing.

[01:03:40.845 – 01:03:49.725] Here again, we see Tradition Two where the group conscience as the ultimate authority and the trusted servants as the delegated authority.

[01:03:49.725 – 01:03:52.585] One cannot function without the other.

[01:03:52.585 – 01:04:02.265] Concept 11: The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executive staffs, and consultants.

[01:04:02.265 – 01:04:10.965] Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be a matter of serious concern.

[01:04:10.965 – 01:04:15.435] If there is one dropout area that we have in A.A.

[01:04:15.435 – 01:04:23.505] today in our service structures, is that one comes on to the area committee and they are not indoctrinated in what it’s all about.

[01:04:23.505 – 01:04:33.545] And there is no reason for it because today all of them have policies and guidelines, and they need to

[01:04:33.545 – 01:04:35.005] be thoroughly understood.

[01:04:35.005 – 01:04:42.445] The long range and overall success of our general service board will rest not only on the capabilities of the trustees themselves.

[01:04:42.445 – 01:04:52.765] It will depend just as much upon the competent leadership and harmonious association of those non-trustee committee members, corporate service

[01:04:52.765 – 01:04:57.805] directors, executives, and staff members who must actively carry on A.A.’s world services.

[01:04:57.805 – 01:05:06.825] Their quality and dedication or their lack of it will make or break our service structure.

[01:05:06.825 – 01:05:15.985] This concept simply allows the 12 standing committees of the general service board, plus our two active service corporations, A.A.

[01:05:15.985 – 01:05:16.945] World Services, Inc.

[01:05:16.945 – 01:05:22.465] and The Grapevine Incorporated, to operate for the best interest of A.A.

[01:05:22.465 – 01:05:29.605] Since probably nine-tenths of the direct headquarters efforts evolved in activities of A.A.W.S.

[01:05:29.605 – 01:05:36.044] and The Grapevine, this concept is necessary to the effective functioning of these entities.

[01:05:36.044 – 01:05:46.585] As I talked about in the preceding concept, paying decent wages and rotation among the paid staff workers further ensures

[01:05:46.585 – 01:05:48.525] the effectiveness of this concept.

[01:05:48.525 – 01:05:53.065] In A.A., there are three things that take care of all problems in A.A.

[01:05:53.065 – 01:05:56.205] That’s alcohol, death, and rotation.

[01:05:56.205 – 01:06:02.215] Concept 12: The conference shall observe the spirit of A.A.

[01:06:02.215 – 01:06:10.989] tradition, taking care that it never becomes a seat of perilous wealth power That sufficient operating funds and reserve be as prudent financial principles.

[01:06:10.989 – 01:06:16.629] That it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others.

[01:06:16.629 – 01:06:24.309] That it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity.

[01:06:24.309 – 01:06:30.349] That its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy.

[01:06:30.349 – 01:06:33.009] That it never performs acts of government.

[01:06:33.009 – 01:06:38.149] That like the society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.

[01:06:38.149 – 01:06:45.509] This concept, as was read earlier by Connolly, consists of Article 12 of the Conference Charter.

[01:06:45.509 – 01:06:55.789] Any amendment or cancellation of any of its vital warranties would require the written consent of three-quarters

[01:06:55.789 – 01:07:00.389] of all of the A.A.

[01:07:00.389 – 01:07:10.749] groups listed in their directories who would actually vote on any such proposal, and the considerable time of six months is

[01:07:10.749 – 01:07:13.249] allowed for careful deliberation.

[01:07:13.249 – 01:07:23.279] Not a period, not a word, not a comma can be changed in our 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, our 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Ano– and

[01:07:23.279 – 01:07:33.969] now our 12 Concepts of World Service in the short form, unless by written consent of three-quarters

[01:07:33.969 – 01:07:35.069] of all the A.A.

[01:07:35.069 – 01:07:45.189] groups in the world that are listed in their directories who would actually vote on any such proposal, and the considerable time of six

[01:07:45.189 – 01:07:48.209] months is allowed for careful deliberation.

[01:07:48.209 – 01:07:52.389] Doesn’t mean they can’t be changed, but if you’ve been to one of your A.A.

[01:07:52.389 – 01:07:57.789] business meetings if you can get three-fourths to agree on anything, you let me know.

[01:07:57.789 – 01:08:03.069] The best time to hold one and get out there in a hurry is Monday Night Football.

[01:08:03.069 – 01:08:05.169] They’ll leave quick.

[01:08:05.169 – 01:08:06.149] Yeah.

[01:08:06.149 – 01:08:15.709] And so it is probable that we A.A.s possess more and greater freedom than any fellowship in the world today.

[01:08:15.709 – 01:08:25.809] We know that we have to personally choose conformity to A.A.’s 12 Steps and 12 Traditions, or else face dissolution and death,

[01:08:25.809 – 01:08:27.929] both as individuals and as groups.

[01:08:27.929 – 01:08:37.989] Freedom under God to grow in His likeness and image will ever be the quest of Alcoholics Anonymous, and may our

[01:08:37.989 – 01:08:42.569] General Service Conference be always seen as the chief symbol of this cherished liberty.

[01:08:42.569 – 01:08:52.818] May your area committee for the area of Arkansas operate as a cher– chief symbol of this

[01:08:52.818 – 01:08:56.429] cherished liberty.

[01:08:56.429 – 01:08:59.489] May our individual A.A.

[01:08:59.489 – 01:09:05.649] groups be the chief symbol of this cherished liberty.

[01:09:05.649 – 01:09:08.409] To a member, we of A.A.

[01:09:08.409 – 01:09:17.109] believe that our freedom to serve is true to the freedom by which we live, the freedom by which we have our own very being.

[01:09:17.109 – 01:09:19.089] And I want to thank you very, very much.

[01:09:19.089 – 01:09:20.789] However…

[01:09:20.789 – 01:09:27.969] Thank you, sir.

[01:09:27.969 – 01:09:37.989] Now, we have a little time, and I want to

[01:09:37.989 – 01:09:39.288] share a couple things with you.

[01:09:39.288 – 01:09:43.429] Right.

[01:09:43.429 – 01:09:45.509] Principles before personalities.

[01:09:45.509 – 01:09:55.889] During our very early times, there was not so much virtue as necessity, for they knew that

[01:09:55.889 – 01:10:02.589] they had been and might soon again be victims of one of the most hopeless compulsions that mankind knows.

[01:10:02.589 – 01:10:05.369] The stakes were survival.

[01:10:05.369 – 01:10:13.069] The stakes were new lives that they had just ta-tasted and could they go on.

[01:10:13.069 – 01:10:23.189] In those days, things were very simple, so they attended very closely to this business of staying sober and doing what it took to stay

[01:10:23.189 – 01:10:23.589] sober.

[01:10:23.589 – 01:10:26.979] They were surrounded by suicides and failures.

[01:10:26.979 – 01:10:37.329] They shared their bread, their love, and their companionship to an extraordinary degree, considering the state of their development.

[01:10:37.329 – 01:10:39.529] Survive they must.

[01:10:39.529 – 01:10:49.789] Then we found that we were doing those things because they were right, because they ought to do them, for many of them had found in their simple

[01:10:49.789 – 01:10:51.729] principles a new way of life.

[01:10:51.729 – 01:10:57.359] What was their obligation to the millions of us yet to come?

[01:10:57.359 – 01:11:01.389] Well, this meant a new great step in responsibility.

[01:11:01.389 – 01:11:11.729] As they began to shoulder that responsibility, they came smashing into harsh contact with those elements in our former lives

[01:11:11.729 – 01:11:13.129] that had sucked us under.

[01:11:13.129 – 01:11:17.129] Our book has become a record of inspiration.

[01:11:17.129 – 01:11:27.169] Strangely enough, that volume of inspiration was created by a group of people who pretty much reverted to the cult

[01:11:27.169 – 01:11:27.989] of personality.

[01:11:27.989 – 01:11:38.189] Because the book brought up questions of money, prestige, power, and glory, so there emerged a hardcore

[01:11:38.189 – 01:11:48.209] of what I shall call a personality cu-cult, more or less headed by Bill, who got very insistent that they

[01:11:48.209 – 01:11:49.049] have this book.

[01:11:49.049 – 01:11:56.069] Then the cult of personality said, “Well, why give it to a publisher and have them control our literature?

[01:11:56.069 – 01:12:05.269] Shouldn’t their movement control its own literature?” Personalities ran ahead of principles lots of times in all of this.

[01:12:05.269 – 01:12:09.801] So then why did the project Out at the end.

[01:12:09.801 – 01:12:19.921] It panned out because as nutty and self-seeking as some of them were, and this included Bill, because he too was out of money and groceries,

[01:12:19.921 – 01:12:27.121] but the great undercurrent principle was still there and is still here today with us.

[01:12:27.121 – 01:12:35.841] This message had to be carried and still needs to be carried, and this book will be the prime agent.

[01:12:35.841 – 01:12:45.221] It is the only place in Alcoholics Anonymous where we will find the entire recovery program intact and not out of context.

[01:12:45.221 – 01:12:49.161] It had to be the prime agent.

[01:12:49.161 – 01:12:59.761] Thus, the grace of God, plus the enormous suffering they knew to be going on around them, easily overwhelmed the cult of personality.

[01:12:59.761 – 01:13:09.761] At each major turning point in our affairs, when radical decisions had to be made, then some changing of

[01:13:09.761 – 01:13:19.961] our fundamentals– not changing our fundamentals, rather, but enlarging them and increasing the chances for others to survive and walk through our ever-widening highway into

[01:13:19.961 – 01:13:20.821] a new life.

[01:13:20.821 – 01:13:23.941] Is this not the primary reason of service?

[01:13:23.941 – 01:13:28.601] And that is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

[01:13:28.601 – 01:13:38.901] So that at every single turning point, we have gone through some periods characterized with great fits of emotional intensity, and it never

[01:13:38.901 – 01:13:41.141] hurt us one darn bit.

[01:13:41.141 – 01:13:46.741] And we say on the basis of our experiences, no longer should we fear each other.

[01:13:46.741 – 01:13:53.381] Let’s reflect back to a line or two from our book of experience, our big book.

[01:13:53.381 – 01:14:01.661] Quote, “That fear, this short word, somehow touches about every aspect of our lives.

[01:14:01.661 – 01:14:04.181] It was an evil and corroding thread.

[01:14:04.181 – 01:14:08.121] The fabric of our existence was shot through with it.

[01:14:08.121 – 01:14:14.801] It set in motion trains of circumstances which brought us misfortune we felt we did not deserve.

[01:14:14.801 – 01:14:18.581] But did not we ourselves set the ball rolling?

[01:14:18.581 – 01:14:22.601] Sometimes we think fear ought to be classed with stealing.

[01:14:22.601 – 01:14:24.1000] It seems to cause more trouble.

[01:14:24.1000 – 01:14:35.001] And yet it is but a step from fear to prudence.” Yes, from fear, one of the greatest, uh, uh, uh, a

[01:14:35.001 – 01:14:43.881] step from fear to one of our greatest virtues that men and women know, prudence, the rational concern without worry.

[01:14:43.881 – 01:14:48.841] Prudence, the rational concern without worry.

[01:14:48.841 – 01:14:55.680] And today, this means to me the meaning of our priceless slogan, principles before personalities.

[01:14:55.680 – 01:15:06.180] Development and adoption of our traditions, not founded on our own good behavior, because we have to remember that we’re not brothers and sisters of virtue,

[01:15:06.181 – 01:15:08.681] but brothers and sisters of defects of character.

[01:15:08.681 – 01:15:12.161] Teaches us the same lesson.

[01:15:12.161 – 01:15:15.990] There wasn’t any wide acceptance of the traditions at first.

[01:15:15.990 – 01:15:25.861] The only justification for printing them was a few of them in the general service office knew of the terrible strife in those days among the groups.

[01:15:25.861 – 01:15:34.221] Valiant attempts were being made to maintain unity, and all this vast experience poured across our general service office desk.

[01:15:34.221 – 01:15:44.281] So the traditions were a teaching by those who behaved badly, and that was, and still is, many of us, and

[01:15:44.281 – 01:15:45.381] sometimes, that is.

[01:15:45.381 – 01:15:51.101] The traditions were hard learning based upon what not to do.

[01:15:51.101 – 01:15:53.900] Not what to do, but what not to do.

[01:15:53.900 – 01:15:57.621] From there, we could and are proceeding on what to do.

[01:15:57.621 – 01:16:00.281] Now, I ask still another question.

[01:16:00.281 – 01:16:05.461] Who regards the General Service Board as the custodians of our traditions?

[01:16:05.461 – 01:16:07.341] The fellowship, that’s who.

[01:16:07.341 – 01:16:17.561] Not our General Service Board, not of ourself, nor so far as it is within the power so to do, permit others to modify, alter, or amplify

[01:16:17.561 – 01:16:27.361] these traditions, except in keeping with the provisions of its charter, and that’s to grow and to function in experiences as custodians of our tradition.

[01:16:27.361 – 01:16:33.761] We can never rest on our laurels, thus becoming traditions expert.

[01:16:33.761 – 01:16:38.421] And I hate to use this expression, but you know what an expert is?

[01:16:38.421 – 01:16:40.961] That’s a drip under pressure.

[01:16:40.961 – 01:16:46.221] The same fears arose when the conference was suggested.

[01:16:46.221 – 01:16:48.561] Many screamed the risks were too great.

[01:16:48.561 – 01:16:54.141] Yes, that cult of personality where the professional politicians would take over.

[01:16:54.141 – 01:16:56.201] Nothing of the sort happened.

[01:16:56.201 – 01:16:58.421] Since we have…

[01:16:58.421 – 01:17:05.941] Sure, we have our egomaniacs, but we cannot withstand the tide of truth and dedication.

[01:17:05.941 – 01:17:13.701] Not a virtue of our own, but a gift of God, which suffuses our society from one end to another.

[01:17:13.701 – 01:17:19.521] So as we move into the years ahead, let us not be fearful.

[01:17:19.521 – 01:17:28.401] Let us not, in fear or utter conservatism, put absurd construction on things.

[01:17:28.401 – 01:17:38.741] Right now, we’re going through a constant and very healthy debate in AA on many issues, such as our members

[01:17:38.741 – 01:17:43.161] and drug abuse, cross-addiction, cross-infection.

[01:17:43.161 – 01:17:50.101] The need for specialized literature for homosexual lawyers.

[01:17:50.101 – 01:17:51.961] I don’t mean them in the same class.

[01:17:51.961 – 01:18:00.661] Audio-visual needs and et cetera.

[01:18:00.661 – 01:18:06.161] Or we can simply take the positions just sitting still and waiting for people to come.

[01:18:06.161 – 01:18:11.261] There are very few but important absolutes in the AA program.

[01:18:11.261 – 01:18:21.521] We strive for absolute abstinence from alcohol, absolute anonymity at the public level, and the absolute freedom

[01:18:21.521 – 01:18:27.541] for any alcoholic to become a member of AA if he or she says so.

[01:18:27.541 – 01:18:32.781] The rest are open to our individual experiences and interpretation.

[01:18:32.781 – 01:18:40.221] So let us not put the interpret– uh, interpretation of our valued slogan, principles before personalities.

[01:18:40.221 – 01:18:50.221] That would make us for one moment suppose that personality is always to be eliminated, that the more we resemble meek little ciphers,

[01:18:50.221 – 01:18:55.101] the greater the virtue, the greater the comfort, the greater the stability.

[01:18:55.101 – 01:19:05.181] No, I do not think so, because really, from the beginning to end, all of our relationships, all of our fruitful

[01:19:05.181 – 01:19:08.541] ones, are very, very personal business.

[01:19:08.541 – 01:19:18.641] For we are entitled to use all of our powers of example, personalities, and persuasions

[01:19:18.641 – 01:19:19.821] with a new prospect.

[01:19:19.821 – 01:19:28.121] We cannot do less, for it is a very highly personable business we are here, because we are the acme of meekness.

[01:19:28.121 – 01:19:34.961] We are individuals, and each of us has our own individual personality.

[01:19:34.961 – 01:19:45.261] But the difference between our personalities here in AA and in so many in the world around us is this: We

[01:19:45.261 – 01:19:55.361] are operating in a framework of principles, truthful enough under God’s grace to cause us to survive and in turn to live, to

[01:19:55.361 – 01:19:57.041] love, and to grow.

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