The San Diego 

AA COORDINATOR

“So we of A.A. do obey spiritual principles, first because we must, and ultimately because we love the kind of life such obedience brings.” -  12 and 12 page 174

September 2010

VOL. IX, NO. 9

  Tradition Nine

by Larry N.

“A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”

WE OUGHT NEVER BE ORGANIZED

No member has personal authority over any other member in our fellowship. There are service positions and tasks to be done. Each member doing this work is lovingly spoken of as a trusted servant. There are leaders in A.A. In a 1947 Grapevine article, Bill wrote, “...we alcoholics can be led, we can be inspired; coming into A.A. We can and gladly do, yield to the will of God. Hence it is not strange that the only real authority to be found in A.A. is that of spiritual principle.” It is never personal authority. Further on he wrote, “in my own turn, too, I have tried a hand at governing A.A. Each time I have strenuously tried it, I have been shouted down; so loudly, in fact that on several occasions it looked as though I was due for a swift and certain excommunication!” (Language of the Heart, page 40)

Most groups have business or steering committee meetings to handle problems as they arise. At my home group we call this our group conscience meeting. All group members are welcome, everyone can speak and all may vote. We hear trusted servant reports and handle a myriad of other tasks. During my sobriety the group has gone from all matters being decided during the group meeting to having a separate steering committee meeting, and for the last years, a group conscience meeting. At these meetings our chairperson knows the absolute importance of each person having the opportunity to share, the minority opinion and the neutrality of the chair. How each group works is truly up to them. No two groups are quite alike and each is free to be themselves, individuals included. Some groups are large and others small, but when it comes to power we are all the same. Each group is autonomous, has no authority over another group or individual A.A. Member and has one vote at our area assembly and Intergroup meeting.

WE MAY CREATE SERVICE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THOSE THEY SERVE

One member of our group carries the message to the George Bailey Detention Center. Others have served on the After-hours Phone Committee, the Coordinator newsletter, the Public Information Committee, one chaired the CPC Committee and another secretary of the Area Assembly. I have friends who served on the committee that reviewed the hundreds of stories submitted for the 4th edition “Big Book.” Could any of this work have been done and sustained by only my home group or yours? I don't believe so.

 

AA Birthdays

Many A.A. Members celebrate their birthday

by sending a donation of one or two dollars for each year of sobriety to Central Office. 

If you would like to carry on this tradition, please fill out the form provided in this column.

 
All of our committees: District, Area Assembly, Hospitals and Institutions, Intergroups and Central offices, General Service Office and the Grapevine serve us and our fellowship and are responsible to us. We can follow the health of our Intergroup finances and check things out locally by listening to our group representative's report. The work of our General Service Conference, Grapevine and General Service Office is described in the Annual Conference Report and is reported on by our delegate around the city and county. All are responsible to A.A.'s ultimate authority, the A.A. group.

Sobriety and A.A. have blessed me with many opportunities to serve my home group, the area, the conference and the Board of Trustees. I have felt trusted and loved. The source of strength for service is always the A.A. group. Whether strength comes from the group's courage to ask for change, the minority opinion persistently spoken, or through faith and “loving” discussion, the group conscience find its way, a loving God speaks and the work gets done.

In the 3rd Concept of our Service Manual Bill W. wrote, “Our entire A.A. program rests equally upon the principle of mutual trust. We trust God, we trust A.A., and we trust each other. Therefore we cannot do less than trust our leaders in service.” Page 567 of the “Big Book” talks  about our representatives, “They derive no real authority from their titles; they do not govern. Universal respect is the key to their usefulness.”

Each night Gail and I pray for all those who made it possible for A.A. to be here for us and for A.A.'s growth and effectiveness at home and around the world. May the Grace of God continue us all along the path of Love and Service, one day at a time and forever.