Read my page about why the service structure is guaranteed to fail. I am going to run through the Concepts and show you how they are simply the Traditions at the World Level if it could actually work, which it cannot, under Natural Law. My sponsor thinks that it is a “perfect” structure – I don’t see it from his point of view because – we are imperfect and therefore, if we violate it goes to shit – which it has…completely. Unretrieveably at this point. No one in the AA World Service uses our principles anymore. So – it’s not AA.
Concept 7:
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 AA purse for final effectiveness.
We are not following the Charter and Bylaws. We have thrown all tradition and The Traditions (what we used to do and what we say we do) out the window in favor of personalities and opinions. This Concept presumes that the Trustees will place principles before personalities. Since there are non-alcoholic Trustees on the board – who know nothing of our principles – why would they? They are successful at living, running their lives on self-will – and they think AA should be making money. They convince the alcoholic trustees, who are not that well-aquainted with our principles to be swayed by them. The alcoholic trustees are just US – after all – maybe the one’s of us who are more into being in power – so more full of ourselves than non-alcoholic trustees. Have a gander – go to a forum and meet your regional Trustee – and see what they think about the “principles” of AA. Chances are you will be shocked, if you have done your homework, at how little they know.
AAWS depends on Book Sales for it’s funding. Therefore the “power of the purse” is ineffective. If AAWS was dependent on contributions (voluntary contributions of it’s own members) then the AA purse would be effective. That means that the voice of the Fellowship would have an effect on what goes on – because we could back up what we say by withholding or giving our blessing through funds – but since the “Reserve Fund” from book sales was created, now AAWS depends on book sales – violating the 7th Tradition – and it does not matter what the Fellowship thinks.
Sad but true.
This Concept is all theoretical and might have worked back when Society was more principled but that was not even true – because you can see what we have been up to all this time here at GSOwatch.org and this site doesn’t include the more recent antics with signing up on Amazon, the Manuscript Scandal or the Safety Card.
Many past delegates that I know have considered telling NY State Attorney General’s Office that we are not following the Bylaws but that would insight public controversy so they have abstained.
Here is a an interesting read regarding the Conference Charter http://gsowatch.aamo.info/4p/4points2.pdf
Look at your AA Service Manual – Appendix E: “However, because these Twelve Steps have proven to constitute an effective spiritual basis for life which, if followed, arrests the disease of alcoholism, the General Service Board asserts the negative right of preventing, so far as it may be within its power to do so, any modification, alteration, or extension of these Twelve Steps as they are applied to the Fellowship, except at the insistence of the Fellowship. The General Service Board shall put forth its best efforts within the context of the Conference, articles of incorporation, and these bylaws to protect the Twelve Steps. The General Service Board in its deliberations and decisions shall be guided by the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous (the ‘Traditions’), which are as follows:”
Everytime we create a book or a pamphlet – such as Living Sober, or The God Word – we modify, alter or extend the view of the newcomer of the 12 steps…
I will go into this more in Concept 12 – but since they bring it up here – General Warrantees of the Conference (Charter) is Concept 12. But they are saying that this is not a legal document, but a legal instrument and that is substantiated by the tradition and The Traditions – not anymore, however. It has been disregarded –
Anonymous Alcoholics 