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Concept XII

THE WARRANTIES

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Concept XII – The Warranties

General Warranties of the Conference: in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition, taking great care that the conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference Members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Conference may act for the service of Alcoholics Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the Society of Alcoholics Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.

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Original Conference Charter

Appendix K – Conference Charter

The Conference Charter (1955) was written before the Concepts were (1962).
Original Charter did not allow for the Conference changing Article 12 of the Conference Charter
Article 12 is now embodied in the Six Warranties of Concept XII.
The Steps and Traditions were added later to this distinction.
The Concepts were not written for use in any other portion of AA except the business of the General Service Board, AAWS, AAGV, and Conference.

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Article 12

Amending the Warranties

Concept XII consists of Article 12 of the Conference Charter.
Our Conference Charter is an informal agreement between the A.A. groups and our Trustees on how the General Service Conference operates.
Any amendment of the Warranties would require the written consent of three-quarters of all the directory-listed A.A. groups who would actually vote on any proposal to amend.

Concept XII consists of Article 12 of the Conference Charter. Our Conference Charter is basically of an informal agreement between the A.A. groups and our Trustees made in 1955 on how the General Service Conference operates.

The first eleven Articles of the Charter are easily amendable by the Conference at any time.
However, an amendment or a cancellation or any of the Warranties of Article 12 would require the written consent of three-quarters of all the directory-listed A.A. groups who would actually vote on any proposal to amend.
At least six months must be allowed for careful deliberation.
So we see that this Concept, Article 12 of the Charter, stands in a class by itself. Not impossible, by very difficult.

Who thinks our twelve Traditions are important to the continuation and health of AA as a whole?

Concept XII is ranked just as high in importance to our AA World Services as our twelve Traditions are to our Fellowship.
“The Warranties of Article 12 are a series of solemn undertakings which guarantee that the Conference itself will conform to A.A.’s Twelve Traditions.” Pretty important.

PRUDENCE: All the Warranties indicate the qualities of prudence and spirituality, which our General Service Conference should always possess.

If we accept the principles embodied in our Warranties, then they are really the permanent bonds that bind the Conference to the AA movement as a whole,
…[and] the Conference serves [the AA Fellowship].

Have you ever stood up for the Traditions of AA in a group discussion?

Sometimes that isn’t easy, but it is necessary… because “the Traditions express the principles and attitudes of prudence that make for harmony.”

Bill W. goes on to say in the Concept XII essay (p61) that: “Of all bodies and groups in Alcoholics Anonymous, the Conference should above all feel bound by the A.A. Tradition.

Indeed the Conference is named “the guardian of the Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.””

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Warranty 1 ��THE CONFERENCE SHALL NEVER BECOME �THE SEAT OF PERILOUS WEALTH OR POWER.

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WARRANTY ONE – ��THE CONFERENCE SHALL NEVER BECOME THE SEAT OF PERILOUS WEALTH OR POWER.

We shall not become wealthy
Groups are hesitant to send too much money – how do we communicate the need
Cannot accept outside contributions
Rotation, voting participation and charters stave off too much authority
The delegates and groups control the funding
The needed power is spiritual power – it is how our conference functions best.

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Warranty 1 – No Ivory Towers

In all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition, taking great care that the conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power…
“Perilous seat of wealth and power” sounds like a palace or ivory tower.
We don’t have a castle, an ivory tower, or permanent residents.
We have people who, because of their title, are responsible to attend the Conference for two, six, or possibly more years.
But it is not a permanent title.

In all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition, taking great care that the conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power…
“Perilous seat of wealth and power” sounds like a palace or ivory tower.

The conference is not some mountain top experience.
Delegates are there to do the business of AA.

We don’t have a castle, an ivory tower, or permanent residents.
We’re not like Game of Thrones, continually trying to kill off the competition to become King or Queen!
We have people who, because of their title, get to attend the Conference for two, six, or possibly more years.
But it is not a permanent title. WE OBSERVE THE PRINCIPLE OF ROTATION.

What protects us from too much authority?

Rotation, voting participation, and the Conference Charter protect us from the results of too much authority.
Even if there was an apparent dictator in the Conference or at the GSO, the is no way for that person get any control over our money.
Our Delegates, directly representing the groups, can control the ultimate supply of service funds.
Ultimately, the Conference structure is self-correcting.

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Warranty 1 – NOT the Seat of Perilous Wealth or Power

The Conference and the structure are supposed to do for the groups what the groups CANNOT do.
It is not supposed to do what the groups CAN do.

Work with alcoholics coming off the streets
Send their delegate to the Conference to carry the voice of the group.

Must make sure that what we put in the 7^th tradition basket goes for the good of AA.

Group and individual contributions may slow down, especially in tough economic times
But we must avoid the temptation of taking money from outside of AA.

Biggest challenge is how to inform AA groups of the true financial needs of AA world services.

The Conference and the structure are supposed to do for the groups what the groups CANNOT do.

It is not supposed to do what the groups CAN do.
Groups work with alcoholics coming off the streets.
Groups are on the front lines of the WAR on alcoholism.
Nobody has more experience of the front line or the war than the groups
They don’t need some Conference telling them what to do.
It’s the opposite; the groups are supposed to send their delegate to the Conference to carry the voice of the group.

Must make sure that whatever we put in the 7^th tradition basket goes for the good of AA.

Since alcoholics who have money in their pockets like to spend it…
…it is very unlikely that we’ll have a perilous abundance of money through group or individual contributions, especially in tough economic times.
This could lead to a significant temptation that we need to avoid - taking money from outside of AA.
“So long as our General Service Board refuses to take outside contributions and holds each individual’s gift to A.A.’s world services at a modest figure, we may be sure that we shall not become wealthy in any perilous sense. “

The Conference limits the amount that any one individual can contribute per year and in their will.
It’s unlikely that we’ll ever see a great excess of group contributions over legitimate operating expenses.

Maybe The biggest challenge of the Conference, the GSB and AAWS is the ability to inform the A.A. groups on what the financial needs of AA world services actually are.

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Warranty 1 – �Needs at Every Level of AA Service

We need money at the group and district levels

Rent / Insurance
A.A. literature
Attendance at the assembly
Optionally, coffee, cookies, chips, et al.

We need authority at each level - delegated authority
Similarly, the operation of our Conference structure requires some money and delegated authority

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Warranty 2 -�SUFFICIENT OPERATING FUNDS, PLUS AN AMPLE RESERVE, SHOULD BE ITS PRUDENT FINANCIAL PRINCIPLE.

A clearly communicated need will influence contributions
The service overhead costs are low compared to the reach of the fellowship^*
Ample reserve fund – 12 months operating expense^**
We fund operations and the reserve fund with group contributions and profits from literature sales

*In 2020, one worker to every 17,000 members

**Set by the 1977 General Service Conference

A clearly communicated need will influence contributions
The service overhead costs to communicate are low compared to the reach of the fellowship
Ample reserve fund – 12 months operating expense*

The GSB has a general guideline of maintaining 9 – 12 months prudent reserve.
At the end of every year after expenses are paid, if there is money left over from AAWS or AAGV, it is transferred to the reserve fund. It is a trustee bank account, not in the operating fund. There is a description of the reserve fund in the Service Manual. (Chapter 9, The Board’s Operating Corporations, page 64)
The most GSB is allowed to keep is 12 months. Figure out the monthly cost and then multiply by 12 and it can’t go higher.

We fund operations and the reserve fund with group contributions and profits from our literature sales

*The 1977 Conference Advisory Action reads:

A prudent reserve be established EQUAL to the preceding year’s operating expense of the combined expenses of the General

Service Board of A.A., A.A. World Services, Inc., and The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (with the exception of extraordinary

expenses); and that the auditing firm be requested to review and comment annually on the availability, feasibility, and adequacy

of this reserve.

The 1987 Conference modified the policy

“It was recommended that a prudent reserve be established not to exceed to the preceding year’s operating expense of the combined expenses of the General Service Board of A.A., A.A.

World Services, Inc., and the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. (with the exception of extraordinary expenses); and that the auditing firm be requested to review and comment annually on

the availability, feasibility, and adequacy of this reserve.

And that a lower limit to the fund not be provided, inasmuch as the auditor is required to comment on the adequacy of the fund.

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Warranty 2 - Non-Profit Business

PRUDENT FINANCIAL POLICY

People get confused about what a nonprofit is.
It’s an extension of Concept 6, which in effect says we need to meet our business expenses to carry out our purpose.
Whether you go by spiritual or legal definition, a nonprofit doesn’t mean to lose money. It means that no individual shareholder can receive a dividend. The money stays in the organization.
What dictates our prudent financial policy is a belief in corporate poverty.

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Warranty 2 - Money

Spending Basket Money

Alcoholics love to spend OTHER PEOPLE’S money – a lot!
When we talk about 7^th tradition… putting money in the basket.
Here we are talking about when money is taken out of the basket.
If you are on a committee, district, or AAWS board…you’re taking money out of the basket.

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Warranty 2 - Money

Prudent Reserve Guideline

This Warranty is about the responsibility of spending AA money and how principled we should be when we do that.
Sometimes people don’t realize how hard it is to get $1 to GSO.

The group first pays expenses out of the basket.
Then the group divides what’s leftover to distribute .

It takes maybe $2M of basket money for $300K to make it to the GSB.
So, when we vote to spend money, it should be for something we really need.

This Warranty is about the responsibility of spending AA money and how principled we should be when we do that.
Sometimes people don’t realize how hard it is to get $1 to GSB.

Group pays expenses out of the basket. Maybe pays for the GSR to go to Area. Buys a cake for anniversary.

Then very little money left over. And then you divide it up… only a small portion goes to GSB.

It takes maybe $2M of basket money for $300K to make it to the GSB. (About 15%)
So, when we vote to spend money, it should be for something we really need.
Without funds, we couldn’t meet our legal corporate obligations and would lose our ability to operate to make twelfth-step work possible in the U.S. and Canada.

SKIP below on shorter presentations

Our Conference, GSB, corporate boards, and two corporations (GSO, AAGV) operate to make our twelfth-step work possible. Of course, all these entities must continue to be prudent with our funds. Without the operating and reserve funds, we would be unable to carry out a plethora of services to our Fellowship, both in the U.S. and Canada, and around the world.
Many countries depend on AA in U.S. and Canada for sharing experience in GSO and Conference structure, enabling literature translations, hosting world service meetings, and generally being the primary example of how a General Service Conference structure is developed.
We are the leader in many hard lessons learned for the world.
Without funds, we could not meet our legal corporate obligations and would lose our ability to operate to make twelfth-step work in the U.S. and Canada possible.

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Warranty 2 – Prudent Reserve

The most General Service Board is allowed to keep for any length of time is 12 months.
If the upper limit is exceeded for longer than 1 year, the trustees have to come up with a plan to reduce it.
Around 2000 – 2001 , the prudent reserve stayed at about 14 months for over a year.
AAWS budgeted to lose money in 2001-2002. They lost several hundred thousand dollars each year. It was still high.
So, when the 4^th edition of Big Book came out in 2002, it was priced $1 less than the 3^rd edition.

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Warranty 2 - Expenses

A $13M budget looks like a lot of money
But we have 80 or so employees, with families, with health insurance
We have monthly rent and other office expenses.
We have a retirement fund.
Our 8^th tradition says our special workers should be “well-recompensed”.

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Warranty 2 - Literature Profit

Literature profits – the money left over after paying for the expense of producing literature.
Some groups participate in contributions to the GSB only by purchasing literature.
It is NOT a good thing to become too dependent on literature sales.
Our main dependency should be on group and individual contributions.

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Warranty 3��NONE OF THE CONFERENCE MEMBERS SHALL EVER BE PLACED IN A POSITION OF UNQUALIFIED AUTHORITY OVER ANY OF THE OTHERS.

Valuable principle resulting in harmony of the Conference
Warranty Three is “right of participation” as in Concept IV and “right of appeal and petition” as in Concept V
Article 12 (Concept XII) is viewed as “The AA Service Bill of Rights”
Provides a “deep and loving respect for the spiritual liberties of our fellows”

Valuable principle resulting in harmony of the Conference
Warranty Three is “right of participation” as in Concept IV, “right of appeal and petition” as in Concept V

Why do paid workers have a vote in the Conference? Conference decisions directly affect their jobs, their activities in service to the Fellowship as a whole.

Concept IV , “The Right of Participation,” emphasizes that our world servants, both as individuals and as groups, are entitled to voting rights in reasonable proportion to their responsibilities. And because this right of participation is so important, it is the subject of this Warranty, thus insuring that Conference action alone can never overturn or amend this right. (Remember that it would take ¾ of the groups responding to change a Warranty.)

Article 12 of the Conference Charter is viewed as “The AA Service Bill of Rights”
Provides a “deep and loving respect for the spiritual liberties of our fellows”

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Warranty 3 - No Unqualified Authority

21 Trustees, 93 Area Delegates, 6 Directors, 15 AAWS and AAGV Staff
None of those 135 should be placed in unqualified authority over another.
Bylaws of GSB explains that every member of the Conference is a delegate, each having one vote.^*
Prior to Conference – the Staff basically decides what goes in the background for the Conference.

What if certain Staff members putting it together have a strong opinion about an item?
This is a place open to the possibility of unqualified authority.

Area Delegates

Trustees

NT Directors

Staff

^*The General Service Board ByLaws are in Appendix O, page 129 of the AA Service Manual.

21 Trustees, 93 Area Delegates, 6 Directors, 15 AAWS and AAGV Staff
None of those 135 should be placed in unqualified authority over another.
Before Conference – the Staff basically decides what goes in the background for the Conference.
Could that skew the process if certain Staff members put it together and have a certain strong opinion about an item? This is definitely a place you could see unqualified authority.
At the conference itself – Bylaws of GSB says that every voting member of the conference is a delegate. Each has one vote.

The Chairman of our board of trustees, the GM of the GSO, each area’s delegate, each corporate board’s chairman and directors, each board Trustee, and each Service Staff member all have an equal voice and vote in the annual GSC.

Page C53: .”…this Warranty against absolute authority is far more general and sweeping in its nature than a guarantee of voting participation. It really means that we of A.A. will not tolerate

absolute human authority in any form.”

It creates a means of self-correcting any propensity to exhibit or allow any type of unqualified authority.

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Warranty 4– Substantial Unanimity

… in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition …that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, substantial unanimity.
Refer to the AA Group pamphlet, the section on informed group conscience.
Discussion is SO important! Let people form their own judgement and have their own experience.
Groups make better decisions than Individuals.

Warranty 4

… in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition …that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and whenever possible, substantial unanimity.

You can refer to the AA Group pamphlet. In the section on informed group conscience, there is some good information on this.

Make people aware of our great literature – books and pamphlets.

We do not want to create micromanaging control freaks – we want to give them tools to create their own experience.

That word “discussion” is important to let people find their own experience.

While I might disagree with you, I should never infer that you don’t have the right to form your own opinion.

You may observe discussions about AA topics at groups, district, areas, GSC, GSB where sometimes the newcomer may know better than the older-timer.

Sometimes vice versa.

But the group always knows better that either.

Remember, AA is self correcting.

We have to right to change our minds from one year to the next.

No conference action is binding on a future conference.

Same holds true for group decisions.

However, we don’t stack the vote!

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Warranty 4 - Healthy Debate and Transparency

NEVER hide information so that others have no chance to know about it or speak to it.
98% of the discussions on the GSB are things that every AA member would have the right to discuss and have an opinion about.
Only Privileged discussions cannot be shared (e.g., human resources or legal)
We should be effective communicators at every level of service.

If I know that someone in the room has an opposite view of a topic than I do, I have the obligation to speak to the topic

not criticize someone else’s point of view

Not deny those with opposite views a chance to speak their mind

NEVER hide information about the topic so that others have no chance to know about it or speak to it.

Does somebody think that what we are talking about is secret and confidential, and should be hidden from others in AA?

98% of the discussions on the GSB are things that every AA member would have the right to discuss and have an opinion about. (Per a Trustee who took copious notes).

Privileged discussions would be regarding human resource matters / employees or legal discussions with attorneys while in a lawsuit.

If someone tells you that you don’t have a right to discuss a topic that is a good sign that somebody doesn’t want to discuss something uncomfortable.

We should be effective communicators at every level of service.

AA doesn’t operate by the rule of ‘senior person decides’.

The more we of AA discuss things, the better it works out.

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Ample Discussion

AA doesn’t operate by the rule of ‘senior person decides’.
The more we of AA discuss things, the better it works out.
Too often we want to get to a vote quickly.
We should be willing to discuss it as long as one person feels we need to discuss it.
Calling the Question is prevalent at Area assemblies and the GSC.

Can be a dangerous motion .
Occasionally needed, but to be used with respect for others.
If you speak at the mic and there are people behind you, it is improper to call the question.

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Warranty 4 - How Much Discussion is Enough?

When you are dead set on a particular opinion on a topic is when you most need to listen to the full discussion.
Most issues at the GSC have been resolved with close to unanimous. That can be a sign that a particular item has been thoroughly discussed.
When a vote is dead set at 50/50, that can be a sign that a particular item needs additional input and discussion.

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Warranty 4 - Substantial Unanimity

We believe that God’s will is expressed through the group conscience.
We pass resolutions frequently by substantial unanimity (i.e., two-thirds in favor)
Each Area Assembly is autonomous to use majority or substantial unanimity however they wish.
Looking at a Conference of about 134 members, 90 votes are needed to achieve at least 2/3.
We do not round down in voting. 134 x .666 is 89.244. 89 votes is less than 2/3 of 134.
An easy way to know if 2/3 is achieved is to see if the number in favor is twice the amount as the number against.

For example: 89 in favor and 45 against (2 x 45 = 90). NOT enough for 2/3.

Most Advisory Actions tell us what to do; very few tell us what NOT to do.
We try to stay away from negative motions.

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Warranty 4 - Minority Opinion

We have what is termed ‘minority opinion’ in AA.
Note that the ‘minority’ can sometimes be the majority of the body. ??!!
Because we use substantial unanimity can mean a vote of 75 – 60 leaves the 75 in the minority.
Use ‘prevailing’ or ‘non-prevailing’ to be clear.
In the example, 75 people are in the non-prevailing side.
Any motion to reconsider has to be made by the prevailing side (in this case, one of the 60).
If the motion to reconsider passes, discussion is reopened.

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Warranty 4 - Appeals

If someone felt the body made a grave mistake – GRAVE mistake – the individual can write what we call a letter of appeal.
There is no written playbook for making an appeal. Every time we try to create one, it is a mess.

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Warranty 5 – Never Punitive

…in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition …that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy.
‘Compensatory Damages’

Say you’re in a car wreck and sue the other driver. You may be compensated for being wronged and/or injured.
What if the person that hit you was doing 150 mph, drag racing? Not a normal situation. Behavior was way over the line.
You may then be entitled to Punitive Damages because of the extraordinary situation, well outside of normal. Extra punishment on top of the compensatory.
So ‘punitive’ is severe punishment, not just punishment.

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Warranty 5 – Prosecution

Big Book section on amends says that some things you have done may require that you go to jail.
There is NOT an asterisk in the Service Manual that says… “You may have to go to jail UNLESS you steal money from Alcoholics Anonymous. Then there is no jail time and no amends required.”
The group conscience decides how they deal with the theft. Prosecuting the thief is not personally punitive.
In some places, non-profits are required to report theft to the state.
If you are a district, area, intergroup, etc. that is incorporated, DON’T PUT THE NAME ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN THE NAME.

Big Book section on amends. Some things you have done may require that you go to jail.

But you are willing to go to any lengths if you are committed to recovering through this spiritual process of the Steps.

There is NOT an asterisk in the Service Manual that says… “You may have to go to jail UNLESS you steal money from Alcoholics Anonymous. Then there is no jail time and no amends required.”

Many groups, districts, and areas have had money stolen from them. The group conscience of each decides how they deal with the theft, including whether they decide to prosecute. That is not personally punitive.

SKIP examples in shorter presentation

In South Africa a member of the board of trustees went to prison for stealing from AA.

In a NE Region Area an Area Treasurer was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Many Areas are non-profit organizations. In some places, NP organizations are required to report theft to the state.

Tip: if you are a district, area, intergroup, central office,etc. that is incorporated, DON’T PUT THE NAME ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN THE NAME.

If there is a case of theft that must be reported, and is perhaps prosecuted, then the name Alcoholics Anonymous will not be publicly displayed in conjunction with the theft / prosecution if it is not in the legal name of the organization.

In the Guidelines (Finance or Club Guidelines) it suggests you do not put the name Alcoholics Anonymous in the legal name.

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Warranty 5 – Never Punitive but Hold Accountable

The Inactive General Service Representative is addressed in the AA Service Manual.
It does NOT say continue to let the person do the job and thereby punish the group!
What if an Area Officer does nothing for three Area Assemblies and reports that they have done nothing?

You suggest that the officer step down.
A portion of the members will say that you’re being unfair to the officer and will cause them to drink by asking them to step down.

If you’re an Area Officer and you’ve done more than the last four officers put together, you’ll have a line at the mic complaining about all the work you’ve done!

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Warranty 5 – Removing an Officer

What if you do have to vote remove an Area Officer?

You’ve done everything possible to respectfully get the officer to do their job.
If the Area votes to remove the person, that IS NOT PERSONALLY PUNITIVE.

What IS PERSONALLY PUNITIVE is if you write a story about removing the officer on the front page of your newsletter and send it out to everyone on the email list.
Simply doing the right thing for AA is not punitive.

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Warranty 5 – Never Punitive

We have to think about the word punitive and who is being punished.
The Delegate for an Area in a U.S. Region announced at an assembly that the current Area Chair, when previously the Treasurer, had ‘borrowed’ funds from the Area Treasury.

Further, the then-Treasurer had changed the mailing address for the bank statements to their personal home address to hide them from others.
The officers at that time had a secret meeting at a restaurant to discuss the situation and decided not to tell the Area members about it.
The then-Treasurer was paying back the borrowed funds.
The officers claim that they didn’t want to be personally punitive to the then-Treasurer.

When members spoke at the mic after the revelation, they spoke of forgiving the Area Chair (previous Treasurer).
But they were not forgiving of the panel of officers who chose to punish the Area groups by choosing to rob them of transparent information.

Many of them said THOSE officers should resign.
How could they not report to those they were responsible to?

SKIP FOR SHORTER PRESENTATIONS – REWORK THIS SLIDE

We have to think about the word punitive and who is being punished.

The Delegate for an Area in a U.S. Region announced at an assembly that the current Area Chair, when previously the Treasurer, had ‘borrowed’ funds from the Area Treasury.

Further, the then-Treasurer had changed the mailing address for the bank statements to their personal home address to hide them from others.

The officers at that time had a secret meeting at a restaurant to discuss the situation and decided not to tell the Area members about it.

The then-Treasurer was paying back the borrowed funds.

The officers claim that they didn’t want to be personally punitive to the then-Treasurer.

When members spoke at the mic after the revelation, they spoke of forgiving the Area Chair (previous Treasurer).

But they were not forgiving of the panel of officers who chose to punish the Area groups by choosing to rob them of transparent information.

Many of them said THOSE officers should resign.

How could they not report to those they were responsible to?

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Warranty 5 – �Never Punitive (Censuring)

How can something that Bill W put in the service manual to hold AA in check and balance be punitive?
If I don’t like something the Board has done, if I want to write a censure motion, I can say I think the Board made a big mistake, and therefore want the Conference to censure the Board.

What I shouldn’t do is write a motion to censure and in the middle of it punish someone or multiple people.
I should not take advantage of the censure motion to throw everything in there that the Board has ever done wrong in my opinion.
Nor should I take it as an opportunity to personally vilify or attack someone.

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Warranty 5 – No Incitement to Public Controversy

Bill W talks about litigation, especially if we are the plaintiff (i.e., we start the litigation).
We have to be very wary of anything the Conference or GSB could do to incite public controversy.
What if we gave a public statement about how we feel about binge drinking or drunk driving?
Public contention in AA damages AA unity and world-wide good will toward AA.
Consider the controversy surrounding the litigation for the original manuscript of the Big Book.

Bill W talks about litigation, especially if we are the plaintiff (i.e., we start the litigation).

We have to be very wary of anything the Conference or GSB could do to incite public controversy.

What if we gave a public statement about how we feel about binge drinking?

… or about drunk driving?

Public contention in AA damages AA unity and world-wide good will toward AA.

Page C56 “All parties can remember that unfavorable criticism or ridicule which might ensue from such conflicts can so reflect upon A.A. as to keep new prospects from joining up.”

Consider the controversy surrounding the litigation for the original manuscript of the Big Book.

Page C54 of this Warranty:

“Nothing could be more damaging to our unity and to the world-wide good will which A.A. enjoys, than public contention, no

matter how promising the immediate dividends might appear.”

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Warranty 6 – No Acts of Government

… in all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the A.A. Tradition …that it never perform acts of government; that, like the Society it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action.
Not just thought… also in action.
Meaning our three legacy process.^*
Meaning by discussion, vote, and wherever possible by substantial unanimity.

^*Appendix G, pages 110-111

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Warranty 6 – �No Acts of Government

Let’s say you have sent in a form to start a new meeting.

You DON’T get a guideline saying that your meeting must have proper lighting in the parking lot…
… or that your new meeting must only have 10 steps going down into the basement.
(Government does a good job of that with ADA.)

The Safety card tells groups to embrace responsibility.
There is a 30-day waiting period before the new group gets a GSO listing number.
We say if you’re two or three alcoholics together for the purpose of sobriety YOU may call yourselves a group.

F-119 Contents of Group Handbook (aa.org)

Let’s say you have sent in a form to start a new meeting.
You DON’T get a guideline saying that your meeting must have proper lighting in the parking lot…
… or that your new meeting must only have 10 steps going down into the basement or up to the second floor. (Government does a good job of that with ADA.)
The Safety card tells groups to embrace responsibility.
There is a 30-day waiting period before the new group gets a GSO listing number.

That is to allow the Area Registrar and DCM to know about the group.
We do not have an AA council for AA purification.
We don’t send an investigation committee to your group to decide if it’s a good AA group.
An ACTIVE DCM may come to your group to introduce theirself and offer info on the District and encourage you to elect a GSR.
They may offer information on the New Group Handbook (Available online at F-119 Contents of Group Handbook (aa.org))

We say if you’re two or three alcoholics together for the purpose of sobriety YOU may call yourselves a group.

We don’t call you anything; YOU determine if you’re an AA group. And you decide you want to communicate with the GSO.
It is hard for us to understand, but an AA group can basically do whatever it wants.
We don’t have acts of government.

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Warranty 6 – �No Acts of Government

We are not in the business of certifying or giving seals-of-approval to groups.

We believe in the spiritual principle of the Traditions that people vote with their feet. If it’s not really AA then eventually it will cease.
We don’t start creating investigation committees, or purification committees.
We may not like a particular meeting, but we don’t take any governmental action.

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Warranty 6 – �No Acts of Government

Essay on the 9^th Tradition about a group’s rights (original essay in the Language of the Heart).

With respect to its own affairs, the group may make any decisions, adopt any attitudes that it likes. No overall or intergroup authority should challenge this primary privilege. We feel this ought to be so, even though the group might sometimes act with complete indifference to our Tradition. For example, an AA group could, if it wished, hire a paid preacher and support him out of the proceeds of a group nightclub. Though such an absurd procedure would be miles outside our Tradition, the group's “right to be wrong” would be held inviolate.

Wilson, Bill. The Language Of The Heart - Bill W.'s Grapevine Writings . AA Grapevine, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Essay on the 9^th Tradition about a group’s rights (original essay in the Language of the Heart).

With respect to its own affairs, the group may make any decisions, adopt any attitudes that it likes. No overall or intergroup authority should challenge this primary privilege. We feel this ought to be so, even though the group might sometimes act with complete indifference to our Tradition. For example, an AA group could, if it wished, hire a paid preacher and support him out of the proceeds of a group nightclub. Though such an absurd procedure would be miles outside our Tradition, the group's “right to be wrong” would be held inviolate.

Wilson, Bill. The Language Of The Heart - Bill W.'s Grapevine Writings . AA Grapevine, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

What it doesn’t say is that their right to be wrong makes them right.

That right is more important than my right to be right.

It doesn’t excuse their refusal to follow the Traditions.

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THE END��Want a copy?�Kathy G. �941-228-9576�1piggy2love@gmail.com