Motion F01.2   District 8 proposes that the GSR's be able to vote at Area 92 Quarterlies. – Moved by District 8 & Seconded by District 10 in the April 2001 Quarterly

Rationale    The Right or Participation is outlined in Concept IV by our Co-Founder Bill W (Page 21 in the Service Manual). This would encourage GSR's to attend the Area Quarterlies. In the A.A. pamphlet "GSR, the Most Important Job in A.A." there are 2 points to support this, under General Services. Point 1: GSR's don't just sit back and let their DCM's do all the work; they stay very much in action in all 93 Areas in the U.S. and Canada. Point 2: GSR's attend area assemblies 4 times a year, known as Quarterlies in our Area 92.

Background   

Concept IV: Throughout our Conference Structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional "Right of Participation," taking care that each classification or group of our world trusted servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each much discharge.

Page 21 in the Service Manual:

There is another good reason for "participation" and this one has to do with our spiritual needs. All of us deeply desire to belong. We want an A.A. relation of brotherly partnership. It is our shining ideal that the "spiritual corporation" of A.A. should never include any members who are regarded as 'second class.' Deep down, I think this is what we have been struggling to achieve in our world service structure. Here is perhaps the principal reason why we should continue to ensure 'participation' at every important level. Just as there are no second-class A.A.'s, neither should there be any second-class world service workers, either.

The "Right of Participation" is therefore a corrective of ultimate authority because it mitigates its harshness or misuse. It also encourages us who serve A.A. to accept the necessary disciplines that our several tasks require. We can do this when we are sure that we belong, when the fact of our "participation" assures us that we are the "trusted servants" described in A.A.'s Tradition Two.

Concept IX: Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are at all levels indispensable for our future functioning and safety. The primary world service leadership once exercised by the founders of A.A. must necessarily be assumed by the Trustees of the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Page 36 in the Service Manual:

First, let's remember that the base for our service structure rests on the dedication and ability of several thousand General Service Representatives (G.S.R.'s), several hundred area Committee Members, and nearly a hundred Delegates. These are the direct agents of the A.A. groups; these are the indispensable linkage between our Fellowship and its world service; these are the primary representatives of A.A.'s group conscience. Without their support and activity we could not operate permanently at all.

Area 92 was formed using the basic structure carried forward from Area 72 (Motion 95.1). The current structure is one where DCMs are responsible to carry their district conscience to Area quarterlies and to carry information back to their district GSRs. The Area quarterly function is one of sharing information and communication within the Area and to set the assembly agenda. Part of the quarterly functions of the DCMs and Area officers/committee chairs is to ensure that motions presented for the assembly agenda are clear in their intent. Groups send their GSRs to the area assembly to decide whether motions are for the good of A.A. in the Area 92 or A.A. as a whole. (The message to the District Committee Member at the front of the Area 92 Handbook describes this structure in greater detail.)

If Passed   GSRs who may be in attendance at an area quarterly would be given both the right and the responsibility to perform the same role as DCMs and Area officers/committee chairs. This would change our basic structure at these gatherings.

If Not Passed   The current structure of Area 92 will continue to be used.

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