A Weekly 12 Concepts Study will be held at the Winston Salem Intergroup Office, 1020 Brookstown Ave, Room 11, Winston Salem, each Tuesday, 6-7 PM.
This week we will be studying Concept X, led by Lee N., Alt Chair Winston Salem Intergroup.
Concept X:
reprinted with permission AAWS
Short Form: Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
Long Form: Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority – the scope of such authority to be always well defined whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description or by appropriate charters and bylaws.
Read:
Concept X… pages 39-?? in the AA Service Manual.
Concept X:
P-8, Twelve Concepts Illustrated
Reprinted with AAWS permission
AA World Services Inc. GSO
Authority and Responsibility are well defined . . . .
Concept X
Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority — the scope of such authority to be always well defined whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description or by appropriate charters and bylaws. Our service structure cannot function effectively and harmoniously unless, at every level, each operational responsibility is matched by a corresponding authority to discharge it. This requires that authority must be delegated at every level — and that the responsibility and authority of every entity are well defined and clearly understood. As we have seen (Concept I) “final responsibility and ultimate authority” reside with the A.A. groups, and they delegate this authority to the Conference
(Concept II).
The Conference, in turn, delegates to the General Service Board the authority to manage A.A.’s affairs (Concept III) in its behalf. The board is in authority over its subsidiary operating conditions — A.A. World Services, Inc. and The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. — but it delegates to the directors of those corporations the authority necessary to run these service entities. The directors are in authority over the executives of the corporations, but delegate to these officers the authority needed to carry out their administrative responsibilities. And finally, the executives delegate to the G.S.O. and Grapevine staff members and
other employees the authority necessary to carry out their important service jobs.
A.A. Grapevine Corporate Board
General Service Conference
the Groups
Service Authority Responsibility
General Service Board
“It is perfectly clear,” says Bill, “that when delegated authority is operating well, it should not be constantly interfered with.”
Otherwise, he warns, “those charged with operating responsibly will be demoralized.” For example, the General Service Board owns the two operating corporations and its authority over them is absolute. “Nevertheless, so long as things go well, it is highly important that the trustees do not unnecessarily interfere with or usurp the operating
authority of these entities.”
“To sum up: Let us always be sure that there is an abundance of final or ultimate authority to correct or to reorganize; but let us be equally sure that all of our trusted servants have a clearly defined and adequate authority to do their daily work and to discharge their clear responsibilities.”