CONDUCT AT AA BUSINESS MEETINGS

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CONDUCT AT AA BUSINESS MEETINGS

In the minutes of the General Sharing Session it is stated that,
"Petty bickering or large infighting will hurt or prevent the recovery of those who
engage in the pettiness, as well as discourage the newcomer". If only for
this reason, I feel all of us in service should look at how we conduct
ourselves at business meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous at all levels. It is
my personal opinion that too many of us approach things at business meetings
as though there is a right and wrong position rather than realizing that
what is usually involved is merely different ways of doing things. In other
words, we take ourselves too seriously. I think we fail sometimes to
realize that our "higher power" will take care of us and that it isn't
solely up to me to be sure that AA does the right thing, whatever that is.
As Area Chairman, trying to be objective and not having a vote on most
issues, it bothers me that certain of our membership seem to think that they
have to speak several times to an issue during a discussion (notice I said
discussion not debate) because their opinion and position is so right and so
important. I think we fail sometimes to realize that our higher power will
take care of us and that it isn't solely up to me to be sure that AA does
the right thing, whatever that is.
As Bill W. said, "in the years ahead, we shall...make mistakes.
Experience has taught us that we need have no fear of doing this, providing
that we always remain willing to confess our faults and to correct them
promptly. Our growth as individuals has depended upon this healthy process
of trial and error. So will our growth as a fellowship" (Alcoholics
Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 230).
Therefore, I would like to close by encouraging everyone to evaluate
their behavior at AA business meetings in light of the following statements:
1) It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter
what the cause, there is something wrong with us. If somebody hurts us and we are
sore, we are in the wrong also. (Twelve and Twelve, p. 90)
2) Don't take yourself too dam* seriously. (Twelve and Twelve, p. 149)
3) One Tradition calls for us to practice a genuine humility and to
silence the clamor of desires and ambitions whenever these could damage the group.
For me, that clamor is the need to comment on everything, to throw in my two
cents so you'll know just how smart I am. It's the urge to jump in and mix
it up as if a business meeting were a barroom brawl. I need to practice
some restraint, to emulate the example of the elder statesman in Tradition
Two who is willing to sit quietly on the sidelines patiently awaiting
developments. (Grapevine, July 2000, Try It Standing Up by J.W. p.10)
Ultimately, if there is something wrong with the way we are conducting
business, I have to ask myself what must I change about my attitudes and
behavior to make this more attractive to newcomer. God grant me the serenity...
Terry Whelan, NIA Chair from The North Illinois Area Ltd.
This excerpt is from the Area 20 Service Letter Vol.
XXIV, No. 4, Winter 2000.