[Businessmtg] Consideration: The WSO Works for Us per our Legacies

[Raine Shakti]

Hi Al-Pals,

One of the things that struck me as I was reading through all the opinions
is that the WSO WORKS FOR US and not the other way around.   We do not work
for the WSO.  They do not give us our authority; in fact it is the other way
around.  And if the WSO is not supporting us the way we believe we should be
supported, it is our duty and our right to vote with our voices and our
dollars. 

 

The idea that the WSO works for us and not the other way around is
fundamental in multiple of our Traditions and Concepts.  Specifically:

 

Traditions

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Tradition 2 states that "For our group purpose there is but one authority-a
loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders
are but trusted servants-they do not govern."  The WSO works for us and they
do not govern us.  They are our servants just like our greeters, chair
people, group reps, etc. are trusted servants. 

 

Tradition 3 states that "Each group should be autonomous, except in matters
affecting another group or Al-Anon or AA as a whole."  This Tradition gives
us the right to manage our money according to our needs and our conscience.
The WSO cannot tell us that we have to give them money so if we do not
believe we are being served the way we need to be served, it is within our
purview to withhold funds, split our finds, etc.

 

Tradition Seven states that "Every group ought to be fully self-supporting,
declining outside contributions."  To me this states that our primary
responsibility is to take care of ourselves and to make sure that our needs
are met before we funnel excess funds up the chain.

 

Tradition Nine states that "Our groups, as such, ought never be organized;
but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those
they serve." This again reinforces the opinion that our service boards (such
as the world SERVICE organization) are directly responsible to us.

 

Concepts / Warranties

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Concept 1 states that "The ultimate responsibility and authority for Al-Anon
world services belongs to the Al-Anon Groups."  Again this reinforces the
opinion that the WSO works for us and not the other way around. 

 

Concept 2 states that "The Al-Anon Family Groups have delegated complete
administrative and operational authority to their Conference and its service
arms."  What I find very interesting about this is that we (the Al-Anon
Family Groups) have dedicated ADMINISTRATIVE and OPERATIONAL authority to
their Conference and its service arms.  I read this to mean that the WSO
only has the right to implement policy decisions that the groups have
decided on.  The WSO does not on its own have the right to decide that
online groups are to be treated as less than F2F groups.  

 

Concept 3 "The rights of appeal and petition protect minorities and insure
that they be heard." Our legacies give us the right to be heard and the
right to speak up and if we do not believe that the WSO is servicing our
needs than we have the right to vote with our dollars and our voices.

 

Warranty 2 states "That no Conference member shall be placed in unqualified
authority over other members."  I struggle with this one because online
groups have no seat at the table so by default every Conference member is
placed in a position of unqualified authority over online groups.

 

Warranty 5 states that "That though the Conference serves Al-Anon it shall
never perform any act of government; and that like the fellowship of Al-Anon
Family Groups which it serves, it shall always remain democratic in thought
and action. "  This again reinforces the idea that it is our duty and right
to speak up and voice our opinion.

 

Based on the above, I would like to suggest that when we send the donation
to the WSO, we include a summary of our position and the fact that we are
giving our fair share, but are not being adequately represented.

 

 

Brightest Blessings,

 

Raine

Life is to be lived magnificently and gloriously

And just one day at a time