To clarify, this discussion format, known as a blog, is a first-time attempt to put the workshop on “Using the Concepts in Our Personal Lives” into a written format–via an electronic, interactive discussion.  It is not an on-line meeting.  It is an attempt to simulate electronically the interaction of members sharing their insights on the Concepts as they would do in a face-to-face workshop.

I first started speaking about the Concepts at a Convention workshop that was basically centered on explaining the meaning of the words within the Legacy.  Over the years, as I became more aware of the Concepts on a deeper spiritual level, I began to discuss how we could use them in our own daily living.  Our three Legacies, the Steps, the Traditions, and the Concepts of Service are the foundation of our recovery.  Most of us are aware of the necessity of working the Steps to heal and restore ourselves, but we generally have viewed the Traditions as something for the groups, and the Concepts were for “those other people” whoever they were.

Under the Introduction tab (in the upper right-hand corner of this page) is an in-depth discussion of the Steps and Traditions.  If this is your first visit here, I suggest that you read it at your leisure.  It may help as you explore the idea that the Legacies are spiritual principles that build one upon the other.  If we don’t begin our recovery in the Steps, and enhance it with the Traditions, we may not be fully ready to expand our spiritual growth as we work the Concepts.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that newcomers can’t participate and learn in the blog, as we all gain insights in a variety of ways and at our own pace.

Let me remind everyone that these are my insights and experiences.  As always, take what you like and leave the rest.  The purpose of this blog, as in the workshop, is to share what I have discovered in hopes that it will lead you to a new and broader understanding for your own recovery.  We all know there is no one way to do it, but as my Sponsor said frequently, “But, do it!!!!”

As I stated earlier, this is not an on-line meeting so we don’t have permission to quote Al-Anon or any other literature.  As it is not Conference Approved Literature in fact or concept, it is not appropriate to print it and distribute in a face-to-face group or electronic meeting.  If you wish to print it for your personal use, that’s fine, but you need written permission from the World Service Office in order to copy and distribute regardless of your purpose.

Each of us has the ability to share what a Concept now means to him or her and how as individuals we have used it or could in the future.  Don’t worry about grammar or spelling.  The readers here are interested in your thoughts not your literary style.  It really isn’t Conference Approved Literature!

Let’s have fun and learn together.

The Trustees have legal rights while the rights of the Conference are traditional.

This Concept is really teaching us about the need to seek clarity in our relationships and roles. Concept One affirms that the ultimate authority and responsibility for Al-Anon Family Groups rests with the groups. We learned that the groups couldn’t do everything so they delegated to the Conference and its service arms complete administrative and operational authority. The groups didn’t give up their ultimate authority, just the amount of authority to allow the Conference to do its job. Likewise, the Conference in Concept Six gave the Board of Trustees primary administrative responsibility. The groups have ultimate authority; the Conference has complete administrative and operational authority; and the Board has primary administrative responsibility. It could seem that these ideas are a recipe for conflict, but with clearer understanding of our roles, we realize this is the framework within which a loving God as expressed in our group conscience at all levels works.

When I first looked at Concept Seven, I was confused. Hadn’t Concept Six already stated this idea? But as I studied further, I came to realize that this Concept explains for the fellowship the difference between Al-Anon Family Groups, the fellowship and Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., the organization. The groups don’t exist in law. As Tradition Nine says, “Our groups, as such, ought never be organized…” The World Service Office, as well as other service offices, whether incorporated or not, has the authority to sign contracts that bind those service arms. The World Service Office hires and fires employees, signs contracts for services, is a not-for-profit corporation, and communicates the message of Al-Anon to the general public and professionals. When an entity is not incorporated, the person who signs the contract is individually responsible. If the service arm defaults in its obligations, that person could be individually sued and could suffer financial loss.

The World Service Office actions and activities are overseen by the Board of Trustees, while the groups have no elected authority—there is no person authorized to sign contracts or create legal responsibility for the group. Our pioneers understood the need for different structures to accomplish different tasks. The fellowship, as united by the Clearing House in 1951, continued to be run by the groups through polling until the Conference was formed in 1961 on a trial basis. In 1954, Lois and other pioneers incorporated the Clearing House, Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., so that it could provide the services that the evolving fellowship would need. A Board of Directors was elected, later changed to Board of Trustees. These trusted servants continued to look to the groups as they dealt with the day-to-day functions of the new office. By 1964, the Conference was affirmed and a document to outline the relationship between the Conference (fellowship) and the Board (organization) was needed. This spiritual document is known as the World Service Conference Charter. It was an informal contract between the Conference (which doesn’t exist in law) and the Board, which does. It carefully spelled out the relationships and the clarity of roles of the two bodies. It was then that the Concepts of Service were written and then affirmed by the Conference in 1970.

This mixture of spiritual structures as described in the Traditions and the legal structures explained in the Concepts of Service is what makes Al-Anon, AA, and other Twelve Step fellowships unique. So what does this have to do with my personal life?

In my work environment, I have authority granted by my job description (traditional) and authority granted within the By-Laws of the corporation (legal). In both instances, while I am granted the Right of Decision, the same as any other member, I must remain accountable to the Board of Trustees and ultimately the Conference. I can not bind the Corporation to huge contracts without authority of the Finance Committee through the Budget (legal) nor can I set policies in conflict with the Policy Digest (traditional). Each of us has similar restrictions in our work. Our job descriptions set out the limits of our authority to act for our employer. If we exceed those limits, conflict and sometimes termination can result.

In my family life, I have the legal responsibility for the decisions that I make. If I give someone my credit card and he or she runs up a large bill, I still have the responsibility to pay it. Even if the person promised to pay me, it doesn’t relieve me of the responsibility I accepted when I signed the contract with the credit card company. As parents, we can agree to make certain decisions by group conscience, but the ultimate responsibility for the decision remains with the parents under the law. I could negotiate with my child for a certain curfew. But if that curfew conflicts with the city’s curfew, when the police come to the door with my child, group conscience is not going to be held accountable—I am.

Each of us has a role and a level of decision-making power in each part of our lives. I learned in Step One that I am powerless over you and to stop giving the power over me to others. I am not anyone else’s ultimate authority but I do have legal responsibilities that I can’t pass off to someone else.

Clarifying my role with those I interact with will keep me from exceeding the authority given to me and empower others to find and set their own limits. 

Now it is your time to share how understanding your role in each situation could free you or has freed you in your personal life whether at home, at work, or in any type of service.

Read the chapter on Concept 7 from Paths to Recovery (B-24)
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