At the outset we must distinguish between the A.A. Movement, which is not an organized body, and the activities of The Foundation which is an incorporated body dedicated to serving the members of A.A. individually and collectively through its subsidiary facilities.
The Movement is exclusively a spiritual endeavor whose only aim is to attain personl recovery and to carry the message of the way to recovery to others. The Movement is the all-important thing. It is in no sense governed by The Foundation...In truth, (The Foundation) is entirely guided by the Movement.
The Movement is a spiritual entity, comprising in substance the individual members of A.A. and the groups, in the local activities (i.e., Intergroups and Central Offices) of which most, but not all, members participate.
The Movement represents a spiritual ideal in process of growth. It can be imperilled by secular problems of money, property and authority. These problems are involved with organization. Development of organizational structure is detrimental to A.A. as a Movement. Organization, therefore, has been and should continue to be kept to a minimum. As the Movement grows the need for Organization diminishes. Most of the problems...are coming to be handled by local and regional groups and committees, functioning autonomously, which is as it should be.
The trustees are primarily custodians of money, policy and tradition. They maintain a general headquarters office to deal with inquiries from individuals and groups; they conduct certain necessary business and legal affairs; they endeavor to protect the Movement from objectional publicity where the problem cannot feasibly be handled at a local level.
Again, more concretely, the Trustees feel that they will best safeguard the established tradition of A.A. in the following respects; compliance in spirit and letter with the principle of Anonymity; rotation in office or position; observance of appropriate standards in compensation of paid workers; limitation of volume and scope of activities at the general headquarters office; and inauguration of a program of gradual decentralization of headquarters activities to the end that the responsibility of
"carrying the message" may be gradually assumed by local groups and committees.
It is the considered judgement of your Trustees that if the A.A. Movement remains unshackled by the fetters of organization and is kept free from the corroding effect of political procedures which stem from over-organization, it will grow in vast numbvers and be an influence among those who are open to its message."7
Even with The Alcoholic Foundation's "Statement of Principle" inplace, Bill continued to press for a General Service Conference. He wrote Dr. Bob asking for his support. Dr. Bob's reply was consistent with the position he took in 1948 - which was to leave the structure alone.
"Dear Bill: ...Do not have the feeling that this is a particularly guided thing to do. Maybe I am wrong, but that is the way I feel Love, Smithy"8
Clarence S., the "sparkplug" of Cleveland A.A. and the Secretary of the "first" Central Committee, was even less ecstatic with Bill's efforts to 'organize' A.A. In a letter to his ex-wife Dorothy on March 9, 1951, Clarence wrote:
"The question is, WHY A CONFERENCE? Personally, I must go along with all the oldtimers who feel that as A.A. grows larger and becomes more accessible, the need for any important control in New York or any other place diminishes. Our groups are autonomous, and our members are pretty much the same. I don't see how some guy in Columbus Ohio or someplace else, is going to represent me in any conference.
I have discussed this matter with a lot of (people)..., and I have yet to find a ONE of them in favor of this conference deal. As far as they and I am cencerned, this a fellowship, and it should remain (as such). All we need (is) simplicity. The steps, the absolutes, and a couple of alkys who want to do something with themselves. Then we are in business."9
Undaunted, Bill continued his quest. He published The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, outlining the purpose, structure, scope and principles for his new organization. At the International Convention in Cleveland, which took place on July 28-30, 1950, Bill once again discussed his plan.
After Dr. Bob's death on November 16, 1950, the General Service Conference became a reality. The first Conference was held in April 1951, and a Conference has been held yearly ever since. With the exception of Chicago, Bill did not attempt to integrate the Intergroup / Central Office structure with the General Service Conference structure. Most of the Intergroups and Central Offices were already Incorporated as separate service entities, so there was little he could do to alter what was already in place. Instead, he established The General Service Conference structure on top of the Intergroup / Central Office structure. This move has resulted in considerable conflict over the years. These conflicts are so numerous, they could easily be the basis for another history book.
When all is said and done, our primary purpose remains crystal clear. the only question is how best to accomplish our objective. From my review of the Intergroup and Central Office operations in the 1940s, I can only conclude that in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, these local service centers were very successful in carrying the A.A. message of hope to the still-suffering alcoholic.
In the early days, even Bill W. was opposed to organization. In September 1945, Bill wrothe the following for The Grapevine.
RULES
"Were we to proceed by rules, somebody would have to make them and, more difficult still, somebody would have to enforce them. 'Rule-making' has often been tried. It usually results in controversy among the 'rule makers' as to what the rules should be. And when it comes to enforcing an edict - well, you all know the answer. When we try to enforce rules and regulations, however reasonable, we almost always get in so (much trouble) that our authority disappears. A cry goes up, "Down with the dictators, off with their heads!" Hurt and astonished 'Control Committee' after 'Control Committee', 'leader' after 'leader' makes the discovery that human authority, be it ever so impartial or benign, seldom works long or well in our affairs. Alcoholics are yet the most rugged of individualists, true anarchists at heart.
When, therefore, we A.A.s look to the future, we must always be asking ourselves if the spirit which now binds us together in our common cause will always be stronger than those personal ambitions and desires which tend to drive us apart. So long as the positive forces are greater, we cannot fail. Happily, so far, the ties which bind us have been much stronger than those which might break us.
For example, 'the 12 steps' of our A.A. program are not crammed down anybody's throat. They are not sustained by any human authority. Yet we powerfully unite around them because the truth they contain has saved our lives, has opened the door to a new world. Our experience tells us these universal truths work.
Ultimately, these truths govern (our lives) and (we) come to live under their authority, the most powerful authority known, the authority of full consent, willingly given. (We are) ruled, not by people, but by principles, by truths and, as most of us would say, (we are) ruled by God."10
1Alcoholics Anonymous. (New York, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc., 1976) 164.
2Anonymous (Barry C. & Ed W.) The Little Red Book. (Minneapolis, MN: Coll-Webb Company, 1954) Back Cover of Dust Jacket.
3Bill W., "Suggestions for The General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous. (Undated memorandum - February 1950?).
4"A Statement by Leonard V. Harrison on Future Organization and Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees of The Alcoholic Foundation," (Dated July 23, 1946) 1.
5Pass It On. (New York, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1984) 333.
6Ibid., 330.
7"A Statement of Principles Governing the Policies and Activities of the Board of Trustees of The Alcoholic Foundation."
8Pass It On. (New York, NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1984) 333.
9Letter from Clarence S., to his ex-wife, Dorothy (March 9, 1951) 1-2.
10Bill W., "Rules," The Grapevine. (New York, NY: The Alcoholic Foundation, September 1945) 2.
