We Are An Upside Down Triangle!

When I came into S.L.A.A. I thought that I was an island.  I functioned that way.  No one to depend on me, but always looking to be taken care of.  The really cool think is that S.L.A.A. showed me that I was powerful and resourceful.  The resources were the key.  I was never truly alone.  Of course, I always had my Higher Power in my life, but He wasn’t really good at doing things like helping me get the house cleaned or changing the oil in my car.  I learned that I could ask for help and that with the power of group conscience, God could give me a hand in ways I never imagined.  I learned this by modeling my life after the structure of S.L.A.A. — an upside down triangle.

We are all individual members of the program.  We are autonomous and equal.  We make up the groups that meet.  Those groups work together to help the addict who still suffers — generally by creating an Intergroup.  Intergroups are made up of representatives from the various groups.

Intergroups send delegates to the Annual Business Conference (ABC) to communicate the wants and needs of the groups and its members — you and me!  There are various committees at the Business Conference level including:  Literature, Sponsorship, Prison Outreach, Member Retention, Steps and Traditions, Diversity, and so on.  The Committee that oversees those committees and facilitates the Annual Meeting is the Conference Charter Committee (a.k.a. the CCC).  The CCC represents the delegates that are sent to the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) by the Intergroups and Lone Groups.

The groups send representatives to their Intergroup.  The Intergroup and lone groups send delegates to the ABM.  The participants at the ABM are called “the Conference.”  The Conference is made up of those delegates, the Board of Trustees (who are elected by that body), the Journal editor, and Fellowship Wide Services’ office staff.

The votes made by the Conference are directed to the Board of Trustees (BOT) and are binding if they are two thirds of the quorum.  The Board takes that direction and implements what the will of the Conference is, as long as it does not impede on the legal and fiscal responsibilities of the corporation.  The FWS office is there to serve the addict who still suffers under the guidance of the BOT.

I’m glad that I am a part of this equation.  I am an addict and am responsible for my actions and behaviors.  As a member, I am responsible for the actions and behaviors of my program.  I recommend that everyone be a part of the process... whether that be a participating member of their group, a representative to their Intergroup, a member of a Conference committee, a delegate to the Conference, or a member of the BOT.

The next ABM will be held in the Boston area and conference members will have the opportunity to see the FWS office and meet the staff that serves the S.L.A.A. community — a.k.a. you and me!  Take a risk.   Take some responsibility for your program.  Give back what you got!

If you wish to participate at any of these levels and don’t know how please let us know.  We will be happy to get you involved and to confirm that this is YOUR program.  Own it and be a part of it!

Jenny R. W.
Massachusetts