After hearing the feedback from the Fellowship, and a thorough review of the process to bring Non Conference Approved Literature into the bookstore, Sonoma County Intergroup Fellowship (SCIF) Steering Committee has realized the need for an informed group conscience and vote by the Fellowship. SCIF kindly requests each meeting gather their group conscience and take a vote at meeting level (typically for multiple consecutive meetings, not just one.)
At the December General Meeting, there will be a vote on whether the Bookstore should sell Non Conference Approved Literature. If you have further questions, please reach out to Amber C., SCIF Chair at sonomacountyaa2024@gmail.com.
Informed Group Conscience
As stated in Tradition Two, our sole authority is a “… loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.”
The late Dean K., Past Delegate from California Northern Interior Area, said there are two ways to arrive at a group conscience: “The competitive way permits the person with the loudest voice to push his ideas across, take a vote and come up with a ‘majority’ decision. This is not informed group conscience. In the cooperative way, group members come together in mutual trust to arrive at a group decision, not one individual’s personal triumph.” (Box 459, Vol. 35, no. 1 February/March 1989)
What is an informed group conscience and how is it achieved?
“The group conscience is the collective conscience of the group membership and thus represents substantial unanimity on an issue before definitive action is taken.” This “... implies that pertinent information has been studied and all views have been heard before the group votes.” (The A.A. Group pamphlet pp. 26-27)
Concept One states “the final responsibility for A.A. World Services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole fellowship.” No one person or group should make our decisions for us, no matter how persuasive they may be.” As stated in Tradition Two (short form) “… Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.”
How to Set Up a Sharing Session
(from the A.A. Service Manual, 2009-10 edition, pg. S40)
In a sharing session, everyone has a chance to use their experience, strength and hope to contribute ideas and opinions about the welfare of A.A. It can be set up anywhere for any group of people, but it is especially useful for assemblies and district meetings. Its format is aimed at drawing out the ideas of even the shyest participant, and keeps the more articulate from dominating the meetings. Each person offers an opinion, and never needs to defend it. The chairperson, or a leader, functions more as a timekeeper than as a participant.
Here is how it works: Let’s say that the topic is “How can we get more A.A.s interested in General Service?” The leader, armed with a loud bell and a watch or stopwatch, reads the questions and explains the rules. Each member present may talk for a specified time (a minute and a half or two minutes is typical – whatever the group agrees upon). Usually no one is permitted to speak twice on the same subject until all who wish to have spoken. The leader continues until the topic has been fully explored.
A member takes down the essence of the meeting; these notes will provide good ideas for use by committee officers, committee members and GSRs.
Thanks,
Amber C.