April 7,1992
Pat Rosenstiel
Conference Coordinator
P.O. Box 459
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
Dear Pat,
Now that the move is complete, I hope this letter finds you. I also hope you have found everything that used to be at 468 Park (I was in the moving business some years ago and know how much chaos it can be). I'm looking forward to seeing the new offices.
This letter, Pat, is to clarify what I am requesting of the Conference Agenda Committee with regard to the "Proposal regarding AA's future." After talking with Jude Tims, the chairperson, we felt it would be best if I would do this in a letter to you. It seems I wasn't very clear in the writing of the proposal as to how it might be forwarded to the Conference.
Essentially, the proposal asks three things. One, that an ad hoc committee be formed. Two, that its agenda be as described in the body of the proposal. Three, that the composition of the committee be according to specific representational proportions, as noted in the closing paragraph.
If I were to frame a recommendation the committee might bring to the Conference it would read this way:
It is recommended that:
(A) The Chairperson of the General Service Board create, by whatever means best suited, an ad hoc committee whose purpose it is to do a searching and fearless inventory of AA's three service boards, the General Service Office and the Conference Plan. And that this committee provide a report of its findings, to date, to the 1993 General Service Conference.
(B) This ad hoc committee have, as its agenda, those items contained in the background material entitled "A proposal concerning AA's future" as well as any referred by the Conference, Trustees, or AA Staff. Any recommendations for change, which may result, be forwarded through the Conference Coordinator as is the current AA practice.
(C) The composition of the Ad hoc committee be one person from each classification of trusted servant entitled to vote at the General Service Conference, with the delegates being in a 213 majority, and including the General Manager, one senior staff, and one junior staff as noted in the final paragraph of the background material entitled "A proposal for AA's future."
It seems to me, Pat, that this would do the trick. Anything beyond this could easily be communicated once the committee were formed. Certainly, Michael Alexander or the committee chairperson could call for anything else that anyone might submit
should they feel so inclined.
In providing this suggestion, I would remind the committee of one point. This is a fact finding and fact facing proposal only. Any change which might come about as the result of this would be determined by the facts reviewed. The last line in item (B) ensures that the proposal protects the Trustees Right of Decision, as well as adhering to the conference process as the central means by which Alcoholics Anonymous conducts its affairs.
Thanks again, Pat, for all your work. I hope this clears things up a bit
Be seeing you soon!
Yours in Love & Service
FILE COPY
Dennis Bauer
CC Jude Tims
Agenda Committee members
Greg Muth