Page 10 - The Twelve Concepts for World Service
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                 Concept V


                 Throughout our world services structure, a traditional "Right of Appeal" ought
                 to  prevail,  thus  assuring  us  that  minority  opinion  will  be  heard  and  that
                 petitions for the redress of personal grievances will be carefully considered




                  ewcomers to A.A.’s General Service Conference are
              N often surprised at the pains taken by the
              presiding officer to make sure the minority has a second
              opportunity to present its views. Even after extensive
              debate on an issue, followed by a vote in which a
              “substantial unanimity” is reached, those opposed are
              polled individually to see if they wish to speak further to
              their minority view. In fact, numerous instances can be
              cited in which this minority view is so compelling the
              Conference has then reversed itself.
                 This is A.A.’s “Right of Appeal” in action, and Bill
              says the same principle should apply to meetings of our
              area committees, trustee committees and boards. On
              an issue of grave importance, the minority has the
              actual duty of presenting its views.
                 This “Right of Appeal” recognizes that minorities
              frequently can be right; that even when they are in
              error they still perform a most valuable service when
              they compel a thorough-going debate on important
              issues. The well-heard minority, therefore, is our chief
              protection against an uninformed, misinformed,
              hasty or angry majority.
                 “Trusted servants,” according to Bill, “do for the
              groups what the groups cannot or should not do for
              themselves.” And in exercising their “Right of Decision”
              (see Concept III), trusted servants are almost always
              “a small but truly qualified minority” — whether in the
              form of area committees, staffs, boards or even the
              General Service Conference itself. It is incumbent upon
              them, therefore, in their own meetings, to pay special
              deference to the minority voice.
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