Election of candidates for trustee positions |
Good service leaders, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are at all levels indispensable for our future functioning and safety. – From the long form of Concept IX
We have an opportunity to elect trustee candidates – Southeast Regional Trustee and Trustee-at-Large/U.S. – at the October 2024 Election Assembly. Our Area 15 Delegate will send to the secretary of the General Service Office trustees’ Nominating Committee the names and contact information of our candidates. A class B (alcoholic) Southeast Regional Trustee and a Class B (alcoholic) Trustee-at-Large/U.S. will be elected to succeed Tom H and Marita R, respectively, at the 75th General Service Conference in April 2025.
A.A. service background and experience are the primary qualifications for trustee candidates.
Here is additional information for each position:
Southeast Regional Trustee
Qualifications:
- Ten years of sobriety is recommended but is not mandatory.
- Candidates should have experience in both Conference Area and local A.A. service.
- They should have the background and the willingness to make decisions on matters of A.A. policy and should recognize that trustees serve the entire Fellowship rather than geographical areas.
Business or professional experience:
It has proved desirable to have some of the regional trustees experienced in business and professional matters. Because the primary business of the General Service Board calls for important budgetary and administrative decisions, such qualifications are regarded as welcome additions to sound A.A. experience.
Time required of regional trustees:
- Regional trusteeship is for four successive annual terms.
- All candidates should be aware of the enormous time commitments required. Regional trustees are expected to attend a minimum of:
- Three quarterly Board weekends, with meetings running from Saturday morning through Monday noon
- A quarterly meeting combined with the General Service Conference (seven days) in April/May
- Any special meetings of the Board.
- Regional trustees also serve in rotation for attendance at regional forums other than in their own regions.
- Additionally, regional trustees are asked to serve two consecutive one-year terms on either the A.A. World Services Board or AA Grapevine Corporate Board, which meet more frequently than the General Service Board.
- Regional trustees serve on committees of the General Service Board and may also serve on trustees’ subcommittees or corporate board subcommittees, whose work often involves tele and video conference calls.
- Regional trustees are often invited to participate in regional or area activities such as service conferences, area assemblies, etc.
Trustee-At-Large/U.S.
Qualifications:
- Ten years of sobriety is recommended but is not mandatory.
- Candidates should have experience in both Conference Area and local A.A. service.
- They should have the background and the willingness to make decisions on matters of A.A. policy and should recognize that trustees serve the entire Fellowship rather than geographical areas.
Business or professional experience:
It has proved desirable to have some of the trustees experienced in business and professional matters. Because the primary business of the Board of Trustees calls for important budgetary and administrative decisions, such qualifications are regarded as welcome additions to sound A.A. experience.
Time required of Trustees-at-large:
- Trusteeship is for four successive annual terms. Trustees-at-large – one from the U.S. and one from Canada – serve as the World Service Meeting delegates representing the U.S. and Canada. As such, they participate in two World Service Meetings, which are held once every two years – the meeting place alternating between New York City and a location outside the U.S. and Canada.
- Trustees-at-large should also have time both to attend the World Service Meetings and to present and carry out any decisions reached at these meetings. As trustees-at-large have represented the General Service Board through international travel to help carry the message, they may be invited to international events that may take them away from home for extended periods of time.
- All candidates should be aware of the enormous time commitments required. Trustees-at-large are expected to attend:
- Three quarterly Board weekends, with meetings running from Saturday morning through Monday noon
- A quarterly meeting combined with the General Service Conference (seven days) in April/May
- Any special meetings of the Board.
- Trustees-at-large may be asked to serve two years on either the A.A. World Services Board or AA Grapevine Corporate Board, which meet more frequently than the General Service Board.
- Trustees-at-large serve on committees of the General Service Board and may also serve on trustees’ subcommittees or corporate board subcommittees, whose work often involves tele and video conference calls.
- They may fill in for regional trustees, as needed and/or requested.
We will be electing Trustee candidates using Third Legacy Procedure as outlined in the A.A. Service Manual. You can read about Third Legacy Procedure here.
You can view a graphic illustration of Third Legacy Procedure here.
Click on the links below for additional resources on trustee candidate election.
Procedure recommended for election of regional trustee candidates
Procedure recommended for election of trustee-at-large candidates
Trustee-at-Large U.S./Canada resume sheet
