Correct Article XIII for Copyright and Vote - 2022 WSBC Motion

MOTION:

The World Service Board moves to substitute, for the current Article XIII, the following: The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of FA may only be amended with the written consent of Alcoholics Anonymous. The change must also be accepted by seventy-five percent of WSC members present at the WSBC and casting a vote.

CURRENT WORDING:

The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of FA may only be amended with the consent of 75 percent of the FA meeting groups. 

PROPOSED WORDING:

The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of FA may only be amended with the written consent of Alcoholics Anonymous. The change must also be accepted by seventy-five percent of WSC members present at the WSBC and casting a vote. 

What is the purpose of this motion, and how will it strengthen the effectiveness of WSI/FA service?

The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts are the basis for any Twelve Step program. When FA began, the organization wanted to adapt them to meet the needs of a program for food addiction. In order to proceed, FA requested permission from AA since Alcoholics Anonymous owns the copyright for the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts. FA is not allowed to make any additional changes to these items without written consent from Alcoholics Anonymous. This requirement needs to be added to the bylaws so that all understand requesting permission from Alcoholics Anonymous is part of the change process.

Meeting groups need to be replaced by WSC members in order to be in sync with Article III section 1 of our bylaws, which states that the WSC is the voting body of FA.