World Service Conference Member Manual (WSC Member Manual)

4. THE TWELVE CONCEPTS OF FA

As individual FA members, we are guided by the Twelve Steps. FA meetings are guided by the Twelve Traditions. As a conference, we are guided by FA’s Twelve Concepts. Understanding these concepts is an integral part of serving as a WSC member. At the 2005 World Service Business Convention, the Conference adopted AA’s Twelve Concepts, as adapted by FA. The short version of the FA Twelve Concepts is seen below. The longer version can be found at www.foodaddicts.org.

Note: Given the strong parallel, WSC members may find it helpful to understand the origin of AA's The Twelve Concepts. A detailed history and explanation can be found in The AA World Service Manual combined with The Twelve Concepts 2018-2020 Edition. [PDF available at http://www.aa.org/pdf/products/en_bm-31.pdf]

The Twelve Concepts of FA (Short Form)

1. Final responsibility and ultimate authority for FA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.
2. The World Service Conference of FA is understood to be, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effective conscience of our whole society in its world affairs.
3. To ensure effective leadership, we should endow each element of the FA Conference, including the World Service Board, the group delegates, and any other corporate entities, staffs and committees that may be created in the future, with a traditional “Right of Decision.”
4. Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
5. Throughout our world service structure (groups, chapters, intergroups, the World Service Board, and the World Service Office), we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each individual or group of our world servants must discharge.
6. Throughout our world service structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinions will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration.
7. The FA Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most world service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference, acting as the World Service Board. In this capacity, the trustees shall serve as the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance, as well as the overseers of any subsidiary entities that may be established.
8. The bylaws of FA are a legal instrument, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The FA Conference itself is not a legal entity; it relies upon tradition for final effectiveness, and its practical power will nearly always be superior to the legal power of the trustees. The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance.
9. At all levels, good service leadership by those demonstrating long-term physical, mental, and spiritual recovery is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, initially exercised by the group of members who founded FA, must necessarily be assumed by the World Service Board of Trustees.
10. The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staff, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, rights and duties, just financial compensation, and the nature of working relationships will always be matters of serious concern. 
11. Among Twelve Step programs, FA is unique in that food addicts must work with their drug, food, each day in order to survive. Therefore our program must differ from other Twelve Step programs with respect to structure and disciplines. Notwithstanding our immeasurable debt to Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step programs, our ultimate source of direction must always remain our collective experience of recovery through the FA program and our personal understanding of the will of God, as each of us understands God.
12. The FA Conference shall observe the spirit of FA tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; that it never perform acts of government; that, like the Fellowship it serves, it will always remain democratic in thought and action. 

5. VOTING

By definition, WSC members are “voting” members. Each year’s World Service Business Convention will include time for elections of WSI officers and committee chairs, as well as motions that will be discussed, debated, and voted upon.

WSC members may be asked to vote by a show of hands, ballots, or other method designated by the presiding officer. Conference members may override the method called for by the presiding officer by a majority vote.

Elections

WSI officers and committee chairs agree to serve for two years upon election and are able to serve for two two-year terms if elected a second time.

In even years, elections occur for the WSI chair, vice chair, and the chairs of these committees: Bylaws, Connection, Convention Planning, Office, and Traditions Review. 

In odd years, elections occur for the WSI secretary, treasurer, and the chairs of these committees: Literature, Public Information, Service Group Support, and Twelfth-Step. 

Under our bylaws, nominations must be received at least 90 days before the convention; therefore, no new candidates can be nominated at the convention. Each candidate will complete an application for the position of interest. Completed applications will be sent to all WSC members one month prior to the convention so they may make an informed decision when voting.  WSC members are advised to read this material prior to the convention. (Note: Material from some candidates may at first appear outdated. If an applicant is running for a second-term in the same position, they may choose to use the application already on file from their first term.)

Motions and Parliamentary Procedure

Motions

The World Service Business Convention almost always includes discussing, debating, and the passing of motions.

Motions that have been placed on the convention agenda are sent to all WSC members electronically at least one month prior to the convention. All WSC members are asked to read the motions as soon as they are received. The WSB welcomes questions and feedback prior to the convention. The goal is that all WSC members arrive at the convention feeling fully prepared and having a clear understanding of the intent and impact of all motions prior to casting a vote. 

According to the FA WSI Bylaws (Article VIII, Section 3):

1.  Main motions may be submitted by (1) executive boards or committees of FA chapters or FA intergroups, (2) WSI committees, or (3) the WSB.
2. Main motions, including proposed bylaw amendments, must be submitted in writing to the secretary at least 90 days prior to the first day of the WSBC.
3. Motions to amend the bylaws will be referred to the Bylaws Committee for review pursuant to Article XII. All other main motions will be referred to the Resolutions Committee (a special committee, as defined in Article IX, Section 10) for review.
4. Sixty days prior to the World Service Business Convention, registered WSC members will receive written notice, by first class mail, or electronically, of any proposed main motions submitted by chapters or intergroups. (This procedure does not apply to motions coming from the World Service Board.) Upon receipt of notice, WSC members shall be entitled to vote on which of these proposed main motions will be heard at the WSBC. Ballots must be received electronically by the World Service Office within 15 days of receipt of notice. Main motions that receive an affirmative vote from a majority of the responding WSC members will be placed on the WSBC agenda. NOTE: This is not a vote on the substance of the proposed motions, only on whether they should be placed on the WSBC agenda for discussion and a vote.
5. Main motions requiring emergency action may be submitted fewer than 90 days prior to the start of the World Service Business Convention or during it. The Resolutions Committee will review emergency motions and make a recommendation to the World Service Conference as to their hearing. The Conference shall decide by a 2/3 vote, without debate, whether the motion will be placed on the agenda. Main motions to approve FA literature or to amend the bylaws shall not be submitted as emergency motions, as they require prior notice for adoption pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2 (d).
6. Motions submitted by the World Service Board may be placed on the agenda without prior approval from WSC members.

Parliamentary Procedure Basics

Parliamentary procedure is a method of conduct used at many business conventions to ensure the clear communication of information and an orderly decision-making process. The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedures governs all of our business sessions during the World Service Business Convention. Bear in mind that we need not be experts at parliamentary procedure in order to participate in the business sessions. A parliamentarian will be present to ensure that the meetings are run appropriately. 

1. Main motions bring business before the World Service Conference. Except for emergency new business motions, all main motions are prepared and circulated to World Service Conference members prior to the convention.
2. Subsidiary motions help the Conference manage main motions. These motions help get the main motion into its best form before we have to vote on it. We can change the main motion (amend), send it back to a committee to do more research on it (refer), put off the decision on it to the next meeting/convention (postpone to a certain time), or close debate (close debate).
3. Incidental motions usually relate to matters of the business meeting rather than directly to the main motions. They may be offered any time they are needed. Usually they are made when a main motion is already on the floor. Incidental motions are used to keep all members in line (point of order), ask questions about procedures (parliamentary inquiry) and issues (point of information), appeal the chair’s decisions (appeal), and make sure the vote count is accurate (division of assembly).

Tips for the Voting Process

1. The chair and the parliamentarian will guide the Conference as to how to conduct itself, so listen carefully.
2. Sit toward the front of the room, where seating is reserved for voting members. ONLY registered voting members may address the Conference.
3. The chair and the parliamentarian will clarify the issue being addressed. Stay attentive to the issue under consideration, for example, is it the original motion or an amendment?
4. Prepare in advance by reading the materials, and participate in one of the board-scheduled conference calls to discuss the motion prior to the convention.
5. Typically, the chair will open up discussion on a motion. If you would like to speak for or against the motion, stand in line at the microphones in the center aisle. State your first name and your number. (Your number will be on your name tag.)
6. Do not speak out from your seat unless you have a “point of order” (pointing out a rules violation) or a “request for information” (seeking clarification).
7. Do not clap after a vote is taken, as we in FA don’t win or lose, no matter what side of the question we are on. We are seeking a group conscience.
8. Main motions are made in advance of the convention. However, voting members may make a motion to amend a motion.
9. Members may move to “table” (postpone) a motion, “call the question” (close debate and bring the matter to a vote), or “adjourn” (end) a session. 
10. Ask God for help in expressing yourself. When debating a motion, focus your remarks on the issue and avoid straying off topic. 

Procedures for Emergency New Business

I. Bringing Emergency New Business Motions to the Convention Floor

1. Motions will only be accepted on official forms and only from (1) executive boards or committees of FA chapters or FA intergroups, (2) WSI committees, or (3) the WSB and are submitted to the Resolutions Committee.
2. The Resolutions Committee will meet as often as necessary to address emergencies.
3. The maker of the motion will be informed as to the approximate time at which their motion will be heard.

II. Procedure during the Resolutions Committee Meeting

1. Any member of the presenting intergroup or chapter executive board or WSI committee or WSB may speak to the motion, at the discretion of the Resolutions Committee chair. This will be contingent upon the volume of motions and time available.
2. During the general business session, as mentioned in III A below, the Resolutions Committee will present its recommendation to the World Service Conference regarding whether or not the Conference should hear the motion. The standards for a positive recommendation are the following:
   1. The motion must be an emergency that cannot wait until next year. Emergency is defined as a “sudden unforeseen crisis usually involving danger.”
   2. The motion must not be in conflict with the Twelve Traditions.
   3. The motion cannot be redundant with stipulations already made in FA governance documents (bylaws, policies and procedures, and Standing Rules of Order).
   4. The motion must not be frivolous.

III. Procedure at the General Business Session

1. The resolutions committee chair will give a report and recommendation for each motion that was presented to the committee and will give a brief summary of the process involved in determining the recommendation.
2. The voting body will then hold a yes or no vote, without discussion, to agree with the Resolutions Committee or not. The voting body has the final say. The job of the committee is not to decide if the motion itself has merit. That responsibility falls to the Conference.
3. If the motion receives a two-thirds affirmative vote from the body, the WSI chair places it on the agenda. Once on the agenda, it proceeds as any other motion. 

Reviewed 2024 0103