Welcome to October in which we look at Step 10, Tradition 10 and Concept 10.

Step 10 — Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code. Reprinted from Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84 — with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.

Tradition 10 — Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. The overriding message with this tradition is that outside issues can tear us apart. The tenth tradition is rather clear as it applies to A.A. We have prospered by having no opinion on outside matters and not being drawn into controversy. For instance, A.A. has avoided the outside issues that tore apart the Washingtonians. A.A. has never become crusaders or taken stands on important but outside issues, “particularly those of politics, alcohol reform, or sectarian religion”. See the long form of this tradition.

Concept 10 — Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority — the scope of such authority to be always well defined whether by tradition, by resolution, by specific job description, or by appropriate charters and bylaws. Our service structure cannot function effectively and harmoniously unless, at every level, each operational responsibility is matched by a corresponding authority to discharge it. This requires that authority must be delegated at every level — and that the responsibility and authority of every entity are well defined and clearly understood. Concept Ten challenges our ability to match service responsibility with equal authority so that a trusted servant can fulfill the well-defined tasks expected of that member. It is always important to carefully select members of committees, elected officers, or any other doing the work of A.A. so that we have the best qualified.

Literature through Intergroup

Did you know you can order A.A. Conference approved literature through Southern Delaware Intergroup? The Literature Committee has available, at cost, conference-approved literature to A.A. groups and members in order to provide the A.A. message to as many people as possible. Check the latest inventory sheet that lists the available publications and prices. For more information, please send an email to literature@sussexaa.org.

Intergroup Trusted Servant Nominations

There are two trusted servant positions rotating out this December. Beginning in January 2021, the new two year positions for Secretary and Treasurer will take place. (The two-year positions for Chair and Alt Chair will rotate out on January 2022). These trusted servants are elected by the Intergroup Representatives (IGRs). Further reading — see our bylaws.

• The Secretary is responsible for taking and distributing the monthly minutes. Since October 2019, the approved minutes have been posted to our reports page on the website.
• The Treasurer receives and records all Seventh Tradition contributions and maintains oversight of the finances. Other duties include paying bills, tracking expenses, reimbursing individuals for miscellaneous expenses, and distributing a monthly report about the finances at each Intergroup meeting.

If you want to be of service, these great opportunities will be available beginning January 1, 2021. Nominations will be accepted at the next Intergroup meeting via Zoom on Thursday, November 5 at 6:00 PM.

Meeting Schedule

Help us keep our meeting schedule accurate on the website. We can only be as accurate as the information you give us, and depend on you to help us out. If you know of any meetings that are moving indoors, going online or making other changes, please contact us by email so we can make the update.

Box 4-5-9

Box 4-5-9 is a quarterly news bulletin from the U.S./Canada General Service Office. This newsletter includes information about A.A. service, literature, events, sharing from groups, service committees and individual U.S./Canada A.A. members. Highlights of the Fall 2020 issue, which you can download here. include:

• New Approaches to the Seventh Tradition — G.S.O. experienced a sharp decline in contributions and literature sales in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19 which resulted in A.A. taking a $3 million drawdown from its Reserve Fund at the end of April. Fortunately, since then, there has been a dramatic increase in contributions from A.A. groups and members, culminating in $1.1 million for the month of July.
• Back to the Future — There are now over 1000 virtual meetings in the G.S.O. Meeting Guide. And though there appears to be a movement toward reversing the trend, there are as many questions about these changes as there are meetings. The two most common issues revolve around safety and unity.
• What’s a Prudent Reserve? — One of the most prudent things groups can do is to establish a financial reserve to see the group through any difficult times. Such funds help to ensure the group’s primary purpose — to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers and to provide a bulwark against uncertainty.

Drawdown from the AAWS Reserve Fund

Though Seventh Tradition contributions increased from May through September for A.A. World Services, Inc., the General Service Board authorized in October, a drawdown of $1.5 million from the Reserve Fund to cover cash flow requirements in the 4th quarter of 2020. As stated in the October 7 letter, in May, A.A.W.S. drew down $3 million to address the sudden emergency situation related to the severe drop in revenue in March and April. Also, over the summer they refunded nearly $4 million for 2020 International Convention registrations.