Class A Trustee

Board Member - Volunteer Trustee (Non-Alcoholic) General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous

About AA

We are a Fellowship of people who have lost the ability to control our drinking and have found ourselves in various kinds of trouble as a result of drinking. We attempt—most of us successfully—to create a satisfying way of life without alcohol. For this we find we need the help and support of other alcoholics in AA.

Alcoholics Anonymous also has to operate as a legal entity in Australia, supported by a Board made up of alcoholic members (Class B) and non-alcoholic members (Class A) Trustees.

About the General Service Board

The General Service Board comprises six Alcoholic Regional Trustees from across Australia, two Alcoholics General Service Trustees, and up to four non-Alcoholic (Class A) Trustees. Class A Trustees can be located anywhere in Australia.

The period of service for a Class A Trustee is currently five-years. The General Service Board Meets three times per year and attends the three-day National General Service Conference in November. We also have around 3 additional shorter business meetings by video conference during the year and as needed.

Two meetings and the Conference take place in Sydney, with the February Board Meeting held interstate.

Class A Trustees bring skills from many backgrounds to the General Service Board who function like any Not-For-Profit Board – addressing matters both inside and outside the organisation that may impact the current and future health of AA. AA carries out many service activities to help alcoholics recover including: • Public Information and Cooperation with the Professional Communities • Remote Communities and Accessibility • Literature printing, sales and distribution • Corrections and Treatment Facilities

In Australia, AA’s relations with professional bodies, organisations, health and corrections facilities and individuals involved with the problems of alcoholism are handled by elected members, supported by committees of The General Service Board and assisted by staff of The General Service Office.

Importantly, since Class A Trustees do not need to maintain anonymity (unlike alcoholic Board members), they can be the public face of AA, talking to media or otherwise in public. Like any Board we are looking for members who are dedicated and willing to bring experience and skills from their own professional backgrounds.

AA is dedicated to inclusivity and equality in all levels of membership and service. We have members from all walks of life, many cultures, and religions as well as people with no religious beliefs. We believe that our board composition should reflect our membership.

AA’s debt to those who do not share our disease but willingly share our problems is immense, going back to the beginning. One of our founders, Bill W wrote: “In the days when AA was unknown, it was the non-alcoholic Trustees who held up our hands before the public. They supplied us with ideas … They voluntarily spent hours on end, working side by side with us and among the grubbiest of details. They gave freely of their professional and financial wisdom. Now and then they helpfully mediated our difficulties.” Written in 1966, those words hold true today. Non-alcoholic Trustees remain a rich source of wisdom and perspective.

Reimbursement

Board Members are reimbursed for travel costs and accommodation/meals to attend meetings.

Time required

As our Board Members (Class A and B) are located all across Australia, Board Meetings are held over weekends - full days, 3 times annually, with additional shorter business meetings by video conference (around 3 through the year) . The Board also attends the annual 3-day conference held in Sydney. Committee meetings can be held quarterly by videoconference for 2 hours usually in the evening.

Contact and Apply

Please send a current resume/CV and a covering letter describing your interest in or connection to Alcoholics Anonymous, and why you believe you may be a suitable Non-Alcoholic Trustee to nominations@aa.org.au