[MajestyJo]

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"It was evident that here was a world-wide movement
that had no direct access to its own principal service
affairs. The Trustees had authority over our services;
A.A. itself had no authority. The simple trusteeship had been the ideal guardian for our infancy and adolescence, but how in future years could it possibly go on functioning as it had? …

"At first we had talked vaguely about a hand-picked advisory council or an elected conference of some sort. But since there was no imminent danger, no action was taken. …

"Following a long plea for an elected A.A. conference and other reforms, and after having pointed out that the Trustees had all the authority there was, with no responsibility to anyone, even to Dr. Bob and me…

"I set out on the road in 1948 to sound out among the groups the possibility of an elected conference to which the Board of Trustees could eventually become accountable.—Bill W."

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 210-11

Posted on my site Soundness of Mind - April 2008