“The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They have custodial oversight of the separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities.”

“The trustees are not figureheads. They are the principal planners and administrators of AA’s world service affairs.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 8

Concept 8 defines the trustees’ role in concrete terms: they plan, they administer, and they oversee the service entities that carry out AA’s work.

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What it means

“Principal planners and administrators” — the trustees set overall policy and manage finances. They are the strategic leadership of AA’s world service structure.

“The trustees must be people of real ability and dedication. The work they do is too important to be left to those who are merely willing.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 8

“Custodial oversight” — the trustees don’t run the day-to-day operations of AA’s service entities. They oversee them — ensuring they stay true to AA’s principles and serve the Fellowship effectively.

“Oversight without micromanagement. The trustees set direction and hold the service entities accountable — but they trust the directors and staff to do their jobs.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 8

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Why it matters

“Without effective trustee oversight, AA’s service entities could drift from their purpose. The trustees are the guardians of AA’s mission at the world service level.” — Twelve Concepts for World Service, Concept 8

This concept describes the practical mechanics of how AA’s world service structure works. It’s less philosophical than some of the others — but no less important.

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Related tags

service · principles · concepts

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All Concepts

Concept 1 · Concept 2 · Concept 3 · Concept 4 · Concept 5 · Concept 6 · Concept 7 · Concept 8 · Concept 9 · Concept 10 · Concept 11 · Concept 12