Well, not yet, but according to a recent motion* passed at the Annual Business Conference, a first-of-it’s-kind charter could be on the way! (*find the report at https://acawso.org/abc-awc-study/)
Wait, haven’t I heard this before?
Indeed, you have. The idea of a ‘conference charter’ is not new. It’s been the focus of Proposals and Delegate discussions for years. There have been Subcommittees and Study Groups formed to look at the ACA Service Structure and Charters in the past. As it stands, those studies and the passionate interest of WSO volunteers and Delegates alike have produced… nothing. For whatever reasons, and without casting aspersions, the world of ACA is without a Conference Charter, and yet, paradoxically, desiring one.
Enter: Me
Hi. My name is Jim. I attend a daily online ACA meditation meeting, global in nature.
My ACA service history primarily includes years of planning the Annual Business Conferences - when members actually went to a conference. (Imagine that.) I’ve also helped administer the Ballot Proposal process. This explains the steps I took, upon hearing that the 2022 ABC was establishing a group to explore possible changes to the conference content and experience. I emphatically said, “Nah, not interested. Been there, done that.”
Upon further reflection, I thought, I have a lot of experience… perhaps I can just sit in the back row and be a resource, in case they want to know about past practices.
And so… here I am… Co-Chair of the ABC Study Subcommittee. Gotta laugh.
The Charter
The aforementioned motion, approved by the delegation, includes “drafting a charter for the conference”. So, we have our task. And by ‘we’, I mean the fellowship of ACA. And the Delegates, in particular.
Please consider this your invitation to participate. Yes… you.
What does ‘participate’ mean? Well, at the least, you would attend some, or most of our meetings. Additionally, you may want to voice an opinion. You might consider reading whatever we’re writing. And you may want to share your experience with fellow ACAs. The work of our Group will carry on for months, most likely. You will not be required to stay involved. Come. Go. Come back.
Now, you may ask yourself, “What’s in it for me? And my group?”
I can only offer my experience. Service at WSO provided me a great opportunity for personal growth. I’ve learned how to write effectively. How to think, both collaboratively and critically. How to listen. And how to speak and not speak. I am grateful for those lessons.
These experiences ripple outward, with positive impacts, not only on my group, but with the people with whom I interact throughout the day.
So, what will be our outcome? We intend to write a Charter. A Conference Charter. Not a perfect charter, but a good-enough charter. One that may be perfected over time. If you would like to be involved, please write to us at [email protected].
By the way, I have had no interest in writing a Charter… still don’t. Years ago, a wise woman told me, “What you resist, persists.” It seems like the only way ‘out’ will be ‘through’. Guess the laugh’s on me.
Jim R