The Board of Trustees has delegated to its Executive Committee the responsibility to administer the OA World Service Office.
-Concept 8
When I started to do service above the group level in OA, I began to learn about OA’s structure and how OA takes care of the business side of OA. We have a building, a publishing team, a bookstore, warehouse, a website, we have staff who do designated jobs that are all paid with our 7th Tradition. Indeed, someone needs do the work, but who oversees this?
It’s true that no one governs in OA (Tradition 2) and we are not organized as stated in our Tradition 9, but we do have a service structure that maps out how we function. As we work above the group level and gain experience in the program, members can be affirmed to become a member on the Board of Trustees. Through group conscience of the World Service Business Conference Trustees are voted in by the Fellowship.
The Board of Trustees then delegate an Executive Committee to oversee/administer the World Service office. We have trusted servants who are chosen to lead. Their skills and experience in program make effective leadership (Concept 3)
The Board of Trustees who are members, they choose/delegate the Executive committee. They oversee the business side. They too once started in OA as a group member like you and me. They gained the experience by working above the group level and brought to the table their gifts to serve OA in such a way.
Our own groups, we are a microcosm of this Concept. We have those who chair our meetings, committees, intergroups, service bodies and regions. Those who take the lead positions do have to delegate jobs, so work get done. In doing this, we gain the experience in how to delegate.
Just like any business or even family, there are those who oversee the business side of things with their experience.
When I grew up, my parents oversaw the running of our home. My Dad didn’t know much of the business side, he grew up in a home where the boys worked, brought home the money and the wife took care of paying the bills and buying the groceries. My mom was like a treasurer; she watched over expenses and budgeted things so we all could get the things in our household. My Dad took care of other things within our family unit. We all had jobs delegated to us so that things got done. We trusted my mom and dad’s experience, and we worked together to make our home functional.
We all basically operate within a structure to provide a stable environment whatever the cause. Whomever oversees/administers, their experience is trusted as they delegate the work needed.
Another Concept to practice in all my affairs
-Anonymous
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