The 12 Concepts of CMA
The Twelve Concepts for World Service are an interpretation of CMA’s world service structure as it emerged through CMA’s early history and experience.
CMA's Twelve Concepts were themselves adapted from the The Twelve Concepts for World Service originally written by Bill W., the Co-Founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and were adopted by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1962.
The Twelve Concepts guide how CMA General Services (GSO) interacts with the Areas and Districts within the CMA service structure.
CMA's 12 Concepts for World Service
Final responsibility and ultimate authority for CMA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of the Fellowship of CMA as a whole.
The General Service Conference of CMA has become, for nearly every practical purpose, the active voice and the effect conscience of the Fellowship in its world affairs.
To create and insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of CMA with a traditional “RIGHT OF DECISION,” which allows our trusted servants to decide what matters can be disposed of by themselves and what matters require them to report, consult, or ask for direction.
At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “RIGHT OF PARTICIPATION,” allowing our trusted servants voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.
Throughout our structure, a traditional “RIGHT OF APPEAL” and a “RIGHT OF PETITION” ought to prevail, thus assuring that minority opinions will be heard and personal grievances will be carefully considered.
Although the General Service Conference has the final decision respecting overall matters of general policy and finance, it recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most of these matters, especially the day-to-day functioning of CMA’s world services, should be exercised by the Trustees acting together as the Board.
The Bylaws of Crystal Meth Anonymous is a legal instrument that fully empowers the Board of Trustees to manage and conduct all of CMA’s world services. The Conference Charter itself is NOT a legal document; it relies instead upon the force of tradition and the power of the CMA treasury for its final effectiveness.
Our Board of Trustees is the principal planner and administrator of overall policy and finance, as decided by the General Service Conference. It also has custodial oversight of CMA’s separately incorporated service entities, which the Board exercises by its ability to select the executives of these entities.
Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership, once exercised by the founders of CMA and the General Service Committee, must necessarily be assumed by the Board of Trustees.
Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined.
While the Trustees hold responsibility for the administration of CMA’s world services, they should always have the assistance of the best possible committees, staffs, consultants, and, if necessary, corporate executives who are not Trustees. Such individuals, whether volunteers or paid employees, should be chosen with care. Serious concern should be given as to how they are selected, what qualifications they possess, and what rights and duties they will have.
The General Warranties of CMA’s General Service Conference: In all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the CMA tradition, taking care that it never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds and reserve be its prudent financial principle; that it place none of its members in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that it reach all important decisions by discussion, vote and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that its actions never be personally punitive nor an incitement to public controversy; and although it may act for the Fellowship of CMA as a whole, it will never perform acts of government, and it will always remain democratic in thought and action like the Fellowship which it serves.