EAI Motion to Adopt 2-Year Voting Eligibility
PROPOSED MOTION TO CHANGE FA-EAI *BODY* VOTING REQUIREMENTS
The Board of FA-EAI moves to change Article II, Section 1, the requirement of Individual Members having a voice and a vote at FA-EAI Body Meetings, from ninety (90) days to two (2) years of continuous abstinence. Please see the Rationale below.
CURRENT WORDING in FA-EAI Bylaws Governing Documents:
Article ll, FA-EAI Affiliates
Section 1: Individual Members: FA members who are committed to a Meeting affiliated with FA-EAI or its Chapters and who have ninety (90) days of continuous abstinence will have a voice and a vote at FA-EAI meetings.
TO READ:
Article ll, FA-EAI Affiliates
Section 1, Individual Members
a. FA members who are committed to a Meeting affiliated with FA-EAI or its Chapters who have two (2) years of continuous abstinence will have a voice and a vote concerning FA-EAI Bylaws, Standing Rules of Order (SROs, formerly known as Continuing Effects Motions or CEMs), and FA-EAI Officer Elections at FA-EAI Body Meetings.
b. Members with ninety (90) days of continuous abstinence may participate in all other business and discussion.
c. Members of Groups, Chapters, Meetings, and FA-EAI Committees, when conducting business at their respective meetings, may still adhere to each group’s own voice/vote requirements.
RATIONALE
When FA began in 1998, there were approximately one hundred members worldwide. Although some members had unbroken abstinent years in OA, it was not widespread. Ninety days of unbroken abstinence was considered quite an accomplishment.
In the 26 years of FA’s existence and its increased membership, the length of abstinence required to have a voice and a vote has increased to match our organizational experience. For example, there is now a seven-year requirement for members of the Board of World Service. Five years are now required for a voice and a vote for WSBC Voting Members. Western Area Intergroup has changed their voice and vote requirements to two years. A change to our FA-EAI bylaws would bring consistency to bylaws of both Intergroups.
Now that our membership has grown, we believe that the business of running FA-EAI should rely on those members with longer-term experience and, while any member with less than 2 years of unbroken abstinence is welcome and encouraged to attend and learn, our responsibility is to help them achieve their primary focus of getting or staying abstinent, without the added pressures of organizational responsibility.
Updated Motion wording, December 2024
