Dual Service — AA Group and Host Club

Is it a fact that holders of AA Group "offices" (trusted servants) should not hold an office in a club formed for the purpose of providing a place to hold AA meetings? While the potential for a conflict of interest is recognized, I can find no documented basis for that claim, a claim allegedly attributed to the GSO. Thank you.

It is important to remember when dealing with a question like this that AA does not have any opinions or rules on what someone can do "outside" of AA. The subject is closely dealt with in Tradition Six. See: http://www.aa-louisiana.org/tradlong.htm

This Web site, like AA, only deals with questions from the perspective from within AA. By the nature of how AA is setup, there is nothing that can guide a person in what they do apart from AA, and "clubs" while they may provide space for meetings are not part of AA. It would be like AA having a recommendation on how a member could serve at their local Rotary Club or school board; it just isn't AA business. There is however a "guideline" on clubs available from the AA GSO in PDF format at: http://aa.org/en_pdfs/mg-03_clubs.pdf which may be of some help in making a decision.

As with all things in AA, the ultimate decision on what is appropriate is decided by your group, in AA there is no greater authority on what is "right" than the individual group. Two groups meeting in the same club house may differ on what is "appropriate representation" in the group and club and both would be equally correct. The club may have an entirely different position on who can serve it and in what capacity, but that would, again, be a separate thing from AA.

Here are some more thoughts that may help you make a decision but this may venture beyond strictly facts:

If one were to serve as a decision-maker of an entity that rents space to an A.A. group in which one holds a service position, these questions arise: Is there any gain, financial or otherwise, if one were to make a decision in one capacity that may adversely affect the other? (For example negotiating rents above or below market rent.) Is there any incentive to make a decision that may not be in the best interest of each entity? It is common to abstain from participating in decisions that present an apparent or perceived conflict of interest. Sometimes, though no conflict exists, someone may perceive a conflict-one can do the right thing and still be troubled by the "appearance of impropriety."

The simple solution is to wear only one hat. That may not be in the best interest of both organizations. Another simple solution is to have no active role in any organization (not recommended). Sometimes, the simple solution is not always the best solution. Meditation following a prayer for guidance seems the fitting way to answer this general question.