Throughout our Conference structure, we ought to maintain at all responsible levels a traditional "Right of Participation," taking care that each classification or group of our world servants shall be allowed a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge.

The principle of "Right of Participation" is built into the General Service Conference through the Conference Charter. Voting Members include not only delegates, but also the trustees, and the directors and staff members of AA World Services (i. e., GSO) and the AA Grapevine.

In the Same way, the boards of these two operating entities include as voting members not only trustees, but also non-trustee directors and paid administrators and staff members.

The Chairperson of the General Service Board appoints non-trustee members to the standing committees in order to have the advantage of their expertise, and staff members serve as committee secretaries. "There are no 'superiors,' no 'inferiors,' and no 'advisers.'"  New trustees on the General Service Board and new directors of the AAWS and Grapevine boards are sometimes surprised to see paid executives, staff members and outside accountants attending the board meetings. They are invited because of AA's "Right of Participation." Thus the trustees and directors" are put into direct communication with these workers, who... feel wanted and needed. Although they do not vote, these workers may freely participate."

Bill warns against the possibility of new delegates or trustees trying to "weaken, modify, or toss out" the "Right pf Participation." He cites arguments by delegates to take away the trustees', directors', and staff members' votes at the Conference. Certainly, he says, "our trustees and service workers are not less conscientious, experienced, and wise than the delegates."

"It is vital," he continues, "to preserve the traditional 'Right of Participation,' in the face of every tendency to whittle it down."

Finally, there is a spiritual reason for the "Right of Participation." All of us desire to belong. In AA, no members are "second class." The "Right od Participation" therefore reinforces Tradition Two, that no member is placed in "ultimate authority" over another. We perform our service tasks better "when we are sure we belong - when our 'participation' assures us we are truly the 'trusted servants' described in Tradition Two."