S.L.A.A. Chapter 3 — Process Visualizations

Chapter 3 · Section 1

Item for Discussion (IFD) Process

IFDs are discussed but not voted on. The purpose is to gather group conscience and inform future Motions. No binding action is taken at this stage.

Facilitator Action

Speaking Opportunity

Closing Step

Note / Reminder

IFD Discussion Flow

1 Facilitator reads IFD number, page ref, and attachment pages — then reads IFD aloud including intent & requirements

2 Facilitator directs Conference to Feedback/Discussion column in the right-hand column of the ABM Agenda

3 Submitter / Designated Representative invited to speak — up to 90 seconds, or passes

4 Board of Trustees invited to provide a prepared statement (no time limit; rare without written statement)

5 Conference Committees invited to address the IFD — 90 seconds each; Submitter committee may not speak twice

6 Intergroups / Groups functioning as Intergroup invited — 90 seconds each; Submitter Intergroup may not speak twice

7 Open discussion — all attendees (not restricted to voting members); no Pro/Con microphones; 90 sec per speaker; 10–20 min total at Facilitator's discretion; first-time speakers prioritized

⏱ Time Keeper calls "Time" when discussion period expires

IFD CLOSED for this ABM
Discussion captured in official minutes · Space reserved in next year's Agenda First Version for a Motion on this topic

Key Distinction: No vote is ever taken on an IFD. It is strictly a discussion tool. A Motion on the same topic may appear on next year's Agenda.

Chapter 3 · Section 2

Standard Motion — 3-Vote Process

Standard Motions require a simple majority (>50% of all checked-in members). The process allows up to three votes with minority opinion between each non-unanimous result.

Setup Step

Vote Round

Passes

Fails

Closed

Decision Point

Phase 1 — Pre-Vote Setup (Steps 1–9)

1 Facilitator reads Motion number, page ref & attachment pages

2 Facilitator (or designee) reads Motion aloud: text, intent, requirements

3 Facilitator states required threshold: "More than 50% of checked-in voting members"

4 Facilitator directs Conference to Feedback/Discussion column

5 Submitter / Designated Rep — up to 90 seconds

6 Board of Trustees — prepared statement, no time limit

7 Conference Committees — 90 seconds each

8 Intergroups / Groups — 90 seconds each; chat disabled at this point

9 Individual Pro/Con Comments — chat enabled; 3 Pro + 3 Con, alternating; 1 turn per speaker; Facilitator may extend beyond 3+3 at sole discretion

Motion Binding on the Board & Effectiveness

⚖️ When is a Motion binding on the Board of Trustees?

A Motion that receives a 2/3 vote of ALL checked-in Conference members is binding on the BOT — regardless of whether a simple majority would have passed it.

Example: 45 members checked in → binding threshold = 30 votes

Exception: By-Laws and Literature Motions are not subject to the binding rule — they either amend the By-Laws / approve literature directly, or they don't.

⏰ When does an approved Motion take effect?

Immediately — unless the text of the Motion itself states a different effective date or trigger.

If no timing language appears in the Motion, it is effective the moment the Facilitator declares it passed and closed.

Phase 2 — Voting Rounds (Steps 10–13)

Before each vote: non-voters removed to waiting room · ED confirms voting member count · 30 seconds of silence · 45-second poll window

🗳 1ST VOTE

Was the 1st vote unanimous?

✓ Unanimous FOR

MOTION PASSES
Binding on BOT if ≥ 2/3 · Closed & removed

✗ Unanimous AGAINST

MOTION FAILS
Closed & removed

NOT UNANIMOUS → Minority Opinion

Minority speaks — up to 60 seconds each · One turn per person · Facilitator may allow new information again

🗳 2ND VOTE

Did the majority CHANGE direction?

No change in majority

Motion result stands (pass or fail)
Check 2/3 for binding · Closed

Majority flipped

New minority (old majority) may speak — 60 sec each

🗳 3RD & FINAL VOTE

Result of 3rd vote?

Majority FOR

MOTION PASSES
Binding on BOT if ≥ 2/3

Majority AGAINST

MOTION FAILS
Closed & removed

After a PASS: Any member may immediately raise a Challenge to Group Conscience → triggers immediate majority vote with no discussion or minority opinion

Vote Round	Result	Outcome
1st	Unanimous For	PASSES — binding if ≥ 2/3. Closed.
1st	Unanimous Against	FAILS. Closed.
1st	Not unanimous	→ Minority speaks → 2nd Vote
2nd	Same majority direction	Result stands. Closed.
2nd	Majority flipped	→ New minority speaks → 3rd Vote
3rd	Any result	Final — no further votes. Closed.
Any	Tie	FAILS immediately. Closed.

Chapter 3 · Section 3

By-Laws Motion Process

By-Laws Motions require a 2/3 vote of all checked-in members to pass. No floor amendments permitted. Up to 3 votes with minority opinion between rounds.

Setup Step

Vote Round

Adopted (≥ 2/3)

Not Adopted (< 2/3)

Closed

Decision Point

By-Laws Motion — Complete Flow

Facilitator reads: current wording · strikethrough/underline new wording · intent & requirements

⚠️ "By-Laws Motions require a 2/3 vote to pass. Amendments from the floor are NOT allowed."

Feedback/Discussion column · Submitter (90s) · BOT statement · Conference Committees (90s) · Intergroups (90s) · 3 Pro / 3 Con individual comments

Voting mechanic same as Standard Motion: non-voters removed · ED count · 30s silence · 45s poll. But the threshold is 2/3, not majority.

🗳 1ST VOTE — threshold: 2/3 of all checked-in members

Evaluate 1st vote result

Unanimous For

BY-LAWS AMENDED
Unanimous — closed

≥ 2/3 but not unanimous

BY-LAWS AMENDED
"Opposed" minority may speak · If none speak, stands · If they speak → 2nd vote

Unanimous Against or < 2/3

NOT ADOPTED
"For" minority may speak · If none → stands · If they speak → 2nd vote

Minority speaks — 60 seconds each · One turn per person

🗳 2ND VOTE — threshold: 2/3

Did the 2/3 threshold status CHANGE?

Same result as 1st vote

Result stands (adopted or not)
Closed & removed

Status changed

New losing side (those who now oppose the new result) may speak — 60s each

🗳 3RD & FINAL VOTE — threshold: 2/3

Did the Motion receive ≥ 2/3?

Yes — ≥ 2/3

BY-LAWS AMENDED
Written By-Laws updated · Closed

No — < 2/3

NOT ADOPTED
By-Laws unchanged · Closed

After a PASS: Challenge to Group Conscience available → immediate majority vote, no discussion

Vote	Scenario	Outcome
1st	Unanimous For	BY-LAWS AMENDED. Closed.
1st	≥ 2/3 but not unanimous	ADOPTED — opposed minority may speak → if they do, 2nd vote
1st	< 2/3	NOT ADOPTED — for minority may speak → if they do, 2nd vote
1st	Unanimous Against	NOT ADOPTED. Closed.
2nd	Same 2/3 status as 1st	Stands. Closed.
2nd	2/3 status changed	New minority speaks → 3rd Vote
3rd	Any result	Final. Closed. No further action.
Any	Tie	FAILS. Closed immediately.

Chapter 3 · Section 4

Literature Motion Process

Literature Motions require a 2/3 vote of all checked-in members. If adopted, literature moves to the Publication of Approved Literature Stage. The submitter/presenter is the CLC Representative.

Setup Step

Vote Round

Adopted (≥ 2/3)

Not Adopted

Closed

Literature Motion — Complete Flow

Facilitator reads Motion number, page refs, text, intent & requirements

⚠️ "Literature Motions require a 2/3 vote of all checked-in voting members."

Feedback/Discussion column → CLC Representative (90s) → BOT statement → Conference Committees (90s) → Intergroups (90s) → 3 Pro / 3 Con individual comments via chat

🗳 1ST VOTE — threshold: 2/3 of all checked-in members

Evaluate 1st vote result

Unanimous For

LITERATURE ADOPTED
→ Publication of Approved Literature Stage · Closed

≥ 2/3 but not unanimous

Those who voted Against may speak · If none → first vote stands adopted · If they speak → 2nd vote

< 2/3 or Unanimous Against

Those who voted For may speak · If none → first vote stands not adopted · If they speak → 2nd vote

Minority speaks (raise virtual hand) — up to 60s each · Facilitator may limit to new information after first speaker

🗳 2ND VOTE — threshold: 2/3

Did the 2/3 threshold status CHANGE?

No change

Result stands
Adopted or not · Closed

Status changed

New minority may speak · Raise virtual hand · 60s each

🗳 3RD & FINAL VOTE — threshold: 2/3

Did the Motion receive ≥ 2/3?

Yes — ≥ 2/3

LITERATURE ADOPTED
→ Proceeds to publication · Closed

No — < 2/3

NOT ADOPTED
Literature not published · Closed

After a PASS: Challenge to Group Conscience available → immediate majority vote · No discussion · No minority opinion

Quick Comparison: Standard vs. By-Laws vs. Literature Motions

Feature	Standard Motion	By-Laws Motion	Literature Motion
Vote threshold	Majority (>50%)	2/3 of checked-in	2/3 of checked-in
Floor amendments	Allowed (one per Motion)	NOT allowed	Not addressed (CLC controls text)
Presenter	Submitter / Designated Rep	Submitter / Designated Rep	CLC Representative
Binding on BOT?	Yes, if ≥ 2/3 for	N/A — amends By-Laws directly	N/A — triggers publication process
If adopted	Immediate effect unless stated otherwise	Written By-Laws updated	→ Publication of Approved Literature Stage
Challenge to GC?	Yes, on pass	Yes, on pass	Yes, on pass
Max votes	3	3	3

Time Keeper announces "Time" when period ends

4

Facilitator resumes exactly where business left off

⚠

Safety variant: If a member's behavior is overly disruptive or raises safety concerns, a special breakout room may be used to address the issue separately — without interrupting the General Assembly

⚡ Challenge to Group Conscience

Available only when a Motion is declared APPROVED. Must be raised after the Facilitator announces "Approved" but before the Motion is declared closed and removed from the Agenda. Once closed, no challenge is possible.

1

Member raises virtual hand immediately after Facilitator declares APPROVED — before "closed and removed" is stated

2

Facilitator calls immediate vote: "Does this result represent group conscience?"

3

Vote: For = yes it does · Against = no it does not · No discussion · No minority opinion

4

Majority rules: if "yes" — Motion stays approved; if "no" — Motion not approved

!

Applies to Standard, By-Laws, and Literature Motions · NOT available for Motion to Table, Removal, or Withdrawal

🚫 Calling the Vote (NOT USED)

Unlike Robert's Rules of Order, the ABM does NOT allow members to "call the question" to end discussion early. This is by design — the process values full discussion.

!

If anyone attempts this, Facilitator states: "Calling the vote is not a tool used at the ABM" and continues regular process

Removal vs. Withdrawal — Side-by-Side

Feature	Removal	Withdrawal
Timing	Before Motion is read	After Motion is read, before vote
Who can act	Submitter only	Submitter or designated representative
Re-submission	No restriction — any future year	Must sit out 1 ABM OR make substantial change
Effect	Motion gone from this ABM	Motion gone from this ABM
Vote required?	No	No

Chapter 3 · Section 6

ABM Roles & Responsibilities

These roles are established before and at each General Assembly. Some are pre-assigned; others are chosen fresh at the start of each session.

F

Facilitator

Guides the entire ABM. Sole authority on rulings. Must remain neutral. Steps down if Submitter.

›

AF

Asst. Facilitator

Supports Facilitator. Watches for concerns. Provides input when asked. Steps up if Facilitator steps down.

›

BF

Back-up Facilitator

Available if either above cannot continue. Often in training capacity. Advises when asked.

›

RK

Record Keeper

Produces first draft of ABM Minutes from audio recording. Not a voting member.

›

VC

Vote Counter(s)

Two members count independently; compare; report to Facilitator. Made Co-hosts for chat. (In-person only; digital voting replaces this.)

›

TK

Time Keeper

Monitors time guidelines. Announces "Time" when periods expire. Ends Spiritual Reminders.

›

SM

Spiritual Minder

Returning Delegate. Primary responsibility for calling periods of silence. Called on by any member via private message.

🗓 Pre-Established Roles

Set before the ABM begins — same throughout the entire ABC/M:

•

Facilitator

•

Assistant Facilitator

•

Back-up Facilitator

•

Record Keeper (selected by ABM Planning Committee)

⚡ Established Per General Assembly

Selected at the start of each General Assembly session:

•

Vote Counters (2 members; not applicable for digital voting)

•

Time Keeper

•

Spiritual Minder (returning Delegate)

🔄 Succession Rules

If a Facilitator role becomes vacant:

1

Facilitator steps down → Assistant Facilitator becomes Facilitator

2

Assistant steps down → Back-up steps in

3

All Facilitators must step down if they are the Submitter of the item being heard

📹 Virtual ABM Requirements

All participants must:

•

Have camera ON and be visible during all General Assemblies

•

Camera off = considered as having left the room (may lose voting opportunity)

•

Medical/legal exception: email ED 48 hours before ABC/M

•

Non-voters removed to waiting room during each vote poll

Chapter 3 · Section 7

Board of Trustees Election Process

Three BOT positions are filled each year. The election is managed by the Board Development Committee (BDC). Candidates must receive ≥ 50% of eligible votes.

D1

Day 1

BDC explains process · Recognizes current nominees and outgoing BOT members · Announces nomination schedule

›

D2a

Day 2 AM

Floor nominations opened · Anyone may volunteer or nominate another (must accept) · BDC asks 3 qualifying questions

›

D2b

Day 2 PM

Written questionnaires distributed to all floor nominees · Deadline: 9:00 PM in FWS office time zone

›

D3

Day 3 Evening

Candidate Q&A · Each speaks 5 min on Conference Theme (a Tradition) · Floor Q&A moderated by BDC · 1–2 min responses

›

D4

Last Day AM

Election held first thing · Doors locked during vote · BDC counts with impartial observer · Results announced

Floor Nomination Flow (Day 2)

BDC opens floor nominations · Anyone may volunteer or nominate a person present

Nominee steps to microphone and accepts the nomination officially

Is the nominee an S.L.A.A. member?

S.L.A.A. Member

BDC asks: "Are you willing to serve?" + "Do you meet the sobriety requirement?" (3 years continuous)

Non-Member

BDC asks: "Are you willing to serve?" + "Are you willing to follow the principles, Steps, Traditions, and Concepts?"

Nominee receives Written Questionnaire · Must complete by 9:00 PM deadline · Must be available for Oral Interview before Q&A session

BDC reviews questionnaires · Assigns two members for Oral Interview (1 lead, 1 record) · Interviewee reviews recorded answers for accuracy

Materials copied and distributed to full Conference before Day 3 Q&A session

Voting & Results Flow (Last Day Morning)

BDC explains the vote: election of 3-year terms and/or confirmation of appointed members · Doors locked · Ballots distributed

Absentee ballots: only for members unable to attend last day · Must arrange with BDC in advance · Must be submitted before voting begins

Ballots collected · Doors remain locked until count is complete · BDC + impartial observer + 2 vote tallyers count in separate room/virtual breakout

Did any candidate receive ≥ 50% of eligible votes?

Yes — ≥ 50%

Candidate ELECTED
Top 3 vote-getters above 50% fill the open seats if more than 3 qualify

No — < 50%

NOT ELECTED
Candidate not seated on BOT

BDC announces only names of elected candidates — vote counts not disclosed publicly · Ballots given to Executive Director for confidential keeping · Individual candidates may privately learn their own count from the ED

Newly elected BOT members begin first mandatory in-person BOT meeting — same day, after election

📊 Election Math

3

Open BOT seats filled each year (staggered terms)

50%

Minimum vote share required to be elected

Top 3

If >3 candidates exceed 50%, top 3 by vote count are elected

3 yr

Normal term length · Appointed mid-term positions confirmed at next ABM

👥 Count Team Composition

1

Person to open ballots

2

People to tally votes independently

1

Impartial observer (not a candidate, not a BOT member)

!

Results documented with physical download shared with FWS for record retention

📋 BDC Qualifying Questions

Asked of all nominees at the microphone during nominations:

Q1

"Are you willing to serve on the BOT?"

Q2a

S.L.A.A. members: "Do you meet the sobriety requirement?" (3 years continuous as of election date)

Q2b

Non-members: "Are you willing to follow the principles and Steps, Traditions and Concepts of the S.L.A.A. program?"

Facilitator Quick Reference · Draft 3 March 2026

ABC/M General Assembly — Quick Reference

All items from the Facilitator Cross-Reference Guide, with visual cues and cross-links to the relevant detail tab. CSM 2024 page references shown in each row.

🛡 Safety Statement — CSM p.37

Read at the opening of the ABM. The Board is committed to providing a safe meeting environment for all attendees. Key points:

All attendees are asked to refrain from behavior that compromises safety or is insulting/attacking toward other members
Any attendee may call a Spiritual Reminder at any time
Calling proper authorities does not violate any Tradition and is encouraged when someone breaks the law or endangers another person
The BOT reserves the right to modify and update the Safety Statement

Safety + Disruptive Behavior: A special breakout room may be set up to address members deemed overly disruptive to the General Assembly. This is a safety tool — separate from the Spiritual Reminder process, which is for spiritual centering rather than behavior management.

🗳 Vote Definitions — CSM p.39

Majority Vote

More than 50% of ALL Conference members checked in at the ABM — regardless of how many are in the room at the moment of the vote.

Example: 45 members checked in → Majority = 23 or more votes

Used for: Standard Motions, Motion to Table, Challenge to Group Conscience

Two-Thirds Vote

Two-thirds or more of ALL Conference members checked in — again regardless of room presence at vote time.

Example: 44 members checked in → 2/3 = 30 or more votes

Used for: By-Laws Motions, Literature Motions, Binding on the Board determination

Tie Vote

A Tie at any vote round (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) on any ABM Agenda Motion means the Motion has not passed and is immediately closed and removed from the Agenda.

No further votes. No minority opinion. Closed.

Important: Both the Majority and 2/3 thresholds are calculated from the total checked-in count — this number can go UP during the ABM (late arrivals) but never comes DOWN (early departures do not reduce the count). The threshold may therefore increase mid-ABM.

📊 Quorum Calculation — CSM p.39

Quorum = 4/5 (80%) of ALL Conference members checked in

Conference members = authorized voters who have checked in at any point during the ABM.

Key rules:
• The number can increase during the ABM (new arrivals add to the total) but never decreases
• If a member leaves early, the quorum count does not change
• If an alternate replaces a Conference member, the count stays the same
• All voting members are expected to be present at every General Assembly session
• A vote in progress: all voting members must remain present absent a medical emergency

LIVE CALCULATOR

Total Voting Members
Checked In at This ABM

Enter the checked-in count
above to calculate thresholds

📋 Complete Facilitator Cross-Reference — All Events

Event	Key Points for Facilitator	CSM Ref	Detail Tab
Safety Statement	Read at opening of ABM. BOT may update. Disruptive members → breakout room option.	p.37	★ Quick Reference (above)
Calling the Vote	Inapplicable at ABM. Facilitator redirects: "Calling the vote is not a tool used at the ABM."	p.77	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Challenge to Group Conscience	Only on an APPROVED motion. Must be raised after "Approved" announced but before "closed and removed." Applies to Standard, By-Laws, Literature. NOT for Table/Remove/Withdraw.	p.52 (Standard) p.62 (By-Laws) p.72 (Literature)	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Discussion Extension	Facilitator has sole discretion to allow more than 3 Pro and 3 Con individual comments beyond the standard limit.	p.46	Tab 2 — Standard Motion (Phase 1, Step 9)
Motion Amendments	During discussion only. Submitter accepts (friendly, no vote) or rejects (full vote process). One amendment per Motion maximum. NOT available for By-Laws Motions.	p.74	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Motion — Binding on the Board	Any motion receiving ≥ 2/3 of all checked-in members is binding on the BOT. Does NOT apply to By-Laws or Literature Motions (those have their own direct effect).	p.39	Tab 2 — Standard Motion (Binding callout)
Motion Effectiveness	Immediate upon passage — unless the Motion text itself specifies otherwise.	p.40	Tab 2 — Standard Motion (Binding callout)
Motion Removal / Withdrawal	Removal: before Motion is read, no restriction on resubmission. Withdrawal: after read, before vote; must sit out 1 ABM or make substantial change.	p.74	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Motion to Table	Requires a second. Not debatable. Majority vote. If passes: same text, next ABM, once only. Submitter must request return to Agenda.	p.74	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Point of Order	Procedural challenge. Interrupts business. Facilitator alone makes ruling after hearing experienced members if needed.	p.74	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Point of Clarification	Ask for essential information only — may NOT be used to give information or make a comment.	p.74	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Quorum Calculation	4/5 (80%) of all checked-in members. Number only goes up, never down. See example above.	p.39	★ Quick Reference (above)
Spiritual Reminder	30 or 60 seconds of silence. Non-procedural. Any member may request via Spiritual Minder. Entire Conference stops. Facilitator resumes from same point.	p.77	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Spiritual Reminder — Safety	Disruptive members may be moved to a breakout room (virtual ABM). This is separate from the Spiritual Reminder and is a safety/conduct tool.	p.37	Tab 5 — Procedural Options
Vote — Majority Definition	More than 50% of all checked-in members. Example: 45 checked in → 23 votes needed.	p.39	★ Quick Reference (Vote Definitions above)
Vote — Tie Effect	At any vote round (1st, 2nd, or 3rd): Motion has NOT passed. Immediately closed and removed from Agenda. No further action.	p.40	★ Quick Reference (Vote Definitions above)
Vote — Two-Thirds Definition	Two-thirds or more of all checked-in members. Example: 44 checked in → 30 votes needed. Used for By-Laws, Literature, and BOT-binding determination.	p.39	★ Quick Reference (Vote Definitions above)

Annual Business MeetingProcess Visualizations

Item for Discussion (IFD) Process

Standard Motion — 3-Vote Process

By-Laws Motion Process

Literature Motion Process

Other Procedural Options

📋 Point of Order

❓ Point of Clarification / Information

✏️ Amendment to a Motion

📌 Motion to Table

🗑 Removal of a Motion

↩ Withdrawal of a Motion

🤫 Spiritual Reminder

⚡ Challenge to Group Conscience

🚫 Calling the Vote (NOT USED)

ABM Roles & Responsibilities

🗓 Pre-Established Roles

⚡ Established Per General Assembly

🔄 Succession Rules

📹 Virtual ABM Requirements

Board of Trustees Election Process

📊 Election Math

👥 Count Team Composition

📋 BDC Qualifying Questions

ABC/M General Assembly — Quick Reference

Annual Business Meeting
Process Visualizations