Approved GSC Charter

[GSC]

Approved on October 9, 2016. Revision approved on March 8, 2020.

1. Purpose: The International General Service Conference of Gaming Addicts Anonymous (hereafter referred to as “General Service Conference”, “the Conference”, or “GSC”) is the guardian of international services and of the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Gaming Addicts Anonymous in English. The Conference shall be a service body only; never a government for Gaming Addicts Anonymous (G.A.A.). The Conference is governed by all areas and groups worldwide that decide to participate in this conference. This Conference has a primary focus on (but is not limited to) English-language publications and meetings, but will assist wherever feasible with translations.
Other entities may create autonomous General Service Conferences of their own, which rely on the Twelve Traditions that are protected by this Conference. Wherever a General Service structure exists, this Conference will delegate sole right to publish our Conference-published literature to the service board of that structure. Only matters seriously affecting G.A.A.’s worldwide needs shall be the subject of joint consideration.

2. Composition: The Conference shall be composed of delegates, the Board of Trustees, and directors and staff members of G.A.A. International Services (G.A.A.I.S.) The aim of the Conference is to adopt a service structure very similar to the one employed by the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, such that a broad spectrum of members and groups exercise control over the direction of the entire service structure.

Until such time that five or more areas form and function as described below and each elect a Delegate, each Delegate will be elected by a G.A.A. group. Each G.A.A. group that holds regular public meetings for the purpose of abstinence from video games and has no other affiliation may elect one Delegate to the General Service Conference. Groups with more than seven weekly meetings may elect more than one Delegate, with the number of Delegates they may send determined as follows. Groups with eight to fourteen weekly meetings may send two Delegates and groups with fifteen or more weekly meetings may send three Delegates. No group may send more than three Delegates.
No individual Delegate may have more than one vote on the GSC, regardless of the number of groups or entities within G.A.A. that Delegate may represent.

3. Conference Relation to G.A.A.: The Conference will act for G.A.A. in the perpetuation and guidance of its international services in English, and it will also be the vehicle by which the G.A.A. movement can express its view upon all matters of vital G.A.A. policy and all hazardous deviations from G.A.A. Tradition. Delegates should be free to vote as their conscience dictates; they should also be free to decide what questions should be taken to the group level, whether for information, discussion, or their own direct instruction.
But no change in Article 12 of the Charter or in the Twelve Traditions of G.A.A. or in the Twelve Steps of G.A.A. may be made with less than the written consent of three-quarters of the G.A.A. groups, unless such changes are proposed and agreed upon within the first two years of this Charter's approval with the written consent of at least two-thirds of the G.A.A. groups.

4. Conference Relation to the Board of Trustees and its Corporate Services: The Conference will function as guides and advisers to the Board of Trustees and its related service corporations. The Conference will be expected to afford a reliable cross section of G.A.A. opinion for this purpose.

A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of all the Conference members registered. No substantial, non-urgent decisions may be made with less than four people. If the GSC has fewer than four people, focus must shift to recruitment of delegates and trustees.

It will be understood, as a matter of tradition, that a two-thirds vote of Conference members voting shall be considered binding upon G.A.A.I.S., provided the total vote constitutes at least a Conference quorum. But no such vote ought to impair the legal rights of G.A.A.I.S. to conduct routine business and make ordinary contracts relating thereto.

It will be further understood, regardless of the legal prerogatives of G.A.A.I.S., as a matter of tradition, that a three-quarters vote of all Conference members may bring about a reorganization of G.A.A.I.S. and the directors and staff members of its corporate services, if or when such reorganization is deemed essential. Such reorganization of staff members would have to comply with applicable laws affecting employees.

Under such a proceeding, the Conference may request resignations, may nominate new trustees, and may make all other necessary arrangements regardless of the legal prerogatives of G.A.A.I.S.. The Conference recognizes the principles contained within the Twelve Concepts, particularly the Right of Participation, and the Rights of Petition and Appeal reflected in Concepts IV and V. In keeping with these principles, the Conference may agree to hear Concept V Appeals brought by members of the Conference structure below the Conference level (i.e. the Board of Trustees.)

5. Area Assemblies, Composition of: At such time that the Conference decides to organize into areas, area assemblies will be composed of the elected general service representatives of all G.A.A. groups desiring to participate and elected committee members.

6. Area Assemblies, Purpose of: Every two years, area assemblies would conduct an election of area committee members, from which are elected delegates to the General Service Conference of Gaming Addicts Anonymous. Such area assemblies are concerned only with the international service affairs of Gaming Addicts Anonymous in English.

7. Area Assemblies, Methods of Electing Area Committee Members and Delegates: Whenever practicable, committee members are elected by written ballot without personal nomination. Delegates are selected from among such committee members by a two-thirds written ballot run-off, or by lot if neither of the two final candidates receives two-thirds votes.

8. Area Assemblies, Terms of Office for Area Committee Members and Delegates: Unless otherwise directed by the Conference, these terms of office shall all be concurrent and of two years’ duration each.

9. The General Service Conference Meetings: The Conference will meet at least quarterly, unless otherwise agreed upon. Special meetings may be called should there be a grave emergency. The Conference may also render advisory opinions at any time by a mail, internet or telephone poll in aid of the Board of Trustees or its related services.

10. The Board of Trustees: Composition, Jurisdiction, Responsibilities: The board of directors of Gaming Addicts Anonymous International Services shall be composed of trustees (gaming addicts and, possibly, non-gaming addicts) who elect their own successors, these choices being subject to the approval of the Conference or a committee thereof. The Board may specify certain business or professional qualifications.

The Board of Trustees is the chief service arm of the Conference, and is essentially custodial in its character.

Excepting for decisions upon matters of policy, finance, or G.A.A. Tradition liable to seriously affect G.A.A. as a whole, the Board of Trustees has entire freedom of action in the routine conduct of the policy and business affairs of its non-profit service corporation and may name suitable committees and elect directors to its subsidiary corporate service entities in pursuance of this purpose.

The Board of Trustees is primarily responsible for the financial and policy integrity of any subsidiary service corporations that the Conference may desire to form.

The Charter and Bylaws of G.A.A.I.S., or any amendments thereto, should always be subject to the approval of the General Service Conference by a two-thirds vote of all its members.

Except in a great emergency, neither G.A.A.I.S. nor any of its related services ought ever take any action liable to greatly affect G.A.A. as a whole, without first consulting the Conference. It is nevertheless understood that the board shall at all times reserve the right to decide which of its actions or decisions may require the approval of the Conference.

11. The General Service Conference, Its General Procedures: The Conference will hear the financial and policy reports of the Board of Trustees and its related corporate services. The Conference will advise with the trustees, directors, and staff members upon all matters presented as affecting G.A.A. as a whole, engage in debate, appoint necessary committees, and pass suitable resolutions for the advice or direction of the Board of Trustees and its related services.

The Conference may also discuss and recommend appropriate action respecting serious deviations from G.A.A. tradition or harmful misuse of the name “Gaming Addicts Anonymous.”

The Conference may draft any needed bylaws and will name its own officers and committees by any method of its own choosing.

The Conference at the close of each session will draft a full report of its proceedings, to be supplied to all delegates and committee members; also a condensation thereof which will be made available to all G.A.A. groups.

12. General Warranties of the Conference: In all its proceedings, the General Service Conference shall observe the spirit of the G.A.A. Tradition, taking great care that the Conference never becomes the seat of perilous wealth or power; that sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, be its prudent financial principle; that none of the Conference members shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions be reached by discussion, vote, and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Conference action ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy; that though the Conference may act for the service of Gaming Addicts Anonymous, it shall never perform any acts of government; and that, like the fellowship of Gaming Addicts Anonymous which it serves, the Conference itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.

The Twelve Concepts for International Service
I
Final responsibility and ultimate authority for G.A.A. international services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship
II
The General Service Conference of G.A.A. shall be the active voice and the effective conscience of our Fellowship in its world affairs
III
To insure effective leadership, we should endow each element of G.A.A.—the Conference, the Board of Trustees and its service corporations, staffs, committees, and executives—with a traditional “Right of Decision”
IV
At all responsible levels, we ought to maintain a traditional “Right of Participation,” allowing a voting representation in reasonable proportion to the responsibility that each must discharge
V
Throughout our structure, a traditional “Right of Appeal” ought to prevail, so that minority opinion will be heard and personal grievances receive careful consideration
VI
The Conference recognizes that the chief initiative and active responsibility in most international service matters should be exercised by the trustee members of the Conference acting as the Board of Trustees
VII
The Bylaws of CGAA International Services is a legal instrument, empowering the trustees to manage and conduct world service affairs. The Conference Charter is not a legal document; it relies upon tradition and the G.A.A. purse for final effectiveness
VIII
The trustees are the principal planners and administrators of overall policy and finance. They will have custodial oversight of any separately incorporated and constantly active services, exercising this through their ability to elect all the directors of these entities
IX
Good service leadership at all levels is indispensable for our future functioning and safety. Primary world service leadership must necessarily be assumed by the trustees
X
Every service responsibility should be matched by an equal service authority, with the scope of such authority well defined
XI
The trustees should always have the best possible committees, corporate service directors, executives, staffs, and consultants. Composition, qualifications, induction procedures, and rights and duties will always be matters of serious concern
XII
The Conference shall observe the spirit of G.A.A. tradition, taking care that it never become 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 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; that it never perform acts of government, and that, like the Fellowship it serves, that it always remain democratic in thought and action.