To: Delegates, Registered Meetings, Intergroups, and Regions

Dear ACA Community,

This letter provides important information about a new Fellowship-Wide Group Voting Process and the 2024 ABC motion that initiated this process: the Fellowship Name Change vote.

Fellowship-Wide Group Voting Process

At the 2024 Annual Business Conference (ABC), delegates approved a motion requiring a fellowship-wide vote for decisions with a significant impact on ACA’s future. However, the motion did not specify how to conduct this process.

The WSO Board is responsible for implementing approved motions and recognized that the ACA fellowship had never conducted a fellowship-wide vote. At the December 7th Quarterly delegate meeting (QDM), a presentation on the proposed fellowship-wide voting process was given, followed by a request for feedback and direction. Over 79% of the delegates approved moving forward with this process. At the Feb. 1 QDM, the minority opinion was acknowledged and did not require a revote. 

To ensure a well-informed process, the Board consulted with other 12-Step organizations on “Fellowship Group Voting.” The trustees also sought input from the ABC Committee, ABC Study Subcommittee and ABC Sustainability Study Subcommittee.

This collaborative approach ensures a thoughtful and informed implementation of the fellowship-wide voting process.

We are hosting informational sessions to help you understand this new voting process:

Town Halls: Understanding the New Voting Process

  • Saturday, March 22, 9:00 PM ET
  • Sunday, March 23, 9:00 AM ET

Join via Zoom: Zoom Link  | Meeting ID: 985 8218 9599 | Passcode: 785372

For more information on this topic see: Fellowship Group Voting Process Presentation & Fellowship-group-voting webpage

Fellowship-Wide Group Voting: ABC-2024-06 Approved Motion

The first motion to go to a fellowship-wide group vote is a proposed name change for ACA.

Motion Passed at the 2024 ABC:
“To submit to all ACA registered groups (meetings, intergroups, and regions) for approval, a change to the functional name of the fellowship to Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families (ACAD), the top choice from the fellowship name study surveys.”
Passed on May 19, 2024.

We are hosting informational sessions on this topic:

Town Halls: Information on Group Voting on the “Fellowship Name Change” Motion

  • Saturday, March 29, 9:00 PM ET
  • Sunday, March 30, 9:00 AM ET

Join via Zoom: Zoom Link  | Meeting ID: 985 8218 9599 | Passcode: 785372

For more information on this topic see: Name-Study-2024-ABC-Report 

The trustees recommend starting the first fellowship-wide group vote for a four month voting period after the Annual Business Conference in May. This allows more time for informed discussion and decision-making globally, aligning with Concept 12, particularly benefiting new delegates.

If you have any questions, please join the town halls or email us at [email protected].

In Service and Unity,

The ACA WSO Board of Trustees