Proposal 12 – Intl Lit Scholarship Fund Submitted by the Global Members Committee

Issue:

1. To expand the scope of the International Literature Scholarship Fund to include funding additional publishing activities, such as translating, typesetting, printing and distribution,

and

1. To change the name of the fund to more accurately convey these activities.

Name Suggestions:

• International Literature Equity Fund, or
• International 5th Tradition Assistance Fund.

Background: The current International Literature Scholarship Fund was created by combining two ABC 2021 proposals (from South Africa and the Global Committee) with the purpose of helping to carry the ACA message to developing fellowships in regions around the world dealing with the challenges of financial inequity. It has already been successful in that goal with English literature.

1. However, there are a number of activities that the fund can’t currently be used for, due to legal restrictions resulting from how it was initially established.
2. The fund’s original intended purpose was to supply ACA Literature to developing regions, the majority of which do not speak English. Translation has shown itself to be the critical first step to meet the needs of these regions.
3. Having Literature available in the mother tongue of new members is very important for effectively carrying the message and the growth of local fellowship.
4. While translating is volunteer-driven, there are still substantial costs involved before a book can be made available: typesetting, printing, distribution and storage. Given the complexity of the many dialects of some languages, it is also sometimes necessary to employ paid professionals to produce a unity version of the translated material.
5. We believe these aspects were not adequately clarified and thus were not provided for when the ILSF was originally established; this amendment is therefore essential to be able to execute the original intention.
6. The change of name is necessary to accurately reflect the purpose of the fund.

Implementation/Resources:

Specific examples for clearer understanding:

1. The world’s most populated nation is India with 22 official languages, and a

Hindi-speaking population of over 500 million. In the past 1½ years, the number of ACA meetings has grown from 3 to 17; including 4 in Hindi and one Nepali but there is no literature to support them. The members are thus not able to fully participate

1. Change the country to South Africa (original proposer), with 11 official languages, and the meeting language to Afrikaans or Zulu, the same issue can be seen.
2. Similarly with China and local Chinese languages.

WSO Analysis:

Response:

As background, the Board and the 2021 ABC approved the creation of this fund (see background).

The Publishing Committee has reviewed this proposal and advised the Board that expanding the scope of this fund to include translation and supporting activities is needed. They would like this to be discussed at the ABC, too.

At this time, the Board is not able to confirm the authorization level of these changes without legal counsel. If the groups approve this ballot to be on the 2024 agenda, the Board will seek legal counsel and provide this information at the 2024 ABC, if it is available.

Factors to consider:

1. Expanding the scope and any name change will require funds for legal counsel to advise on following the IRS and California state guidelines.
2. The word “scholarship” can have a “negative” interpretation and a change to the name of the fund might give a more positive message.
3. Additional funds are needed to support translations and supporting activities. Translation work is primarily done by volunteers but funds are still needed to support the translating teams with other supporting activities such as first draft translations when machine translation is not available.
4. An example of the success of this fund is that approximately $4,800 was given to the South Africa and India intergroups for ACA literature and, as a result, their fellowships have grown. In fact, the South Africa intergroup was pleased to have been able to give a 7th tradition contribution to WSO in 2023 as a way of giving back.

Resources(for more background information) https://acawso.org/bpc/

Background:

 In 2021, the Board passed a motion to approve two proposals. These were reviewed by the delegates at the 2021 ABC and accepted.

1. Proposal 2021-11 – We propose that WSO consider setting up an ACA International Literature Scholarship fund for members who cannot afford ACA literature due to the price of the literature in their local currency, the exchange rate for their currency against the dollar, or due to their individual financial constraints.
2. Proposal 2021-16 – We propose that WSO create an International Literature Scholarship Fund to help offset literature costs for meetings in emerging countries.

Board Motion 2021_0410_03: Establishment of International Literature Scholarship Fund: To establish an International Literature Scholarship Fund, to which members may make dedicated contributions. Approved unanimously

The background noted the fund would enable ACA members to directly support new international fellowships, by donating money to support literature purchases.

Since that time, the funds have been disbursed for literature purchases by the South Africa intergroup and India intergroup for a total of $4,865.65. Their fellowships have grown as a result and the South Africa intergroup was pleased to have been able to give a 7th tradition to WSO in 2023 as a way of giving back.

The controller stated this fund has a balance of $22,566 as of Oct 31, 2023.

Additional funds will be required to support translations and supporting activities. Translation work is primarily done by volunteers, by Adult Children for Adult Children but without additional support it could take 5-10 years to publish translated books.