aa in a time of change

AA in a Time of

Change

• Introduction

• Tradition One “Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.” THE unity of Alcoholics Anonymous is the most cherished quality our Society has. Our lives, the lives of all to come, depend squarely upon it. We stay whole, or A.A. dies. Without unity, the heart of A.A. would cease to beat; our world arteries would no longer carry the life-giving grace of God; His gift to us would be spent aimlessly. Back again in their caves, alcoholics would reproach us and say, “What a great thing A.A. might have been!”

• Alcoholics Anonymous World Service Inc.. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (p. 129). AA World Services, Inc. Kindle Edition.

Tradition One

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA Unity.

Tradition Two

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority – a loving God as He may express himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

Concept I

The final authority and ultimate responsibility for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

Concept II

. . . [T]he AA groups . . . made the Conference

. . . the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Society.

The Unity that We Feel in Area 50, and the Responsibility that We Exercise, Are Fundamental Spiritual Principles for General Service, and For AA as a Whole.

You Will Find Them Wherever You Look!

So . . .

Let’s Get

Started!

AA in a Time of

Change

The Makeup of the

Conference

The Makeup

of The

Conference

The 93 Delegates Make Up 2/3 of the Conference Voting Members

Your text here

Here is an Anonymity-Protected Photo of the Northeast Regional Delegates – The NERDs!

And Here Is the NERD Animal Support Team!

One Purpose of the Conference Is to Allow the Fellowship to Oversee the Work of the Trustees, AAWS, AAGV, and the GSO.

So – Let’s See Who They Are!

John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and Some of the Original Non-Alcoholic Trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation

Today, there are 21 Trustees – 14 Alcoholic and 7 Non-Alcoholic

New Class A and Class B Trustees!

AAWS - Then and Now

New General Manager!

•Bob W, From Area 31 (Western MA)

•Past Trustee-At-Large, US

•Spoke at Area 50 Archives Breakfast!

•Publishing

•Services on Behalf of the

G.S.B.

G.S.O.’s TWO BASIC FUNCTIONS

Group Records

OUTREACH

39.3%

SERVICE

LEADERSHIP

15.0%

GROUP SERVICES

26.6%

SUPPORTING

SERVICES 19.1%

COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE FELLOWSHIP – 2020– $10.8 M

FELLOWSHIP SERVICES – DIRECT COSTS & PERCENTAGES$ in Thousands 2020 % of Total 2019 % of Total 2018 % of Total

Public Information 478 4.1 327 2.9 336 2.9

Cooperation with Professional Community 334 3.1 292 2.6 297 2.6

Treatment Facilities 191 1.8 132 1.2 131 1.1

Corrections 441 4.1 294 2.6 329 2.9

Overseas Services (Literature Assistance) & Loners 791 7.3 526 4.6 501 4.4

Regional Forums 461 4.3 532 4.7 453 4.0

Archives 1,221 11.3 800 7.0 791 6.9

Spanish Services 10 0.1 27 0.1 0 0

Communications 326 3.0 189 1.6 0 0

Sub-Total – Outreach 4,252 39.3 3,109 25.4 2,838 24.8

General Service Conference 573 5.63 1,114 9.5 1,092 9.6

Trustees & Directors Activities 104 1. 577 4.9 601 5.2

Nominating 428 4.0 259 2.2 269 2.3

International Convention 309 2.9 190 1.6 - -

World Service Meeting 208 1.9 203 1.8 203 1.8

Sub –Total – Service Leadership 1,622 15.0 2,164 18.3 2,165 18.9

Group Services 2,873 26.6 2,202 18.7 2,235 19.6

Supporting Services (Technology, Finance, etc.) 2,062 19.1 4,329 37.9 4,189 36.7

Total Costs of Services Provided 10,810 100 11,804 100.0 11,427 100.0

$ increase over prior year – % increase over prior year -994 -1.09 377 3.3 1,205 11.8%

La Viña Service Activity - NOTE – GSB support for the La Viña serviceactivity is NOT an actual operating expense of GSO, but is included here toshow its relative significance of this service. 386 n/a 297 n/a 148 n/a

Finances

• Covid was a killer!

• Literature sales down dramatically in 2020

• $4 million drawdown from Prudent Reserve

• Fellowship to the rescue - $10+ million in 7th

Tradition Contributions – a Record!!

• Cost-cutting measures – predicting a stabilized 2021

So – the Conference Provides Oversight

to the Board, AAWS, the Grapevine and

the GSO . . .

But is there an underlying Spiritual Purpose?

Concept II

. . . [T]he AA groups . . . made the Conference

. . . the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Society.

AA in A Time of

Change

The Conference Is Not Just Conference Week!

Background:

Takeaways from

the 2020

Conference

Your text here

May-December 2020

The Conference Process Begins Again –

This Time Virtually!

January – April 2021

Follow the Yellow Brick Road!

Preparing Area 50 for the 71st

General Service Conference

• Concept I – The final responsibility and ultimate authority for AA world services should always reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

• (Your Group has a GSR who carries your Group’s informed conscience)

• Concept II – When, in 1955, the AA groups confirmed the permanent charter for their General Service Conference complete authority for the active maintenance of our world services and thereby made the Conference – excepting for any change in the Twelve Traditions or in Article 12 of the Conference Charter –the actual voice and the effective conscience for our whole Society.

• (The GSRs delegate their collective informed conscience to their Conference Delegate)

The Districts,

Home Groups

and Members

Take the lead!

Alternate Delegate prepares 20+ page guide to the Conference Agenda items – over the weekend!

Rally the Home Groups

Attend NERAASA

Come to Agenda Week

Pre-Conference Assembly

Delegate’s Questionnaire

Questions?• Matt T., DCMC – [email protected]

• Denise M., Alternate Delegate [email protected]

• Hank K., Delegate [email protected]

Thank you, thank you for your service to Area 50, AA, and to “the child being born tonight, destined for alcoholism” (Why Do We Need a Conference, The AA Service Manual, p. S20)

mailto:[email protected]



April 18-24

Conference Week!

A Snapshot of

Conference

Week

Every morning begins with the Serenity AA meeting.

Saturday: Pre-Conference Sessions – Hospitality Session, 1728 Meeting, Remote Communities Meeting, Presentation/Discussion: Archives, Delegates Only Meeting.

Conference

Week

Continues

Sunday, April 18: Official Opening – Roll Call, Greetings, Keynote Address.

Report Summaries/Q&A: General Service Board, AAWS Board, Grapevine Board.

First Conference Committee Meetings

Opening AA Meeting

Monday, April

19

Regional Trustees Election Caucus

Meetings

Conference Committee Meetings Continue (3 hr.

15 min.)

Finance ReportPresentation/Discussion:

AA International

Sharing Session – What’s On Your Mind?

Regional Trustees Election Caucus

Meetings

Tuesday, April 20

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

WORKSHOP SESSIONS DELEGATES ONLY MEETING

Wednesday,

April 21

Elections for Regional Trustees (Breakout by Region) and Trustee-at-Large – US

Secondary Committee Meetings

Grapevine and AAWS Board Meetings

Committee Reports/Discussions Begin

Sharing Session – What’s On Your Mind?

Thursday,

April 22

Committee Reports/Discussions Continue

Presentation/Discussion Topics –Presentations/Q&A

Committee Reports Continue

Delegate Sharing on Area Innovations and Challenges Overcome


Friday, April 23

•Committee Reports/Discussions Continue

•Report on 26th World Service Meeting

•Committee Reports/Discussions Continue

•Sharing Session – What’s On Your Mind?

Saturday, April

24


Floor Actions

Closing – Serenity Prayer – Scheduled for 5:15 PM.

Now – What

Actually

Happened?

Conference Advisory

Actions

CORRECTIONS

• Recommendation: Revise literature to

substitute term, “person in custody” for

“inmate” or “offender.”

• First Vote: Yes 48 No 83 (37%)

• Minority Opinion/Motion to Reconsider

Yes 92 No 40

• Final Vote: Yes 99 No 31 (76%)

Treatment

and

Accessibilities

• Recommendation: Approve three audio

interviews with AA members of Armed Forces,

and post on AA website.

• Vote: 123-8 (94%)

Public

Information

• Recommendation: Approve video PSA “Party,” using full-face actors.

• Vote: 124-6 (95%)

• Recommendation: Approve video PSA “ Wall,” using full-face actors.

• Vote: 126-5 (96%)

• Recommendation: Pilot project – distribute PSAs to broadcast media; $60,000 budget; report back next year.

• Vote: 126-5 (96%)

• Recommendation: Conduct Feasibility Study of PSA placement on Netflix , Hulu and YouTube.

• Vote: 127-3 (98%)

Public Information

(Cont’d)

• Recommendation: GSO and Grapevine develop and distribute Podcasts for sharing within the Fellowship, and for informing the public about AA.

• Vote: 128-4 (97%)

• Revise pamphlet on Speaking at Non-AA Meetings to address speaking to diverse audiences, and include discussion on media training and press interviews.

• Vote: 132-0

• Recommendation: Revise pamphlet “A Message to Teenagers” to revise language and graphics and consider the best format for presentation.

• Vote: 127-3 (98%)

Cooperation

with the

Professional

Community

• Recommendation: Implement a dynamic LinkedIn page as

expressed in 2018 Advisory Action; report back in 2022

concerning usefulness and effectiveness.

• Vote: 129-2 (98%)

• Recommendation: Create pamphlet for Mental Health

Professionals.

• Vote: 124-4 (97%)

• Recommendation: Approve updated pamphlet for Clergy and

retitle “Faith Leaders Ask About Alcoholics Anonymous.”

• Vote: 129-2 (98%)

Finance

• Tw o Recommendations to Change Pamphlet, “ The Seventh Tradition: Where Money and Spirituality Mix” :

• Recommendation: For pie charts show ing possible home group contribution allocations, add a w atermark stating “Sample.”

• Vote: 127-3 (98%)

• Recommendation: Add language that w ho performs service functions (CPC, PI, Corrections etc.) varies by Area, and suggest that groups allocate their contributions accordingly.

• Vote: 110-19 (85%)

Trustees

Recommendation: Approve slate of

Class A and B Trustees for GSB

Vote: 127-2 (98%)Recommendation: Approve slate of Officers for GSB

Vote: 130-0


Directors for AAWSVote: 130-0


Directors for AAGVVote: 126-2 (98%)

Trustees

(Cont’d)

Recommendation on Statement of Concern and Motion to Censure: Charge the General Service Board to Conduct Virtual Quarterly Conference Meetings.

Motion to recommit: 45-84 (35%)

First vote: 68-62 (52%)

Minority Opinion/Motion to Reconsider 88-40 (69%)

Final vote: 69-59 (52%)

Report and

Charter

• Recommendation: Discontinue printing directories for Eastern, Western US and Canada.

• Vote: 108-22 (83%)

• Recommendation: Approve the revised Service Manual/Tw elve Concepts as the 2021-23 Edition.

• Vote: 130-0

• Add statement that the Conference is the “guardian of the 12 Concepts” to the Conference Charter.

• Vote: 96-32 (75%)

• Recommendation: Add “Amendments” section to the end of the 12 Concepts and include reference to various amendments to Concept XI essay.

• Vote: 101-28 (78%)

Grapevine

Recommendation: Develop a Grapevine Instagram account.

Vote: 126-6 (95%)

Note: No action taken on recommendation to change the language of the Preamble.

Literature

• Recommendation: Approve AAWS policy on conversion of Conference-approved literature and Service Material into digital format.

• Vote: 120-7 (94%)

• Recommendation: Approve project to begin preparing a 5 th Edition of the Big Book, keeping in mind past Advisory Action that the first 164 pages, the Preface, the Forw ards, the Doctor’s Opinion, Dr. Bob’s Nightmare and the Appendices remain intact.

• Motion to Table: 38-92 (29%)

• Vote: 97-31 (76%)

• Minority Opinion/Motion to Reconsider: 51-78

• Recommendation: Develop a Fifth Edition w ith a New Forw ard, updated Preface, updated stories and expanded/updated Appendices III (Medicine) and V (Religion)

• Vote: 121-9 (93%)

Literature

(Cont’d)

• Recommendation: Revise the 12x12 to remove the reference to “mate of the opposite sex” and replace with “partner.”

• Vote: 112-19 (85%)

• Revise the 12x12 to remove the phrase “ lustful enough to rape” ; replace entire sentence w ith “No one wants to commit the deadly sins of anger, lust or gluttony.”

• Proposed Amendment: 36-72

• Motion to Recommit: 77-54 (fails for lack of substantial unanimity)

• First vote: 69-61 (fails for lack of substantial unanimity)

• Minority opinion/Motion to Reconsider: 80-50 (simple majority; passes)

• Final vote: 88-41 (68%)

• Note: Changes to 12x12 to include footnotes giving historical context.

Literature

(Cont’d)

Recommendation: Remove reference in “AA Group” pamphlet to eliminate

reference to non-alcoholics attending open meetings

“as observers.”

Vote: 60-71 (fails)

Recommendation: Update pamphlet “AA for the Black

and African-American Alcoholic”

Vote: 126-1 (99%)

Recommendation: Approve update of pamphlet “The 12

Traditions Illustrated” and rename “Experience Has Taught Us: Our Twelve Traditions Illustrated.”

Vote: 122-7 (95%)

Recommendation: Also retain existing pamphlet.

Vote: 109-20 (84%)

Literature

(Cont’d)

• Recommendation: Add the Long Form of the

Tradition at the end of each essay in the

12x12.

• Vote: 53-77 (41%; fails)

• Minority Opinion/Motion to Reconsider 81-42

(67%)

• Final Vote: 119-12 (91%)

• Recommendation: Fourth Edition of

Alcoholicos Anonimos.

• Vote: 128-2 (98%)

Literature

(Cont’d)

Recommendation: In the pamphlet “Frequently Asked Questions About AA,” remove reference to using donations to purchase “coffee, sandwiches, cakes or whatever else may be served” and replace with “other meeting expenses.”

Vote: 121-8 (94%)

Recommendation: In pamphlet “Questions and Answers About Sponsorship,” remove suggestion that “sponsor and newcomer should ordinarily be of the same sex,” and replace with “avoid whenever a romantic entanglement might arise.”

Proposed Amendment: “romantic” to “sexual” 26-101 (20%; fails)

Motion to Recommit: 47-79 (37%; fails)

Final Vote: 118-10 (92%)

Literature (Cont’d)

• Recommendation: Approve draft pamphlet on AA for Spanish-Speaking Women.”

• Vote: 129-2 (98%)

• Recommendation: Prepare a draft version of the Big Book “ in plain and simple language . . . In a way that is accessible and relatable to as w ide an audience as possible[.]”

• Motion to Recommit: 12-119 (9%)

• Vote: 110-19 (85%)

• Minority opinion/Motion to Reconsider 27-103 (21%; fails)

Agenda

• Recommendation: Theme for 72nd

Conference – “AA Comes of Age 2.0: United

in Love and Service.”

• Vote: 122-4 (97%)

• Recommendation: Presentation Topics –

“How Do AAs Go to Any Lengths to Recover,

Unify and Serve?” / “Going Beyond Fear” /

“How to Reach Anyone, Anyw here”

• Vote: 121-2 (98%)

• Recommendation: Workshop Topic(s) – “ The

Warranties: Our Promise to the Fellow ship

and the World.”

• Vote: 121-2 (98%)

Policy and

Admissions

• Recommendation: Change procedure for Floor Action – instead of motion to decline, substitute motion to consider.

• Vote: 67-63 (52%; fails)

• Recommendation: Revise procedure for polling Conference between annual meetings to use virtual technology.

• Vote: 120-11 (92%)

• Recommendation: Implement new Equitable Distribution of Workload process for 3 years on a trial basis.

• Vote: 110-18 (86%)

Floor Actions

Floor Action

#1:

Grapevine

Preamble

• Floor Action: Change Preamble from “a Fellow ship of Men

and Women” to “ In Alcoholics Anonymous, w e share our

experience, strength and hope . . . “

• Motion to Decline: 61-69 (47%; fails)

• Motion to Table: 48-78 (38%; fails)

• Vote: 93-29 (76%; passes)

• Minority opinion/Motion to Reconsider 58-68 (46%; fails)

• Floor Action stands.

Floor Action

#2: Grapevine

Preamble

Floor Action: Change “Fellowship of men and women” to “Fellowship of people”

Motion to Decline: 82-45 (65%; fails)

Vote: 90-38 (70%; passes)

Minority opinion/Motion to Reconsider: 38-90 (30%; fails)

Floor Action stands.

We now have 3 Preambles!!

Floor Action

#3: Native

American

Pamphlet

Floor Action: Update pamphlet for Native American with new stories, respectful and inclusive language.


Vote: 125-0 – Floor Action passes unanimously!

Floor Action #4: The Preamble Again!

Floor

Floor Action: Present the Preamble version that substitutes “people” for “men and women” as the preferred alternative of the Conference.

Motion


Vote

Vote: 85-43 (66%; debate ensues over what constitutes “substantial unanimity”)

Motion

Motion to Reconsider: 77-41 (60%; simple majority; passes)

Call

Call the Question: 98-17 (85%; passes)

Floor

Final vote: 90-40 (69%; Floor Action passes.)

CONFERENCE ADJOURNS!(2:15 AM Monday Morning!)

AA in a Time of Change -

Conclusion

• The 71st Conference embodied Tradition II – it was a true group conscience.

• The Fellowship embraced new technology to Carry the Message.

• Through the group conscience process, the Conference decided w ith substantial unanimity issues that had gone unresolved for years.

• AA will begin work on a Fifth Edition of the Big Book, and plain language version as well.

• A new Service Manual w ill be out shortly, and online groups w ill be welcome in the General Service structure.

• We began to see how virtual meeting technology can build transparency, communication, cooperation and unity throughout general service, and the Fellowship as a whole!

What Does This Mean For

Area 50?

• AA General Service Is Here For Us – And Virtual

Technology Helps Make that Happen!

• We Have More Opportunity to Participate In

General Service Throughout the Conference –

And Worldwide!

• We Can – And Should – Continue to Build the

Unity of AA in Area 50, And to Build a Culture of

Responsibility that Encourages ALL Members to

Carry the Message!

• That Way, Area 50 Can Live the Spirit of Concept

I – Accepting Our Personal Responsibility for

Service and the Future of AA!

Thank You from the Bottom of My Heart for

Giving Me the Chance to Serve Area 50 as

Your Panel 70 Delegate!

•Let’s Look Forward to Panel 72 – and AA Comes

of Age 2.0: United in Love and Service!

•God Bless Us All, Hank

•PS – There’s No Place Like Home!

aa in a time of change

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