As many of you know, District 2 participated in the Pre-Conference documentation sessions at the last Area Assembly. Many of you also discussed several of the items on the conference agenda. The District 2 Area Secretary, Regina V., has gathered the conference summary of results below on behalf of our Area 1 Delegate, Tomy Gamble.
Advisory Actions from the 74th GSC
Thank you for your service and the privilege of representing the Alabama/NW Florida Area at the 74th General Service Conference. I had a spiritual service experience, with the presence of the loving God of the Second Tradition clear and powerful all week. The panel 73 delegates shed far fewer tears and had a lot more laughs this year and left New York confident that our fellowship is in good hands – those of the panel 74 delegates, the General Service Board, our non-trustee directors, assigned committee members, and what must be the hardest-working staff in the nonprofit world. Here are a few highlights I wanted to share with you ahead of my delegate report-back sessions. Please forward this email to all Alabama/NW Florida Area A.A. members.
Advisory Actions
- Plain Language Big Book Approved
- Young People’s Video Project
- Pamphlets approved for Transgender, Asian Alcoholics
- Revised pamphlet “Black in A.A.: Experience, Strength and Hope” approved
- Increased Financial Transparency
- Cost Effectiveness of La Vina
Plain Language Big Book Approved
After nearly seven hours of discussion, debate, and failed motions to amend or send it back for further review, the Conference voted 91-38 (70.5%) in favor of the Conference Literature Committee’s recommendation that the draft manuscript Plain Language Big Book: A Tool for Reading Alcoholics Anonymous be approved with minor editorial changes to include:
- Relocation of the ‘A.A. Steps Table’ to constitute an Appendix (on the Twelve Steps) at the back of the new publication.
- Replace the references to “addiction” and “addicted” with language related to alcoholism.
Explanation of the minor edits referenced above:
- The Twelve Steps are presented unchanged in Chapter 5, How It Works of the draft manuscript. Immediately following was a chart with the original steps in one column and a plain-language explanation in a second column to the right. By moving the chart to the Appendix, only the original form will remain in How it Works, referencing the new appendix for further explanation.
- The Literature Committee spent more than 10 hours reading and reviewing the entire text and felt that rewording some references to “addiction” and “addicted” would better serve the audience and support our singleness of purpose.
A.A. World Services Publishing staff say the new book could be available this fall. I am convinced it is going to help A.A. reach so many more alcoholics, including those for whom English is a second language.
Young People’s Video Project
Two of the 18 new videos recorded by GSO staff behind the scenes at the International Conference of Young People in A.A. (ICYPAA) were shown at the conference. The videos were superb—short, tight, modern, and effective. They drew a standing ovation and some emotion-charged comments endorsing the project, which was revived by this low-budget effort.
The Conference voted 122-4 (nearly 97%) to approve the Public Information Committee’s recommendation “that the 18 interviews recorded to date as part of the project be approved, giving the General Service Office (GSO) the latitude to edit and distribute the videos in the style of “I Thought Drinking Made Me an Artist (working title)” and “The World has Color Now (working title).” The videos can be produced in various formats and made available on our communication channel platforms.”
Two New Pamphlets and a Revised Pamphlet Approved
The Conference voted 86-40 (68%) to approve the Corrections Committee’s recommendation that a pamphlet on the transgender alcoholic in A.A. be developed and a draft pamphlet or progress report be brought back to the committee next year.
The Grapevine and La Viña Committee considered a request to develop a pamphlet on the Asian and Asian-American alcoholics in A.A. and took no action. A floor motion made by Utah’s delegate that this pamphlet be developed was approved 99-27 (78%) in the final hour of Conference business on Friday night.
The Conference voted 127-3 (97%) in favor of a Literature Committee recommendation that the draft of the revised pamphlet “A.A. for the Black and African American Alcoholic” (retitled “Black in A.A.: Experience, Strength and Hope”) be approved with the following minor editorial changes:
- Generalize terminology surrounding drug and addiction references.
- Removal of one story.
- The removal of the political commentary within two stories.
The Conference Committee on Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) considered the request to develop a pamphlet for the unhoused alcoholic in A.A. and took no action. The committee said it felt a pamphlet would not be an effective tool to carry the message to the unhoused community. The Conference later voted to decline to consider a floor action brought by Vermont’s delegate to develop a pamphlet for the unhoused alcoholic.
Increased Financial Transparency
The financial report from the General Service Board (GSB) treasurer this year included participation by the new independent auditor who reviewed the reports and practices of the GSB. The auditor was available for a lengthy question-and-answer session after delivering his report. In my estimation, having an outside entity confirm the numbers in the report and endorse the practices of our service corporations went a long way toward assuaging some of the recent financial distrust in our fellowship.
Cost Effectiveness of La Vina
After discussing the cost-effectiveness of continuing to print La Viña, the Grapevine and La Viña committee recommended that the AA Grapevine Board develop a 5-year financial plan for La Viña. The goal is to reduce shortfalls and increase revenue in a plan the committee can review at the 2025 Conference. The vote was 108-18 (nearly 86%) in favor.