THE 60TH GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS APRIL 18th ‐ 24th 2010 Hello my friends, my name is Marty I am an alcoholic and privileged to serve as your Panel 59 BC Yukon Area 79 Delegate to the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous. It gives me great pleasure to recap and convey to you what I experienced at the 60th General Service Conference held in Rye Brook New York at the Rye Town Hilton from April 18th ‐24th 2010. For those who have never heard a Conference Delegates Report or may be a new to general service, I would like to recap from last years report for a few moments to give you a brief overview of the birth of the Conference which will help you to understand the why and how of the reporting of the General Service Conference in it’s entirety. In 1937 the Akron and New York Groups authorized Dr. Bob and Bill to create over all services which would spread the AA message world wide. They also delegated them the authority to create and manage world services. Dr. Bob, in turn gave most of the responsibility to Bill to set up a Service Center in New York, as there would be a better chance in New York to find non‐alcoholic friends who could help ‐ and of course funds. Thus the Alcoholic Foundation was born in 1938 with a small trusteeship of AA members and non‐
alcoholics. In 1940, a year after the book Alcoholics Anonymous was published, it was plain to see that this great new asset had to be put into Trust for our whole fellowship. The stock ownership of Works Publishing was turned over to the then Board of Trustee’s. Book income was coming in as well as contributions after nationwide appraisal from the Jack Alexander Article. AA service was growing, public relations became a vital matter, and the AA Grapevine had become a national magazine. Bill knew then, that if the movement was to survive, he would have to turn all control of these services to the Trustee’s, and Bob and himself, not to be entrusted with that much authority, would be advisors only on AA headquarter operations. Dr. Bob and Bill, as visionaries, looked to the future; it became clear that ample delegation to the board was the only possible way to ensure AA’s survival. An ultimate responsibility to AA still held steadfast in Bill’s eye’s, for he knew, 1
that in the future, if anything were to go wrong with AA World Services, the groups would hold him responsible, not the then little known group of Trustee’s. The Alcoholic Foundation grew, not without its hic‐
ups. The Traditions were hammered out and AA was expanding internationally. However in 1948, it became known that Dr. Bob was very sick. This drove home the hard fact that Bill and Bob were almost the sole links between the Board and the Fellowship. Up until then, money expenditures were all handled by the Trustee’s but when it came to AA policy, Bill and Bob were always looked to for advice. I like to refer to this as Bill’s epiphany. Bob and he were mortal. When they were not here, who then would direct AA World Services on AA policy. A debate began in the late 40’s on the desirability of some sort of Advisory Board to AA World Services. A conference of larger numbers perhaps, elected by AA itself, a body to whom the Trustee’s could become responsible to, a guiding conscience of our whole world effort. This ideal did not go over well with the Trustee’s but when Bob fell terminally ill in 1950, there was no other course of action but to plan for a General Service Conference, where our Society could assume full and permanent responsibility for the conduct of AA’s most vital affairs. The first Conference was in April 1951 with 37 Delegates attending. They questioned, shared, and inspected, from cellar to garret. Advice was given to the General Service Office on matters Bill and company were in doubt on. Tradition Two had been re‐affirmed – the group conscience could surely act for AA as a whole. One of the first orders of business was to rename the Alcoholic Foundation to the General Service Board of Alcoholics Anonymous. The word foundation stood for charity, paternalism and maybe big money, AA would have none of these. From here out we would assume full responsibility and pay our expenses ourselves. Bill realized, after the first Conference, that AA had matured, and was finally safe, even from him. Many policies have been set over the 60 years from the Conference’s first inception. We have had many successes and many failures. Today we are as responsible for keeping AA well, as Bill and Bob did in the beginning. The process that has been hammered out goes on. We all have assumed the responsibility of what 2
is good for AA as a whole, and as your Delegate I am here to pass the 60th General Service Conference on to you. Yet another exhilarating experience ‐ I embraced the extra trip to New York, Jan 28th to Feb 2nd participating as a Chair on a Conference Committee. I would like to express my gratitude on the value of the spiritual nature of the experience that was indeed yet another pinnacle of enlightenment and dot connecting that cements this alcoholic’s trust in God, each other, and the process. A week‐end that I will never forget, we did accomplish the mammoth task of setting this years agenda for the Conference through committee meetings and full discussion on many pretentious items. Also having the privilege of sitting in on the General Service Board meeting at the end of the week‐end topped the charts. It was our first time back to Rye Brook since 1991 and the Rye Town Hilton was a fabulous venue. Immediately after the Agenda was set at the Monday meeting, the GSO staff started assembling the items and the background. Then our wonderful Conference Co‐coordinator Adrienne B. pulled it all together for the final agenda items. Then with the help of her Conference Co‐ordination team, they had it on the Dashboard to the Delegates by the 12th of Feb. Then, it’s our turn. Reviewing all the background material this year, approximately 900 pages, did not for some reason seem as over whelming as last year. However, throwing in the background for the Conference Workshop titled “Discuss the General Service Conference Agenda Selection Process” of approximately 200 pages certainly did help it from becoming dry. After review and itemizing, the loads of information was immediately distributed to the appropriate committee chairs. This gave us all about 2 weeks to condense it, make copies and then meet at our GSC meeting on the first Wed in March. We had our synopsis meeting, and with anonymity protected email, got it distributed that evening. Then it was the DCM’s turn to implement their methods of distribution, with the option this year of also distributing it electronically. Once the items were discussed at the group level, the group conscience met at the Pre‐Conference Assembly which was held in beautiful Summerland by District 73 on April 9th, 10th and 11th. The Pre‐Conferences’ sole purpose in Area 79 is to prepare our Delegate in taking Area 79’s thinking to 3
the Conference. As Delegate, I want to openly thank your Panel 59 General Service Committee for their pain staking long hours and grand effort put into getting the background streamlined and out to the Area 79 DCMs and members this year. Extraordinary efforts from these people is not a requirement but every one of them excels in their endeavors. As a Delegate, I can not express my gratitude enough on serving with such fine folks. And to the District Committee Members, General Service Representatives and the groups. You all inspired me in Summerland. Your efforts shone through and with my Daily Reflections signed with over 300 affirmations from you, I was ready for the Conference. With the theme Practicing AA Principles‐The Pathway to Unity, I looked forward to attending my second and final Conference as a fully informed Delegate with Rob as my guest. We left at 4:30 am Friday morning with enthusiasm. It was to be an all day flight but with my role as a Conference Committee Chair, I used the time to turn over many more stones in preparing myself for the upcoming committee meetings that I would have to Chair, and be perfect at. With a quick flight change in Seattle and a 4 hour lay‐over in the hub city of Chicago, we arrived in White Plains around 11 pm Friday night. A cab ride to the Rye Town Hilton in the pouring rain found us safe and sound close to midnight at our destination. We had arrived. There were friends to greet us as always. It was a long trip and sleep was welcomed. Saturday morning Rob and I met with Vic P. our Western Canada Regional Trustee and the other three Area Delegates from our region for a trip into New York City. With Vic as our fearless guide and our lives in his capable hands, we headed off for Manhattan and once again, a long awaited visit to the infamous Oyster Bar at Grand Central Station. It was great to catch up with the other Western Region Delegates on the train ride in. The anxiety in the two new Panel 60 Delegates who were first time attendees brought back a flood of feelings from my experience as a newbie from the 59th General Service Conference. A feeling of sadness that this would be my last Conference engulfed me. I was to find that this would arise often through out my week, and solemn moments of reflection were continuous and heart felt. 4
Grand Central Station was still grand and it was good to be back in fine company. Tracking down Box 459 was a must for our new arrivals. Pictures were forbidden by the local authorities but we did mange to sneak a few. A stroll up Madison Ave and a quick tip toe into Central Park found us at the Metropolitan Museum. I did finally encounter my first of many Sabrett hot dog stands and was on a roll outside the Met. We could only indulge in the museum’s many wonders for a few hours as we had to be back in Rye 40 miles north in 4 hours. It was a great afternoon and I would love to actually see some of New York one day as apposed to the inside of a conference room. Back at the Hilton, Saturday evening brought the Remote Communities Sharing Session. Three presentations were done by pre‐selected Areas. I had the privilege of doing a presentation on Geography. Those present were thrilled with what we had to offer in that area and I have sent our ad hoc report to many Delegates. Presentations on culture and language were also well received. Danny F. chaired this years sharing session and this years Remote Communicator is available upon request. Following the Remote Communities meeting was the Saturday night Delegates Only Meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to welcome the Panel 60 Delegates and to offer any insight on the upcoming week. It was also an opportunity to meet your “Conference Buddy” assigned to you in January. First year Delegates are paired with second year Delegates to aid in the Conference proceedings and experience. This meeting broke the ice for many and the opportunity to get reacquainted was the norm. For me, as a Conference Committee Chair, I found this meeting a platform to connect with other members of the committee and introduce myself personally. It was great to catch up to old friends and meet new. The room was buzzing with excitement with the thrill of the upcoming week. I retired to my room around 1am, finished postcards and to bed. Sunday morning the official opening of the 60th General Service Conference was now upon us. Registration opened at 9:30 a.m. I picked up my binder and once again entered the Conference room for the first time. It seemed so neat and pristine at the moment. I knew from experience that this would change as we would be spending a lot of time here. Two neophytes would be chairing the Conference this year which for 5
some reason I found comforting. Ward Ewing, Class A Trustee Chair of the Board opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all and reminded us of our path together in the practicing of AA principles being utmost in the fore front of our endeavors together. Phyllis H. who would be co‐chairing the Conference with Ward, and is the Manager of the General Service Office had the honor of calling the roll. All were accounted for. Also present were four past Chair of the Board Emeriti and two guests from the General Service Board of Venezuela. Following roll call Lowell L., the Delegate Chair shared a few words and a keynote address was given by Class A Trustee Bill Clark, who was attending his final Conference. Bill reminded us on how the General Service Conference brings together a diverse group of strong willed alcoholics and a few non alcoholics, some of whom are also strong willed. What brings us together is commitment to do our best. To keep in world arteries carrying the life giving grace affirms people can not live out side that covenant with the Fellowship by themselves and alone. We must move forward together, in unity, if we are to facilitate the Fellowship’s flourishing. We thank you Bill for those wonderful words and for your gracious 6 years of service to our fellowship. We love you and you will be missed. We finished off the morning reviewing the Agenda and going over the Conference procedures insuring that we would all play nice together in the following week. Our first Regional lunch was scheduled for today. I was once again relieved to see all my familiar comrades in arms. This lunch was an opportunity for the Panel 60’s to familiarize themselves with the ongoing over whelming events and to ask questions to help get themselves grounded. We had a long lunch and proceeded back into the Conference room for the afternoon session of discussions and presentations. We finished off the afternoon with our joint meetings with the trustees. Sunday evening brought the opening dinner and AA meeting. There were five speakers and food art. We sat as a region with our guests. It was an early night but indeed a long day with much accomplished. 6
Monday morning we were back into our committee meetings. Part of Chairing the Conference Committee on Trustee’s includes looking at the slates for the General Service Board, the AAWS Board and the Grapevine Board of Directors. There was one discrepancy in the Trustee’s slate which needed clarification and the Trustees Chair on Nominating the Honorable Rogelio Flores was called back in to clear up the matter. The Committee meetings are just like we do in Area 79 so I felt not only comfortable chairing, but informed on all fronts. When lunch time came, I remembered to try and sit with someone new at all gatherings. As hard as this was, I managed to do so. Once again I met so many people and formulated many bonds which I never would have if I re‐coiled to familiar ground. We then re‐convened into the Conference room for an opening presentation by David N. and Area highlights. These highlights are only done by the new Panel 60 Delegates, are 2 minutes long and deem anxiety for most. The Eastern Canada Region and the West Central Region were done on this afternoon. Following the Area highlights were reports from the General Service Board, AAWS, Grapevine Inc. and the financials, with many questions and answers afterwards. Ward Ewing delivered a report for the General Service Board, making clear its purpose to carry out advisory actions. He welcomed again Phyllis H. on behalf of him and the Board to her second General Service Conference as General Manager of the General Service Office. Phyllis’s first year on the job has been tremendous. The General Service Board has been blessed with the addition of some new folks. They have been joined by Class A trustees, Francis Brisbane and Corliss Burke and Class B trustees Don M., the other Don M., George M., El N. and Pam R.. Andrea B. and Bill N. are new nontrustee directors on A.A.W.S. and Nancy H. and Albin Z. are now luminaries on the Grapevine Corporate Board. The General Service Board has met four times since the last Conference. Aside from the members meeting of the board at the Conference last year, the trustees held two of their quarterly meetings at the 7
Crowne Plaza Times Square in New York and, for the first time in a very long time, they met at the Hilton Rye Town Hotel in Rye Brook, New York. Since the 59th General Service Conference, the board has hosted Regional Forums in Somerset, New Jersey; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. An “additional” Forum took place in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a Special “Remote” Forum was held in Moose Factory, Ontario. Finally, there was a Local Forum for Spanish‐speaking districts that took place in Mamaroneck, New York. One very creative innovation developed by Eva S., the G.S.O. Regional Forums Coordinator, was to introduce a Forum’s Orientation Session at the beginning of these events to help those attending their first Forum get acquainted with what goes on during the sessions and to ask questions and meet some of the participants. This was done at our Regional Forum in Saskatoon and was enjoyed by all. As they do every two years, the G.S.O. staff rotated their assignments in July 2009 and this transition proved to be a smooth one as is generally the case. There has been some exciting international travel to A.A. events overseas since the last Conference and Ward expressed how he was personally inspired and strengthened by being present for The International Conference of Young People in A.A. (ICYPAA) in Atlanta last summer. The spirit of these young people is remarkable – enthusiasm for A.A., joy in living, caring for one another, the brashness characteristic of youth, emotional highs and lows, and hospitality for the newcomer and the stranger. At the Fall Quarterly Meeting in November 2009, the board received and accepted a report from its Subcommittee on Vulnerable Members in A.A. A serious question had arisen as to whether there was a role for the General Service Board in protecting minors in A.A. meetings. The subcommittee members agreed that the General Service Board in its position at the bottom of the A.A. service structure would not have a role in setting any behavioral policy or guideline for the A.A. groups or members in regards to protecting any vulnerable member including minors coming into A.A. The A.A. groups and A.A. service entities such as areas and districts are autonomous and direct and guide their own affairs. The 8
General Service Board has no authority, legal or otherwise, to control or direct the behavior of A.A. members and groups. The subcommittee members also agreed that it is the groups and individual members that need to ensure that all members feel as safe as possible in A.A. and that newcomers are provided with strong sponsorship and made aware that A.A. is a microcosm of society of the world outside the A.A. meeting room – that they may encounter a few members who do not have their best interests in mind about getting sober through the A.A. program of recovery. It is hoped that the areas, districts and groups will discuss this important topic and seek ways through sponsorship, workshops and assemblies and committee meetings to raise awareness in the Fellowship and encourage the creation of as safe an environment as possible for the newcomer, minors and other members or potential members who may be vulnerable. A bit about the future. Upcoming in October, will be the 21st World Service Meeting. Our trustees‐at‐
large and members of the G.S.O. staff will travel to Mexico City to share experience, strength and hope with delegates from all over the world. This event keeps the channels of communication open with A.A. communities in other countries and helps to strengthen our Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity and Service internationally. John K., Chair of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. also gave us a report. He informs us that A.A.W.S. directors and G.S.O. employees agree that their purpose, expressed through requested services and publication of A.A. literature, is to support members’ and groups’ Twelfth Step service, and to share A.A.'s solution with each suffering alcoholic. The A.A.W.S. Board met seven times since the 59th Conference to receive reports from the General Service Office management and staff. They also reviewed updates on group services activity and board recommendations related to A.A.W.S. In addition, AAWS reviewed financial reports and discussed requests from A.A. members and non‐A.A.s seeking permission to reprint A.A. copyrighted literature, and also addressed other pertinent matters. 9
Some 2009 highlights from AAWS are: In 2009 G.S.O. welcomed 1,513 visitors, including several groups of 10‐75 members. Many A.A. members have traveled great distances to visit the General Service Office and to express their gratitude, in many languages, for their sobriety. One of the main highlights for members is a visit to the G.S.O. Archives where the welcoming Archives staff provides information and answers questions. A net total of 1,703 new A.A. groups were listed at G.S.O. last year. Each new group's General Service Representative (G.S.R.) or contact receives A.A. literature and basic information to encourage the group to link with their local structure and support Twelfth Step activities. In most instances, we have been meeting or exceeding our goal for G.S.R.s and D.C.M.s to have their new kits in‐hand within 21 days of entering their information into the system. Rick W. is working full steam on the planning for our 13th International Convention, in San Antonio, which will celebrate A.A.’s 75th Anniversary, July 1‐4, 2010. So far, 39,000 people have registered for this historic event. To use a Texas expression, it should be a “hum dinger.” At year‐end 2009, G.S.O. had 78 full‐time employees, and 5 part‐time employees and in 2009 they were delighted to welcome newly appointed G.S.O. staff members, Mary S. and Jim M. In late summer, a letter was sent to Conference members announcing the appointment of Valerie O. as Publications Director. Valerie has worked at G.S.O. since September 1990 in a number of staff assignment areas and we welcome her to her new position. And the hard working Michelle Mirza was appointed Director of the Archives last year– a well deserved promotion. The G.S.O. Web site Contributions Online Project continued on schedule with final testing and reviews with staff throughout the year and the A.A.W.S. Board in October. The final steps, prior to the anticipated “go live” date in June 11th , included a demonstration to the General Service Board in January and to members of the 2010 General Service Conference in April. The G.S.O. Records Department has begun the process of 10
coordinating with Area Registrars to update all records with the intention of printing Regional Directories in 2010. And now a look at last year’s financial picture. I will try to humanize these figures. Our revenue essentially comes from two sources: profits from literature sales and contributions from members. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the gross profit on literature sales was $8,236,112. Contributions from members and groups received for 2009 were $6,296,100. Subtract the General Service Office expenses and services to the groups of $8,783,762. This leaves a net excess of revenue (profit) of $1,273,562 for 2009. This puts the reserve fund at 9.5 months in comparative to 9.3 months at this time last year. The combination of contributions and net literature sales resulted in total GSO revenue of $14,532,669. Contributions were approximately $198,000 less than 2008 and Big Book sales were approximately $1,000,000 higher than 2008. This would be due to the price increase in July 2009 and our member’s uncontrollable desires for prudence. To try and humanize these financials even further, 44% of the 61,581 groups in Canada and the U.S. are contributing. This equates to $102.24 per group per year is being sent in annually but it actually costs $142.64 to fully service a group per year. The individual member contributes $4.50 per year and it costs the GSO $6.46 per year per member for the services required. Book profits make up for the short fall. There are currently 1,358,879 AA members reported in Canada and the U.S. $1.00 in 1945 had the buying power of $11.92 in 2009. A little bit about Grapevine Circulation of the Grapevine Magazine for 2009 was 102,281 units. Gross profit on the Grapevine Magazine itself was $1,247,171. Gross profit on all other Grapevine publishing items was $537,440. This brings the total gross profit of Grapevine Inc for 2009 to $1,784,611. Editorial costs, circulation and administrative costs came in at 1,963,105. This leaves Grapevine at a net loss of $132,594 for 2009. This is about $5,862 less than 2008. La Viña is published by A.A. Grapevine at the request of the General Service Conference and funded by the General Service Board. Bimonthly circulation of La Viña averaged 9,663 for 11
2009. Gross profit on La Vina Magazine itself was $29,491 for 2009. Gross profit on all other related items was $20,915. This brings the total gross profit for LaVina Magazine to $50,405 for 2009. Editorial, circulation and administrative cost came in at $104,877. This leaves LaVina at a net loss of $54,472 for 2009. This is about $21,792 less than 2008. The A.A. Grapevine is not permitted to accumulate funds or borrow money to fund strategic projects and update technology. Therefore, A.A. Grapevine has turned to the Reserve Fund to fund special projects or when additional operating capital was needed. The net withdrawal made by A.A. Grapevine to date from 1990 is $475,107. The A.A. Grapevine has, since its inception, been committed to making the magazine available to as many people as possible. Consequently, subscription prices have been kept low and price increases have lagged behind increased costs. In the last five years, those costs have increased dramatically. Therefore, last year A.A. Grapevine’s subscription price was increased to $27 and La Viña’s to $12 to catch up with these escalating expenses. Assuming circulation stays on budget; the price increase is expected to help A.A. Grapevine, Inc., break even in 2011. Until then, A.A. Grapevine will have to draw money from the Reserve Fund to help cover operating expenses and catch up with updating technology in 2010. Reserve Fund withdrawals since the last Conference include $50,000 in November 2009 and $138,000 in February 2010. Additional funds may be needed to cover the 2010 budgeted deficit of about ¼ million dollars. A.A. Grapevine, Inc. must depend primarily on the service structure and subscribers to spread the word about the magazine and to “sell” subscriptions and other A.A.G.V. products. All of this makes it very difficult for the corporation to be self‐supporting. A.A. Grapevine has broken even 37 of the last 66 years. Insufficient price increases have been one factor contributing to the deficit. Another has been declining circulation of the print magazine, which has gone from 120,000 to an average of 102,000 over the last 15 12
years. Nonetheless the Grapevine staff and board have been taking a hard look at declining circulation overall, particularly since the decline has continued in 2010 to below 96,000 subscriptions. In addition, the 60th General Service Conference on behalf of the General Service Board, feels that the Grapevine needs to be thoroughly accessed. In order to help address this matter of grave importance, the Delegates have been charged with asking the following questions through an Advisory Action in order to reach the broadest spectrum of the Fellowship. •
What is the value of the Grapevine magazine to you? •
How do you use the Grapevine magazine? •
What would you like to change about the Grapevine magazine? •
What do you think the purpose of the Grapevine magazine should be? Ultimately, though, the future of A.A. Grapevine, Inc. is in the hands of the Fellowship. When convincing Dr. Bob of the need for the General Service Conference, Bill W. said, “…Do we not have the clear duty to see that the Foundation, Grapevine, and the Office are put in good order and delivered into the direct keeping of A.A. as a whole. This statement clearly indentifies the real ownership of the Grapevine. The A.A. Grapevine belongs to the members of Alcoholics Anonymous, and with only about 8% of our entire fellowship supporting it, the final responsibility is on the members to decide if the Grapevine will be here for the alcoholic "who still stumbles in the darkness," A.A. Grapevine has been here for alcoholics for 66 years now, and it is looking forward to celebrating A.A.’s 75th anniversary in San Antonio. Sadly, Robin B., Executive Editor of AA Grapevine Inc. will be leaving us. She will stay on to help with the transition of the new editor and Robin, we love and will miss you. After The Boards financial report, Area highlights continued with the South East Region and the Northeast Region. We then broke for dinner. Returning refreshed from dinner after Board Reports overload all afternoon, Area highlights again 13
continued. We heard from the East Central Region and the Western Canada Region. Our two Panel 60 Delegates did great up there and did us proud. Being the smallest Region there was certainly a larger onus on them than the other regional highlights. A great sharing session by the GSO Archives Director Michelle Mirza was next. She shared with us that she is indeed a non alcoholic but if Bill were alive today she is convinced she would be his friend. We closed with an informative sharing session and a reading by Cathie J. The Western Region wound down the evening celebrating Vic Phillips, our Western Canada Trustees 20th AA birthday. Ice cream and fellowship was embraced after the day’s marathon. Six degrees of separation, my guest Rob and Sandy S., Delegate from Ontario realized each others presence after 25 years. Sandy was instrumental in Rob’s earlier recovery in the mid 80’s in Ottawa and after second and third guessing who was who, the unification was heartfelt and moving. A walk to wind down and back to my room to fill out evaluation forms on the Conference. It was 1am and we had another big day ahead of us in a few hours. Tuesday morning I was back in committee meeting were we hammered out our recommendations, put forward the slates for the Boards and had an election for next years Conference Committee Chair. After lunch it was the Pacific and Southeast Regions turn for Area highlights, followed by a presentation on “Unity Through Inventory” and a sharing session. We then broke for the two hour ‐ 200 page workshop titled “Discuss the General Service Conference Agenda Selection Process” Not an afternoon for the meek. ☺ The second and last Delegates Only Dinner meeting was held Tues evening. It was an early night and some time was allotted to breathing and catching up. My friend Darryl inspired me as we chatted on the day’s events and he mentioned how impressed he was on how we managed to push all that junk from earlier through the eye of a needle and maintain our composure and respect for one another. ☺ Wednesday morning brought more presentations, sharing sessions and elections of new Trustee’s. Being the Chair of the Conference Committee on Trustee’s, I got the privilege of chairing the elections themselves. I got to share this opportunity with the Honorable Regelio Flores, Chair of the Trustees Nominating Committee. It was an invigorating experience, and very hard to decide. I am pleased to announce that Rod B. is the new 14
Pacific Regional Trustee and from what I understand the first Native American to serve on the Board. Donald C. is the Eastern Canada Regional Trustee elected on the 5th ballot and for the first time since 2005 there is a full slate. We met as a region over lunch for the last time and discussed regional affairs such as Wraasa 2011 in Aldergrove, the Forum in Saskatoon and the hospitality room at the International. Wednesday afternoon we entered into committee report backs and discussions. Once we got procedures set, away we went. Over the next 2 ½ days there were 36 committee recommendations, 60 additional considerations and 17 floor actions entertained. This resulted in 37 Advisory Actions and 59 additional considerations. We started at 1pm on Wednesday and finished about midnight on Friday. As much as you are all dying to hear it all, I will not hold you hostage with all the details, however I would like to briefly touch on a few items. The 61st General Service Conference will be returning to Manhattan next year. The Crowne Plaza has sharpened their pencils and is looking forward to having us back. Two new videos were approved. A television public service announcement titled “My World” which targets the older alcoholic, special needs alcoholic and first nations alcoholic. It will also be centrally distributed and tracked. The second is a video for Young People titled “Animation”. Much discussion stemmed from the video’s “search young people” tagline. It was decided if the Conference was putting the approval on the video, it should be found through the official AA website. The discussion broadened to “how” YPAA fits into the general service structure as apposed to “if” they fit. It was mentioned how ICYPAA was blessed by Bill himself and was in reality only 15 years older than Alcoholics Anonymous. The young people in AA emitted no fear and had websites long before the GSO and being joined at the hip, we followed their lead. A floor action that proposed the General Service Board develop an AA guideline relating to “YPAA” was defeated but now the Conference is aware of certain items about YPAA and is indeed weighing in. An ongoing issue that was brought up by the P.I. Committee was anonymity as it relates to the internet. The Traditions were written in a time when communication was limited, which currently has left some voids for the AA of today to fill in. The ongoing question is how? At first glance it all seems pretty clear – no full names or faces on any publically 15
accessible website. But some of our literature seems to suggest that chat rooms, online meetings and e‐mails are acceptable places to break our own anonymity (pg 10 Understanding Anonymity). And what about sites such as Face book and My Space. Can we break our anonymity where only our friends can see? With all the levels of private and public protocol, do these widely used public media sites actually prevent anyone from “walking in ” unannounced into the rooms of the internets many social networking sites. Many challenges lay ahead for Alcoholics Anonymous. The Conference and the General Service Office are working hard in today’s fast paced high tech world on protecting AA’s Traditions on‐line, and so must the individual member. The General Service Conference will be conducting an inventory on itself and a Conference Inventory Planning Committee was established to develop a comprehensive inventory plan to bring forward to the 2011 Conference Committee on Policy/Admissions for consideration, along with an estimated cost. The request for procedures for the submissions of Concept V minority appeals was recommitted to the General Service Board and they will forward a report to the 2011 Conference committee on Policy/Admissions. Corrections has updated language in much of it’s material to reflect practices on carrying the message inside and the Treatment Trustee’s Committee will consider adding the Young People’s Video and Bridging the Gap sample forms to their kit. A name change of the Treatment Facilities/Special Needs‐Accessibilities Committee deemed more investigation into cost and relevance to our current AA Literature. La Vina will be published bi‐monthly, perfect bound, black and white with 68 pages for an additional cost of $21,400 for a trial period of one year beginning in 2011. Spiritual parity on content and substance was considered to be of primary importance. The Trustees Committees on Literature and Finance will be seeking stories from the fellowship on three pamphlets. One to humanize the impact of seventh tradition monies and one to include recent experiences from members on active duty as well as veterans. The third will focus on spirituality that includes stories from atheists and agnostics who are successfully sober in AA. The pamphlet “Medications and Other Drugs” was sent back for more work and “Questions and Answers on Sponsorship’ was updated and approved. The booklet “Living Sober” was sent forward to the Trustees Literature Committee to be brought 16
back to the 2011 Conference Committee on Literature. The Service Manual will continue to be published every year. The “Pie Charts” in the pamphlet “Self Support – Where Money and spirituality Mix” was a lengthy discussion and sent back to the Trustee’s Finance committee for more review. Finally after much debate on the charts, and a request to change the wording and replace … “remove” ….with replace…we put it to bed at 11:30 pm Thurs night. Friday was no walk in the park. A draft policy on showing full faces of actors who are portraying AA members or potential AA members drummed on and it was finally decided that it deemed more discussion, so it was forwarded to the 2011 General Service Conference through appropriate channels. Report and charter weighed in with recommendations and I had my moment of impending doom when called to the dais to present the Trustees Conference Committee report. As I mentioned earlier, we approved the full slate and made a few other recommendations to the trustees through additional considerations. Mary D., the staff person who was assigned to our committee as secretary was second to none when it came to efficiency. Her charm and calmness was a great comfort and she gleamed with excitement when I snuck her very own “Official Olympic Mittens” for those cold days in the office when the heat is low. When we were chatting on the phone one time last winter, she was typing her reports with the fingers cut out of her mittens. Thanks Mary for your love and tolerance for AA and its members. It was now time to say farewell. When I concluded my choked up goodbye to the Conference and it’s 131 members around midnight Friday, I could not help but feel for the previous Panel 57 and Panel 58 Delegates who did not get to say goodbye due to time restraints and record breaking finishes. As we all left the 60th General Service Conference room for the last time I could not help but feel an over whelming new respect for the giants who came before us. Keeping AA together in spite of ourselves is no easy chore. My new found admiration for the old and new architectures alike of the AA Service structure, brought home to me, that the God of my understanding would like me to be many things that I sometimes resist. He reveals them to me if I listen, participate, and put out my hand. 17
Saturday morning brought the closing brunch and farewell talks by 2 rotating Trustee’s, Class A Bill Clark and Pacific Regional Class B Madeleine P.. I have always believed that Alcoholics Anonymous is the biggest gift that God has given to man kind next to free will. I have sometimes seen these two gifts collide and have come to accept that God in his divine wisdom will always rule out the day, in spite of our best efforts to do so ourselves. After the brunch, an all inspiring trip to Stepping Stones, Bill and Lois’s last place of residence. Bill’s last paradox was his attempt to leave Stepping Stones to AA but the Traditions he so vigorously pushed on the fellowship forbid him to do so. A night on the town of Manhattan, at least 5 hotdogs, pizza and a banana split to makeup for all the food art of the preceding week. And yes a trip to the Crowne Plaza to reminisce. Good byes did not come easily. Over the past week I had made so many new friends and met so many like minded people. The amount of time and effort that goes into the good of AA as whole is astounding. As we sat on the tarmac in White Plains for an hour, missed our connecting flight and found ourselves sleepless in Seattle, I had a chance to reflect on how I certainly could not do my part effectively without the support of my wife Sharon. All the time away from home, the lost family gatherings and the lop sided role in our kids lives on her behalf. Only knowing all is well at home makes it possible for me to focus on the work that lies in front of me. And the task of grave importance that all of you in BC Yukon Area 79 have in stowed upon me is truly the biggest responsibility that I have ever endeavored to take on. I thank you for that opportunity to grow and learn about myself. But most of all, thank you for your trust ‐ and thank you for my life……… Marty W. Panel 59 Area 79 Delegate BC Yukon 18