Presentations

Full Text: Principles | A.A. Around the World | 17th World Service Meeting | Finance

FINANCES - Vincent Keefe, (Class A Trustee), Chair, Trustees' Finance & Budgetary Committee

Vincent reported that revenue for A.A.W.S. essentially comes from two sources: contributions and literature sales. Group contributions for 2002 were higher than those received in 2001 and the amount budgeted for 2002. This represents the fifth year in a row that contributions have increased over the previous year and reflects a positive trend.

Contributions for 2002 (includes funds of $107,500 received from the World Service Meeting International Literature Fund) were $5,097,810. Contributions received from groups and members of $4,990,200 came from about 25,800 group, individuals and service entities. That represents about 45.5% of the 56,629 groups registered with G.S.O.

Net sales of literature were $10,486,000 with a gross profit of $4,950,045 after printing and manufacturing costs, shipping expenses and royalty payments are deducted. This brings total revenue for 2002 at $10,047,855. Total operating expenses for G.S.O. during 2002 were $10,165,000, resulting in an operating loss of $117,000 for the year. Note: These figures reflect the combined results of G.S.O. New York and the SMAA Office in Montreal. Effective January 1, 2003, the SMAA office was closed and the French-speaking A.A. members are being serviced from G.S.O. in New York. The loss of $117,000 for the year includes SMAA operations for 2002. Absent these SMAA costs, G.S.O. activities would just about have broke even for 2002.

The Reserve Fund for Alcoholics Anonymous at the end of 2002 stood at 11.2 months. At $10,827,000, the Reserve Fund amounts to $191 per listed A.A. group. Contributions per group averaged about $88.00 for the 56,629 groups registered, while expenses to support service to the groups in 2002 were $127 per group. (Keep in mind that only 45.5% of the 56,629 groups registered with G.S.O. contribute to G.S.O.).

The 2002 service dollar was spent on the following activities: Group Services 35.1% (which includes the Group Services assignment; Box 4-5-9; A.A. Directories; records and files; contributions processing; and French services); the General Service Conference, 12.7%; Loners, Internationalists, and Overseas Services, 11.2%; Trustees' and Directors' activities, 6.3%; Regional Forums, 7.0%; Archives, 8.7%; C.P.C., 5.8%; Spanish Services, 1.8%; Public Information, 4.8%; Correctional Facilities, 3.3%; and Treatment Facilities, 1.8%.

In summary, the Fellowship's finances remain in good condition, the outlook for this year appears to be favorable, and we continue to have the financial support to carry the message.

During the discussion period after Mr. Keefe's presentation the Delegate from Area 86, Western Ontario, stated that his area was now fully self-supporting in sending their Delegate to the General Service Conference. They sent G.S.O. $3,800, which is the approximate cost of each delegate for the conference, instead of the $800 which is the minimum request from each area.

A.A. Around the World

17th World Service Meeting: Charles B., Class B, Trustee-At-Large, U.S., currently serves as Delegate to the World Service Meeting representing the service structure of the U.S. and Canada. The World Service Meeting is held every two years alternating between New York and another location chosen by the World Service Meeting Delegates. Charles attended the World Service Meeting last October in Oviedo, Spain. The theme was "The A.A. Message - A Message Without Borders."

There were 41 Delegates present, representing 29 countries. The keynote address was given by Paul Mc. from Ireland. He shared that his small island nation has two currencies, two governments, two healthcare and legal systems; his hometown is Belfast, Northern Ireland has two borders dividing people by religion and politics. But in all of Ireland there is but one A.A. and a message that ignores the borders.

There were a total of 13 special presentations made throughout the five days under 6 common subjects: "Sponsoring the Newcomer into Service," "Carrying the Message Through Electronic Media," "How Can We Make the A.A. Message Accessible to Individuals with Physical Limitations?," "Sharing the Experience of Sponsoring Other Countries," "How to Carry the Message in a Changing World," and "Sponsorship-Country to Country".

Greg M., the General Manager for G.S.O. New York, gave a report on "A.A.W.S. Policy on Translation of A.A. Literature." He stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the message in any translation and the importance of protecting the copyright of A.A. material.

The 18th World Service Meeting will be held in New York City, October 18-25, 2004. The theme will be "One Message - Many Languages - One Fellowship."

New Frontiers in A.A.: Bill A. currently serves as the International desk coordinator at the General Service Office. Bill's presentation was very touching and there wasn't a dry eye in the room. The history of A.A. has been one of consistently crossing new frontiers, and still one of the most challenging frontiers is transcending the isolation of the suffering alcoholic. It has been almost 70 years, or seven decades, since Ebby T. took the subway and called on his old friend Bill W. at his home on Clinton Street. While Bill sipped his gin, Ebby twelfth-stepped him, transcending the alcoholics' isolation by carrying the message.

Bill's two most fascinating experiences in the past year have been in areas of the world where we indeed face New Frontiers. He visited A.A. communities in Thailand and Hong Kong last September. The fellowship in those two countries is largely made up of English-speaking members who are wondering how they can cross the insurmountable boundaries of reaching the native Thai and Chinese communities. The secret seems to be found in approaching various professional communities and also having written material available in the indigenous languages so that the alcoholic can have direct access to our program. Five pamphlets have been since translated into Thai, and the Chinese material is being assessed.

The trip to the People's Republic of China was the culmination of patient and persistent work of the International desk at G.S.O. in year's past, and the dedication and commitment of a small group of medical professionals in China. Since the medical professionals visit to the International Convention in Minneapolis in 2000, these Chinese doctors have been shepherding A.A. growth in their hospitals and amongst the Chinese community. Alcoholics Anonymous, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and several pamphlets have been translated into Simplified Chinese.

In November, Bill and our wonderful board chair, Elaine McDowell, visited the African Continent. Their first stop was in Cameroon, West Africa where A.A. began there five years ago. They attended the meeting held in the local prison and were overwhelmed by the 70 members who regularly attend. The meetings have but a few battered photocopies of pamphlets and no other literature. What they did have was hope for a better life through A.A. We are in the process of sending literature and service material to the newly formed General Service Board in Cameroon for distribution to the A.A. groups.

Bill went on to say that, "We don't need to look so far as Africa and Asia for New Frontiers. Our friends in Canada and Alaska face similar New Frontiers with the native people in the Far North. Look at the growing diversity in many of our states and provinces, we all have potential New Frontiers in our own backyard."

He encouraged all of us to recommit ourselves and our home groups toward supporting the efforts that are going on to carry the message, whether across the street or across the planet.