Delegate's Report - September 2002

During the spring and summer months I cruised “the road of happy destiny” traveling throughout Southern Minnesota to give reports of the 52nd Annual General Service Conference. (All active General Service Districts have participated for a total of 24 Conference report-backs). The term “lazy days of summer” sure didn’t apply to Area 36, where members were busy carrying A.A.’s message to the still-suffering alcoholic. Of great interest to the Fellowship was the Conference’s approval of a new publication, Experience Strength and Hope, which will contain stories not carried over from previous editions of the Big Book. As autumn winds usher in the colors of fall, A.A.’s spirit of rotation brings another October Assembly to elect trusted servants for our Area. Visiting the Districts was the true highlight of my Delegate experience, and I thank everyone for the opportunity to serve Area 36.

Interested in the results of applying A.A. principles to the Conference agenda items, and much more? Check out the Final Conference Report, which was published in August. Share the experience, strength and hope of members throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as a summary of the issues and opportunities facing A.A. as a whole. Copies of the illustrated Final Conference Report are now available through your General Service District meeting.

I’ve received a number of comments from members regarding the themes chosen for our General Service Conference, which are utilized for our Area and Regional service conferences. The 2003 Conference theme is “Living A.A.’s Principles Through Sponsorship.” The Conference Agenda Committee would like your suggestions for the 2004 theme no later than December 19, 2002.

The A.A. Grapevine is currently seeking resumes to fill a vacancy for a non-trustee director on its corporate board. The Grapevine is looking for members with substantial sobriety, relevant business or professional background, and A.A. service experience. See how your experience can benefit others by serving our meeting in print! The deadline for resume submissions is September 1, 2002.

Looking for ways to increase your group’s awareness of A.A.’s Twelve Concepts for World Service? The Concepts (in their short form) will soon be available to purchase in a window shade format similar to the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

The General Service Office ended May 31, 2002, with approximately $4,500,000 in service-related expenses, and received Seventh Tradition contributions/revenue totaling $4,387,700. (G.S.O. had budgeted this $112,600 loss to draw on the Reserve Fund subsequent to publication of the Fourth Edition Big Book). Our Fellowship’s Seventh Tradition can be seen carrying A.A.’s message worldwide with new literature translations in Finnish, Greek and Setswana, a language spoken in South Africa.

G.S.O.’ General Manager, Greg M., recently returned from travels to Turkey and Greece, where there is movement toward developing a service structure. Rick W. (former office manager of Minneapolis Intergroup) recently participated in an A.A. information presentation on Radio Africa, which broadcasts throughout the continent.

During the Conference’s deliberation of Area 35’s agenda item, “That all literature being considered as General Service Conference-approved literature be available for review by all Conference members prior to debate on the Conference floor,” I proposed an amendment to form an ad hoc committee to develop literature review procedures. Although this recommendation failed, several members approached me afterward suggesting that I contact our General Service Board Chair, Elaine McDowell, to follow-up on this proposal. In the spirit of doing the footwork and turning the results over, I wrote Elaine to address the need for such an ad hoc committee. The Northern Area subsequently drafted correspondence in support of this request, which was unanimously approved by their Area Committee. I was also contacted by the Delegate for Louisiana, who is writing on behalf of their Area in support of this proposal.

At this year’s General Service Conference I gave a presentation on “The Area Website” during a sharing session addressing “A.A. and the Internet – Apart of or Apart From?” Recently, I was contacted by a Grapevine staff member asking if they could publish my Conference presentation in an upcoming edition of the magazine. I’d like to express my thanks to Jim G. and the Area website committee for their assistance in preparing for the presentation. You can look for this shared experience from Area 36 in the October issue of The Grapevine.

Again, it has been a tremendous blessing to participate as your Delegate, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve!

Yours in Love and Service,
Christine C.