Delegate's Report - December 2002

For A.A. members in Area 36, January brings the New Year and the excitement of beginning a new journey in General Service. I am very happy about the team of dedicated Area Committee members who will serve Southern Minnesota, and know they will do a fine job making sure the hand of A.A. is there when anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help.

Please welcome Gayle S. R. (a fellow Panel 51 delegate) who joined our General Service Office staff on October 15th. Gayle is working on the Cooperation with the Professional Community assignment along with Susan Ulseth, who is retiring at year-end. Greetings also to Christopher Cavanaugh, who recently joined G.S.O. as Publications Director. Interviews are currently being conducted to replace Joanie M., who will retire in the spring of 2003.

The theme for the 2005 International Convention to be held in Toronto is, “I Am Responsible.” Registration and hotel information will be available in August, 2004.

Rick W (G.S.O. staff) attended the International Native American Convention, which was held September 27-29, 2002, in Burbank, California.

Bill A (G.S.O. staff) attended the 15th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous in Moscow, which was held August 9-13, 2002. Over 600 members from 20 different regions in the Russian Federation, as well as five neighboring countries, attended the celebration of sobriety.

The General Service Conferences of the U.S. and Great Britain will sponsor a sub-Saharan zonal meeting in South Africa scheduled for 2003. The zonal meeting will be held in cooperation with South Africa’s General Service Office, which includes Botswana, Kenya, Malani, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Exciting service structure developments have also been seen in Togo, West Africa, as well as the Persian Gulf Region.

Forty-one countries from around the globe participated in this year’s World Service meeting held October 6-10, 2002, in Oviedo, Spain. At this meeting the U.S. Conference was represented by Charlie B, our Trustee-at-Large. (You may recall that Charlie was our speaker at the West Central Region A.A. Service Conference last year). The World Service meeting welcomed three new countries this year; Cuba, Denmark and Peru, providing a wonderful illustration of the conference theme, "The A.A. Message – A Message Without Borders."

As of September 30, 2002, the A.A. Grapevine had incurred expenses totaling $1,130,135, while receiving $1,008,212 in revenue/subscriptions, resulting in a loss of $121,923. The Grapevine anticipates meeting its fourth quarter break–even budget. The same way our groups pass the Seventh Tradition basket to meet expenses, our Meeting in Print relies upon Grapevine subscriptions to be self-supporting.

The General Service Office ended the third quarter with approximately $7,632,700 in service-related expenses, and received Seventh Tradition contributions/revenue totaling $7,442,600. This loss ($190,000) was budgeted to draw on the reserve fund following publication of the Fourth Edition Big Book. Our Fellowship’s Seventh Tradition can be seen carrying A.A.’s message worldwide with new translations of pamphlets such as Is AA for You and A Newcomer Asks in Thai.

The 2002 General Service Conference approved an excellent remake of the history video Markings On The Journey, which is now available. The Experience Strength and Hope anthology featuring stories from earlier editions of the Big Book will be available early this spring.

You’ll recall that the 2002 General Service Conference passed a recommendation to update the pamphlet A.A. and the Armed Services. Members called attention to the fact that the current pamphlet is two wars behind. If you have attained or maintained sobriety while performing military service, share your story and see how your experience can benefit others!

Following are some Agenda Items that will be considered at the 2003 General Service Conference:

Consider request to restore stories carried over to Fourth Edition to the version published in the Third Edition.
Consider request to form a policy regarding usage of G.S.O.'s website, as well as review by a Conference committee. (G.S.O.'s website is currently overseen by the A.A.W.S. board).
Consider request to publish the Fourth Edition Big Book on G.S.O.'s website.
Consider request to establish a permanent G.S.O. staff assignment serving alcoholics with special needs.

Preliminary Conference Agenda Items should be available at the Area Service Conference, followed by distribution of the Final Agenda Items in mid-February.

It is difficult for me to put into words the gratitude I feel for the opportunity to serve as your Delegate. From bustling New York City to the rolling wheat fields of the West Central Region, it has been my blessing to share the language of the heart with so many wonderful A.A. members. My experiences visiting the Districts throughout Southern Minnesota are memories I will cherish. In A.A. we have only one way that is sufficient to repay the gifts we are freely given: Pass It On!

I am confident that our new Delegate, Brenda L, will serve us extremely well. If Brenda assumes her new responsibilities with one-tenth of the dedication and excellence with which she has served us in the past, Southern Minnesota and the General Service Conference will be blessed with an outstanding Panel 53 Delegate.

A.A. has taught me that rotation does not mean desertion, so I hope to see you at the Area Assemblies and Committee Meetings as we trudge the road of happy destiny. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the opportunity to serve!