Grapevine Report - February 2002

When the first issue of The AA Grapevine appeared in June 1944, the book Alcoholics Anonymous had been in circulation nearly five years and had already sold some 16,000 copies. Both have come a long way in the intervening 58 years: the Big Book having sold well over 20 million copies and now in its fourth edition and the Grapevine continuously publishing while many great magazines have come and gone. Please check out our international monthly journal today and see for yourself how great AA continues to find its way into its pages. Also be sure to check out the website at www.aagrapevine.org to preview the current issue of the Grapevine, view archived articles, submit your own writing, contribute to the online bulletin board I-say, or get a FREE issue of the Grapevine sent to anyone you like! The Grapevine is one of our best kept secrets. I know it was really helpful to me pre and early sobriety. Only $15 for a year’s subscription delivered to your door!

Districts 9, 14, 16, 22, and 23 had representation at the Area Committee Meeting February 2nd in Mankato. We reviewed current subscription numbers worldwide--Grapevine 107,514 and La Vina 7,608 household subscriptions exclusive of monthly orders--and explored ways to encourage AA members to subscribe to, read, write for and utilize this important 12-step tool. We are currently urging groups and districts to consider sponsoring Grapevine subscriptions into hospitals, institutions and correctional facilities. This committee in conjunction with District 18 last year sponsored (payed for) 17 Grapevine and 14 La Vina subscriptions that are currently being delivered monthly to detoxes, hospitals, shelters and treatment centers that come in contact regularly with alcoholics who may be in need of our message and help. Currently District 16 sponsors the Grapevine into a library and high school. See it your group is interested in this kind of effort.

The committee also considered a local proposal that the Grapevine add an area to their website where they put AA-related clip art, pictures, etc. for all of us to access and use to make invitations, announcements, brochures, etc. Here are some of the suggested items:

    1. All the Big Book editions - Photos
    2. All conference approved literature - photos
    3. Various line arts of the cartoon Victor E.
    4. The 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
    5. The circle and triangle in various presentations
    6. The preamble
    7. Pictures of Bill W. and Dr. Bob
    8. Groups of people in meetings
    9. Groups of people at a potluck meeting
    10.Responsibility Declaration
    11.Grapevine information sheets to hand out at meetings for subscriptions
    12.Article on How to write an article for the Grapevine

We had lively discussion and generally thought this a good idea, certainly one worth discussing further in the fellowship to see if there is actually a need for this, the litmus test for if we should actually do anything. What do and your group think? Please let me know.

I was at District 13 tonight talking about the Grapevine and showing off our new display. I’ll be happy to visit any other districts, show you how inexpensively and simply you can make a display and help get the word out that the Grapevine is a good read! See you at the March Assembly in Austin.



yours in love and service
Kris S.
Area 36 Grapevine Chair