Transcript Slide 1

64th General Service Conference
Communicating Our Legacies –Vital in A Changing World
Hilton West Chester,
Rye Town, NY
April 27 – May 3, 2014
1
64th General Service Conference





Conference Committee Meetings
Trustee Elections
Conference Committee Reports
Conference Actions
Floor Actions
2
64th General Service Conference
Conference Committee Actions:
Recommend an Advisory Action
No Action
Additional Consideration
Recommit to the Trustees Committee
3
64th General Service Conference
“Were it not for Committees it is doubtful
that any conference could get over a fraction
of the ground it now covers.
As the Conference has grown in size and
influence the Committee’s importance
has grown even more…”
- AA Service Manual
4
64th General Service Conference
Two “Delegates Only” Meetings
Three Regional meetings
Seven AA meetings
14 Presentations and Reports
General Sharing/Q&A- 5 Hours
Delegate Highlights
GSC Inventory & Report back
Delegate Goodbyes - 48
Trustee Goodbyes – 3
Stepping Stones
5
64th General Service Conference
93 Delegates
7 Class A Trustees (Non-Alcoholic)
13 Class B Trustees (Alcoholic)*
4 Non-Trustee Directors
15 GSO and Grapevine Staff
71%
5%
10%
3%
11%
132 Total
*one vacancy due to the death of Trustee Marty Walters
from Western Canada earlier this year
6
64th General Service Conference
Avg. Age:
59 yrs.
Oldest:
78
Youngest:
32
Avg. Sobriety:
21
Longest Sobriety:
41
Shortest Sobriety:
7
Area w/Largest membership: Area 9 Mid-South
California
Area w/Smallest membership: Area 85 NW Ontario
64th General Service Conference
Sunday,10:00 am
8
64th General Service Conference
General Service Board
AAWS Board
Grapevine Board
GSB Treasurer Report
9
64th General Service Conference
Chair: Terry Bedient
Group Safety
“Serving the Fellowship” Initiative
Work Continues on Original 14
10
64th General Service Conference
Chair: Gary Lutz
Over 100,000 copies of 75th Anniversary Big Book sold
Over 1900 New Groups Registered in 2013
Redesign of aa.org
Over 40% of Literature sales are
now online
11
64th General Service Conference
Chair: Nancy Haynes
$3 Million Total Revenue - flat
$315,000 Profit – up $100,000
$135,000 from Cost Reductions
Excellent Cost Control by GV Leadership!!
12
64th General Service Conference
 Subscriptions continue to decline
 2013: Declined 6,100 7%
 Last 5 years:
 Print declined 24,000
 Online added 5,000
 *** Net Decline: 19,000 Subscriptions
13
0
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
AA Grapevine Circulation: 1974-2013
140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
Subscriptions
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine Subscriptions
Print and Total 2008-2013
120,000
100,000
104,000
102,300
93,100
90,500
80,000
88,900
83,900
82,300
77,300
Subscritions-Average for
year (include Online)
Print only Subscriptions
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
15
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine
Revenue and Gross Profit
Per Subscription 2008-2013
$30.00
$25.60
$25.00
$26.39
$27.18
$22.50
$20.00
$19.96
$20.80
$17.17
$17.91
$16.26
Revenue per Subscription
$15.00
Gross profit per subscription
$13.38
$12.00
$12.20
$10.00
$5.00
$0.00
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
16
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine Revenue
Total and Magazine 2008-2013
$3.5
$3.0
$2.9
$3.0
$2.9
$2.9
$3.0
$3.0
$2.5
$2.3
$2.0
$2.1
$2.3
$2.3
$2.2
$2.1
Total Revenue (millions)
Revenue-Magazines (millions)
$1.5
$1.0
$0.5
$0.0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
17
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine
Net Income 2008-2013
$400,000
$315,000
$300,000
$257,000
$200,000
$100,000
$23,000
$0
2008
2009
-$138,000
-$133,000
2010
2011
2012
2013
NET INCOME
-$100,000
-$200,000
-$300,000
-$400,000
-$400,000
-$500,000
18
64th General Service Conference
Audio Story Recordings
GV 70 celebrations
Audio Recording stories for sale
Publish audio content via 3rd Parties
“mp3” format for existing CD items
2015 International Convention Publications
Tactical Actions....Also need a Long Term
Strategic Plan
19
64th General Service Conference
La Viña
La Viña circulation increased 9% in 2013
3rd year in a row for an increase
10,100 Subscribers almost back to peak of 2007
Total revenue was up only 2% Cost of Service to provide La Viña : $144,000
20
64th General Service Conference
La Viña
Subscriptions Per Year
2008-2013
11,000
10,500
10,404
10,145
10,000
9,663
9,500
Subscriptions-Average per year
9,157
9,000
8,982
8,741
8,500
8,000
7,500
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
21
64th General Service Conference
La Viña
Revenue and Cost of Service
2008-2013
$160,000
$142,500
$140,000
$129,300
$120,000
$124,600
$122,600
$123,500
$120,200
$125,300
$116,000
$100,000
$80,000
$76,300
Revenue-Total
$75,500
$69,700
$60,000
$54,500
$40,000
$20,000
$0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
22
64th General Service Conference
Treasurer David Morris
Class A (non-Alcoholic) Board Member
Certified Public Accountant
Own Financial Consulting Firm
Retired Executive- JP Morgan/Chase Bank
23
64th General Service Conference
Finance Report
2013 Literature Sales: $12.6 million Up 2%
Profit $30,000 vs a budgeted loss of $600,000
Printing, shipping, warehousing costs decreased
Big Book, Twelve and Twelve, Daily Reflections and Living Sober
all had small increased sales
Pamphlet sales have declined 20+% in last 5 years
Sales are up…Costs are down…all is well in Publishing town!
24
64th General Service Conference
Finance Report
$6.9 Million, increased $350,000…..5+%
Highest ever!
Every category increased
Birthday/Individual Contributions
Increased 50+% in the last 5 years
42.5% of Groups contributed
Same as last year,
Down 4% from 4-5 yrs ago
Contributions cover 72% of cost of services per
member
25
64th General Service Conference
Finance Report
CONTRIBUTION HISTORY: 1983—2013
$8,000,000
60.00%
$7,000,000
50.00%
$6,000,000
40.00%
$5,000,000
$4,000,000
30.00%
$3,000,000
20.00%
$2,000,000
10.00%
$1,000,000
2013
2010
2007
2004
2001
1998
1995
1992
1989
1986
0.00%
1983
$0
Tot a l C ont r i but i ons
Tot a l P e r c e nt a ge of Gr oups C ont r i but i ng
26
64th General Service Conference
Finance Report
2012
$ 10.4 Million
2013
$ 3.6 Million
Reduction
$ 6.8 Million
Pension Obligation now 87% funded
2012 it was only 56% funded
Currently not a Financial Concern!! YEAH!!!!
27
64th General Service Conference





Conference Committee Meetings
Trustee Elections
Conference Committee Reports
Conference Actions
Floor Actions
28
64th General Service Conference
Eastern Canada: Richard Boisvert, Panel 60 Delegate,
Area 90, Northwest Quebec
Pacific: Joel Castellaw, Panel 60 Delegate,
Area 08, San Diego/Imperial Valley
Both Elections went to the ‘hat’,
Both had received the fewer votes in all ballots
Congratulations to Richard and Joel
29
64th General Service Conference
Conference Actions
Conference Committee Actions:
Recommend an Advisory Action
No Action
Additional Consideration
Recommit to the Trustees Committee
30
64th General Service Conference
Conference Actions
 Cooperation with Professionals: Revised “If You Are a
Professional” Pamphlet
 Corrections: Update “It Sure beats Sitting in a cell” video
 Finance: Translate Conference Materials
 Grapevine: motions and Floor Actions on “Right of Decision” and
to remove “Alcoholism at Large” both failed
 Literature: NEW PAMPHLET! “Many Paths to Spirituality”
 Public Information: No changes to Anonymity Card; survey and
new video passed
 Archives: Updated “Markings on The Journey” video
 Report and Charter: No Action-Warranty III
 Details on aanorthcarolina.org next week!
31
64th General Service Conference
Cooperation with the Professional
Community
1. Recommended revising the pamphlet, “If you are a
Professional”
More inclusive of different professional
“Acknowledge” attendance vs sign or stamp
2. Same pamphlet, different section
Added sentence to keep responsibility on the
alcoholic to make contact with AA
3.Recommended deleting smoking phrase from the
Health care pamphlet.
All three passed
Additional Considerations: Added reference
material to CPC Kit/Workbook
32
64th General Service Conference
Corrections
1. Recommended minor changes to the pamphlet “A
message to Corrections Professionals .
2. Recommended that a new video be developed to
replace the 25 year old “It Sure Beats Sitting in a
Cell”
Both passed unanimously
Additional Considerations:
Suggested that the DVD. “Carrying the Message
Behind These Walls” be included in the
Corrections Kit.
33
64th General Service Conference
Finance
Recommend that because all Conference Members are equal and
should have equal access that a plan be created by the General
Service Office to translate Conference Material (background
material, etc.) into French and Spanish for use during the
conference, with a report being presented to the 2015 General
Service Conference
Passed unanimously…AA unity at it’s very best!
Additional considerations: No increase in suggested Area
contribution for Delegate Expense at Conference. Minor changes to
self-support card
34
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine
Recommended Actions:
The Committee recommended that the AA Grapevine have the ‘Right of
Decision’ for all formatting decisions on producing the Grapevine and La
Vina.
Amendment offered to clarify ‘Spiritual Parity”…Failed
Vote: 76 in favor, 49 against…Failed by 7
No minority opinion
Floor Action on the above Recommendation…
Vote to hear Floor Action passed 70 to not hear, 50 to hear, needed 82 to
not hear!
After much discussion, motion Failed, substantial unanimity, count not
necessary!
35
64th General Service Conference
Grapevine
Committee discussed the request to reconsider publishing “Alcoholism at
Large” section of the Grapevine and took no action.
Floor Action: Discontinue publishing the “Alcoholism at Large” section of
the Grapevine.
Vote to hear the Floor Action passed. 74 to not hear, 50 to hear, needed
84 not to hear.
After much discussion, motion Failed. 70 for 53 against, needed 82.
Additional Considerations:
A “New Business Plan” to reduce the La Viña deficit <Cost of Service> be
developed by the Grapevine Board, bring back in 2015.
36
64th General Service Conference
Literature
Recommended new pamphlet with the title ”Many Paths to
Spirituality” be approved.
Introduction to the pamphlet by Bill W., is powerful:
"....We have atheists and agnostics. We have people of nearly every
race, culture and religion. In AA we are supposed to be bound together in
the kinship of a universal suffering. Therefore the full liberty to practice
any creed or principle or therapy should be a first consideration. Hence let
us not pressure anyone with individual or even collective views. Let us
instead accord to each other the respect that is due to every human being
as he tries to make his way towards the light. Let us always try to be
inclusive rather than exclusive. Let us remember that each alcoholic
among us is a member of AA, so long as he or she so declares.”
Bill W.,
AA Grapevine, July 1965…Responsibility is Our Theme
37
64th General Service Conference
Literature
Pamphlet very well received except for one part. In the section of
the pamphlets with 6 ‘paths’ by a variety of AA members the
Jewish person talks about not feeling guilty in saying the Lord’s
prayer in order stay sober. There was an amendment offered, then
an amendment to the amendment, to change that segment - both
amendments Failed!
Motion to approve pamphlet as originally presented Passed with
substantial unanimity, no vote counted needed.
Only 3 minority opinions offered.
38
64th General Service Conference
Literature
Recommended that “Non-alcoholics are welcome to attend open
AA meetings as observers” be added to the Primary Purpose
Blue Card.
Vote: 123 voted, 82 in favor, 41 against, exact 2/3 vote. Passed
Minority opinion, with vote to reconsider
Vote: 123 voted, 62 in favor, 61 opposed, One vote decision.
Passed.
Vote: 115 voted; 60 in favor, 55 opposed, needed 77 Failed.
Recommended removing “drug” reference from Living Sober.
Vote: 118 voted, 60 in favor, 58 opposed Failed.
39
64th General Service Conference
Literature
Additional Considerations
Discussed the suggestion to create a pamphlet for alcoholics
with mental Illness and took no action. Adequately covered in
other literature
Floor Action, same as above: GSC recommended that literature
which focuses on Alcoholics in recovery with Mental Illness be
developed.
118 votes, 54 decline to hear, 64 to hear. Will hear Floor action.
Much discussion. Vote 126, 77 in favor, opposed 49, need 84.
Failed
Minority Opinion, voted to reconsider, Passed
Original Motion, more discussion, called the question,
Vote: 128, 77 in favor, 51 opposed, Failed
40
64th General Service Conference
Public Information
Recommended that the Anonymity Card(F-20) be revised.
Motion to recommit to Trustees PI Committee failed. Motion initially
passed, then minority spoke…
Motion to reconsider passed unanimously. Relatively short
discussion on original motion. Original motion Failed under
reconsideration.
Recommended numerous classification descriptions on AA
Membership Survey be changed. Passed
Recommended that survey be conducted. Passed
New Video, 2 discontinued, Passed.
41
64th General Service Conference
Other Conference Actions???
Just Ask!!!
The information is available
42
64th General Service Conference
Rocketed into a fourth dimension
“We have found much of heaven and we have
been rocketed into a fourth dimension of
existence of which we had not even dreamed.
The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That
we have had deep and effective spiritual
experiences which have revolutionized our whole
attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward
God's universe. The central fact of our lives today
is the absolute certainty that our Creator has
entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is
indeed miraculous. He has commenced to
accomplish those things for us which we could
never do by ourselves.”
- Alcoholics Anonymous, p25
43
64th General Service Conference
 Forever a Panel 63 Delegate!
 Thank You Area 87 and AA!
44
64th General Service Conference
45
64th General Service Conference
46