2013 Delegate’s Conference Report by Steve O., Delegate Eastern Pennsylvania General Service Assembly Mini-Assembly I June 2, 2013

63 rd General Service Conference

“The General Service Conference Takes Its Inventory – Our Solution In Action”

April 21 – 27, 2013 Crowne Plaza Hotel, New York, NY

GRATITUDE

I am deeply grateful to our Eastern PA General Service Assembly members for the opportunity to participate on your behalf –

Thank You!

The 2012-13 AA Service

Manual, pS16

Conference Membership

• • • • Area Delegates – from US & Canada 93 = 71% Trustees, A.A.W.S. & Grapevine Directors 25 = 19% General Service & Grapevine Staff 13 = 10% Total 131

Delegate Statistics

Avg. Age Oldest Youngest Avg. Sobriety Longest Sobriety Shortest Sobriety Avg. Sobriety Longest Service Shortest Service 57yrs.

75 36 21 37 7 16 37 3

I. Agenda

• Theme for 2014 General Service Conference: “Communicating Our Legacies – Vital In A Changing World”

II. Cooperation with Professional Community • Revised pamphlet “If You Area A Professional” – in section Referrals from Court & Treatment Facilities: “Some groups at the request of the prospective member, have the A.A. Group Secretary sign or stamp the court slip.”

III. Corrections

• Recommendation that, revised pamphlet, “A Message To Corrections Professionals” be approved.

IV. Finance

• • No recommendations or actions Mirrors Area 59 pre-Conference Sharing

V. Grapevine

• • • No Recommendations – as in Area 59 One Floor Action: – Discontinue current La Vina formatting requirements Motion failed

VI. Literature

• • • Draft pamphlet “AA Spiritual Not Religious” – Motion to re-commit to Trustees Literature committee; Passed Discussion about mention of any specific religion Some “atheist” versus “agnostic” discussion

VI. Literature, cont’d.

• • Recommendation: The 2 inside, front flap of the dust jacket be revised. Failed nd paragraph on Recommendation: The Primary Purpose (blue card) be revised. Failed

VII. Report & Charter

• • • Recommendation: that a typo in AA Service Manual be corrected. Passed.

– From “”uniformed” to “uninformed” Recommendation: Duty description for the G.S.B. Chairperson be included in the AA Service Manual – Passed Recommendation: A paragraph “The Principle of Rotation” be added to the AA Service Manual - Passed

VIII. Treatment/Special Needs Accessibilities • • • No Recommendations Expressed the need for translations of existing AV material into Spanish & French Need for better sound production for some materials

IX. Trustees

• • All slates of candidates for boards & directors (AAWS & Grapevine, Inc.) approved Reviewed G.S.B. Plan for proposed “inter-locking directorate” – Took No Action

X. Archives

• • • Recommendation: “Marking On The Journey” be revised – Passed Recommendation: A 75 th Anniversary Edition of the original “Big Book” be published in April 2014 – Passed Recommendation: posting of freely accessible, anonymity-protected archival audio clips on GSO’s AA web site - Passed

XI. International Convention/Regional Forums • • Recommended 3 cities as possible sites for 2025 International Convention – Montreal – – St. Louis Vancouver, B.C.

Recommended: up to 21 non-AA speakers be invited attend the 2015 International Convention

XII. Public Information

• • Recommendation: Short form of the Eleventh Tradition implicit includes internet, social media and all forms of public communications. Passed AAWS be permitted to use commissionable digital channels & third party stores to sell literature – passed

XIII. Policy/Admissions

• Recommendation: change deadline to submit Conference Agenda Items – From January 15 th to December 15 th – Passed

Floor Actions

• • • All 6 failed Discussion about 75 th Anniversary Commemorative Edition of Big Book in French & Spanish – failed “The Plan” any vote on reorganizing be decided by three-quarters - Failed

Summary

• • • Area 59 Delegate voted consistent with all Pre-Conference sharing Trust Committee Process – All participants well prepared – Discussion deliberative and informed – Especially with regard to the “Plan” I worked to keep an open mind

Questions?